Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers

23/03/23, 19:00

ONDŘREJ HAVELKA and his MELODY MAKERS discover a TREASURE ON THE SILVER SCREEN

From the moment sound film was born, enthusiastic audiences have been eager not only for the spoken word, but especially for music and singing. Above all, musical comedies and the first film musicals were very popular. In fact, no film should have at least one song. That's why we decided to compile our new concert program from the most beautiful song treasures that were heard on the film screen in the 1930s and 1940s. Our common experience will certainly be enhanced by the fact that, in many cases, we will certainly remember specific scenes in which the heroes, who are mostly passionately in love, sang them while listening to them. And so not only sweet and hot pieces of American provenance will be heard, but also many immortal songs from ageless comedies with Oldřich Nový, Hugo Hass, Adina Mandlová and other stars of Czech film.

The boards of the Mahen Theater are briskly moving on March 23, 2023.

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Ondřej Havelka

A multi-talented entertainer who has been performing jazz and popular music of the 20s and 30s as a singer, dancer and tap dancer since his student days. He recorded 6 albums with the Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra.

In 1995, he created a series of three clips as a screenwriter, performer and director. One of these clips received an award at the Czech Grammy 1995 as "Clip of the Year". Another - "Jingle Bells" - was bought and aired on MTV-Latin. In the same year, he founded his own swing big-band Melody Makers, with which he currently performs.

The band members are:

Juraj Bartoš (trumpet, band leader); Michal Krása (trumpet); Jiří Patócs (trumpet); Michal Plecitý (trombone); Petr Tichý (guitar); Jiří Pípa Novák (jazz band); Miroslav Lacko (piano); Petr Vlášek (double bass); Pavel Jordánek (alto saxophone, clarinet); Martin Tříska (alto saxophone, clarinet); Jan Tříska (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Bedřich Šmarda (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, clarinet); Martin Zbrožek (violin); Jiří Sládek (violin).

Ondřej Havelka's concerts are also accompanied by his children - Vojta and Rozálie Havelka.

Together they are engaged in an authentic interpretation (which is becoming more and more popular among listeners) of the music of the early and peak swing period from the early 1930s to the early 1940s. films - there is always a lot to look forward to during their performances.

www.melodymakers.cz