Jamie’s Magic

They say sometimes you’re just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Today was exactly that.

It was the official Saturday opening of Jazz On The Roof, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect: 25°C, a cloudless blue sky, and a nearly sold-out crowd soaking up the first real breath of summer. In these moments, the wrong music can ruin the vibe—but the Jamie Marshall Trio (Jamie Marshall – voc/g; Radek Hlávka – g; Taras Voloshchuk – b) is one of those rare bands that doesn’t just fit the atmosphere; they elevate it.

Regulars might have noticed a change in the lineup. Svatka Štěpánková was unfortunately out with a tennis elbow, and while we missed her dearly—she and Jamie go together like “fish and chips”—Taras Voloshchuk stepped in flawlessly. It felt like a homecoming; as Jamie shared during his storytelling, Taras was the first person he ever gigged with in Czechia. As a founding member of the Jazz Dock Orchestra, Taras is part of the very foundation of this club.

Between stories of Jamie’s early days (including a legendary tale of clearing the mafia out of a club!), the music gave us exactly what we came for: Jamie’s originals and covers rooted in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, but played with a modern, masterful skill. Each artist delivered outstanding solos and harmonies, but above all, they radiated the pure joy of playing.

Jamie and Radek began an introduction to Somewhere Over The Rainbow, and it felt as if time simply stopped. I don’t recall ever hearing an outdoor terrace go so completely, utterly silent. Rugged men forgot the pints on their tables; we sensitive souls found “dust in our eyes”; even the babies stopped crying to listen. For those few minutes, I could swear even the traffic on the riverside stood still.

After the final note, we returned to business as usual, but the feeling remained. Sometimes, you really are just lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

Thank you, Jamie Marshall Trio.