“The best of the next generation”
Cassandra Wilson
Grammy-winning vocalist
“Hanka G has arrived; instantly making her mark as one of the most moving vocalists of these times.”
Jim Hynes
Making A Scene Magazine, USA
HANKA G
UNIVERSAL ANCESTRY ALBUM
The first album recorded and released in the United States
UNIVERSAL ANCESTRY is the first album recorded and released in the United States by Slovak vocalist and lyricist HANKA G. She has previously released three albums in Europe. HANKA has lived in New York City since 2016 where she performs at all the local jazz hotspots. She produced UNIVERSAL ANCESTRY together with three stellar jazz musicians – JAMES HURT, SHEDRICK MITCHELL and RODNEY KENDRICK. HANKA is a soulful singer who stretches the boundaries of jazz with her multi-cultural sensibilities. Her rich, warm tone, improvisational chops, and unique ability to fuse jazz, gospel, R&B, and Slovak folk music has drawn the attention of some of the top names in jazz.
HANKA says, “My latest project was framed through the lens of an immigrant in the USA trying to unite people with different musical heritages. Regardless of our backgrounds, we all dream about love, happiness, and freedom.” HANKA’s love of jazz grew out of her exposure to the great black American jazz masters, and on UNIVERSAL ANCESTRY, she pays particular tribute to the African American women singers that have influenced her. Joined by a truly stellar group of New York-based musicians, UNIVERSAL ANCESTRY is an opportunity for jazz lovers across the country and the world to appreciate HANKA’s unique blend of musical styles that has captivated New York audiences.
The album also features Grammy-winning artists SHEDRICK MITCHELL (organ, piano), JAMES HURT (piano, Fender Rhodes), RODNEY KENDRICK (piano), DAVID GINYARD (electric bass), RASHAAN CARTER (electric and double bass), TARU ALEXANDER (drums), and NATHANIEL TOWNSLEY (drums), as well as MARVIN SEWELL (guitars), SHERROD BARNES (electric guitar), ANTOINE RONEY (tenor and soprano saxes), and background vocalists KEESHA GUMBS and TERELLE TIPTON. The album also features Slovak artists SISA MICHALIDESOVA (flute) and VERONIKA VITAZKOVA (fujara).
Born in Slovakia, HANKA spent her childhood years in the Mongolian desert with her parents, who were professors of geology. Prior to moving to the US, HANKA opened for Kurt Elling and toured with Rodney Kendrick’s trio in South Africa. When Cassandra Wilson was touring Europe, HANKA’S album Essence caught her attention, and she hired her as an opening act for her concert in Slovakia. The two became friends, and Wilson became HANKA’s mentor and invited her to come to the U.S.
During her most recent European tours, she performed with NEA Jazz Master bassist Reggie Workman, drummer Taru Alexander, and Grammy award-winning bassist Michael Bowie. HANKA has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Slovak lifetime achievement award in the jazz category in 2017, being the second female jazz artist ever to receive this honor in the 31 years of the award’s existence.
"Hanka's new album is a sophisticated mix of Slovak folk songs, classic jazz tunes, and a few crossover-oriented tracks, all held together by her impressive vocal skills."
Wulf Muller
legendary jazz A&R
“As incredible as it is on so many levels, Universal Ancestry would merely be a high level jazz/R&B project without the handful of Slovak folk songs (“Dance Dance,” “I’m Such a Pretty Girl”) she translates effortlessly into her current jazz context. When you listen to this breathtaking album, you’ll be more than grateful this bird started to sing!”
Jonathan Widran
JW Vibe, USA
“Here is a vocalist, greatly influenced by Chaka Khan, who manages to hold her own, flying like a beautiful, wild bird. I needed nothing more than to hear her amazing voice, powerfully sensitive. I look forward to hearing more from this talented and dynamic vocalist.”
Dee Dee McNeil
Musical Memoirs - Column “WOMEN WHO ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF JAZZ”, USA
“A serious, dramatic kind of thrush, you can tell her roots run deep. Solid jazz vocal with a nu edge.”
Chris Spector
Midwest Record, USA
“Hanka said this about the album, "I put together my latest project from the perspective of an immigrant living in the United States, who tries to unite people of different musical heritages. Regardless of our background, we all dream of love, happiness and freedom." With her multicultural sensibility, her spiritual attitude, her rich, warm tone, and her improvisational skills, she managed to achieve all of this.”
Péter Somogyvári
Jazz.hu, HUNGARY
“Fascinating and enthralling… an excellently performed musical offering that sounds as American as one might hope for.
She is convincing and heartfelt, a superb vocalist, with sensitivities that can only be envied by her peers.”
Adam Baruch
Jazz music critic, Israel
“HANKA's accompaniment is lush and well produced and her style is adult contemporary jazz: sleek and refined.”
C. Michael Bailey
All About Jazz, USA
“An extremely successful album by this new star in the sky.”
Jan van Leersum
Rootstime, Belgium
"A truly worshipful and soulful performance that is nothing short of heavenly...Hanka G is fearless in branching out and giving her all. A seasoned professional, Hanka G delivers an honest and passionate presentation of art. Kudos to everyone who worked on this project, it is special and must be heard. Universal Ancestry is definitely a must-have for 2022."
Melvin Smith
Mismwo-Music Blog, USA
“A voice like a bell… not just in its richness, but also in its spiritual depth. One of the most talented jazz singers of the present times. ”
Jan Hocek
jazz.sk, SLOVAKIA
“The album proves that Hanka G is a talented singer who is not afraid of challenges and instead of following a safe path, she prefers to face difficult topics (social and musical) that confront her skills with jazz at the highest world level. The album also shows that the voice of HANKA G is a unique instrument with a magnetism that attracts the attention of Western audiences, offering them a pinch of European exoticism. the songfulness of Slavic words and the rhythmicity of their English counterparts.”
Mateusz Kolodziej
Slaska Opinia, Poland
“Hanka G performs three compositions in Slovak, masterfully turning Slovak folklore melodies into jazz… acquaintance with HANKA G will be of interest to many.”
Leonid Auskern
JazzQuad, BELARUS
"SYMPHONY MEETS JAZZ" - HANKA G PERFORMING WITH NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN SLOVAKIA
TWIN FLAME ALBUM
2022
ESSENCE ALBUM
2022
REFLECTIONS OF MY SOUL ALBUM
2022
CHASING MY DREAMS SINGLE
2022
