Eastern/South European Prog Blog

Slava's country certainly has a lot to offer. Estonia is the smallest from Baltic states and it has much more bands. Not sure why, Slava probably knows why.

Anyway Keishiro, what about to use similar map for Asian countries ? You can ask for help of people, who knows more about certain countries and would be willing to talk/suggest bands.

I would like to show you one of old Czech/Slovak suggestions by Magor (who suggested most of Czech/Slovak bands before):

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=52342&PID=3702920#3702920

Not everything has to appeal to Jazz Prog genre, some of them may be Eclectic, or Crossover. It happens all the time. Sadly, requirements for Jazz Rock / Fusion genre are, as you said Slava, strict.

I had few days off (in offline world, you know, Land Without Computer), so let me just give time and I will listen it through.

Mimochodem Milane, Vltavu, Jazz Celula, Prudy vidím jako dobrou šanci. Jak jsem říkal, Eclectic (pro "divnějšího") a Crossover (pro víc "mainstreamovou") hudbu je naše příležitost. Co ty na to ?

I would also like to show my planned strategy. As Alex harmonium.ro told me, there were similar attempts. So what we need is common goal and good planning, good strategy how to achieve it. Therefore I propose you this. 

It's not final, it's not decisive and all people on this list haven't agreed yet. It's subject to changes. But for now:

People assigned to each country/countries as mentors, as keepers, guardians, whatever you call it.

People who will care and have bigger or lesser knowledge in country's scene.

Lenghty repost of some thread in Collaborators Zone:

Full thread in Collaborators Zone here

Logan wrote: And having been an "eclectic" guy. I'd be willing to listen to various ones you think may be right for either Eclectic, RIO/Avant, Jazz-Rock Fusion. Canterbury Scene, Prog Folk (especially acid folk),. Krautrock-sounding stuff (Czechrock),  Electronic, Psyche, or Raga Rock (or crosses symph, though there are many bands I love in symph, but I fear having to listen to something like Spock's Beard).  Pigeonholing artists is often difficult, and commonly I like the more "out of the typical prog box" especially if it incorporates academic or "ethnic" music, jazz, and psyche/ cosmic elements (choral work is a plus) and if experimental it's a plus.  What I don't like is AOR/ melodic rock and arena rock type music (or most alt. rock and metal and NeoProg), so steer those ones clear of me.

Greg, you will make fine guy to work with, because of this eclecticity.

By the way, we recently added Ota Petřina to Symphonic. Maybe you will be interested.

SaltyJon wrote: I'll be willing to help out with listening to and evaluating bands you think would fit for the ZART when I have time, which seems to come and go.  It is always a good plan to try to get a wider picture of the prog scene in the world, and I'm sure you'll get cooperation from most (if not all) of the collaborators.

And so we have few bands for ZART too, even some of them will probably be Eclectic and some Crossover.

Logan wrote: Crossover would be the closest Prog fit for Boo I would think.  I'm not necessarily saying it should be included though, just that I considered suggesting it at one time.

I have listened Boo. I think they can make a case, but more listens needed.

Sean Trane wrote: Hey Marty,   How about NARAJAMA???   These guys have been around a while   Their Zappa-like music is definitely worth the detour and merit a sppace in PA, dontcha think??   www.cirkusworld.com/narajama/narajama.html   www.facebook.com/pages/Narajama/71304751760   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItadDBhvFI8   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jT2geJQyhI   No myspace, though!!!

It was very nice suggestion, Narajama does well in Eclectic.

SaltyJon wrote: I know that if you suggest Dunaj I'll be giving them a Yes vote for Avant-Garde.

Dunaj is equally fine in RIO/Avant now.

Tsevir Leirbag wrote: Ivà Bittova has already been suggested for Avant and is currently being evaluated.

Her big body of work was probably difficult to correctly classify, wasn't it ? Now, she's also in RIO/Avant.

Marty McFly wrote: Some bands that are more or less hidden in ProgFreak nest. http://progfreak.com/Oblomov,_dbe,artists,_auto_9639757.xhtml?path=pa/recent http://progfreak.com/Miroslav-Vitous,_dbe,artists,_auto_2177747.xhtml http://progfreak.com/Vuvr,_dbe,artists,_auto_7020475.xhtml http://progfreak.com/Apatheia,_dbe,artists,_auto_832791.xhtml http://progfreak.com/Pavel-Fajt,_dbe,artists,_auto_1141082.xhtml

Let's look into Oblomov and Vuvr again, the rest of them got added :-)

b_olariu wrote: I can help with some bands name from Czech republic or Slovakia, to be added in near future if is ok to PA of course (sad if not). I know someone from my country mentioned you few days ago about Votchi, similar with Uriah Heep, Deep Purple and some Jethro Tull parts (Benefit era) with a good doze of prog music. here is the myspace http://www.myspace.com/bandvotchi. This band can easy enter at heavy prog, quite unexpected great band, and very young aswell.

And we now have Votchi too :-) great, unique band.

clarke2001 wrote: Narajama is in. (Eclectic) One down, six to go. Marty, I wasn't participating in this thread...but I'm watching it with close attention because I'm interested in Czech prog. The only thing I can't understand is...why is Iva Bittova suggested to prog friggin' related?!? She's innovative, unique, intelligent, progressive and complex.

Let's hope that new thread will be more active. Both are here already and now to your other suggestions from other thread (they'll be here soon).