Events

Cellist and singer Dorota Barová, a two-time nominee for the 2025 Anděl Awards, will perform in an exclusive lineup to present her most intimate album, accompanied by guests you would not normally see together on the same stage.

Vojtěch Špiller – trumpet; Jan Khýr – electric guitar, vocals; František Komárek – bass guitar; and Václav Khýr – drums, vocals.

Khyr Brothers is a blues-jazz-rock band from Opava that performs primarily original material. Their repertoire also includes musical adaptations of poetry by Oldřich Mikulášek, Petr Skarlant, and Josef Kainar. Stylistically, the band draws comparisons to Robben Ford or the Prague-based group ASPM. Their distinctive sound is further enhanced by the recent addition of excellent trumpet playing.
They were finalists in the 2026 Blues Aperitiv competition, placing in the top three and advancing from that final round to the Blues Alive festival in Šumperk in the autumn of 2026.

Gerald Clark – guitar, harmonica, vocals; Jiří Maršíček – guitar, vocals

South African guitarist Gerald Clark is a storyteller. He plays high-energy rock 'n' roll, with occasional forays into the blues. He brings playfulness, infectious enthusiasm, and zest—plus a voice reminiscent of Ray Charles. That playfulness, enthusiasm, and energy are as catching as the winter flu.

There is no calculation here, no forced, sweaty posturing—just joyful music. Gerald Clark is as exuberant and dance-inducing as Ray Charles. He calls himself a bluesman, yet his songs—along with the occasional standard by Freddie King or Muddy Waters—are brisk, driving, and cheerful. It is music that leans more toward rock 'n' roll than standard twelve-bar blues.

He plays his battered Fender with his fingers, folk-style, using a pick only for solos. It is music that lifts the spirits. It is no wonder that back home in South Africa, he has won multiple awards and accolades for best live performance and for his non-commercial, multi-genre music.

Tim Garland – saxophone
Geoffrey Keezer – piano

The *Mezzo* project, a collaboration between British saxophonist Tim Garland and American pianist Geoffrey Keezer, represents an intersection of the European lyrical tradition and American jazz drive. This partnership is not merely a chance meeting of two virtuosos but a profound dialogue between two musical worlds that complement each other with incredible ease and elegance.

Tim Garland, known for his long-standing collaboration with the legendary Chick Corea, brings his signature style—technically flawless yet deeply emotive—to the project. Here, he showcases this artistry on an unusual instrument: the mezzo-soprano saxophone, a rarity in the jazz world. Geoffrey Keezer—a Grammy nominee acclaimed for blending classical training with a modern jazz vocabulary—partners him at the piano with a sensitivity bordering on telepathy. It is no coincidence that the renowned vibraphonist Gary Burton has hailed this pair as "the best jazz duo I have ever heard."

The music on the *Mezzo* album—and in its live performances—defies strict genre categorization; it flows seamlessly from complex post-bop structures to near-impressionistic passages reminiscent of classical chamber music. Indeed, the list of composers includes figures ranging from Chick Corea to Erik Satie. The compositions are rich in color and unexpected twists; Garland’s tone is pure and luminous, while Keezer’s playing creates rich textures that provide the perfect backdrop for the saxophone lines.

The contemporary Chicago jazz scene is regarded as one of the most vibrant and progressive jazz hubs of our time. It is from this fertile environment that an extraordinary talent has emerged: the multi-talented saxophonist, composer, educator, and activist Isaiah Collier.

Mad Fellaz is an italian eclectic jazz/fusion band, formed by guitarist and primary composer Paolo Busatto in 2011. Initially inspired by the great artists of classic progressive-rock, the band has been able to renew itself with extreme versatility and creativity, both in instrumental and vocal music, ranging from prog to jazz, fusion, funk and afro-beat music.

Jiří Kotača & Alf Carlsson—a recent Anděl Award winner—is a collaborative quartet featuring Swedish guitarist Alf Carlsson and Czech trumpeter Jiří Kotača. These two acclaimed musicians were brought together by their studies in Rotterdam, Netherlands; a planned trip by Alf to the Czech Republic—following their return to their respective home countries—evolved into a short tour and, eventually, a full-fledged band. In 2024, the quartet released their highly acclaimed second album, *Our Stories*.

