Women in Jazz: Mirka Novak & Kristina Barta

Mirka Novak and Kristina Barta will perform on at the jazz club U Staré paní.

Mirka Novak – singer, vocal experimenter who loves improvisation, frontwoman of several bands dedicated to jazz, soul, funk. In 2022, she released her solo debut album Malbum on the Slovak label Hevhetia, featuring guest appearances by Zdeněk Bína, Endru and Ridina Ahmedová. For the past 10 years, she has been traveling regularly to the USA to record her original songs and collaborate with world-class musicians in Austin, Washington D.C., Boston and New York. She performs alone with a loop station or in jazz groups with musicians such as Federico G. Peña (Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller), Tarus Mateen (Betty Carter), Dave Manely (Jill Scott), David Haynes (Chaka Khan).

Versatile Czech musician blending classical training with jazz innovation, acclaimed for her expressive piano compositions and electrifying performances on global stages.

The Czech pianist whose performances have been described as "fiery, expressive, eloquent, and stubborn." With international recognition as a composer and pianist, Barta has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. Her concerts bring a unique blend of classical training and jazz innovation, standing out at prestigious festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Jazzahead!, and many others.

Kristina Barta began her musical journey as an oboist before transitioning to the piano and becoming a prominent member of the Euroradio Jazz Orchestra. Her talent has been recognized across Europe, winning several prestigious awards, including first place in a jazz composer's competition in the Czech Republic in 2016 and an award for exceptional piano skills at the Powiew Młodego Jazzu festival in Poland in 2017.

With two albums under her belt, EMA29 and Love and Passion, Kristina recently released her latest album Endless Questions and Answers, featuring nine original compositions in collaboration with world-renowned tenor saxophonist Jure Pukl. This album marks a new phase in Barta's musical evolution.

Currently, Kristina Barta is working on a new album for jazz sextet featuring David Doružka on guitar, Jure Pukl on saxophone, and a symphony orchestra in collaboration with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.