"Maybe it's the water or something in the air; maybe it's the mountains and forests and meadows. Whatever it is in the Slavic Republic that encourages musicians to take up the fiddle and the banjo and play the mountain music of America, it works…"
— Bluegrass Unlimited.
Svat'a Kotas founded Fragment in 1983. In the 17 years of its existence, the band has encountered many musical styles-from newgrass to new acoustic to bluegrass. Svat'a Kotas (banjo) is Fragment's leader. Jana Dolakova has been singing with Fragment since 1993. Her voice, with its fine range, is full of emotion. She writes lyrics in Czech, Slovak, and English. Pavel Malina is among the best bluegrass guitarists in the Czech Republic. He's also been part of Druha Trava (at Walnut Valley Festival 1994). Zdenek Jahoda (mandolin and violin) is the youngest member of the band, but has won in the European Bluegrass Band contest in Vienna in 1998. Henrich Novak is the most respected Dobro player in Slovakia and was voted best Dobro player at the 1998 European Bluegrass Championship in Vienna.
Fragment plays concerts regularly in many countries (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, etc.) But they always look forward to a chance to play in the birthplace of bluegrass. Their goal is to become a permanent member of the "bluegrass family" abroad. They have what it takes!