About us

Fats Jazz Band is reviving tradition of original hot-jazz and swing music of late 1920s till 1940s of the past centruy. It was initiated by Ladislav Fanzowitz, one of the best present Slovak pianists in classical field. The orchestra plays original swing music which takes you to another world, makes your blood boil, and brings you back in time to the era of elegance, glamour gowns, and hot parties.

Fats Jazz Band is authentic; Ladislav Fanzowitz transcribes carefully chosen contemporary tunes by ear to music scores. That's why you have a unique opportunity to listen to the original arrangements as they were played by jazz legends in their time. Furthermore, the band uses reconstructed array of musical instruments, and vintage clothes. The whole impression of the orchestra fully grasps the period of music and style that Fats Jazz Band represents.

Their repertoire includes the most interesting pieces from the legends of American early jazz music such as Thomas 'Fats' Waller whose nick name was borrowed as the band's title. However, Fats Jazz Band also interprets tunes from other remarkable jazz legends of this period such as Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Clarence Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa and many others.

Besides american repertoire, they have on their list also the best tangos and foxtrotts from Slovakia and Czech Republic.

The members of this band are nine professional musicians and singers active in the Slovak leading orchestras and big bands such as the Slovak Philharmonic, Gustav Brom Big Band, Matúš Jakabčic Big Band, Bratislava Hot Serenaders, CZ - SK Big Band, and Orchestra of Slovak National Theatre.

The band had redorded 6 CDs and 2 LPs created by analogue techniqe, including rare reconstruction of early jazz pipe organ recordings originally made by Fats Waller. During the recording, the orchestra want to get as close as possible to an authentic sound. This is why no overdubbings are used, and the musicians play old historical instruments to achieve soft and captivating color of the sound.

In November 2012 Fats Jazz Band won the price for the best collective stylish interpretation in the New Slovak Jazz Faces competition.

They perform regularly in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Denmark, France, Georgia, Croatia or Italy.

The members of FJB also revived long past tradition of Bratislava's dancing evenings under the name Presburger swing evenings, which are visited by audience dressed in vintage dresses and rediscovering forgotten magic of society bon-ton and quality values.