“The most extreme talent Europe has seen for a very long time...” - Per Mathisen, bassist (NO)
“…rising star and a huge talent of the Czech jazz scene…” - Patrick Španko, skjazz.sk (SK)
“Bulatkin promises to become one of the keyboard masters in today’s jazz…”
– Virgil Mihaiu, Jazz Journalists Association (RO)
“Daniel will surely leave a big mark on Czech jazz...” – Brian Charette, organist (USA)
Pianist, organist and composer Daniel Bulatkin, currently residing in the Netherlands, is one of the leading voices of young Czech jazz. Born in 1999, Daniel has been blessed to work since the start with his local role models, as well as tour regularly with foreign names on prestigious stages all over Europe. This has soon culminated in collaborations with jazz & fusion superstars such as Ulf Wakenius, Justin Faulkner, Tineke Postma, Gergo Borlai, Gary Husband and others.
Nowadays, you can hear him play everything from straight-ahead and contemporary jazz, all the way to prog-rock, neo-soul and world music, all the while never losing his signature sound and taste. Dubbed a “rising star” and “extreme talent” by his contemporaries as well as critics, Daniel has two albums (Drifter Days and The New Beginning) out under his name, both featured on the Czech radio’s critics polls as some of the best in their respective years. He also produced the ambitious debut of US vocalist Allison Wheeler – Winterspring.
Collaborations: Zhenya Strigalev (UK/RU), Martin Valihora (SK), Per Mathisen (NO), Ben Tiberio (US), Aviv Cohen (IL), Conor Chaplin (UK), Szymon Mika (PL), Stefan Lievestro (NL), Ruggero Robin (IT), Mike Gotthard (HU), David Dorůžka, Ondřej Štveráček, Yvonne Sanchez, Robert Balzar, Fečo family, Tomáš Baroš, to name a few...
Notable venues: Garana Jazz Festival (RO), Jazzfest Passau (DE), Jazzfestival Steyr (AT), InTime Jazz Festival (BiH), PizzaExpress Jazz Club Soho (UK), Budapest Jazz Club (HU), Divadlo Aréna (SK), Tangente+ Jazz Club (LI), Shablul Jazz Club (IL), JazzClub Tonne (DE), Zig Zag Jazz Club (DE), Voicingers Festival (FR), Blue Note (SK), JazzFestBrno (CZ), Bohemia Jazz Fest (CZ), Jazzinec Festival (CZ), Jazz Dock (CZ)...
FULL BIO - Download
'Winterspring'
BANDCAMP:
Allison Wheeler – vocals, music & lyrics
Daniel Bulatkin – piano, keys & producer
Max Makagonov – double bass
Petr Nohavica – drums
and sp. guests:
David Dorůžka – el. guitar
Luboš Soukup – clarinet, soprano & tenor sax
What started as a random run-in of US-vocalist Allison Wheeler and Czech pianist Daniel Bulatkin on the streets of Prague has blossomed into one of the most noteworthy vocal projects in Europe today. Winterspring tells a classic tale of opposing forces working together towards growth. Jazz-like in structure, the album weaves tales of love, light and loneliness into a unique blend of styles driven by sweeping vocals and colourful accompaniment. Released in the UK by Ubuntu Music, this album has been one of the most spoken-about debuts on the scene.
"Gorgeous, varicoloured collection of imaginatively crafted songs, performed and sung with enormous heart..."
– 4*, Jazzwise Magazine (UK)
"The spell that Allison Wheeler casts with her debut album Winterspring felt more potent the third time through, and each subsequent spin deepened the reverie."
– Jazz Times (USA)
"Allison Wheeler's debut is one of the strongest song collections of the last few years."
– 96%, jazzport.cz
"Sophisticated, deeply personal album about hope and growth in the midst of darkness."..."The support of Bulatkin's trio is exemplary."
– Czech Jazz Radio
'Drifter Days'
BANDCAMP:
DANIEL BULATKIN – hammond, piano & synth
KIRILL YAKOVLEV – guitar, balalaika & duduk
UTSI ZIMRING & PETR NOHAVICA – drums
Tom Smith – alto sax, compositions & arrangements
Daniel Bulatkin – piano, fender rhodes & compositions
Max Makagonov – double bass
Petr Nohavica – drums & compositions
and sp. guests (CD2):
Miroslav Hloucal – trumpet & flugelhorn
Andy Schofield – alto sax, clarinet & composition
Cyrille Oswald – tenor sax
This young supergroup features some of the most promising talents in Europe – UK-saxophonist Tom Smith, and a Czech trio – Daniel Bulatkin (piano), Max Makagonov (bass) & Petr Nohavica (drums). Their debut double album "Drifter Days", recorded after a 20-day tour of the Czech Republic, was lauded as one of the best Czech jazz releases of 2021, as well as critically acclaimed in the UK.
"The jazz world should definitely not miss this one!"
– 4,5*, skjazz.sk
'The New Beginning'
BANDCAMP:
DANIEL BULATKIN – hammond, piano & synth
KIRILL YAKOVLEV – guitar, balalaika & duduk
UTSI ZIMRING & PETR NOHAVICA – drums
Balancing between piano and organ; guitar, duduk and balalaika; drums, exotic percussion and electronics; Organism seeks to create unforgettable music textures and powerful rhythms. Inspired by world music, americana, ambient, blues and jazz traditions, Organism pioneers a new synthesis of genre and sound in the organ trio paradigm. Their debut album “The New Beginning” was released in July 2020 under Austrian label Alessa Records and presents 11 original compositions of both protagonists.
"... their live performances are a real treat..."
– 100%, jazzport.cz
"Melodic & playful – this album is infectious."
– 5*, skjazz.sk