Herak｜Bulatkin “Elysium”

Miro Herak｜Vibraphone
Daniel Bulatkin｜Piano/Keyboard
Johannes Fend｜Double bass
Martin Hafizi｜Drums

Selected as the official jazz ambassadors for the 2024 Czech “Year of Music,” Herak | Bulatkin “Elysium” is a modern jazz ensemble spanning four Central European countries, blending poetic expression with explosive energy.

Led by Dutch vibraphonist poet Miro Herak and Czech pianist Daniel Bulatkin, joined by Austrian bassist Johannes Fend and Bulgarian drummer Martin Hafizi, the group boasts a fresh lineup and unique character.

They weave together the passion of Slavic and Gypsy folk melodies, the layered textures of Impressionist classical music, and the intense rhythms of Balkan beats, creating a sound vocabulary rich in tension and emotional dynamics.

Their collaboration with renowned saxophonist Seamus Blake on the track “The Simple Things” earned the Czech OSA “Best Jazz Composition of the Year” award, demonstrating their innovative and aesthetic musical language.