Record Reviews

NICHOLAS / VIKLICKY / DVORSKY / WICKINS ~ ONE TWO THREE FOUR BEE BOSS 2020 ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2020 This is a live album by an Anglo-Czech Jazz quartet, comprising of British saxophonist Julian NicholasFind albums by this artist and drummer Dave WickinsFind albums by this artist, and Czech pianist Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and bassist Petr DvorskyFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, one of which is an original composition by Viklicky and the rest are standards. The music was recorded in Leipzig, Germany, at the same venue where the duo album by Nicholas and Viklicky “Spring AwakeningFind albums with this title” was recorded a couple of years earlier. The album is dedicated to the memory of Wickins, who sadly died in 2019, and who was a highly respected and influential British Jazz drummer. The music is mostly within the modern mainstream Jazz boundaries, and offers a splendid aura of quartet cooperation and great individual performances by all four participants. The superb dialogue between Nicholas and Viklicky is the focal point if this recording, but the rhythm section supports the soloists with flair and imagination. The album is also a marvelous document of Wickins’ unique drumming technique. Nicholas displays his usual brilliant fluency and melodic sensitivity and Viklicky his piano virtuosity, and the whole affair is just a grand love affair of music making. Overall, although sadly an obscure album, released privately, it deserves to be listened to by Jazz connoisseurs and lovers of the classic Jazz quartet setting, which is presented herein in its full glory. Grab a copy, if you can!

Updated: 21/11/2025Posted: 21/11/2025

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EMIL VIKLICKY / PETR DVORSKY / ERNIE ADAMS ~ HUMORESQUE NOT ON LABEL 003 ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is a live album by Czech Jazz pianist / composer Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and bassist Petr DvorskyFind albums by this artist with American drummer Ernie AdamsFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, three of which are original compositions by Viklicky, two are traditional Czech melodies arranged by him, another two are Classical Czech pieces arranged by him and finally two are Jazz standards. The music was recorded at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA. As the selection of the tracks shows, the music represents mostly the Czech musical tradition, wonderfully transferred into the Jazz domain by Viklicky. The classic Jazz piano trio format is an ideal environment to present Viklicky’s virtuosic capabilities as pianist, superbly supported by the highly talented Dvorsky, who continues the great Czech tradition of bass players, and the highly precise and dynamic drumming by Adams. The music is all within the modern Jazz mainstream genre, but offers many of the European Jazz characteristics, which showcase a significant difference between European and American Mainstream Jazz, by being more unpredictable, unconstrained and daring. The flow and wonderful camaraderie present herein make this album a truly brilliant adventure, which enhanced by the superb sound quality, makes this album a real treat. Overall, this is a classic Jazz piano trio album, which offers excellent level of musicianship and brilliant flow, which is irresistible to every true Jazz lover. Viklicky offers here the essence of his refinement and finesse, which are the reason why he is amongst my favorite piano players ever. Pure delight!

Updated: 13/09/2025Posted: 13/09/2025

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