tomáš hobzek

quartet

POINTS

luboš soukup - tenor, sopran sax, crlarinet,

miroslav hloucal - trp, flughorn

tomáš hobzek - drums, perc.

tomáš liška - acoustic bass

OndřejPivec Organic Quartet

tomáš hobzek - drums

marcel bárta - tenor sax, sopran sax

vít křišťan- piano

tomáš liška - acoustic bass

ondřej pivec - hammond organ,         

jakub doležal - tenor sax, alto sax

libor šmoldas - guitar

tomáš hobzek - drums

libor šmoldas quartet

libor šmoldas - guitar

petr beneš - piano

tomáš hobzek - drums

josef fečo - acoustic bass

Matěj Benko Trio and Quintet, the band Points, and others) play along the leader, drummer Tomáš Hobzek.

The quartet's music can be characterized as fresh, modern jazz, respecting its ideals from jazz history, such as Miles Davis or Wayne Shorter. The quartet is at the same time very communicative and open to modern trends of contemporary music.

The band has already created a special style of communication: it speaks through its own original compositions written by Points’ members, or unique arrangements of jazz standards. These compositions capture attention not only through its density and dynamic, even turbulent changes of moods, but also through its typical sound - which is very much dependent on the types of instruments the band consists of. These are trumpet, saxophone, double bass and drums. An absence of harmonic instrument allows for more interactive communication between the musicians.

The band experiments with the sound of the acoustic instruments and wants to achieve a “feel free” expression. Points is a band with strong emotional charge whose music is full of ideas, free of conventions and rules, and independent. Because of its courage and fantasy, the band does not have to copy styles and music from other big jazz names of previous century: Points invents itself independently.

Points has been awarded at Jazz Standard Competition in Polish Siedlce in 2009. The band won a very prestigious international jazz competition at Spanish Getxo, as the first Czech jazz band to do so in the whole Czech jazz history, and got the second prize at Jazz Hoeillart Competition in Belgium. Points have recorded two CD..s.

.. The band Points came into being in the spring of 2007. Its members are either students or graduates of Jazz College VOŠ JAZZ, which is a special jazz department of Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory in Prague, Czech Republic.

Although the quartet consists of fairly young artists, each one of its members has his unique musical character. This makes the Points’ performances very special, and also enthusiastic in the search for its own musical language.

I am happy to collaborate with such great musicians Josef Fečo on bass, Tomáš Hobzek on drums and pianist Petr Beneš.

The repertoire of the band consists mostly of my original compositions, there are also some modern jazz standards by J. Coltrane, W. Shorter, Ch. Parker etc. We used to do a lot of My Fair Lady songs, but once they were recorded on my New York CD, we felt like changing the repertoir and adding some more originals.

This new set of songs we do now will be recorded live during three gigs in Pragues' best jazz club Jazz Dock by the end of this summer.

    After successfully leading his own trio (CD On the playground 2007, Jazz in Rudolfinum festival 2008...) Libor Šmoldas is now establishing a new quartet with piano, drums and bass.

"I have always wanted to have a band with a pianist. I believe now, when organist Ondřej Pivec, who I used to play with in my trio, has left to New York, it`s the right time for me to make a new projekt with a brand new program.

This is also being confirmed by different international critics such as „The band of the year“ category award in the talent competition held within the 2005 Philips International Jazz Festival in Prague and participation on many different international festivals. The frontman Ondřej Pivec was also elected “Best soloist of the year” within the same competition and “Organist of the month” for October 2006 by International Archives for Jazz Organ. The most important success so far is an Academy Music Award for Jazz and Blues category 2006 (Anděl) that Ondřej Pivec Organic quartet has recieved for the debut album Don´t Get Ideas. The Organic quartet has recently performed with a great success in ORF Radiokulturhaus in Vienna, the Alchemia theatre in Cracow, on the Romanian and Moldavian tour, St. Germain club in Paris, Kunstfabrik in Berlin, Swinging hall in Sofia or Cheltenham Jazz festival in England.

Even though being considered as a new name on the Czech jazz scene, the band has already recorded several major recognitions. Organic quartet takes part of the young and extraordinary new generation of Czech jazz musicians and its potentional, qualities, unique repertory and energy just goes beyond the Czech borders.

leona milla band

leona milla - vocal

tomáš hobzek - drums

vít pospíšil- piano

lukáš kytnar - electric /acoustic bass

Seeing Leona on stage is always an occasion — unlike a large number of other musicians, notably those who perform a deeper genre such as jazz — Leona is not afraid to communicate with the audience, poke a joke or tell a story to introduce a song. I guess it’s often the attitude that makes all the difference. Of course, she’s also an impressive singer — hearing her live is an uplifting and stirring event without fail. So for those of you who have a chance, go see her gig, it’s well worth the time.

Leona got born 5.3.1979 in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. She is a soul jazz singer and a regular in a downtown jazz venues in Prag. She is a great singer with a broad range of expression. Her singing is full of deep emotions.