Luboš Soukup Quartet – Amber Rails Album Release ConcertJazz Dock, Prague | 18.9.2026
If you’re going to make an entrance, do it in style—though last night at Jazz Dock proved that it works the other way around, too. After spending more than 15 years abroad—most notably in the deeply jazz-friendly kingdom of Denmark—Luboš Soukup has officially returned home. They lose, we win; there is simply no other way to describe the absolute lottery win of having him back after witnessing last night’s performance. Backed by his “new” quartet—a lineup that will hopefully enjoy a very long marriage—the band commanded the full, rapt attention they so richly deserved as they ran through the tracks of the new album.
Like flipping a light switch, Luboš has abandoned the raw, experimental, electronic textures so often found in contemporary Scandinavian jazz, replacing them with a much more harmonized, soft, and beautiful acoustic style. While this feels like a “back-to-the-roots” album with its clear blues influences, make no mistake: this is a masterfully modern jazz record. If you were hoping for a continuation of Christiania (released in 2020), this new direction will come as a surprise.
Dream Team
I only had the time to listen to Amber Rails (what a fantastic name! 😊) once before last night’s show. A live performance is always the icing on the cake, and yesterday was no exception. Then again, you can’t expect anything less when a true dream team takes the stage. The seamless togetherness between Luboš and pianist Jiří Levíček is a absolute joy to listen to—these musical soulmates have truly found each other.
But perhaps the biggest triumph of the night belonged to the rhythm section. With such vastly different backgrounds and an obvious age gap, one might initially wonder what Luboš was thinking when he threw these two together. That is, until they start playing. Drummer Jakub Švejnar is well-known for being a fierce, avant-garde force among the younger generation. Would he have enough breathing room within Soukup’s structured, deeply melodic compositions? Meanwhile, bassist Jaromír Honzák—whom Luboš has beautifully called the Godfather of the local jazz scene—is the ultimate musical rock; a steady force you can always lean on. They might seem like an odd couple on paper, but they are flawless in practice. Credit to Luboš: he’s been around long enough to know exactly what he was doing. Jakub found his perfect creative space, and Jaromír did what he does best, anchoring the entire night with masterful bass lines.
One For Marilyn
I will likely do a deeper studio review of Amber Rails at some point—or perhaps I’ll just let the music speak for itself—but there is one moment from last night I simply have to share. Track five on the record, “One For Marilyn,” is Luboš’s tribute to Marilyn Mazur—the legendary percussionist, composer, bandleader, and close friend of Luboš who sadly passed away last December.
This piece opened the second set last night. I have heard a great many musical tributes in my life, but this was something entirely special. With goosebumps rising on my skin and a dead-quiet Jazz Dock hanging on every note, it became entirely clear to everyone in the room just how deeply important Marilyn was in Luboš’s life. The band felt it too; the entire performance was the literal definition of the word feeling. ❤️
All in all, it was a more than pleasant evening and a spectacular comeback. I have a small suspicion that not everyone in our European jazz capital fully realizes what a massive gift it is to have Luboš back on a regular basis. He is internationally recognized and perhaps deeply appreciated elsewhere, but last night proved he belongs right here.
I’ll keep you updated with more galleries from this brilliant quartet soon. In the meantime, do yourself a favor: buy the record! 💿
Thank you, Luboš Soukup Quartet! 🎷🙏🙏😀
To see all the evening’s pictures click HERE!
