Pavel Fajt & Free
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Pavel Fajt & Free

Brno, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic

Brno, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic
Band World Avant-garde

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"Review of CD Drumtrek (2001)"

Drummer Pavel Fajt's signature sound has graced albums by many Czech artists, but what happens when it is left on its own? On this solo CD, Fajt plays drums live, without any overdubs. This approach is highly unusual for a drummer who always remained rooted in the beat. This is no free improvisation, but instant rock composition. The hi-hat opens and closes to provide a pulse followed by Fajt's other limbs. He established a groove, develops a theme, adds variations, and bring things to a conclusion. Sometimes a groove box (the same one he used on the Danubians CD) will allow him to stretch a little more, at others he'll use homemade electronics to bring a sense of melody. On "Drum Trek" they sound like steel drum notes, giving the song a feel very similar to his group Pluto's third album — but played by a one-man band. Limitations of this approach are obvious: Fajt is an inventive drummer, but apart from changes in dynamics, he can't bring much diversity to the table. Rock drummers will appreciate the mastery, while fans of Pluto and the Danubians will have the impression of hearing skeletons of songs. — François Couture - All Music Com


"Concert review"

Solo drums, but no typical drum solo
By David R. Stampone

For The Inquirer

Someone ducking into Tritone for a moment on Sunday night might have assumed there was a major drum solo going on.
Animated Czech trapsman extraordinaire Pavel Fajt was holding forth behind a Ludwig kit, plus accessories, that took up the entire modest stage area in the South Street club's northwest corner.

If one lingered, however, it became clear: this was a one-man tour de force percussion performance - and a complete set of actual, discernible songs, alternately intense and playful.

It was quite the opposite of the usual drum-solo scenario, in which a mid-concert break for other group members from proper compositions can "give the drummer some," allowing a free-form showcase of skills - an exhibition potentially as self-indulgent as impressive.

On Sunday, after his concisely structured set, the drummer was joined by topnotch Philadelphia musicians Tim Motzer (guitar), Wally Smith (keyboards), and drummer Jim Meneses (who organized the gig) for an engaging avant-rock improv session.

It all started with Fajt by himself, running through 10 songs over 40 minutes, most from his 2001 solo album Drum Trek. (He also previewed a track from his forthcoming Santini Constellation, an album recorded in different 18th-century Czech churches built by Italo-Czech architect Jan Santini Aichel.)

All appendages employed, the 51-year-old native of Brno augmented his cymbal work and tom-heavy sound (three mounted tom-toms, two floor toms, a usually open snare drum) by looping and by striking various large tuned springs strung across a sizable miked ring - and tapping his own bald head.

Fajt spends an hour tuning his drums before a performance, affording melodic possibilities; one live song offered some "Beer Barrel Polka" (Czech bartender/composer Jaromír Vejvoda's 1920s hit).

Besides his renowned Eastern European collaborations - with singer/violinist Iva Bittová, rock group Dunaj ('80s/'90s contemporaries of fellow Czechs Uz Jsme Doma), and his own group Pluto - Fajt has repeatedly played with numerous artists around the world, including Philly's Meneses (whose own illustrious pedigree goes back to pioneering early '80s punk-funk "no wave" local band the Stickmen).
- The Philadelphia Inquirer, April, 2009.


Discography

Iva Bittova & Pavel Fajt, Panton, 1986
Iva Bittova & Pavel Fajt: „Svatba“, RecRew, 1987
Iva Bittova & Dunaj, Panton, 1988
„Live at Knitting Factory“ – Volume 4 (compilation), Enemy records, 1990
„Step Across the Border“(compilation), RecRec Music,1990
Dunaj: „Rosol“, Pavian records, 1991
Pavel Fajt & Jim Meneses: „Songs For the Drums“, Pavian records, 1992
Mikolas Chadima & Pavel Fajt: „Transparent People“, Black point, 1994
Anna Homler, Geert Waegeman, Pavel Fajt „Macaronic Sines“, Lowlands, 1995
Pavel Fajt & Pluto, Indies Records, 1996
Anna Homler, Geert Waegeman, Pavel Fajt: „Corne de Vache“, Les Disques Victo, 1997
Pluto: „TRI“, Indies Records, 1998
Stepanida Borisova & Pavel Fajt: „SAKCHA“, label unsigned, 1998
Pavel Fajt, Wendy Zulu: „Ladakh 5-6-7“, Indies records, 2000
The Danubians (Denio, Fajt, Hajnoczy, Kenderesi), Cunieform records, 2001
Pavel Fajt: „DrumTrek“, Indies records, 2001
Gathering of Drummers (International meeting of percussionist) double CD, Indies, 2004
Gathering of Drummers: „Drumming Brew“, Indies, 2006
Autopilote (Fajt, Yumiko, Smeykal, Holy): „IDO“, EMI, 2008
Gathering of Drummers (DVD), A.M.P.& Fajt production, 2009
Pavel Fajt: „Constelation Santini“, Respect Edice, 2009

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWre0DONWYE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQNLPQK8tcU

Photos

Bio

Since the mid-'80s, Pavel Fajt has been one of the most prominent Czech musicians as a drummer, composer, and bandleader. Back home, he first got noticed among the seminal group Dunaj. On the international scene he is the best-known for his duo with Iva Bittová and the appearance in the film and soundtrack Step Across the Border about avant-garde guitar hero Fred Frith.

The first half of the 1990's saw a number of projects filling Fajt's schedule: the Joseph Boys with ex-Dunaj guitarist Vladimír Václavek, the Vogel Europas, Macaronic Sines with Anna Homler and Geert Waegeman, and duos with Extempore leader Mikolás Chadima and drummer Jim Meneses (the Stickmen, Zero Pop, Palinckx).

Fajt founded his own group, Pluto, in 1995, that brought out the best in Fajt, channeling his heavy yet subtle playing style in energy driven songs that were generally accessible yet always on the verge of something avant-garde. In the late '90s, he participated in the Danubians with Amy Denio and members of the Hungarian avant-rock group Kampec Dolores. He released his first solo album, Drum Trek, in 2001. He founded The Gathering of Drummers and recorded an album with the Siberian singer Stepanida Borisova. His latest album is recorded in different 18th-century Czech churches built by Italo-Czech architect Jan Santini Aichel(Santini Consteallation, 2009).

After years of experience with the Gathering of Drummers, the project based on an exceptional meeting of the musicians from different music scenes and parts of the world, Fajt has created his own band which is more focused on written compositions based on polyrhytmic structure from classical music in combination with improvised drum and solo sections inspired by ethnic music. The diverse origin of the band’s members as well as their artistic and technical skills open a new wide space of the instrumentation.

„One of the two drummers I know who can tune the drums.“

Fred Frith

"If one lingered, however, it became clear: this was a one-man tour de force percussion performance - and a complete set of actual, discernible songs, alternately intense and playful."

David R. Stampone, The Philadelphia Inquirer