Musicians: Miklós Both - guitar, vitar (violin-guitar), voice, special effects Kinga Krámli - voice Máté Hegedűs - violin Zoltán Bobár "Boby" - accordion, piano, 3-stringed viola, double bass, synthesizer Kálmán Balogh - cimbalom Csaba Winter - bass Ferenc Pfeiler - drums
Guests: Márton Éri - viola András Németh - hurdy-gurdy
Produced by Ben Mandelson and Paul Keyloch
Released 2007
Label - Folk Europa, Hungary
"Our band plays progressive world-music rooted in Hungarian and Balkan folk music. The musical variegation is coming from the different style and path of the musicians." Napra
From record label:
"What if Jimi Hendrix had heard the playing of a Transylvanian village prímás (violinist)? What if
Béla Bartók were to have heard Jimi Hendrix? And what if YOU were now to hear
Napra?
The common point of departure for the musicians of Napra is the folk music of The Carpathian Basin, Which they interpret in the light of contemporary culture, transposing it into modern sound. In order to do that, of course, it is important that the band members are well-acquainted with the folk music of the region and can move freely within this musical world, and that they are able to adapt its stylistic elements to any musical situation with ease.
What endows Napra with its characteristic power is a combination of the musicians' outstanding instrumental knowledge, virtuosity and dynamic performing style, together with their blend of electric and acoustic sounds and instruments.
What might the line-up of a band formed in the countryside of the 21st century Carpathian Basin look like? Electric guitar, bass (guitar), viola, accordion,
cimbalom, drums, violin and vocals, just as in the case of Napra? Perhaps.. It might be helpful to try and imagine how a village prímás living at the end of the 19th century would have reacted if he had been introduced to the music of Jimi Hendrix, for example. Has that been of any assistance? In any case, this promises to be an
interesting adventure..."