Daniel Bulatkin

Daniel Bulatkin is the youngest professional jazz musician on the Czech scene. He was born in 1999 in Prague. As a 15-year-old, he was awarded 3rd place in the solo piano competition ‘Pianist of the Year 2015’ organized by the company PETROF. He was the only underage participant in the history of the competition. In 2018 he received the individual talent prize at the Central European Jazz Competition in Brno. Daniel is currently studying the jazz bachelor program at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. There, he's had the opportunity to perform, among others, with saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev.

Over the span of his short career he has collaborated with performers such as: Russ Spiegel (USA), Ben Tiberio (USA), Aviv “SolMonk” Cohen (IL), Elon Turgeman (IL), Ruggero Robin (IT), Mike Gotthard (HU), Kornel Mogyóro (HU), Martin Valihora (SK), Cyrille Oswald (NL), Martina Bárta (CZ/DE), Robert Balzar (CZ), Luboš Soukup (CZ/DK)…

His most valued collaboration to date, however, is with the Norwegian “Bass Viking” Per Mathisen. Together with him, Daniel tours with jazz&fusion superstars such as Ulf Wakenius (SWE; Oscar Peterson Quartet, Ray Brown trio); Gary Husband (UK; John McLaughlin, Level 42, Allan Holdsworth) and Gergo Borlai (HU; Steve Vai, Al DiMeola). In December 2019 he premiered his latest project featuring 2x Grammy winning saxophonist Tineke Postma (Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves) and American drum phenom Justin Faulkner (Kurt Rosenwinkel, Branford Marsalis).

Daniel is currently touring (according to possibility) his critically acclaimed debut album “The New Beginning” with B/Y Organism – a collaboration with ethno-fusion guitarist Kirill Yakovlev, featuring Daniel mostly as an organist. At the same time he is preparing three more records for release – 1) the product of extensive touring alongside British alto sax prodigy Tom Smith, 2) a project with gifted American vocalist Allison Wheeler, 3) fusion project as co-leader along with Per Mathisen (NO) and drummer Utsi Zimring (IL).

Daniel’s original composition Lady of the Lake, arranged for big band by Andy Schofield, is now part of the repertoire of the prestigious Jazz Dock Orchestra. In years 2018-2020 he was also a member of faculty at the International Conservatory in Prague.

Awards

- 3rd place "PETROF Pianist of the Year" 2015-16 - talent prize "Central European Jazz Competition" 2018 - TOP 5 "Czech Jazz Radio's Records of the Year" 2021 for B/Y Organism's "The New Beginning" etc.