Topoľana is a London based jazz/folk fusion sextet playing compositions inspired by Slovak folk. Its leader, Maria Rehakova writes all the music, taking inspiration from songs she grew up with. The band consists of top up-and-coming young jazz musicians on the London scene.
Line up:
Maria Rehakova - flute, voice
Gustavo Clayton Marucci - clarinet
Sam Knight - tenor saxophone
Charlie Bates - piano
Sam Ingvorsen - double bass
Floyer Sydenham - drums
Check out the music videos to find out more!
SADZILA ANIČKA
This is a composition based on Slovak Folk Song called ‘Sadzila Anička’ meaning ‘Anna was planting’. It’s about a girl planting a violet and praying for rain so that her flower grows.
Videos by
Sound by
Lead Engineer
Assistant Engineers
Rebecca Hordern
Jay Kwok
Massimo Bottaro
Ben Leigh-Grosart
Recorded at the
Institute of Sound Recording
the University of Surrey
by a student on
the Tonmeister course.
DOČKAJ MA ŠUHAJKO
This funky composition emerged from a tune called 'Dočkaj ma šuhajko' (sang at the begging & end)' meaning 'Swain, wait for me'. A young woman is singing to her lover to wait for her in a green valley while she picks some berries. Listening to the original tune, it always made me imagine running up and down hills in the middle of nowhere, picking fruits, and spending time with a person I love, feeling free, relaxed and full of joy - see if you can hear that in the music!
SECESIA / ZBOHOM OSTÁVAJTE
This tune consists of two parts, Secesia (double meaning - secession or Art Nouveau) and Zbohom ostávajte (Farewell, God bless). The second part is an old Slovak wedding tune, a bride singing a goodbye and thank you to her parents and her old family home. The first part is about everything that foregoes a big life change like this; all the struggles of becoming an independent adult and finding the courage to start your own life and your new family.
I'd like to dedicate this tune to my parents Pavol and Zuzana and to my husband Sam.
