Fill Santa's bag with music
Why don’t give away some music, it’s always welcomed. I’ll give you a few hints for a Christmas filled with music, but a little different one. With the exception of one record these are not new releases, some might even be hard to find but they are worth it! Some can be found from different streaming services, some only in bazaar type shops. Which of course makes it even more original. So below are some of my favorite suggestions. AND they are all more or less Czech related, because we are living in Europe’s Jazz Capital, right? 
Petra Vlková & Sonic Playground; this is an album released this year, it has already been nominated for the Andel awards. A brilliant record filled mostly with old standards but done in a personal way and yet making honor to the original.
Libor Šmoldas: “Blue” An album made for the 110th anniversary of the birth of the Czech composer, pianist and conductor Jaroslav Ježek. This will be hard to find but I suggest you try, this must be one of the best releases ever made in this country in this genre! Be aware though, you might not want to give it away if you listen to it first!
Roman Pokorný ; “Cab to Cotton Club (Tribute to Duke Ellington),” with Brian Charrette on organ and Dano Šoltis on drums, exploring Ellington’s classics in a soulful, hard bop style and highlighting Pokorný’s energetic, blues-rooted playing. Made 2018 and will for sure be a welcomed gift from Santa, if you can find it!
Petra Ernyei, “To jsem já / This Is Me”; an album in which the distinctive Czech jazz singer combines her jazz (classic) and Jewish roots. Made 2021 and is still to be found new as a CD recording…
Jaroslav Šindler Quartet; “Fjordy”; The father of today’s Czech jazz guitarists and his band. The release was made in 2023 and it’s still found physically as a CD. The ad for the record says, among others; A jazz intersection, that’s what you could call the event captured on the album Fjordy. No need to add anything more I guess, it’s good! 
Adam Tvrdý, Brian Charette Project: Suspicious Activities; One of Czech leading guitarist with organist viritose Brian Charette made something 2014 that still holds up today. And when half of the material is Adams own compositions it only makes it better. I found this unfortunately (I’m old school!) only on streaming services, but I’m happy I have it!
Three of Seven, “At Atelier 57”; Recorded in the summer 2024 in Beroun, CZ, and only to be found on streaming services. This very international band made up of friends and their love for music, playing a selection of their original tunes and arrangements is something of a must if you like good music! Remember to buy one for yourself also!
Libor Šmoldas NYC Trio, “The Trilogy”; There’s no Trilogy, I just made it up, but there are three records made by this jazz super group. If you want to give something a bit more special then, bye all three records, IF you can find them, first one made 2013 and the last (so far) 2020, it’s to my understanding that they are not to be found on any streaming service, so you might have to do a little digging to find them but, this gift will be appreciated and for a reason!
The Amplified Acoustic Band’s CD NOW. HERE. THIS; The Czech Englishman Jamie Marshall and his AAB band made a CD 2016 that differs from the other publications on this page as this cannot really be classified as jazz in any way. The only thing they have in common is that this is also an exceptionally good record. As it should be considering rock’N’ roller Jamie and his experience, not to forget the gorgeous band that backs him up. Santa also loves this record!
