The Bohém Ragtime Jazz Band is probably the most versatile jazz band in the world. Its eight members play at least fifteen instruments, each player able to perform on all of them. And besides these instruments they can sing and have even been known to dance. The number of styles they have mastered is similar to the number of their instruments. They have performed at all the world’s trad jazz festivals, from Berlin to Oslo, from Dresden to Breda, Pori to Montreux, Ascona to Newcastle, from Rimini to Sacramento. They regularly play with world stars. Their concerts have been broadcast by European and American television and radio stations, and they have released 15 albums, which are played all over the world on jazz programmes. In 2003, they won the eMeRTon prize as “Jazz band of the year”. Their guest is Los Angeles born Steven Mitchell, who is one of the world’s best-known and most renowned swing dancers. He has worked with all the biggest big bands (Count Basie, Harry James, Cab Calloway), been a star guest in many American television shows and even danced at the White House for Bill Clinton. From the eighties, he regularly worked with the inventor of the lindy hop, Frankie Manning (who died at the age of 95 last year). He holds classes and appears regularly all over the world. His very powerful stage presence entrances audiences everywhere. At this Bohém gala, there will be a swing dance troupe as well. They are led by Gábor Janicsek, who a few years ago won the swing dance world championship! So we can safely say the choreography will be in safe hands (or legs!).

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