Lesni zver

Lesni zver (roughly translatable as Sylvan Game) are an adventurous band playing an energetic mixture of nu-jazz, acoustic drum'n'bass, psychedelia and ethnic influences. Their compositions span from regular songs to purely improvised stuff, when they basically let the music spontaneously drive on in unintended directions, eventually ending up either in heavenly arcs of spiritual joy or in a roaring hell.

"We do not perceive nu-jazz as a music necessarily connected with jazz in the historical sense of the word. It is more of a common ground, a starting point full of freedom and spontaneity, that is not limited by any definition of it as genre, and lets us wildly exploit our imagination."

Lesni zver released its debut CD in June 2009. As described by the band themselves, their eponymous first album is - in contrast with life performance, when everything has natural spontaneous timing - a virtual jam-session with computer, evolving in its very abstract time. The resulting selection of 9 songs represents all the various faces of the band: from articulate songs, some which are laid back and jazzy, gloomy or quite rough or swinging, to fanciful compositions with strong melodies and improvised textural parts, that create very emotional and vibrant soundscapes. As a special guest the album features a folklore band Hornácká muzika Petra Micky, which is a traditional musical ensemble typical for the very eastern part of Moravia, where the traditional folklore still lives and prospers. The sound of the recording was profoundly influenced by very sensitive and inspiring production and mixing work of Dušan Neuwerth (Ecstasy of St.Theresa, Ahn Trio, TATA bojs...).

The band got together in 2001 and have focused mainly on playing live, utilizing the concept of musical performance as a happening. They have gigged various prestigious venues in the Czech republic (Colours of Ostrava, Trutnov open air festival, Jazzinec - support to Eric Truffaz, Jazz Goes to Town festival, Trnkobraní etc.) and abroad (SoundCzech 2012 in Romania, Brussel Jazz Marathon 2012 in Belgium, Eurojazz festival 2011 and Encuentro de Jazz 2011 in Mexico, Kaunas Jazz festival 2010 in Lithuania, Lotos Jazz festival 2010 - support to JAZZANOVA, Summer film academy 2010 and Finale in Poland, New Jazz Days in Slovakia, Summer Tunes Festival and Silent Friday in Germany), performing alongside with Peter Lipa, Al Jawalla or Cinematic Orchestra. The band also took part in multimedia projects of Federico Diaz and David Korínek, and created live alternate soundtrack for Alejandro Jodorowsky's masterpiece Santa Sangre. Right now the band is working on a new record which will be released in September 2013 by Indies Scope.