Bluegrass Album - home page slovenskej bluegrassovej skupiny

The "BLUEGRASS ALBUM" group was formed in 1983 from some members of music groups from Bratislava
playing country and bluegrass. After initial searching for their own style the group has found their way to
oatstanding bluegrass groups in former Czecho - Slovakia.
Since 1986 they have been regularly taking part in various bluegrass festivals that heave become international in
the meantime "BANJO JAMBOREE", "PORTA", "MANDOLIN PARTY", "ZAHRADA", "MORAVSKY
HROZEN" etc.
Their clear cut bluegrass-oriented style in its more modern form had been shown by the end of summer 1988 at the
appearance with American group the "SKYLINE" and "TONY TRISCHKA" in Bratislavas open-air theatre.
After a short time their name appeared in American bluegrass magazine "BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED" and they
were also presented with a title of the best bluegrass group of Slovakia.
The Bluegrass Album is popular not only in Slovakia and Czec Republic. In 1989 they perfomed in Poland several
times, a year later in Austria and Germany. Theis name appeared in many outstanding journals (German
BLUEGRASS BUHNE, Swiss COUNTRY MUSIC, Austrian HORSE SHOE NEWS), and WDR Koln and Belgian
EXPO RADIO expressed their interest in recordings of the Bluegrass Album.
As well as in Austria, where the group take part in event like "DONAU-INSEL FESTIVAL", "VIENA
METROPOL", "PAPAS TAPAS", international Bluegrass Festival in "LOHNSBURG" they sucesfully give
concerts in well known in Germany, Hungary and Italy, they even. had. invitations from Belgium, Holland, Great
Britain and Switzerland.
The concerts withd American guitarist and singer ED Mc DADE, BEPPE GAMBETTA from Italy or American
banjo player TONY TRISCHKA belong to the Bluegrass Album success.
Their recordings can be heard on several radio stations in both Slovak and Czech Republics and thei best songs
can be found on the albums "KED VCHADZA RANO", "COUNTRY TRH 1" as well as on MCS "AUTUMN'
91" and CD "CAS LETI".
The Bluegrass Album group belong to pioneers of bluegrass in Slovakia and for several years they have belonged
to Slovak top groups. Members of the group are founders of bluegrass magazine "ZVONKY" and they are also
organisers of regular evenings the guests of which are top groups from Slovakia, Czech Republic and other
countries as well as new debuting groups, Giving workshops, guiding young musicans and groups they make their
efforts to promote this music genre. The group's music comes out of traditional bluegrass with their own
progressive elements and from imprompt typical for bluegrass. Their music is conceived mainly on perfect vocal as a basis of bluegrass.
As a bluegrass group he was several time given a price for his music performance and between 1995, 1996 and
1997 the Slovak Asociation of Country Music (SAHC) gave hima title of the best music group of the year in
Slovakia.

Tomáš Merganc - e-bass, vocal. Together with Jan Bratinka he was also one of the founders of the Bluegrass Album. He has been interesed in music since he was 15 and from the same time he has been taking up bluegrass. He is a bass guitarist and as well as the solo singing he sings mainly baritone vocals.

Ján Bratinka - 5-str. banjo, vocal. He is the group leader as well as the founding member. He has been interesed in music since he was 15 Apart from the Bluegrass Album from time to time he can be seen also in other formations. His name can be found on other groups' recordings as well.
He has been teaening banjo playng for some years and he has brought up several banjo players not only in Slovakia. He is an author of the first original "Slovak 5-string banjo playing school" and also one of the founders and organisers of international Country Festival in Bratislava and ofher festivals too. He belongs to the best Slovak banjo players and he is a pioneer of bluegrass in Slovakia. His tenor vocal is a contribution to the general sound of the Bluegrass Album group.

František Machotka - guitar, vocal. The youngest member of the group not only according to his playing in the group but his age as well. He played and sang in many formations, but only in the Bluegrass Album his singing excelled. He was born in Moravia and he has playing a guitar since he was 12. At the moment he belongs to the best guiatarists and singers in Slovakia.

Dušan Bachratý - mandolin, vocal. One of the first bluegrass mandoline players and one the pioneers of bluegrass in Slovakia. He used to play in several mostly newgrass groups which he helped to found. He entered the Bluegrass Album in 1985. From time to time he plays as a guest in other groups and and he teaches mandoline playing. He brought up several good players. As a mandoline player he was several time given a price for his instrumental performance and between 1992, 1994 and 1995 the Slovak Asociation of Country Music (SAHC) gave hima title of the mandoline player of the year in Slovakia.

	Tomáš Merganc - e-bass, vocal. Together with Jan Bratinka he was also one of the founders of the Bluegrass Album. He has been interesed in music since he was 15 and from the same time he has been taking up bluegrass. He is a bass guitarist and as well as the solo singing he sings mainly baritone vocals.

	Ján Bratinka - 5-str. banjo, vocal. He is the group leader as well as the founding member. He has been interesed in music since he was 15 Apart from the Bluegrass Album from time to time he can be seen also in other formations. His name can be found on other groups' recordings as well. He has been teaening banjo playng for some years and he has brought up several banjo players not only in Slovakia. He is an author of the first original "Slovak 5-string banjo playing school" and also one of the founders and organisers of international Country Festival in Bratislava and ofher festivals too. He belongs to the best Slovak banjo players and he is a pioneer of bluegrass in Slovakia. His tenor vocal is a contribution to the general sound of the Bluegrass Album group.

	František Machotka - guitar, vocal. The youngest member of the group not only according to his playing in the group but his age as well. He played and sang in many formations, but only in the Bluegrass Album his singing excelled. He was born in Moravia and he has playing a guitar since he was 12. At the moment he belongs to the best guiatarists and singers in Slovakia.

	Dušan Bachratý - mandolin, vocal. One of the first bluegrass mandoline players and one the pioneers of bluegrass in Slovakia. He used to play in several mostly newgrass groups which he helped to found. He entered the Bluegrass Album in 1985. From time to time he plays as a guest in other groups and and he teaches mandoline playing. He brought up several good players. As a mandoline player he was several time given a price for his instrumental performance and between 1992, 1994 and 1995 the Slovak Asociation of Country Music (SAHC) gave hima title of the mandoline player of the year in Slovakia.