Mňa nič nebolí, iba keď hrám

I'm happier when I'm playing! The peculiar blues band from the Slovak city of Zvolen is back. The unique lyrics will get under your skin, the blues will pin you to the barstool and you’ll never forget the voice. After nine years, there is another album by the Slovak band ZVA 12-28 Band called Mňa nič nebolí, iba keď hrám (Nothing hurts me, only when I’m playing). The band recorded ten new original songs by guitarist and singer Norbert Červenák together with a guest brass section.

The formation of the band dates back to 1990. This Slovak rarity has so far released four regular albums. Long breaks between records are not uncommon, but for all fans, nine years was a very long time. Noro Červenák disagrees with such a statement: "I think, given our age, it's just about right. We're not in a hurry to go anywhere. There's really nowhere to rush to. Well, we're getting old! ” Drummer Peter Krško adds: “The time between the previous and the latest album was spent collaborating with the brass section. Currently, we have prepared a diverse concert playlist together, which includes tracks not only from the new album but also rearranged older songs. It was probably good that the whole thing matured.”

The collab with the brass section has also changed the band’s sound. Compared to the previous album, Šibenica frajerka (2015, Indies Scope), everything is different. “That album was the peak of collaboration with volinist Stanislav Fakan, filled with musical refrences to Slovak folklore,” says Peter Krško, and he adds, “the new one is the peak of eight years of collaboration with saxophonist Ján Kopčák and the brass section he leads.” The raw acoustic blues with Noro Červeňák's raspy voice has an entirely unexpected swing and sound, thanks to the saxophone, trombone, and trumpet.

Noro Červeňák's vocals and lyrics are defining traits of seasoned blues musicians. The album is named after its title track Mňa nič nebolí, iba keď hrám hrám (Nothing hurts me, only when I’m playing), not only because it “is a self-reflection of aging musicians who still find endless joy in playing, forgetting not only their worries but also their ‘old age’ diagnoses.” As the author Noro says: “It’s my life’s credo! I'm happier when I'm playing!”

The work of ZVA 12-28 Band exudes a blues modality, but as the band demonstrates with each recording, they are not hesitant to explore other genres as well. Nevertheless, they remain completely original.

“They are songs with the atmosphere of various everyday situations. For me, this is what blues is all about. Your bluesman, Noro.”