World class…

Yesterday The Old Lady (U Staré paní), opened its doors again after the holiday season. Something that went unnoticed for the majority of people who care about the definition of “good music”. The definition itself was actually wrong last night, one should be talking about world class music, because that’s what was offered when David Friesen – b; and Libor Šmoldas – g. got together for what turned out to be a jam-practicing session. With only a handful of spectators I don’t know how to otherwise describe it. This was in many ways sad since the repertoire and the way it was performed is something that doesn’t belong to our daily life offerings, on the contrary. 

 

Most of us already know Libor and the skills he possesses, last night he really came to prove why he is known as a Czech exceptional brilliant guitarist. Yesterday he had company of a world class, very sympathetic gentleman when David Friesen joined him on stage in a well balanced evening of jazz standards and David’s own compositions. For you who don’t know, David is considered one of the jazz field’s foremost double bass and electric upright bass players, in plain English that means he belongs to the category “you play want you know, I play what I want”. He has been around the block a few times, and that’s an understatement, he possesses a CV that you will find hard to beat by anybody, and there’s of course a reason for that. Nobody stays on the top for so long as David has, especially in the world of music, if you don’t own certain qualities, and he does, believe me! David started playing bass 1961 and is still actively touring! 

 

These two music masters had not met before the Prague sessions, something that was hard to understand when listening to them, so seamless was their togetherness. The harmony, understanding and respect they had found amongst themself was something you could hear in everything that came out of their heart and hands, but most of all there was the love and joy for the music they were playing, audience or no audience. Of course they are professionals, but this was not what this was all about, this was… something else!  They would for sure deserve a bigger audience but… Being selfish I will admit I was quite happy about the lack of listeners, no side sound, no people running around, no disturbing factors, just me (and a few more) being able to concentrate 120 % on the sounds that came out from that guitar and bass!