Toša (CZ), Bratislava Improvisers Orchestra

The musical duo Toša consists of Klára Pudláková and Michal Wróblewski. Klára Pudláková is an established Czech double bassist and composer who leads or co-leads the ensembles Maomah, Pudlax, Avokaduo, Uthando and a duo with Danish vibraphonist Viktoria Sondergaard. She also composes for all these ensembles. In addition, she collaborates with a variety of artists in a wide range of genres, from jazz to contemporary music to interdisciplinary dance and theater performances.

Michal Wróblewski is a Czech composer and saxophonist with Polish roots who co-leads the ensembles E Converso, JWQ and Karm, composes chamber music for various performers and ensembles, and collaborates with improvisers from all over the world.

Michal and Klára’s new joint project presents their own compositions combined with unbridled and unpredictable improvisation. The duo’s music ranges from poignant and straightforwardly melodic pieces through soundscapes to wild rhythmic rampages. Together, the two musicians explore the possibilities of combining saxophone and double bass, experimenting with references from different musical traditions and their combinations.

And always different and always surprising performances of different sections by the cast of the variable resident ensemble in A4 – the Bratislava Improvisers Orchestra. The ensemble is a loose group of musicians playing both acoustic and electronic instruments, dedicated to freely improvised music of various forms. The concert will be the outcome of a workshop with Michal Wróblewski.

Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council and Bratislava City Foundation.