Druhá Tráva
Encyclopedia
Druhá Tráva is a bluegrass
band from the Czech Republic
, formed in 1991 by Robert Křesťan. As of August 2005, they have released eighteen studio albums either as a group or as side projects.
They, along with much of Central Europe
were inspired by Pete Seeger
's tour there in 1982. Bluegrass music had existed in the Czech Republic since the mid 1960s. Along with American folk music, it was popular among many of the students involved in the Prague Spring
in 1968. These events led to the interesting situation that bluegrass and folk music was considered politically subversive by some of the Communist elite.
Along with Křesťan (lead vocals, guitar
), the original line-up consisted of Luboš Malina (banjo
), Jiří Meisner (bass guitar
), Pavel Malina (guitar
), and Luboš Novotný (dobro
). In 2004, the line-up changed considerably, with Jiří Meisner and Martin Ledvina leaving the group and Petr Surý (bass) and Emil Formánek (guitar, mandolin and harmony vocals) joining.
Druhá Tráva are commonly compared to their bluegrass
and folk
forerunners such as Ricky Skaggs
, Peter Rowan, Davy Spillane
, and Béla Fleck
as well. The band recently signed to Compass Records
. On Compass they released their sixth studio album, Czechmate, and an album with Peter Rowan, New Freedom Bell. In September 2004 they released an all-acoustic album entirely with English lyrics, Good Morning Friend, which was released in Czech Republic
on the Universal
label.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
band from the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, formed in 1991 by Robert Křesťan. As of August 2005, they have released eighteen studio albums either as a group or as side projects.
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
were inspired by Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
's tour there in 1982. Bluegrass music had existed in the Czech Republic since the mid 1960s. Along with American folk music, it was popular among many of the students involved in the Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
in 1968. These events led to the interesting situation that bluegrass and folk music was considered politically subversive by some of the Communist elite.
Along with Křesťan (lead vocals, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), the original line-up consisted of Luboš Malina (banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
), Jiří Meisner (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Pavel Malina (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), and Luboš Novotný (dobro
Dobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
). In 2004, the line-up changed considerably, with Jiří Meisner and Martin Ledvina leaving the group and Petr Surý (bass) and Emil Formánek (guitar, mandolin and harmony vocals) joining.
Druhá Tráva are commonly compared to their bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
forerunners such as Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs
Rickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...
, Peter Rowan, Davy Spillane
Davy Spillane
Davy Spillane is a songwriter and a player of uilleann pipes and low whistle.early yearsDavy was born in Dublin in 1959 . At the age of 12 he started playing the uilleann pipes. His father encouraged him and inspired him with his love of all music genres...
, and Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck
Béla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
as well. The band recently signed to Compass Records
Compass Records
Compass Records is a Nashville-based independent record label founded in 1995 by musicians Garry West and Alison Brown. Currently home to nearly 100 folk, bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, and new acoustic artists, the label releases about 20 records a year...
. On Compass they released their sixth studio album, Czechmate, and an album with Peter Rowan, New Freedom Bell. In September 2004 they released an all-acoustic album entirely with English lyrics, Good Morning Friend, which was released in Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
on the Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
label.
Discography
- Robert Křesťan a Druhá Tráva (Bonton, 1991)
- Revival (Monitor, 1992)
- Starodávný svět (Venkow, 1994)
- Druhá Tráva s Pavlínou Jíšovou (Venkow, 1995)
- Second Grass Live (Venkow, 1995)
- Postcard (Venkow/Polygram, 1997)
- Czechmate (Venkow, 1998)
- Piece of Cake (Malina's solo album, featuring the rest of the band) (Venkow, 1998)
- New Freedom Bell (with Peter Rowan (Compass RecordsCompass RecordsCompass Records is a Nashville-based independent record label founded in 1995 by musicians Garry West and Alison Brown. Currently home to nearly 100 folk, bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, and new acoustic artists, the label releases about 20 records a year...
, 1999) - Best and Last (Venkow, 2001)
- Nech svět, ať se točí dál (Venkow, 2002)
- Live in Brno (with Charlie McCoyCharlie McCoyCharles "Charlie" Ray McCoy is an American musician noted for his harmonica playing. In his career, McCoy has backed several notable musicians including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Astor, Elvis Presley and Ween. He has also recorded thirty-seven studio albums, including fourteen for Monument Records...
Venkow, 2004) - Good Morning, Friend (Universal, 2004)
- Dylanovky (Universal, 2007)
- Marcipán z Toleda (Universal, 2011)