Record Reviews

COTATCHA ORCHESTRA ~ BIG BAND ELECTRONICS BIG ROUND RECORDS 8963 (Barcode: 300844060353) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by the Czech Jazz Big Band, called Cotatcha OrchestraFind albums by this artist, led by trumpeter Jiri KotacaFind albums by this artist and comprising of young Czech, Slovak, Austrian and Hungarian Jazz musicians. The orchestra is conducted by Juraj ValencikFind albums by this artist, and features two guest musicians: vocalist Lenka DusilovaFind albums by this artist and Dutch trombonist Ilja ReijngoudFind albums by this artist, each appearing on one track. The album presents nine tracks, seven composed by the Big Band’s pianist Martin KonvickaFind albums by this artist and one each by Kotaca and Czech pianist / composer Jiri LevicekFind albums by this artist. The album offers a sublime sound quality, and is one of the best-sounding Big Band recordings I have come across in a while. Despite the album’s title, the music is completely acoustic, and the “electronics” is used only as a series of delicate background interludes between the tracks. The music is stunningly beautiful, highly melodic and brilliantly played by the Big Band, which epitomizes the European approach to Jazz Big Band, which becomes an organic expanded one multi-instrumental body, rather than a group of musicians accompanying soloists. There are of course also excellent soli found herein, mainly by Kotaca, who is the leading soloist. But the entire orchestral sound of the Big Band is one continuous delight from start to finish, and a perfect example of what modern Jazz Big Bands should sound like. Konvicka, who composed most of the music on this album, also emerges as one of the heroes, supplying the wonderful melodic content, full of delicate lyricism and non-trivial harmonic buildup, which makes listening to this album a truly delightful experience. Overall, this is a sublime Jazz Big Band album, very unique and brilliantly put together, offering a total musical experience, which combines great compositions and first-class performances, rarely encountered on record these days. This is, of course, beyond recommendation, simply a must to all true orchestral Jazz lovers anywhere on this globe. Hats off!

Updated: 09/08/2024Posted: 09/08/2024

CD 1 Digisleeve Recommend To A Friend

BEATA HLAVENKOVA ~ JOY FOR JOEL ANIMAL MUSIC 011 (Barcode: 8594155997930) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009 This is the 3rd album by Czech Jazz pianist / vocalist / composer Beata HlavenkovaFind albums by this artist, which she recorded in the US with Canadian trumpeter Ingrid JensenFind albums by this artist and American musicians: saxophonist Rich PerryFind albums by this artist, pedal steel guitarist Dave EasleyFind albums by this artist, Australian (resident in US) bassist Matt ClohesyFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon WikanFind albums by this artist. Czech vocalist Lenka DusilovaFind albums by this artist adds vocalese on two tracks. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are original compositions by Hlavenkova, arranged by her. The album was mixed by Milan CimfeFind albums by this artist, and offers, as always, a splendid sound quality. The music is wonderfully melodic and lyrical, and the arrangements make a perfect use of the small ensemble, which offers excellent soli and coherent performances all the way through. The vocal parts, or more correctly vocalese, are treated as another instrument and enhance the aural effect in a most appropriate way. Despite the presence of American musicians, the album offers a distinctly European ambience and feel, which of course is one of its many charms. I have been quite taken by surprise by the fact that I completely missed Hlavenkova’s presence on the Czech Jazz scene up until now, and I am happy this has been now remedied by her, by sending me some of her albums. Overall, this is a truly beautiful and musically perfectly balanced and refined album, which I have missed at the time of its release. Elegantly packaged and released on my favorite Czech records label, Animal MusicFind albums on this label, run by Petr OstrouchovFind albums by this artist, it is now a proud part of my collection. Thank you Beata, for the initiative to contact me and of course for the wonderful music!

Updated: 21/03/2026Posted: 21/03/2026

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend