The 37-year-old musician, who also hosts his own show on Czech public radio, hopes this will be an opportunity to break into the United States. His concert in New York will focus on the music of big names such as George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini or Michel Legrand, and Jan Smigmator will sing in English and Czech.
The Jihlava-born Czech singer also expressed his excitement at being able to perform with a highly accomplished ensemble of American musicians. His backing band will consist of members of the Tony Bennett quarter, as well as bassist Marshall Wood, guitarist Gray Sargent, famed drummer Harold Jones and saxophonist Scott Hamilton. The Czechs Jan Steinsdörfer and Jan Andr will also be present. The first will play the piano, the second the Hammond organ.
Jan Smigmator took his first steps on the music scene at the age of 14, when he won the Zlatý oříšek talent competition for children. His debut album, Swing Is Back, was released in 2013, followed two years later by Time To Swing, which included a bonus track, the huge French hit Comme d’habitu, which was covered many times as My Way and made famous by Frank Sinatra.
Video of Jan Smigmator – How Do You Keep The Music Playing
Since 2011, J. Smigator co-hosts Klub Evergreen on Český rozhlas Dvojka, a music show that focuses on broadcasting world-famous hits.
Video of Dasha and Jan Smigmator | The Evergreen Club celebrates 10 years