jazz festival karlovy vary 2007

Karlovy Vary as an internationally known spa town has some typical features we would hardly find in other locations of the region or our country. One of these features is a jazz tradition not even interrupted during the totality times. Why the first jazz festival in former Czechoslovakia in 1961 was held right in Karlovy Vary.
This year, the main programme is concentrated into three evening sessions, held in the Panasonic Cinema and Small Hall of LH Thermal. On the Hot Spring Colonnade, there are four afternoons traditionally reserved for the jazz scene of Karlovy Vary. The dramaturgic conception also brings a change to the environment in which the Festival will take place. This time the audience will have to do without swing, that is why we are leaving the ostentatious atmosphere of Grandhotel Pupp. The modern to avant-garde music for young audience desires different atmosphere.

The Hot Spring Colonnade on Oct 10 – 13, 2007, always from 4 PM (free admission)
Bigband Gringos, Swing dows, JazzKVé and Trialog jazz are bands from Karlovy Vary playing various genres and having a fact that the main band personalities are generally young musicians coming from the jazz centre of the Elementary School and Basic Music School in Karlovy Vary – Rybáre in common. High player level, original production.

Panasonic Cinema, Oct 11, 2007 at 7.30 PM (admission 100,- CZK)
The first evening Festival concert will again present a band from the local region to the Karlovy Vary audience. The band is called Nejdecko – Cheb’s formation of Good News playing, as they say, jazzrock (a term so famous in the 1970s in the socialistic Czechoslovakia).
However, the compositions are contemporary and original. Another band from Prague called Lanugo plays original music as well. There is a melodious voice of Markéta Foukalová and emotive jazz trumpet of Míra Hloucal hovering over - now and then - dance rhytmics (in which double bass is involved, according to contemporary strict trend rules). Nice demonstration of how to play sophisticated music to a non-jazz audience, as handtailored for Karlovy Vary.

Small Hall of Thermal, Oct 12, 2007 at 7.30 PM (admission 150,- CZK)
The second evening will be opened by North Bigband from Litvínov. Do not expect any Glen Millers. The Bigband plays sophisticated repertory from be bop to fussion. The age average is around 20; arrangements are usually of own production and the performance will be enriched by the "4 voices" vocal quartet, which will not only be pleasing for listening. Afterwards, there will be a traditional presenting of the Gustav Brom Prize that was fortunately awarded to Milan Svoboda this year. That is a dramaturgic win. Let’s imagine if it was awarded for example to.… Milan Svoboda and his sextet will present in Karlovy Vary for the first time. These are great arrangements, explosive impulsive music especially about improvisation and greatly complementary soloists. You will feel the real harmony of the musicians on the podium. The final band, blues – soul formation of Enrico Crivellaro – Raphael Wressling organ trio. An Italian living in California who has come here with his American friends to bring joy and good mood. Fantastic conclusion after Svoboda’s typhoon. You will just like the poorly drought beer and will go home smilingly and satisfied.

Small Hall of Thermal, Oct 13, 2007 at 7.30 PM (admission 200,- CZK)
The final evening will bring two genre-different bands, however, with one thing in common – everything is allowed! Limbo is a band composed of Czech musicians (e.g. František Kucera, doyen of the Pilsen jazz, plays the trumpet), preferring freedom, unbound forms, free common improvisation and great musical communication. In my opinion, together with the NUO Orchestra of Jakub Zítko, they surpass all currently establishing bands, that is why they don’t mind what the gurus will say or if their original music is in accordance with the world jazz development. That all is at the acoustic level whereas the following band - Victor Wooten band – is a so-called electric band especially influenced by funk and soul. There is energy streaming from the six virtuoso playing and singing blacks. In his texts Viktor Wooten meekly thanks to all of his predecessors but himself is already writing history of modern music. You feel the professional attitude, exceptionality, perfection but also ease and exaggeration from their presentation. I have heard that Viktor was riding a bike at his bass solos at one of their concerts. Not in vain, their last project Soul is called - Circus. And I am glad that the Victor Wooten band have visited the conservative Karlovy Vary with this project (their very first concert in Europe) to communicate the local audience that music is especially good entertainment.