Praha

The Vlach Quartet (Czech: Vlachovo kvarteto) is the name of two consecutive classical string quartet musical ensembles, based in Prague, both of which were founded by members of the Vlach family. The original Vlach Quartet was founded by Josef Vlach (cs) in 1949 and wound up in 1975. In 1982 the New Vlach Quartet (Czech: Nové Vlachovo kvarteto) was founded by his daughter Jana Vlachova, with guidance her father, and came to be known as the Vlach Quartet of Prague (Czech: Vlachovo kvarteto Praha), and is still active as a musical ensemble.

“A Munich-based collective that defies most typical genre association, Ark Noir blends electronic-inspired beats with instrumental improvisation to create new sounds derived from a plethora of influences. Not necessarily a “dance band,“ Ark Noir considers its music conducive to movement, capable of transmitting cinematic imagery into listeners’ minds.”

The third release from this European improvisational trio demonstrates again the beautifully strange, ecstatic and uncanny spaces these three musicians can find themselves in. The term “jazz” has become a convenient umbrella for very different kinds of music, but even so, this adventurous album defies categorization. The trio members definitely have roots in the jazz world: they play instruments common in jazz, free improvisation is central to their practice and they all lead and/or perform in other bands that can definitely be classified jazz.