TROITSA (Byelorussia)
www.troitsaetno.narod.ru

Ivan Chirciuc - vocal, ocarina, dud, flute, guitar, lira, smic, dombra
Iurii Pavlovschii - pecrussions, drums
Iurii Dmitriev - guitar, vocal, lira, dombra, cetera�
Participating at an alternative music contest in 1996, organized by SOROS foundation this trio received a high public sympathy and the juries notice it by awarding them with the first prize. Since this moment the trio began very intense their concert activity in Byelorussia and abroad. During the 7 years they held more than 400 concerts and recorded the most successful on 3 CD's at the PAN-Records studio in Nederland.
15 years of Ivan Circiuc's folkloric expeditions in the Byelorussian villages founded the ethno basis of the conception of self-expression of the trio. The archaic folk ritual songs were organically included in their repertoire and were fulfilled in the modern times, saving authentically sounded the archaic and the folkloric melodies. Troitsa gave a new life to the songs that was on the way of disappearing. This group is like a link between the past and the future, of the history values, and way of existence of this nation.

OKAY TEMIZ PROJECT (Turkey, Moldova)

Okay Temiz - pecrussions, drums
Oleg Baltaga - pecrussions, drums
Alexandr Zavalii - pecrussions, drums
The Turkish super star Okay Temiz is now reaching a wider audience with his exciting, innovative percussion playing, and his unique approach to multi-cultural music. He is graduating Conservatoire in Ankara and launches his professional musical career in 1955.
His 30 years work in Scandinavia, the innovators experiments concerning folk and jazz music, makes Okay to became one of the greatest musicians of the world. Okay Temiz plays all kinds of percussion instruments that he has collected all over the world and confected by himself. Okay's Projects involve a harmony between folk and improvisation; create a sound that is on the foreground of today's World Music Okay Temiz has participated in more than 250 festivals, played about 3000 concerts, and released 57 CDs in different countries: In 1991 his album "Fis Tziganes", reached Number 3 on the French music charts, CD "Green Wave", for years remained to be among the top 10 of World Music DJs' annual lists. The CD released in Greece was shortly chosen and rated as a five-star album by the Down Beat jazz magazine. He is playing with "Temiz's Romans band" and with his international "Black Sea Orchestra" named "all stars band" by the german press
Oleg Baltaga - trio Trigon.
Alexandr Zavalii - professional percussionist, playing in jazz group Univox. He has participated at jazz festrivals in Moldova, Russia, Holland and France.

BARDOMANIACS (Germany, USA)
www.bardomusik.de

For twenty years now, Michael Bardo Henning has been known as a pianist and composer on stages and at festivals, in radio and television productions across Europe. Bardo Henning's music features a warm lyrical tone, an improvisational power, a rhythmic expressivity and lucidity in composition. He is well known as jazz soloist and like conductor of big band Experimenti Berlin Orchestra He plays in "Band Serene" and "Blauer Salon - lyrics" orchestra, in "Achmed's Dream" - suit for the Turkish chorus and jazz orchestra; in duo and trio with Sirone, Tonz Oxlez and Albert Mangelsdorff. He released 11 CDs in 10 years was awarded in 1981 - prize of German Sound Academy; in 1989 - Jazz Award of the SWF; 1986, 1987, 1989 - the award of Berlin City.
Pauline Boeykens is originally from Michigan USA She holds degrees from the university of Wisconsin-Madison and the Yale school of music. Focusing on chamber music, she has participated at festivals in Aspen and Norfolk (USA) and Banff (Canada). Since 1990 she has lived in Germany where works as a freelance musician. She has played with the north German Radio (NDR) Big Band, Experimenti Berlin, Carla Bley, Robbie Williams, Dedication Orchestra (London), United Women's Orchestra, Salsa Band Mujeres, Solist at Espressiva festival, Bardomaniacs, Howard Johnson's Gravity and various Theater Productions including "Meschugge vor Hoffnung" with Giora Feidman. www.gronitztuba.de