AsGuests profile picture

AsGuests

About Me


Myspace Layouts - Hot Comments

AsGuests has been, since its founding in 1997, essentially a collaboration project between vibraphonist Miro Herak and pianist Michal Vanoucek. They met during their classical music studies at the conservatory in Bratislava (SK) while preparing a concert for the final exam of Miro Herak. It was there, that they for the first time presented their musical ideas in their own compositions in duo as well as in a quartet. After resounding success, they decided to continue the concept of collaborating with different musicians. These musicians play for one or more projects, working with them as guests. This is also where the name originates from. This allowed them not only to change the instrumentation, but also bring together people with different backgrounds. In the period up to 1999, the members of AsGuests included the top of the slovak music scene : Radovan Tariska-alto saxophone, Milo Suchomel-tenor saxophone, Marian Masik-trombone, Juraj Kalasz-bass, Robert Vizvary-electric bass, Peter Solarik-drums, Juraj Bilcik-percussions. After they moved to Holland they both studied in the jazz department of the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, where they finished their Bachelor in 2004 and their Master in 2006. While studying, they formed a quartet with Janos Bruneel – bass and Joao Lobo – drums. This was a start of collaborating and creating projects in Holland. After almost a year of the group playing together in this format, AsGuests won in 2004 the Pim Jacobs Muziek Prijs and The Dutch Jazz Competition, hosted annually by the North Sea Jazz Festival.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 29/12/2006
Band Website: www.asguests.com
Band Members: ASGUESTS DUO

Line up :
Miro Herák-vibraphone
Michal Vaňouček-piano

AsGuests Duo makes room for those two instruments to sound without drums and bass. At some moments, playing and blending the sound together, it is even difficult to tell which instrument is sounding. But, nonetheless, each instrument has it's own recognizable voice which can be heard accompanied or solo. The repertoire extends from rearranged AsGuests songs, some well known standards, to improvisational landscapes in which they combine virtuosity on the instruments with complexity of arrangements and simplicity and a pleasure in making music.

ASGUESTS QUARTET
Line up :
Miro Herák-vibraphone
Michal Vaňouček-piano,
Janos Bruneel-bass
Yonga Sun-drums

After several member and line-up changes, (since 2004) they settled on the quartet with Janos Bruneel on bass and Joao Lobo on drums. The main groundwork has been done in this formation, which included rehearsing of a new repertoire and achieving a compact sound, but especially communication between each other, for the purpose of making their music understandable and accessible. In 2005 a debut cd 'Enter As Guests' has been released by Baileo music productions. This band included also a drummer Vinsent Planjer who can be heard on the DVD 'Live in Belgium' released in 2008 and currently the quartet includes drumer Yonga Sun, who takes a part also in the "Universal Mind" project.

ASGUESTS WITH STRINGS: UNIVERSAL MIND
Line up:
Miro Herák-vibraphone
Michal Vaňouček-piano
Brice Soniano-bass
Yonga Sun-drums
Jeffrey Bruinsma-violin
Oene van Geel-viola
Jörg Brinkman-cello

The music of AsGuests has always been balancing on the verge of the styles, bringing new sounds and combination of instruments together. Since the background is rooted in the styles of classical music and jazz, there always has been an idea to bring string instruments into their music and combine them with the jazz ensamble. The idea of bringing these musicians together and working with them as one unit is to co-create a music, that is accessible to a wider audience. The project presents every musician as a part of the ensemble as well as a soloist, in a variety of compositions build on different modes and rhythms.

ASGUESTS: THE FIFTH SEASON
Line up:
Paul Towndrow-Alto Saxophone
Miro Herák-vibraphone
Michal Vaňouček-piano
Euan Burton-bass
Alyn Cosker-drums

The newest of the projects, this quintet is based on the idea of creating a new sound and a platform for the creativity of every member. The combination of these musicians brings a new adventure. Every member of this group is bringing their original material and arrangements.
Influences:

Record Label: Baileo