KROKE fusion polonaise

With Bester Quartet, Kroke (which means Cracow in Yiddish) is one of the most interesting band of the "klezmer revival" in Poland. It was formed in 1992 by three friends, graduates of Kraków Academy of Music : Jerzy Bawol (accordion), Tomasz Kukurba (viola) and Tomasz Lato (double bass). The group members completed all stages of standard music education, including jazz and modern music. At the beginning, Kroke played music which was deeply set in Jewish and Balkan tradition, to enrich it later with Oriental and Indian sounds, elements of jazz, improvisation, creating their own characteristic style. According to Janusz Makuch and Daniel Gerson of the Music Festival (Krakow Jewish Culture Festival), Kroke is « creating new and unique compositions, and a sound heretofore unknown to Jewish music.»

They began by playing in the Café Ariel in Kazimierz, the former Jewish district, where they were "discovered" in 1993 by Steven Spielberg filming Schindler’s List. The trio has collaborated with many artists, for instance English violinist Nigel Kennedy - since 2002 Artistic Director of the Polish Chamber Orchestra - with whom they published the album "East Meets East". In 2003, the band became a quartet when the well known Polish drummer and percussionist Tomasz Grochot joined it.
The musicians communicate distinct musical personalities through their improvisations. Jerzy Bawol creates original note-bending effects on his accordion, Tomasz Lato's bass doubles as a percussion instrument and Tomasz Kukurba switches between viola and violin, sometimes accompanying himself in abstract vocalisations. The result : innovative, enthralling fusion and mystical staging.

http://kroke.com.pl/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IOQ9ARwj38
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md5HCjB3EzM