This CD brings a Czech label new to me and two concertos which are billed as world premiere recordings. Indeed, I don’t believe that I have ever heard any of Kraft’s music: neither he nor his father features in the Oxford Companion to Music, though they receive a short joint entry in the Concise Grove. Mikuláš (Nikolaus) Kraft was the son of Anton or Antonín Kraft a member of the Esterházy orchestra and composition pupil of its director, Haydn. Nikolaus was born at Esterházy-Kastély, as it is now known, and no less a person than the Prince was his godfather.
On "PraeBachtorius", works by Praetorius and Bach based on the same Lutheran chorales are ingeniously combined, so that the respective verses of Bach and Praetorius are heard immediately after each other. It is impressive how well Praetorius' music of the late Renaissance combines with Bach's baroque music to form a harmonious whole on this CD.
Petter Kraft and Per Borten were asked to do work on commission for Jazzfest Trondheim in 2022. Already long-time friends, they gathered yet others to form Cobra Kraft consisting of Petter Kraft (Tenor sax), Per Borten (Guitars), Vegard Bjerkan (Keyboards), Eirik Øien (Bass) and Kenneth Kapstad (Drums).