HlasKontraBas

Duo HLASkontraBAS will premiere a new song at the only spring performance in Prague

The internationally recognized project of singer Rida Ahmedová and double bassist Peter Tiché became famous not only for its unusual cast and original repertoire, but also for its relaxed and captivating performance atmosphere. The concert organized on May 13, 2026 in Prague's Chodovské Tvrza will also be exceptional in that HLASkontraBAS will give a glimpse or rather "listen" to the repertoire of the upcoming new album.

In recent years, HLASkontraBAS has rightly attracted attention with its expanded cast of four female singers and four double bass players. And the Kaleidoscapes album, prepared in Iceland, for which renowned composers from Norway, Iceland, Israel and the Czech Republic wrote a repertoire on the border between contemporary music, world music and jazz. The activity of HLASkontraBAS Oktet is far from over, the project is preparing another surprise. At the same time, however, Ridina Ahmedová and Petr Tichý are still returning to the original cast of the duo in parallel. To the transparency of the equal dialogue of voice and double bass, to spontaneous interactions and original work with "humanized" loopers.

"In the duo, we are currently preparing compositions for a new album, which should be released in 2027. And at this year's only spring concert in Prague, we will premiere the composition Këngë," revealed Ridina and Petr. However, it must be added that, thanks to the improvisational spark and empathy of two excellent musicians, the performance of compositions already proven and known to the audience from albums and previous performances has an exciting stamp of unrepeatability and certain otherness. After all, Ridina Ahmedová and Petr Tichý have been working together for two decades. First in various jazz ensembles, then in the Floex project. However, HLASkontraBAS is the highlight of their joint creative journey. The initial repertoire of the duo was captured by the eponymous album from 2016, rightly nominated for the Anděl award. After all, the same as the mentioned ambitious title Kaleidoscapes (2024) of the expanded HLASkontraBAS Oktet line-up, which also won the Czech Radio Jazz Jazz Harvest in the poll of experts. In addition to the "voice-contrabass" duo and the octet, both protagonists also pursue a number of other activities.

Singer, composer and lecturer Ridina Ahmedová is the founder of the Voicescope project, which organizes singing workshops, seminars, lectures and conferences. She wrote and recorded music for a number of theater performances and films. She created the solo program Voicescape. She also caught the attention of voice magician Bobby McFerrin, who in 2008 invited her to improvise together as part of his Prague concert. She has also made a name for herself as a presenter and creator of podcasts, such as the documentary radio series Forgive? about the fates of people for whom it is difficult to forgive their loved ones due to the traumas they have experienced.

Double bass player and composer Petr Tichý is undoubtedly one of the most active musicians on the Czech scene. And also to players who are completely trans-genre, with overlaps between jazz, contemporary music, folk, experimental electronics and pop. We can hear him on dozens of albums and there are few nights when he doesn't give a concert. He collaborates or has collaborated in the past with the Berg Orchestra, the NTS trio with Michal Nejtek and Štěpán Smetáček, with personalities such as Pavol Hammel, Mirek Kemel, Sylvie Krobová, Jan Vébrová, Vladimír Václavek, Jono Bono, Petr Nikl, Franta Skála and many others. His other major projects include the improvisational trio Romanovská, Tichý, Hrubý, occasionally expanded by guests such as harpists and sopranos Hana Blažíková and Barbora Kabátková, Irish violist Garth Knox or German drummer Klaus Kugel.