1987

Jazz–Fusion Band from Ostrava formed by Boris Urbánek. Musical face of TUTU was markedly affected by Miles Davis’ influence. The name of the band is derived from Davis’ best-selling album from the year 1986. Products of jazz composers like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, M. Stern, J. Scofield, Jellowjackets and others inspired original repertoire, which was completed mostly by Boris’ songs. TUTU music can be characterized as electronic fusion music.

Band members:

Boris Urbánek – piano, keyboards, leader

Ivan Myslikovjan (*1960) - alto sax (later Buty, Misik’s ETC, Karel Gott Band, Laura a jeji Tygri, Kontraband )

Jenny Krompolc (*1960) – bass guitar (Supernova, later Peter Lipa’s Combo)

Rene Šimon (*1963) – drums (later M. Prokop’s Framus 5M)

At this time the first tapes for Czech Public Radio Ostrava were recorded.

A great impetus for the band was meeting with Miles Davis at the jazz festival in Pori, Finland(July 1987), where Miles graciously agreed to and consecrated the name of the band TUTU!!!

Really!!!

 

1988

TUTU is joined by drummer Michal Hejna (*1961) from ESP, later member of M. Prokop’s Framus 5M, Hot Line, Veleband or Jiri Stivín Co. Band performed in this setting at jazz festivals in the Czechoslovakia and won the first prize at “Jazz Days” in Sumperk in 1988, in Prerov on CAJF also this year and won the “Bronze Thermal Spring” in Karlovy Vary in 1989. Based on these successes TUTU was invited to the prestigious festival “Bratislava’s Jazz Days”.

Boris Urbánek – piano, keyboards, leader

Ivan Myslikovjan - alto sax

Jenny Krompolc - bass guitar

Michal Hejna - drums

  

 

1989

During this time Michal Hejna, who spent one year in the USA, was substituted by the young and very talented Slovak drummer Emil Fratrik (*1968). TUTU made another series of tapes for CPR in which Radek Pastrnak (Buty) also played as a guest artist.

Boris Urbanek – piano, keyboards, leader

Ivan Myslikovjan - alto sax

Jenny Krompolc – bass guitar

Emil Fratrik - drums

 

1990

A Slovak popular guitarist and sideman Andrej Seban (*1963), also member of Richard Muller’s Band and Peter Lipa’s Combo, joined the band.

Band members:

Boris Urbánek – piano, keyboards, leader

Ivan Myslikovjan - alto sax

Andrej Seban - guitar

Jenny Krompolc – bass guitar

Emil Fratrik - drums

 

1991

As a culmination of electronic era, the CD “Mr. Jazzman” (DDD) was produced and published by Arta Records and was accepted by audiences and critics alike. After finishing recording, alto sax player Ivan Myslikovjan left the band and later joined Karel Gott Band.

TUTU, now only a trio with Slovak drummer Cyril Zelenak as a guest artist, made a very successful tour around Spain and played in many places like Malaga, Jerez dela Frontera, Vittoria, Bilbao, Hellin, Andujar or Ponferrada.

Boris Urbánek – piano, keyboards, leader

Andrej Seban - guitar

Jenny Krompolc – bass guitar

Emil Fratrik - drums

  

 1992

Band made many appearances and performed in jazz festivals all over Europe: Holland – “Aarhus International Jazz Festival” or “Jazz In Duketown”, Germany – “Braunschweig”, Poland – “Krakowskie zadusky”, Slovakia – “Bratislava’s Jazz Days” and ”Presov’s Jazz Days” and also in the Czech Republic – “Agharta Jazz Festival” and “Jazz On the Border” in Ceský Tesin.

During this year Slovak Marek Minarik (*1972) (later Lucie) replaced bass guitarist Jenny Krompolc.

TUTU made a video for song “Mr. Jazzman” – screenplay and directed by Ondrej Trojan.

Boris Urbánek – piano, keyboards, leader

Ivan Myslikovjan - alto sax

Andrej Seban - guitar

Jenny Krompolc/ Marek Minarik – bass guitar

Emil Fratrik - drums

  

 1993

The above formation broke up. Boris Urbanek, Ostrava’s Academy of Music graduate Marek Patrman (*1971), and Slovak contrabassist Juraj Kalasz created an acoustic trio and made TUTU’s second tour around Spain (Orense,Teruel, Santiago de Compostela)

Band went through radical personal changes.

The band welcomed new members:

Boris Urbánek – piano, keyboards, leader

Marek Patrman  - drums

Martin Gaspar (*1972) – bass, Bratislava’s bass player, University of Music graduate

Roman Pokorny (*1966) - guitar, one of today’s best jazz guitar players in the Czech Republic, later wins Czech Jazz Company trophy “Jazz Charlie” several times.

TUTU’s music began to lean more toward acoustic sound.

 

1996

Arta Records produced a second and again very successful CD “Sundance”. Band performed many concerts and festivals – “Jazz Goes to Town” - Hradec Kralove, “Jazz na hranici” - Ceský Tesin, “Trencin’s Jazz Festival”, “Agharta Jazz Festival” in Prague”.

 

1997

New drummer, Marcel “bunka” Buntaj (*1976), member of many bands in Slovakia joined TUTU. Band participated on recording of the acid jazz and hip-hop CD “Boris Urbanek and Emil Viklicky - UV Drive”, published by Arta Rec.

The band welcomed new members:

Boris Urbánek – piano, keyboards, leader

Roman Pokorný –quitar

Martin Gaspar - bass

Marcel “bunka” Buntaj - drums

    

  

   

 

2000-2006

Boris Urbanek - piano, keyboards, leader
Michal Zacek - soprano sax
Martin Gaspar - basguitar, double bass
Marcel Buntaj - drums

TUTU is joined by a sax and flute player Michal Zacek. Michal plays with numerous Czech and Slovak artists (Peter Lipa, Jana Kirschner, Richard Muller and other) and is a leader of his own group The Gizd Q. TUTU plays all over the Czech Republic with many guests such as Josef Skrzek from legendary SBB from Poland.

On October 30th 2006 TUTU performed on stage at New Gallery at Prague's Castle as a part of "Jazz on the Castle" tour which is organized by President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Vaclav Klaus.