Pavol Bodnar - a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and teacher. In 1996, the Slovak Jazz Association awarded him the Ladislav Martonik Prize and the title Jazzman of the Year 1996 in Slovakia. Recently, he has been awarded the 2006 AUREL prize, the annual prize given by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, for his Ecce Jazz CD being considered best jazz album release.
He was born in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, on March 24th, 1959. Attended piano lessons from the age of six. His father was an amateur musician, who loved playing piano and violin and introduced him to the magic of American jazz. In addition to his study of European classical music at the Conservatory in Zilina ( 1976 – 1979 ) and biochemistry at J.A.Komensky University ( 1979 – 1984 ), he later attended prestigious Berklee College of Music for his jazz studies in Boston, Massachusetts, USA (1992 – 1993).
In 1990, Pavol was a finalist at the international jazz competition Concours Internationale des Themes de Jazz in Monaco with his composition Cheerful Afternoon. This success resulted in his winning a full scholarship for the study at Berklee College, where he spent two semesters. In particular, he focused on jazz composition ( Ted Pease ) and jazz arrangements ( Jeff Friedman ). He also participated in diverse school programs, including for example the accompaniment of musical singers and the recording for the film scoring department.
He has been working over the years with musicians of diverse styles, including the classical music projects, traditional jazz, swing, bebop, modern mainstream and American musical ensembles, as well as Latin, soul, R&B, gospel and ethno jazz bands. Among others, he has played with jazz musicians like Joe Muranyi, Harry Sokal, Larry Smith, Winand Gabor, Peter Cardarelli, Piotr Baron, Grzegorz Nagorski, Elsa Valle, Errol Weiss Schlabach, Barbara Montgomery, Enzo Ruggieri, Philippe Lavoipierre, Peter Lipa, Jaroslav Country Cervenka, as well as with groups - Peter Lipa Band, Peter Cardarelli & Pavol Bodnar Band, Slovak Polish Jazz Quartet, Close Harmony Friends, Polemic, VladoVizar Jazz Quartet, All Time Jazz Trio, etc.
Nowadays, he works mainly for two bands, the InterJAZZional Band and V4JAZZ. While his previous work and piano style were formed by both European classical music and American jazz from the 1930s to the 1970s, recently he has begun experimenting with use of Centraleuropean folk music motives. His compositions reflect diverse influences he soaked up from the childhood. In his music, the Slavic melodic, Latin rhythms structures and North American jazz harmonies are noticeble, whereby all these together are joined in a unique eclectic music concept. Considering formal frames of Pavol´s modern compositions, he uses typical jazz forms as well as original forms naturally created by means of compositional techniques of modern classical music ( CD Ecce Jazz, Hevhetia, 2006 ).
Pavol, as a pianist, is a skilled improvizer in general terms. He has two strengths – the accompaniment of singers and spontaneous improvizing over baroque forms. He often works with jazz singers as well as theater ensembles singers. He, for instance, played in Freie Buehne Wieden, Vienna, in Astorka theater, Bratislava, etc. Nowadays, he also teaches both the musical and pop singing at the Church conservatory in Bratislava. In 2000, Pavol was headmaster of the J.S.Bach anniversary concert Bach In Jazz & Jazz in Bach, that took place in Slovak Radio, Bratislava.
As a pianist, arranger and composer he's participated in production of more than 20 CD. For the recording of acoustic piano, he uses DPA microphones.
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ALL FOR MUSIC - agentura a hudobná škola Jaroslava Žiga robí príjmacie pohovory počas prvých dvoch augustových týždňov v rámci predmetov: spev, gitara, klavír, basa, bicie nástroje... kontakt: Manager : Kamila Trávničková +421-905-759691 +421-911-759691 kamila.travnickova@allformusic.sk Producent : Jaroslav Žigo +421-914-108753 jaroslav.zigo@allformusic.sk
Zdravim, som Francees Lane, nova slovenska spevacka a pozyvam vas na moj zatial oficialne posledny koncert: 4.7.2009 /tuto sobotu/ o 21:00, v Jazzcafe, na Venturskej 5, v BA. Pekny den. Potesi ma vasa ucast a podpora. Francees Lane www.myspace.com/franceeslane
pozyvam na moj koncert: 5.5.2009 o 20:00. "U očka", pub-restaurant na Karpatskej 3, Bratislava. vstup zadarmo Je to blizo Ymci, cesta smerom na Kolibu. Francees Lane www.myspace.com/franceeslane
ROBIS ALL FOR MUSIC? TAK POTOM TA SRDECNE POZÝVAM NA KONCERT MOJICH SPEVÁKOV A HUDOBNÍKOV, DO ROUTE 69 (EX COYOTE UGLY) 28.3.2009 OD 17:00-POKIAL BUDEME VLADAT... TESIME SA NA VAS!
Dear friend! Check out the new song "Prines si ten kluc" that is going to be in semifinal round of Eurovision song contest. please, comment and cross fingers 4 me! :))) Andrea.
Hi Pavol! So you must have your landlegs back. Very best to you on your upcoming concert. Let's be in touch and play some more music again soon, OK? Be well.
Hi Pavol, how are you...whats new by you...when we'll start to produce new songs...I'm active for lyrics:) take care and say hello to all family... :))
Ahoj, diky za add. The Dave Rawlinson Band z USA pozdravuje svojich priateľov na Slovensku. Dúfame, že sa vám naša hudba páči, a že vás môžeme zaradiť medzi našich fanúšikov. You have some great sounds!
Ciao Pavol Bodnar - Una canzone è davvero bella quando le sue note giungono dritte al cuore! - A song is really beautiful when his notes come straight to the heart! - Una canción es realmente hermosa cuando sus notas vienen directamente al corazón! My new cd is in CDBABY.COM and ITUNE !!!
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