Banana Boat
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Banana Boat is a Polish
a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
sextet A sextet (or hexad) is a formation containing exactly six members. The former term is commonly associated with vocal ensembles (e.g. The King's Singers, Affabre Concinui) or musical instrument groups, but can be applied to any situation where six ...
, authoring and performing original songs representing the genre of neo-shanties. Being one of the pioneers of the new genre, the group retains its simultaneous focus on contemporary interpretations of traditional
sea shanties A sea shanty, chantey, or chanty () is a genre of traditional Folk music, folk song that was once commonly sung as a work song to accompany rhythmical labor aboard large Merchant vessel, merchant Sailing ship, sailing vessels. The term ''shanty ...
and maritime music.avy Earth: The History of the Sea-Shanty Movement in Poland> Owing to its characteristic six-part, jazzy harmony, departing from the traditional sound of the music of the sea, the group has become one of the emblems of what the international artists of the maritime stage have informally come to dub as the ''Polish style'' maritime song. With maritime music constantly in the focus of its activity, since 2004, Banana Boat has also been experimenting with other musical genres, including popular and jazz compositions, inviting other artists to participate in individual projects. The group is a Member o
International Seasong and Shanty Association (ISSA)


History

Banana Boat evolved from a multi-member formation Jack Steward, founded by Maciej Jędrzejko and functioning in the years 1993–1994. The line-up of the formation was composed of maritime culture aficionados - high-school students from the city of
Sosnowiec Sosnowiec is an industrial city county in the Dąbrowa Basin of southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship, which is also part of the Silesian Metropolis municipal association.—— Located in the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Industria ...
, mainly representing the Stanisław Staszic Grammar School in Sosnowiec, the Emilia Plater Grammar School in Sosnowiec, and the Technical High School of Mechanical and Steel Industry in Sosnowiec. The central idea behind the singing youth's efforts was to organize a sailing expedition, whose objective was to circumnavigate
Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
. The musical project itself was intended to encourage teachers to take interest in the richness of maritime culture as a vast educational resource and - with their help - to gain the support of the municipal and (then still budding) corporate sponsorship for the idea of the expedition. Even though the Iceland project never came to pass, and Jack Steward eventually ceased to exist in 1994, Maciej Jędrzejko invited Paweł Konieczny, Aleksander Kleszcz and Karol Wierzbicki of the ex-Jack Steward's line-up to help form a new group, which, since 1994, already as an a cappella
quartet In music, a quartet or quartette (, , , , ) is an ensemble of four singers or instrumental performers; or a musical composition for four voices and instruments. Classical String quartet In classical music, one of the most common combinations o ...
, adopted the name of Banana Boat. Thus formed, Banana Boat made its debut on the stage of the 1994 Tratwa Festival in Katowice and, subsequently, it gained its early recognition by winning (among others) the Commander Zbyszek Sowiński Award (Tratwa'94), the Main Prize of the 1994 edition of the Prosiak Festival and, importantly, an honorary mention of the jury of the 1996 edition of the prestigious Shanties Festival in Cracow, Poland. In the years 1996–1998, the group - whose members, by then, had commenced their university education - suspended its activity, only to return to the maritime stages of Poland by the end of 1998. At this stage, Banana Boat made its name as an a cappella quintet, which - reinforced by the former bass singer of the famous Polish group North Cape, Piotr "Qdyś" Wiśniewski - transformed into the present-day sextet at the turn of 2008 and 2009. Since 1998, the group has been awarded the most important prizes of the Polish festivals of maritime music, recorded three albums and a toplist single, and participated in numerous collective projects. Currently, Banana Boat gives concerts and recitals in Europe and outside of it, performing both for the audiences of small-audience clubs and those of large international festivals.


Banana Boat Members

Today, Banana Boat consists of the following musicians: * Maciej Jędrzejko, Maciej "YenJCo." Jędrzejko, the group's founder, frontman and leader; * Paweł "Konik" Konieczny, the formation's co-founder, composer and high tenor; * Paweł Jędrzejko ("Synchro"), the author of the majority of the band's original lyrics and performer of bari-tenor parts; * Tomasz "Mundry" Czarny, the Banana Boat's arranger, composer and bari-tenor; * Michał "Ociec" Maniara, the manager of the Art Agency BananaArt.Pl Art and performer of baritone parts; * Piotr "Qdyś" Wiśniewski, the group's bass singer. The present-day Banana Boat members are active yachtsmen: Paweł Jędrzejko (formerly a professional navigator), holds an ocean-going yachtmaster's licence; his younger brother Maciej, the group's founder, is an ocean skipper, while other Banana Boat members all hold offshore licenses, which largely contributes to the positive reception of the Banana Boat songs. Professionally, the Banana Boat musicians represent such disciplines as medicine and dentistry, banking and law, trade and academic literary and culture studies.


