Thursday, July 2, 2009

GigTips: July 2009

We're now over halfway though 2009, and so far it has been a great year for music if not for the weather. Hopefully we are now going to get some proper summer in the city, although just because it gets hot don't forget your umbrella. Those storms come fast and seemingly out of nowhere!

With luck the rain will hold off for the Bohemia Jazz Fest, the Prague dates of which are 12-13/7. This is a chance to see jazz talent from around the world, including Chris Potter Underground on the Sunday and Medeski, Martin and Wood on the Monday. There will be Czech jazz represented too, in the form of the Milan Svoboda Quartet. Free, and staged in the beautiful setting of Old Town Square, this is an event to savour.

Another unique concert that is worth a mention is bassist George Mraz with Hank Jones (p.) and Willie Jones (dr.) playing at one of the Jazz na Hradě concerts on 14/7.

Just because acts appear regularly it does not make them any less good, and all blues fans are advised not to forget the two great bluesmen of U Malého Glena, Stan “The Man” Wolarz on Mondays and Rene Trossman on Wednesdays. Rene's music is very much Chicago blues whereas Stan belts it out rough and raw, very different but both are fantastic guitarists. Another fantastic guitarist is of course Luboš Andršt: see him at AghaRTA Jazz Centrum on 19-20/7 with his Group.

The newest club on the scene, Jazz Dock, thankfully didn't float away in the recent floods, and if you're after some hard Hammond then watch out for Ondřej Pivec – he'll be there with his Trio and saxophonist Petr Kalfus on 5/7 and with his ORGANIC Quartet on 30-31/7.

As ever this is just a small selection of what is going on. Check out the links below for full details of all the main clubs and festivals. Remember to book ahead if you want to be sure of getting a good table in the smaller clubs, and please do tell the venue that you saw the gig listed here.

No comments: