Record Reviews

STEPANKA BALCAROVA ~ O ZTRACENE VODE AMPLION 202502 (Barcode: 8594179225026) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Special Products Recorded: 2024 - 2025 Released: 2025 This is an album by Czech Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist, which presents a Jazz Opera for children, performed by a big cast, which includes a string quartet, a Jazz ensemble with Balcarova, clarinetist Marcel BartaFind albums by this artist, flautist Robert FischmannFind albums by this artist, pianist Vit KristanFind albums by this artist, bassist Jiri SlavikFind albums by this artist and drummer Kamil SlezakFind albums by this artist, a children’s choir and soloists and the narrator Matej FormanFind albums by this artist (son of legendary director Milos FormanFind albums by this artist). The entire opera (twenty tracks) was composed by Balcarova, and tells an educational story about environment issues (the title in English means “About Lost Water”). The sheer scope and imagination behind this project are obviously truly astounding, but judging by Balcarova’s recorded legacy so far, it is not really surprising, as she is quite a wonder-woman, exploding with ideas and ceaselessly pro-active, with a wide range of activities spanning everything from intimate projects to Big Bands and Symphonic projects. This time she does not disappoint either. The music is, not surprisingly, excellent, beautifully performed by the Jazz ensemble and all the other performers, but it is partly on the second plane behind the spoken word / narration. Although the performance is intended for children, this does not mean that the music is simplistic or trivial, on the contrary it is quite complex and multilayered, and yet probably accessible to the younger audiences. I had a blast, obviously, but I stayed secretly a kid underneath the grownup posture. Of course this entire project is based on texts (sung or recited), which means there is a language barrier for people (young and old) not speaking Czech, but the aesthetics of the entire project is so lovely and embracing, that it can overcome language barriers for those, who are willing to embrace it. If this project was translated into many languages, it probably could be a great hit worldwide. Overall, this is a heartwarming, beautiful piece of Art for kids, but full of universal values, both aesthetic and intellectual, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend to all parents to go and see / hear this on stage. Children are always the best judges of true value and quality, and they can smell a chaltura from miles away. My guess is they will love this!

Updated: 09/02/2026Posted: 09/02/2026

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KAHOMA TRIO ~ IN THE WOODS MUST-ART 005 ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by the Czech Jazz piano trio, called Kahoma TrioFind albums by this artist, which comprises of pianist Jan KavkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Marek DufekFind albums by this artist and drummer Kamil SlezakFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, seven by Kavka, one by Dufek and three co-composed by all three members of the trio. The album was recorded at the splendid Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the expected superb sonic quality. The music is based on well-constructed melodic themes, beautifully performed by the trio. The performances are characterized by full cooperation between the trio members, rather than the soloist – rhythm section approach, which is especially effective here. The entire outcome is very delicate, almost fragile, and the extremely slow pace of some of the pieces is almost “painful”, in the best meaning of the word. Kavka was very lucky to find his companions, as they both prove to be not only highly supportive, but also very creative. Dufek plays some of the best bass lines I have heard in a piano trio setting in a long time, absolutely virtuosic and extraordinarily supportive. The long-lasting love affair between Czech Jazz musicians and the bass gets here another extension from the young generation. Slezak keeps mostly very quiet, adding his delicate touches exactly as needed, without trying be pervasive, which is a valued quality. Kavka plays very emotionally, caressing the keyboard with his fingers elegantly and gently, but confidently. Rather than showing off he minimizes the amount of notes played, just enough to articulate the melody and the mood he wishes to convey. Overall, this is a beautiful, classic Jazz piano trio album, one of the best I had the opportunity to hear lately, with the clear “less is more” approach, which is most effective and aesthetically pleasing. Well done, Gentlemen and hope to hear more of your music again soon.

Updated: 01/03/2023Posted: 01/03/2023

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TOMAS LISKA / INVISIBLE WORLD ~ SYNERGY INVISIBLE 002 (Barcode: 745604682862) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Czech bassist / composer Tomas LiskaFind albums by this artist and his Invisible WorldFind albums by this artist quartet, which also includes Serbian accordionist Nikola ZaricFind albums by this artist, Turkish (resident in Vienna) violinist Efe TurumtayFind albums by this artist and Czech drummer / percussionist Kamil SlezakFind albums by this artist. The quartet is accompanied by the Prague Radio Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Bastien StilFind albums by this artist. The album, which was recorded live, presents four tracks, all original compositions by Liska. The music is a wonderful amalgam of Jazz and diverse World Music elements, which include Balkan, Gypsy, Mediterranean and East European influences. Combined with the Orchestral arrangements present herein, the music offers an incredibly rich range of melodies, soundscapes and emotions, which takes the listeners on a musical carpet ride all over the European continent. The members of the quartet are skillful instrumentalists, displaying their individual talents while soloing, but also offer a tight musical unit together, which elegantly moves from one theme to another and has no difficulty with the often tricky rhythmic patterns. The orchestral arrangements fit the music perfectly and add another dimension, but do not undermine the main course of the music. Overall, this is a highly entertaining and elegant display of the composing abilities of the leader and the performing skills of the musicians, which should delight all Jazz-World Fusion connoisseurs, anywhere on this planet. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 31/10/2023Posted: 31/10/2023

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LUBOS SOUKUP ~ SCANDINAVIAN IMPRESSIONS CESKY ROZHLAS 1216 (Barcode: 8590236121621) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by Czech Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Lubos SoukupFind albums by this artist, recorded with a Jazz quartet comprising of guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, pianist Vit KristanFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Thommy AnderssonFind albums by this artist and drummer Kamil SlezakFind albums by this artist, the Prague Radio Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Bastein StilFind albums by this artist and the brass section of the Concept Art OrchestraFind albums by this artist (which includes my Friend trumpeter Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist). The album presents six tracks, which are in fact parts of a suite for Jazz ensemble and Symphonic orchestra, based on Soukup’s experiences during his stay in Scandinavia. The album was recorded live and offers an excellent sound quality. The music is absolutely delightful, a perfect amalgam of Jazz and the Classical vocabulary, tastefully and cleverly put together and brilliantly performed by all the musicians involved in this complex project. The music is a marriage of Slavic / East European melodic melancholy and Scandinavian ambience, which flows gently throughout the duration, constantly switching between the Jazz and the Classical facets, producing a superb example of European elegance and aesthetics. Individually, these are some of the finest Czech Jazz musicians, which in many respects are a class of their own judging by the incredible influx of Czech Jazz recordings released during the last decade or so, which often are surprisingly imaginative, innovative and original, despite the fact that they are all well within the “conventional” Jazz idiom, without moving into extreme Avant Garde in order to show something original. Although, as already stated, all the musicians involved in making of this album are highly professional and talented, the soling by Doruzka is the out-and-out highlight of the album, again emphasizing his undisputed position as one of the best guitar players in the world at present. Of course Soukup has to be congratulated for his brilliant composing / arranging work on this album, which is truly exceptional, making this album one of the most “natural” and coherent amalgamations between Jazz and Classical music, which I had the pleasure to enjoy and experience in a very long time. Overall, this is a superb Jazz-Classical Fusion album in every respect, full of exciting, moving and conceptually brilliant music, which should satisfy even the most capricious music connoisseurs. It is a gem in every respect, and it goes without saying that it deserves an honorable place in every serious Jazz records collection. Well done, my Friend!

Updated: 12/08/2024Posted: 10/08/2024

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