Modern listeners are somewhat bored by genre classifications in music, and sheer expression has pushed itself to the forefront of their attention. Vocalist Markéta Foukalová, at once ethereal and dynamic, and her band Lanugo offer a personal artistic expression that disregards stylistic boundaries. The somewhat enigmatic name Lanugo is intended to evoke a purity and introspection of musical expression, the intimacy of a club concert.
Although Markéta Foukalová belongs to the young generation of vocalists, she is a singer with a rich musical background. Lanugo, which came together in 2006 in the creative melting pot of the Jazz Studies department of the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory’s post-secondary program in Prague, gives her room to develop her lyrical expression and promising composition abilities. It is also a meeting place for mature young musicians who are stirring the waters of Central European jazz. Rasto UhrÃk, Mirek Hloucal, Martin Kopriva, Mirek Smilauer and Viliam Béres rank among today’s elite musicians, playing with leading musical personalities not only from the Czech Republic. Their musical creations could be classified under the slightly indefinite genre “nu jazz.â€
Lanugo’s nu jazz is a mosaic of all the musical forces which have influenced the individual members, a blend of the music which they all listen to, once played and now create. It is color, creativity and room for improvisation, but also a clear direction determined by the power of the musical personalities of all the members, including the one whose neck is most on the line, frontwoman Markéta Foukalová. Like every mature artist, she lends a touch of originality to any group she works with, making her name a guarantee of a unique experience.
The band is currently concentrating on preparing material for their first album, which is planned for release in 2009.
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------Markéta Foukalová – voice
was born in Prague in April, 1981. She represents the promise of the young Czech generation of vocalists. She has gone through many styles, participated in many projects, and sung with many bands. Her wealth of experience is appreciated not only by her bandmates, but also by eminent Czech musical personalities, and thus she has been invited to sing on many albums and at many special events, including projects with Czech legends Eva Pilarová, Michal Prokop and Michal PavlÃcek, and at the Prague Spring music festival. She is currently studying in the Jazz Studies department of the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory’s post-secondary program. Besides singing with Lanugo, she also fronts the jazz-pop-funk group Madfinger, winner of the 2004 Young Jazz Musicians’ competition of the Philips Jazz Festival, nominated by the music television channel Ocko. Markéta has also written most of the lyrics and some of the music for Madfinger and Lanugo.
www.myspace.com/marketafoukalova
Viliam Béres – piano
was born in 1981 in Tábor. He comes from a musical family and has played the piano since he was a small child. He graduated from the composition department of Prague Conservatory and has also studied musicology at Prague’s Charles University. He is presently in the Jazz Studies department of the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory’s post-secondary program. Viliam is an experienced musician, having played with such prominent Czech bands as Vertigo Quintet, Sunshine and Navigators. He composes for the Central Band of the Czech Republic and for other orchestras. He has composed and recorded music for several films, and played on the European tours of a number of musicians. Together with Markéta, he is the main creative force that drives Lanugo.
www.myspace.com/viliamberes
Rastislav UhrÃk – double bass
was born in 1980 in Presov, Slovakia. He studied double bass in the Jazz Studies department of the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory’s post-secondary program. Thanks to his tremendous talent, Rasto has had many opportunities to work with many prominent Czech and international musicians, including David Doruzka, Najponk, Ingrid Jensen and Rich Perry. Rasto has won two prizes for Best Junior Jazz Band (with the Daniel Soltis Trio in 2003 and with the Beata Hlavenková Trio in 2005). He is currently studying at the renowned Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. He plays with Lanugo, Vertigo Quintet (prizewinner at the Montreaux Festival), Open Sextet, and personalities such as Lenka Dusilová and David Doruzka.
Martin Kopriva – drums
ranks among the most respected young Czech drummers today. He was born in Prague in 1979. He graduated from the Jazz Studies department of the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory’s post-secondary program. He has been a member of many bands, including the VÃtkov Quartet and Veteráni studené války. He is currently playing in bands such as Lanugo, Med, Jan KorÃnek and Groove, T4, and many others. Martin is valued mainly for his original work with unusual percussive objects.
Miroslav Hloucal – trumpet
like Mirek Smilauer, is one of Lanugo’s regular guests. This brilliant young Czech trumpeter was born in 1983 in Chrudim. His playing has impressed many musicians, including Hiram Bullock. Miroslav is currently studying at the Jazz Studies department of the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory’s post-secondary program. In addition to playing with Lanugo, he frequently performs with prominent Czech jazz musicians and bands such as Infinite Quintet, Matej Benko Quintet, Points, Bucinatores, Veleband, Gustav Brom Big Band, the Ondrej Pivec Organic Quartet, Hiram Bullock, Work,shop&more, Petr Zelenka Quartet, the Miriam Bayle Band, Josef Feco & Connection, Madfinger, Sixin, Navigators, Cechomor and Raduza.
www.myspace.com/mhloucal
Mirek Smilauer – guitar
is known mainly for his unique sound and his refined work with bottleneck technique. He was born in 1980 in Pacov, and like the other members of Lanugo, he studied in the Jazz Studies department of the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory’s post-secondary program. He has worked with many musicians across various genres, including Czech icon of the 1960’s Marta Kubisová, Lenka Dusilová, and the rising Czech-Slovak jazz star, Vertigo Quintet. He currently works at Theater Minor in Prague and plays with other bands, including Med, Benedikta and Cerný mosty.
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