Kroke

KROKE (Yiddish for: Kraków) was formed in 1992 by three friends: Tomasz Kukurba, Jerzy Bawoł, and Tomasz Lato. Graduates of the Kraków Academy of Music, and at the same time artists driven by exploration, they never shied away from experimenting with jazz and contemporary music.

Initially associated mainly with klezmer music, the band now moves freely across various genres. The artists draw inspiration from ethnic music from around the world, always enriching their compositions with original improvisations. In this way, KROKE has created its own distinctive style—one that transcends borders, time, and form. This unique approach has not only been embraced by audiences, but also highly appreciated by artists worldwide.

After being captivated by a KROKE concert, Steven Spielberg invited the band to Jerusalem to perform at the Survivors Reunion ceremony. Thanks to Peter Gabriel, the group appeared in the United Kingdom at the WOMAD Festival. KROKE’s piece The Secrets of the Life Tree was featured on the soundtrack of David Lynch’s film Inland Empire. A meeting between KROKE and Nigel Kennedy resulted in their joint album East Meets East.

In recent years, the band has also collaborated with Anna Maria Jopek, Edyta Geppert, Tomasz Stańko, Maja Sikorowska, Krzysztof Herdzin, the Norwegian band Tindra, Spanish violinist Diego Galaz, Mongolian vocalist Urna Chahar-Tugchi, and orchestras such as Sinfonietta Cracovia, Aukso, Elbląg Chamber Orchestra, Västerås Sinfonietta, Orquesta Sinfónica de Burgos, and Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg. KROKE has appeared at the most prestigious music festivals around the world.

Lineup:
Tomasz Kukurba – viola
Jerzy Bawoł – accordion
Tomasz Lato – double bass