Organizational, propagatory and charitable activity

*In the years 2002-2007 Banana Boat, working in collaboration with the Municipal Cultural Center in
Łaziska Górne Łaziska Górne (german: Ober Lazisk, szl, Gōrne Łaziska) is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – metropolis with the population of 2 million. Located in the Silesian Highland ...
(Poland), acted as the organizer of the International Festival of Seasong and Shanty "Zęza"; *In 2006, the groups participated in an all-Polish charity project ''To See the Sea,'' the proceeds from which supported the medical treatment of Polish shantymen in need; *In 2008, Maciej Jędrzejko, the group's leader, was appointed as the artistic director of the International Festival World Music Fusion - Euroszanty & Folk in
Sosnowiec Sosnowiec is an industrial city county in the Dąbrowa Basin of southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship, which is also part of the Silesian Metropolis municipal association.—— Located in the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Industria ...
(Poland); *Every year, Banana Boat participates in the charity events of the
Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (GOCC, Polish language, Polish ''Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy'', WOŚP) is the biggest, non-governmental, non-profit, Charitable organization, charity organization in Poland raising money for pedia ...
; * Maciej Jędrzejko is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the "Free Sea-Shanty Portal Szantymaniak.Pl" and Editor-in-Chief of the "Szantymaniak Magazine" (in Polish); *Each year, individual members of the group are appointed as jurors of sea-song festivals; they regularly offer workshops to other musicians of the Polish maritime stage and sea-song fans. *Banana Boat participates in the charity educational program "Tunes to Teens," sponsored by
Contemporary A Cappella Society The Contemporary A Cappella Society (of America), or CASA, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to fostering and promoting a cappella music of all styles around the world. CASA was founded in 1991 by Deke Sharon in San Francisco just ...
of America.


Concerts and international cooperation

Apart from numerous concerts in Poland, Banana Boat has performed in the
Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
(Fulnek), in
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
(Ravenna), in
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
(Paimpol; Chateau-Thierry, Essômes-sur-Marne, Bugueles, Douarnenez, Brest, Orléans, L'île d'Oléron), in
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
(Cork/Cobh), in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
(New York, Bay City), in the
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
(Appingedam; Oudewater; Rotterdam), in
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
(Mouscron) and in
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
(Bremen-Vegesack) and many other locations. As a member of ISSA, the group collaborates with international artists associated within the organization. In 2008, songs by Banana Boat were published on albums of a collective charity project ''Lafitte's Return'' (USA). Banana Boat's music has been broadcast by numerous radio stations in Europe and beyond. In the beginning of the year 2009 the group has finalized miniproject entitled ''A Little A Cappella - Polish-Irish Harmony'' in partnership with the Irish star of the musical stage,
Eleanor McEvoy Eleanor McEvoy (born 22 January 1967) is an Irish singer-songwriter. She composed the song "Only a Woman's Heart", title track of '' A Woman's Heart'', the best-selling Irish album in Irish history. Early life and beginnings McEvoy's life as ...
. The son
"Little Look,"
(written and composed by Eleanor McEvoy and arranged by Tomasz Czarny) entered the most prestigious Polish hitlist,
Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego (''the Radio Three Chart'', LP3) is the oldest and the longest-running music chart in Poland. Aired by Polskie Radio Program III, a division of the Polskie Radio public broadcaster, the list has been broadcast ...
, immediately after the single had been released.


Awards and prizes

Apart from numerous Grand Prix awards, First Prizes and Audience's Favorite's Prizes awarded by the jury panels and audiences of all of the most important maritime music festivals in Poland, Banana Boat has become a double first runner-up for the CARA Award of the
Contemporary A Cappella Society The Contemporary A Cappella Society (of America), or CASA, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to fostering and promoting a cappella music of all styles around the world. CASA was founded in 1991 by Deke Sharon in San Francisco just ...
of America in the categories of The Best World/Folk Album 2005 (for the album ''A morze tak, a może nie...'') and The Best World/Folk Song 2005 (for the song "Arktyka" of the mentioned album). In 2016, the group's 2015 minialbum ''Aquareal'' was named the first runner up for the 2015 CARA Award in the same category.


Discography

* ''A morze tak, a może nie'' (BananaArt.Pl 2004) * ''Banana Boat...Świątecznie'' (BananaArt.Pl 2004), (six Christmas carols) * Songs in collection ''Szanty dla Pajacyka,'' the proceeds of which support
Polish Humanitarian Organisation The Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH, pl. ''Polska Akcja Humanitarna'') is a Polish non-governmental organisation A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that gene ...
(2004). * Songs in charity collections ''Lafitte's Return'' (vols. 3 and 4), of which the total proceeds support the musical education of the post-Katrina New Orleans (2008) * ''A Little A Cappella - Polish-Irish Harmony'' a single featuring
Eleanor McEvoy Eleanor McEvoy (born 22 January 1967) is an Irish singer-songwriter. She composed the song "Only a Woman's Heart", title track of '' A Woman's Heart'', the best-selling Irish album in Irish history. Early life and beginnings McEvoy's life as ...
(BananaArt.Pl 2009) * ''Aquareal'' (BananaArt.Pl 2015) - a minialbum


See also

*
A cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
*
Sea shanty A sea shanty, chantey, or chanty () is a genre of traditional Folk music, folk song that was once commonly sung as a work song to accompany rhythmical labor aboard large Merchant vessel, merchant Sailing ship, sailing vessels. The term ''shanty ...


References


Literature of the subject

*Jerzy S. Łątka, ''Rozfalowana ziemia. Dzieje ruchu szantowego w Polsce'' 'Wavy Earth: The History of the Sea-Shanty Movement in Poland'' Kraków: Towarzystwo Słowaków w Polsce, 2007 *Pat Sheridan, "A New Musical Idiom. Poland: World leaders in the preservation and promotion of maritime music?" In: ''Ferment'', 2008 *Assorted articles in th
Szantymaniak Magazine


External links


the Official Website of the Banana BoatArchive of the past concerts of Banana BoatBanana Boat in MySpaceBanana Boat in Acapedia
{{Authority control Polish musical groups Professional a cappella groups Maritime music