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Jazz stars shine in the classroom

This is one summer school students are happy to attend

July 4th, 2007 issue

Summer Jazz Workshop

When: July 7–15
Where: Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory (Roškotova 4, Prague 4–Braník)
Nightly jam sessions: Divadlo Dobeška (Jasná I. 6, Prague 4–Braník), beginning at 8
For more information, check
www.czechjazz.org

The love of performing came naturally for piano player Angus Grundy. Less easy in coming was any sort of professional expertise to cement that love.
“As an amateur, you soon realize that it’s hard enough to play badly,” he says. “If you want to play well, you need to commit some serious time. Having a full-time job, I didn’t make much progress for several years.”
Amateur musicians like Grundy will get a chance to hone their skills at the Czech Jazz Society’s Summer Jazz Workshop, which kicks off July 7 at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory in Prague 4. Led by accomplished regional jazz musicians and vocalists, the seven-day workshop features daytime courses on individual instruments, music theory, stage interaction and improvisation — all key to becoming a top-notch performer. Each day concludes with an evening jam session at Divadlo Dobeška, a theater and club near the conservatory. A final concert July 15 will bring together all the workshop participants.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the workshop, which gives both beginner and advanced music students an opportunity to boost their instrumental and vocal talents, as well as network with other jazz musicians and teachers. Anyone with an interest in performing jazz can participate. The musical focus this year will be on funk, be-bop, vocal and big band styles.
The faculty includes Czech saxophonist Ondřej Štveráček, British trumpet player Steve Fishwick, Slovak vocalist Miriam Bayle and pianists Pavel Wlosok and Ondrej Krajňák, from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, respectively.
According to Martin Šulc, president of the Czech Jazz Society and co-owner of the U Malého Glena jazz pub in Malá Strana, Prague is an appropriate venue for the workshop due to its burgeoning jazz music scene.
“Jazz in Prague has gone through a giant improvement in the past 15 years,” says Šulc, who is a drummer for the Roman Pokorný Jazz Fusion Band. “The goal of the workshop is to support musicians who are interested in jazz music, and every year [it] brings something new and special. There aren’t many events like this in or around the Czech Republic.”
“There’s a real feeling of a young generation coming through now, some of whom will no doubt break through internationally,” Grundy says.
The workshop is especially helpful in discovering as well as nurturing performers who normally wouldn’t get exposure or support. Previous workshop participants have ranged from 13 to over 60 years old.
“Students are always eager to absorb as much as they can in this one intense week,” says guitarist David Dorůžka, a member of the workshop’s faculty since 2003. “Undoubtedly, the workshop is most important in helping to spread the appreciation of jazz music in the Czech Republic. It is a very important activity to help the growth of young players and to develop new talents.”
Although the workshop aims high, many of the participants have down-to-earth goals.
“My personal goal for the workshop is to have fun, play a lot at the jam sessions and, with any luck, form a band afterward,” Grundy says. “Although I’ll never be a Keith Jarrett or Brad Mehldau, I’ve found it is possible to make progress.
“Becoming a better improvising musician is a lifelong process, and the summer jazz workshop has helped me on my way. So far, I’m enjoying the journey.”
 


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