Praed + Michaela Turcerová
The collaboration of Praed and Michaela Turcerová will be an Alternativa special. Praed, in the basal form a duo of Lebanese Raed Yassin and Swiss Paed Conca, have been concocting a diverse fusion of Arabic popular music (especially Egyptian shaabi), contemporary electronics and free jazz for almost two decades. It's an explosive mixture that recalls the psychedelia of Dwarfs of East Agouza as well as Nadah El Shazly’s contemporary adaptations (it's no coincidence that the aforementioned have been featured in the expansive Praed Orchestra! line-up). Yassin and Conca, however, remain true to the electronic form of the genre and, above all, to its frenzied energy. This is folk entertainment reimagined without disdain, on the contrary with an obvious fondness for the characteristic sound of the Arabic wind instrument mizmar, exuberant keys and frenetic beats. The electronic component is primarily handled by Yassin; Conca additionally sneaks in the earthy clarinet. The seasoned Swiss improviser and the versatile Lebanese, whose range extends from visual arts to performance art to organising the Irtijal festival, will be joined in Prague by Slovak, Denmark-based saxophonist Michaela Turcerová. Her range includes free improvisation and contemporary composition; her approach is shaped by minimalism and considerations of space and silence. The exact nature of her contribution to Praed will of course be a surprise, but one can expect both virtuosity and imaginative manipulations of her instrument's sound.
Concert was supported by organizace the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.