Record Reviews

EMIL VIKLICKY / JULIAN NICHOLAS ~ SPRING AWAKENING CAMPUS INTER|NATIONAL 03 ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is a live album by a duo of Jazz musicians comprising of Czech pianist / composer Emil ViklickyFind albums by this artist and British saxophonist / composer Julian NicholasFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, four of which are original compositions by Viklicky, one is an original composition by Nicholas and four are standards. The music was recorded in Leipzig, Germany, and offers a truly exceptional sound quality. Viklicky and Nicholas collaborated on two albums recorded earlier on, but this is their first duo recording, and it is undoubtedly the best music they made together, in the true spirit of the “Art of the Duo”. Although the music is mostly mainstream oriented, the duo´s approach is often highly unusual, expending the music into other genres, including Classical and Folkloristic accents, all of which are delightful. The interplay between them is truly telepathic, which adds enormously to the outcome. In cases like this, one always wonders how two instruments (or rather the musicians behind these instruments) are able to create an entire universe of harmony and sonoric perfection, which equals in its potency to a much larger cast. This album is a wonderful example of such phenomenon, and repeated listening sessions reveal the depth and the layers of intimacy and mutual completeness between the two partners. Overall, this is a brilliant example of “less is more” in Jazz, in music in general and perhaps in life as well. This music touches hearts and inspires, which is about the highest goal music, or Art in general, can achieve. I wholeheartedly recommend to every true Jazz lover to try and get a copy of this gem!

Updated: 15/11/2025Posted: 29/08/2025

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend