About Iva Bittová

Iva Bittová (born 22nd July 1958) is a Czech avant-garde violinist, singer, and composer. She began her career as an actress in the mid 1970s, appearing in several Czech feature films, but switched to playing violin and singing in the early 1980s. She started recording in 1986, and by 1990 her unique vocal and instrumental technique gained her international recognition. Since then, she has performed regularly all over Europe, the United States and Japan, and has made over eight solo albums. She also cooperated with Japanese electronic artist Susumu Yokota on his album Wonder Waltz (2006). In addition to her musical career, Bittová has continued acting, and still occasionally appears in feature films. In 2003 she played the part of Zena in Želary, a film nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2004 Academy Awards. In 2007 she had a part in the film Tajnosti. Iva Bittová was born in 1958 into a musical family and she lives in a small village near Brno, called Lelekovice. She studied acting at secondary school. In 1996 she won two prizes in the prestigious competition organised by the Academy of Popular Music. She came first in the category "Singer of the Year" and in the alternative music category. The association of musicians Čikori was set up in 1999. The originators Iva Bittová and Vladimír Václavek are involved in improvisational music for the sequel to the successful recording "White Inferno". The other members of Čikori, František Kučera (trumpet) and Jaromír Honzák (double bass) also took part in this new recording. Miloš Dvořáček has taken up drums and percussion and the high quality soundtrack was provided by the sound engineer Ivo Viktorin. This resulted in the fresh, expressive and original music which combines the alternative elements of jazz and world music. It is very rich and colourful in its rhythm and sound, evoking feelings of calmness, love, joy and excitement - depending on the sensitivity and range of experience of the listener. Most of the lyrics are written by Karel David and Vladimír Václavek and some other writers. Another pleasant addition to the band's concerts is the girls' choir Lelky led by Iva Bittová. In 2007, she collaborated with George Mraz, Emil Viklický and Laco Tropp on album Moravian Gems. In 2013 she is part of a new group Eviyan with Gyan Riley & Evan Ziporyn. http://www.eviyan.org/