A SKILFUL MANAGER COULD CERTAINLY TURN A LISTENER-FRIENDLY AND LOCALLY AUTHENTIC MUSICAL FORMATION INTO A VERY ATTRACTIVE CZECH BAND FOR FOREIGN FESTIVALS AND CLUBS … ” VÁCLAV VRANÝ
(…) Folk music performed by Mantaban takes on a timeless expression, always uniquely capturing key moments in human life, such as birth, love, war and death. Mantaban successfully avoids any stereotype and self-repetition. The music on Splatters is extremely distinctive and flows in several layers of style and genre. Folk roots are mixed with jazz inspirations, as well as contemporary and experimental music techniques and practices. In some songs we can hear aleatoric elements and unconventional way of playing musical instruments. Of course, there are excellent instrumental interludes, superb interplay and animalistic musicality. (…) MILAN BÁTOR (https://vltava.rozhlas.cz/splatters-8378429)
MANTABAN is a modern project created by Jiri Hodina, a folk violinist, along with Jan Jirucha (trombone), Petr Kalfus (soprano saxophone) and Alex Aslamas (violin), jazz musicians, who take great joy in playing this new music form but still haven’t abandoned their blues roots. Mantaban’s music is inspired by local folklore and they recently recorded a new ep Splatters. In 2017 they recorded an album: Neon Folk. Four experienced musicians, building bridges between modern and traditional music, to produce a unique sound combining influences from many sources.
How did they start?
The idea of playing together didn’t come out of nowhere. In the begin there was a original Mantaban project which featured Jiri Hodina and several of his friends (Jiri Stivin, Ondrej and Stepan Skochovi, Jan Mikusek, Tadeas Mesany, Hana Vyšínská, Marek Špelina, Martin Kaplan ). Later the current line-up came together at the start of 2017. ‘We got together of a few beers and soon worked out our instruments would sound good together. This Jazz/Folk/Beer combo tasted so good we decide to make it our own brand…. And so was born the new Mantaban.
What is their goal?
The band hope to carry on making music and to talk to their audience through spontaneous, unusual recordings. (The album Neon Folk was recorded with the help of Studio 3 Bees)
Who are they?
It is difficult to put Mantaban into any specific pigeon hole. ‘We’re a group of creative, enthusiastic performers who seek to approach folk music from a different perspective. You can imagine Mantaban’s music playing in many different venues. From folk festivals to Lucerna Music bar. Weddings to funerals :-)’
What drives the band?
Mantaban are inspired by having a good time. ‘Music is fundamental to all our lives and we don’t want to keep our songs to ourselves. We’re hoping we can reach out and touch others with this happiness.
What about new ep Splatters?
We chose the name according to the jazz trio The Splatter Trio, which dealt with free improvisation and playing from graphic scores. We tried to stimulate the listener’s musical imagination and fantasy and let everyone listen to their own story. Perhaps ep will delight you with its atmosphere, charge and energy.
