Prokop is Still Without Competition
We have a great singer, one we have almost forgotten because of politics: Michal Prokop. On Thursday, he celebrated thirty years in rock to a sold out audience in Prague's Archa Theatre, which also included his "native" members of the ODA.
After the screening of the black and white film from 1968/68, which he recollected the original group of Framus Five, Prokop started with three of his greatest songs from the album Kolej Yesterday: the cover song, Až si pro mě přijdou (When They Come For Me) and Bitva o Karlův most (The Battle of Charles Bridge). He sang elegantly and sovereignly, with soul; the great Etc... Band with guest violinist Jan Hrubý accompanied him. Then the guests had room for themselves. Vladimír Mišík played a collection of his songs including Lady Vamp and Variace na renesanční téma (Variations of Renaissance Theme) and also the Ulrych Family tastefully and folklore-like claimed that one can sing quietly and still be heard.
Nutrio was Prokop´s next accompanying band which included guitarist Luboš Andršt and again Hrubý, who "penetrated" even to the other group, his heart perhaps the closest. They played the composition Nádraží (The Station) and other Celtic colorful hits from the recent album Černý ovce (Black Sheep), where Prokop sang six songs. The last contributions came from the Frmaus' blues period: on the stage we could see guitarist Luboš Andršt, bass guitarist Jiří Veselý, and also Jan Hrubý. In the old blues songs, taken, for example, from Muddy Waters, we could see Prokop´s essential tie to the music that he has beneath his skin. In the end, the singer remembered the song Nic ve zlým, nic v dobrým (Nothing Evil, Nothing Good) and before the midnight, the group also played the old rhythm & blues, which suits them so well.
Prokop, in contrast to all other veterans, is not worn out and still has the juices, in spite of any public inquiries. Each of Prokop's periodic concerts demonstrates that his deep, ripe "Ray Charles-like" voice does not have a partner to play against.
Vladimír Vlasák, MF Dnes, 31. 1. 1998