As leading music journalist Milan Bátor writes: "This record meets the highest global standards of a dynamic approach to jazz." Their music blends everything they love: influences of lyrical Scandinavian music and modern jazz mixed with a touch of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and rock. All of this, underscored by live electronics, creates the band's unique sound—one that emphasizes sonic diversity and strong melodies. Alf Carlsson has composed music for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, while Jiří Kotača is a recipient of the Anděl Award and the Czech Jazz Harvest (*Česká jazzová sklizeň*) award. The co-leaders are joined by two of the most sought-after Slovak jazz musicians of the younger generation: Peter Korman on double bass/bass guitar and Kristián Kuruc on drums. The band has performed dozens of concerts at jazz festivals and clubs across Egypt, Taiwan, Sweden, Bulgaria, Austria, Italy, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Vocalist Dan Bárta and double bassist Robert Balzar rarely perform in the minimalist duo format, and their collaboration at this UNESCO-listed architectural gem promises a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Vocalist Dan Bárta and double bassist Robert Balzar rarely perform in the minimalist duo format, and their collaboration at this UNESCO-listed architectural gem promises a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Václav Voharčík – trumpet, vocals; Peter Tomčík – guitar; Pavol Mojto – double bass; David Geprt – drums

A jazz quartet of young professional musicians dedicated to the work of the legendary jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker. Alongside Louis Armstrong, he ranks—after Miles Davis—as the second or third most famous jazz trumpeter of all time.

Sachal Vasandani is considered one of the most distinctive jazz vocalists of his generation. In his performances, the jazz tradition comes alive with a fresh, soulful sound, appealing not only to purist fans of the genre but also to lovers of modern songwriting.

Although two prominent figures of the contemporary Czech scene—vocalist Marta Kloučková and guitarist David Dorůžka—have frequently collaborated on stage and in the studio (such as within the singer’s established quintet), their current project marks a significant turning point.

A musical ensemble made up of young musicians with a passion for live performance and improvisation. Led by bandleader Mojmír Bártek, they play to the rhythms of jazz, swing, Latin, and jazz-rock.

Jazz at the Smoking Rabbit Jazz Bar.

Albert Frost – guitar; Kuba Hlobil – seven-string guitar-bass; Josef Hlobil – drums

We would like to introduce you to an incredibly talented blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter from South Africa: Albert Frost. He boasts a professional track record that is truly astounding:

- in South Africa, his band has repeatedly served as the opening act for The Rolling Stones
- he won a SAMA (South Africa’s highest music award, akin to the Czech Anděl Awards) for Rock Album of the Year for *Sacred Sound*…
- he is considered a legend in South Africa and enjoys immense popularity across the country—comparable, perhaps, to the standing of Michal Pavlíček here in the Czech Republic…

A modern jazz trio bringing together three distinctive figures from today’s music scene. Louis Cole has joined forces with saxophonist and composer David Binney and bassist Pera Krstajic. The result is a project that blends modern jazz improvisation with a powerful rhythm section, a contemporary sound, and an energy that transcends the boundaries of traditional jazz.

A modern jazz duo bringing together two distinctive figures from today’s music scene. Louis Cole has joined forces with saxophonist and composer David Binney. The result is a project that blends modern jazz improvisation with a strong rhythmic drive, a contemporary sound, and an energy that transcends the boundaries of traditional jazz.

Gala Concert

The celebrations marking the B-Side Band’s 20th anniversary will culminate where it all began: at the Brno City Theatre, the very place where the band’s debut project took place two decades ago. This evening will be more than just a concert; it will be the culmination of two decades during which the B-Side Band has established itself as one of the defining projects of the Czech music scene.

Gala Concert

The celebrations marking the B-Side Band’s 20th anniversary will culminate where it all began: at the Brno City Theatre, the very place where the band’s debut project took place two decades ago. This evening will be more than just a concert; it will be the culmination of two decades during which the B-Side Band has established itself as one of the defining projects of the Czech music scene.

Two things are absolutely fundamental about Tigran Hamasyan. He managed to organically infuse jazz with a highly distinctive musical expression possessing an Armenian soul—and he achieved this at a very young age.

The story of Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez reads like a modern musical fairy tale, in which uncompromising classical training meets the unbridled energy of Havana’s streets and a fateful intervention by a legend.

Let It Snow! Christmas Classics with a Unique Twist

If anyone tells you that Adam Plachetka is a reserved man—don’t believe a word of it!

The world-renowned opera singer throws himself into diverse, challenging projects with characteristic passion and navigates a wide range of artistic disciplines with charming audacity—from operetta and musical theatre melodies to shows that lie completely outside the realm of classical music.

London-based producer, pianist, and composer Alfa Mist is a standout figure on the contemporary British nu-jazz scene; his work perfectly embodies the fusion of modern urban culture with deep musical tradition. His musical roots were shaped by hip-hop, dark melancholic beats, and a fascination with sampling. It was his desire to fully grasp the complex harmonic structures of the tracks he was chopping up and sampling that ultimately led him to the piano. He thus evolved from a producer into a visionary artist who found absolute creative freedom in jazz.