Record Reviews

BEATA HLAVENKOVA ~ MONODIE 2.0 NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 788792505957) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025 This is an album by Czech Jazz pianist / vocalist / composer Beata HlavenkovaFind albums by this artist, recorded with vocalist Martin ProkesFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist / vocalist Vojta NydlFind albums by this artist, Russian (resident in Prague) guitarist Kirill YakovlevFind albums by this artist, Slovak trumpeter Oskar TorokFind albums by this artist, bassist Ratislav UhrikFind albums by this artist and the Pavel Borkovec String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The album includes fourteen tracks, all composed by Hlavenkova and arranged by Matej KroupaFind albums by this artist, which include texts / poetry by JQrFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Janek RuzickaFind albums by this artist), Jan SkacelFind albums by this artist, Vladimir HolanFind albums by this artist, Ljuba StiplovaFind albums by this artist, Hana ProskovaFind albums by this artist, Emily DickinsonFind albums by this artist and the late Czech President / poet / playwright Vaclav HavelFind albums by this artist, whom I had the honor and pleasure to meet in person a few times. The attached booklet includes English translations of the original texts in Czech language. The album is of course a Jazz & Poetry project, although the music amalgamates both Jazz and Classical Music elements. The melodic substance is all insanely beautiful, lyrical and deeply melancholic, and as such perfectly fitting the carefully chosen poetic layer, which includes both contemporary and classic Czech poetry, except for the Dickinson poem, which is in similar mood and frame of mind. The vocal and instrumental performances are all exceptional, and despite the complexity and intensity of the entire enterprise, it offers a wonderful sense of continuity and clarity. Of course, as usual with projects involving texts in languages other than English, the immediate concern is the language barrier, which stands between a listener not familiar with the language in question and the textual layer of the project. I have already stated repeatedly, that for true music lovers, the language barrier becomes quite secondary in presence of the universality and the power of great Art, and certainly allows a full acceptance and enjoyment of this and many other similar albums, despite the language barrier. In many respects, this album is a quintessential summary of Hlavenkova’s Artistic journey, which she carefully and consistently developed during the last two decades. She is certainly “doing her own thing”, crossing genres and carefully avoiding fads of fashion, which is never an easy path. Overall, this is a wonderful album in every respect, carefully put together, brilliantly performed and despite the reflective subject matter, which mirrors the sad state of humanity, it is still able to be a balm on our soul. I am happy to know you, Milady, and thank you for your immense talent!

Updated: 31/03/2026Posted: 31/03/2026

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