Ondřej Pivec Organic Quartet @ Jazz Dock 11.4.2026
The First Class Treatment
Some frequent flyers are lucky enough to get an upgrade from Economy to Business class—always a pleasant surprise. But what if you are already sitting in Business? On rare occasions, you get moved to First Class. That is exactly the feeling I had last night at Jazz Dock during my first (but certainly not my last) encounter with the Ondřej Pivec Organic Quartet.
Having done my homework, I was well aware of the skill these four Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory alumni—Ondřej Pivec (organ), Libor Šmoldas (guitar), Tomáš Hobzek (drums), and Jakub Doležal (sax)—possess. That was my “Business Class” expectation. The “First Class” reality hit the moment the music started. I wasn’t alone in that feeling; the thunderous ovations from a sold-out crowd said it all.
The honest joy, the togetherness, and the overwhelming pleasure in every note was something you don’t experience often. The band’s performance was intense yet relaxing—a masterclass in chemistry. Double that feeling, and you might have a clue how we in the audience felt. I won’t spoil the memory by trying to sound “professional” or diving into technical details. Why? Because the musicians were the ones on stage; I was just down below, enjoying every second with the rest of the crowd.
Double Trouble
Last night was special for another reason: it isn’t common for a band to sell out two separate concerts in a single night at Jazz Dock. But for this lineup, it made perfect sense. Ondřej has lived in the USA for ten years and doesn’t get back to his home country often. When he does, he reconnects with old friends for these high-quality sessions, and we are all the luckier for it.
The night was also the climax of the “Organ Days” at Jazz Dock. The club even rented a genuine Hammond B3 with a Leslie cabinet for the occasion. It’s an interesting point to me that while this week featured many prominent international performers, the only group to pack the club for two shows in one night was “Made in the Czech Republic.”
Thank you, Ondřej Pivec Organic Quartet—I hope to see you again soon!
The night was also the climax of the “Organ Days” at Jazz Dock. The club even rented a genuine Hammond B3 with a Leslie cabinet for the occasion. It’s an interesting point to me that while this week featured many prominent international performers, the only group to pack the club for two shows in one night was “Made in the Czech Republic.”
Thank you, Ondřej Pivec Organic Quartet—I hope to see you again soon!
To see all the evening’s pictures click HERE!
