This album presented by Kristina Barta and her quintet, joined by guest vocalist Petra Brabencová, promises a unique fusion of modern jazz with elements of Czech historical and cultural identity. The album will feature original compositions exploring the theme of crossing boundaries, as well as new arrangements of well-known songs—including the legendary “Prayer for Martha,” a symbol of Czech resistance against occupation or an arrangement of Ukrainian folk song. The song "Komme deg ut" with Norwegian lyrics reflects the atmosphere of the Nordic space and also highlights people's alienation from themselves and the lack of connection. Israel 1948 is the music has become a bridge over the silence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The core lineup of pianist Kristina Barta’s quartet includes renowned Slovenian saxophonist Jure Pukl, known for his work on the New York jazz scene. During his studies at Berklee College of Music in the U.S., he collaborated with major figures such as Dave Liebman and Esperanza Spalding, and his work has been praised by saxophone legend Joe Lovano. Pukl’s style, rooted in lightness and freedom, plays a vital role in the quartet, enriching its sound with an international influence.

Kristina Barta - piano, composition 

Jure Pukl - tenor and alto saxophone

Petra Brabencová - lead vocal

Tuva Hellum - lead vocal

Peter Korman - bass

Marek Urbánek - drums

Filip Kaňkovský - poet

lyrics written by Iva Korgerová, Jakub Gruss, Tuva Hellum

Recorded in Svárov, November 18, 2024, Lukáš Martínek / Mix by Lukáš Martínek / Master in Parma Recordings by Jan Košulič / Amplion; ©2026

1. Inside the Monastery
2. Nese Hal’a Vodu (Hal’a is Carrying Water)
3. Israel 1948
4. Newborn
5. Modlitba pro Martu (A Prayer for Martha)
6. Reality
7. Broumov
8. Pressure
9. Komme Deg Ut (Get Yourself Out)

Inside the Monastery

„This piece was born in the silence of the Broumov monastery, at a time when you were still hidden from the world – unborn, yet already present. We spent days together in calm, light, and a special sense that something was coming into being – not just you, but me in a new role. It is my message to you: about the freedom I wish for you, the courage to be yourself, and the tenderness and wildness you can carry at once. Whoever you become, may you always hear your own voice – as purely as then, in the monastery’s silence.“

Nese Hal’a Vodu (Hal’a is Carrying Water)

„The morning the world changed – February 24, 2022. Nese Hal’a Vodu is for me an image of quiet, unstoppable movement. Something sets in motion before we can even name it. Drop by drop, news by news. You were exactly one month old when the war began – so fragile, so new, barely arrived – and yet the world was already shaking. It is a beginning – not abstract, but real. The beginning of the war in Ukraine. The moment when the distant becomes personal, when fear beyond the borders starts seeping into our own space. In the album, it marks a turning point: the end of safety, the end of illusion that things would remain as they were. And at the same time, the start of an inner response – the need to protect, understand, and remember.“

Israel 1948

„This composition is a tribute to the innocent lives violently interrupted during the attack on a music festival in Israel. On October 7, 2023, attackers on motorcycles and in cars began shooting at young people who had come just to dance, listen to music, and be together. Over 370 people were killed, dozens more were kidnapped. The piece is a quiet reflection on horror and a reminder that music has the power to preserve memory, humanity, and the courage to remember. It is my tribute to those who should never have faced such violence.“

Newborn

„I will return to this moment again and again – for a lifetime. A child was born. My Marlene is here. This piece is my first message to you, my newly born light. Welcome among us.
With love, Mom“

Modlitba pro Martu (A Prayer for Martha)

„A Prayer for Martha honors the courage, hope, and resilience of the Czech nation. In August 1968, Warsaw Pact troops led by the Soviet Union crossed Czechoslovak borders to crush the Prague Spring and the freedom people had longed for. It is my musical message to those who stood together in those dark days and believed in a better future. It is both a quiet plea and a celebration of life, perseverance, and human bravery – a reminder that freedom must never be taken for granted.“

Reality

„How difficult it is to live in a reality overflowing with stimuli. The digital world, full of information, images, and expectations, crosses our personal boundaries and draws us into an endless flow. Reality is the peak of this storm – an energetic, pulsing current. It is a musical depiction of digital chaos, its force and inevitability.“

Broumov

„Broumov (a town in the Sudetes, German name Braunau) carries the atmosphere of a harsh border landscape and the weight of history – a place where nature meets human destiny and borders have always touched the lives and stories of its inhabitants. It reflects the strength of the environment and the heavy fates it has left behind.“

Pressure

„This piece celebrates the power of women – the pressure life brings and the energy every woman carries when bringing new beings into the world. Pressure is a musical image of this feminine strength – invisible yet immensely powerful. It reminds us that life is born from courage, energy, and the deep inner force each woman carries.“

Komme Deg Ut (Get Yourself Out)

„A Norwegian composition reflecting human alienation from oneself and the surrounding world. It is a call to slow down, step away from social media and constant digital noise, and reconnect with oneself, personal contact, and authentic experience. The music leads us back to introspection, genuine relationships, and perceiving the world without constant filtering and digital pressure. It is an appeal to rediscover the joy of the present moment.“

PRESS / INTERVIEW CZECH RADIO

PRESS / JAZZPORT.CZ

CONCERT REVIEW IN CZECH / July 2025 / JAZZPORT.CZ

Thanks for supporting to IDU, SoundCzech / www.soundczech.cz, Year of Czech Music, OSA