Arthur Hnatek

Swiss drummer and composer Arthur Hnatek is known for his collaborations with French trumpeter Erik Truffaz and Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan. The world of acoustic jazz was not quite enough for his creative appetite and today, he is also a sought-after DJ with several electronic albums and tracks to his credit.

One of these projects is SWIMS, which he will be performing at Prague's X10 Theatre on October 20. It's a live set in which Hnatek showcases both sides of his creative personality. Through modulators and samplers, he reworks and varies tracks from the namesake SWIMS album, while simultaneously embarking on a whirlwind of rhythmic loops, polyrhythms, and virtuoso breaks over a classic drum set.

"If you want to know how a proficient jazz drummer might be able to define himself in the world of contemporary electronica, SWIMS might be something you're looking for," says Hnatek on his Bandcamp profile. These are words spoken for an album whose production qualities can be admired on many streaming platforms, but his confident statement fits even better for a live show in which Hnatek compliments his smooth mixes with the animalistic energy of an untethered yet extremely focused top-notch performer.

MUSIC IS
The Music Is Festival is a direct successor to the former American Spring Festival, which was held for the first time in 2006. Its main intention is to celebrate music and present it in its diversity, not just as a form of entertainment, but as a means of inspiration and discovery of ourselves and the world around us.

It offers concerts of contemporary classical, modern jazz, electronic and alternative music for all the curious listeners with a desire to explore new things and let the music play on them. The events reflect contemporary musical developments and current themes without genre restrictions.

musicis.cz/