Wednesday, September 23, 2009

News: Ondřej Pivec on Tour

Ondřej Pivec and his Organic Quartet will return to action in Prague this autumn. He's been back in NYC for a few weeks but will be working hard when he gets back on home turf in October, including three nights at Jazz Dock. He will also be heading out to Brno and Ostrava!

Details can be found on his website.

News: Jazz Dance at USP

News: The Funky Way Of Emil Viklický

Great news for all fans of Emil Viklický: the collection of his 1970s and 1980s work with some of the other great names of Czech music (and indeed some great names from around the world) is almost with us.

It will be released on CD and also LP (there are some real audiophiles working on this project) by Vampisoul.

For more details please look here.

We'll be running a review here on PJ as soon we we get our hands on it!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

New Albums

There are a couple of new albums to look forward to in the second half of 2009:

Infinite Quintet will release their debut album Speak Slowly. It will be officially launched at Jazz Dock on 13th October.

Pianist Jan Knop (better known as Najponk) is launching his new work, Night Lights, this September and will be playing at U Malého Glena.

[Information from www.czechjazz.org]

News: Changes at USP

USP Jazz Lounge are changing their style of programme, with the inclusion of more intimate acoustic nights, and also jazz dance nights. These special events are clearly marked on their website. They are also bringing some of the menu prices down, something that we here at Prague Jazz always think is a good idea.

They do have some good gigs at USP and it is a venue worth checking out when you have the time.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

GigTips: September 2009

Summer is on the way out and longer nights are on the way in, but that's no reason to be sad because the jazz of Prague is always in season. The leaves may turn brown but the music is evergreen here in this most special of cities. September will see a lull in the tourist crowds, but that just means more empty seats for locals to occupy while enjoying the unique sounds of the Prague Jazz world. So, what are you waiting for?

There are few more evergreen jazzers than pianist (and Prague Jazz favourite) Emil Viklický. He will be at AghaRTA Jazz Centrum on 18/9 with his Trio, playing his usual mix of standards, Moravian folk songs, and original compositions. The AghaRTA stage is quite small but if you would like to see just how many musicians it can hold then the reformed Yandim Band are unmissable (16, 17/9). They manage to squeeze nine up there, including three singers and Czech guitar legend Slávek Janda. Funky and fun they are an outfit worth seeing. Also good fun will be the Rhythm Desperados on 21,22/9.

At USP Jazz Lounge in September will be the recently reviewed musician, Karel Růžička sr. His saxophone playing son is back in New York City but the Czech pianist returns to action with his Trio on 10/9. Expect things dark. And heavy. And beautiful. On other nights you can see the Robert Balzar Trio (8/9) and the silky-voiced Veronika Diamant (27/9).

If last month's review and videos have made you want to go and see Stan the Man's Bohemian Blues Band then you can catch him every Monday night at U Malého Glena. Do make sure that you book ahead though: the size of the club means that with no reservation you probably will not get a table, never mind a table at the front. Alternatively you can go and see Goran Bregović, without reservation and for free, in the large expanse of Old Town Square on 17/9 (from 19:30). Okay, he's not really jazz (more like “crazy Balkan”), but this acclaimed musician from the former Yugoslavia is on tour with his “Weddings and Funerals Band” and wants to give us a free gig. Good man!

Finally, our traditional “if you must...” tip for going to Reduta. Eva Svobodová will be singing there on 29/9. Her voice is so beautiful that it makes up for the bar prices.

If you are interested in finding out more about some of the artists mentioned here please do take a look through our site: many of them have had their gigs and albums reviewed. If you want to know more about what is happening in general then follow the links to the clubs and the artists (on the right hand side). Please remember to book ahead to be sure of a good table, and do tell the venue that you saw the gig listed here.