About this talented Slovakian pianist Ján Hajnal Europe got to know 50 years ago for the first time as Hajnal qualified for the final of the international competition for young jazz musicians in Vienna. Since then, the activities of this artist born in Košice are being tracked by the most prestigious industry periodicals, and the pianist has become an inseparable part of the European jazz community. 73-year-old musician today, over the half-century had the opportunity to cooperate with the world's greatest jazzmen as John Purcell or Bobby Durham. His latest album: "Bartók's Room" recorded during a chamber concert in Košice, Jan Hajnal decided to fill with his own solo compositions. We will find influences of Slovak folklore in a masterful style that blends with elements of jazz and blues.

 

Despite the title of the album, it was not the music of the great Hungarian composer that inspired Hajnal to record this album. The stimulus was what the pianist describes in the book of the published album, the work of legendary Swedish pianist Jan Johansson who died in 1968. As a reminder: it is Jan Johansson and the Bengt-Arne Wallin trumpeter who are widely regarded as pioneers that have blazed the trail for the characteristic Scandinavian sound of jazz music. Abundantly weaving improvised elements of Norse folklore in this way, they set the direction for subsequent generations of Scandinavian musicians to follow. Hajnal managed to create a specific, intimate mood, which we experience in stylish piano themes (eg. "Sometimes I Touch Your Soul"), as well as songs saturated with rhythm and expressive dynamics ("Zemplinsky Fair"). Hajnal is an old jazz piano school. In this charming music we find a lot of references to the traditions of the 1960s, spiced with the spirit of Slavic and Norse folklore.

 

 

 

 

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