Julian Hesse Quartet @ Ateliér 57, Beroun, 24.8.2025
feat. Vendula Šmoldasová
The best jazz club in Prague, the one in Beroun, had its monthly session yesterday, and what a session it was. Under the name Julian Hesse Quartet we saw and heard some of Europe’s top musicians in the genre we call jazz, Julian Hesse – tr; Libor Šmoldas – g; Peter Cudek – b; Jesse Simpson – dr. This was an ensemble put together for the first time and with very little practice behind them and to my understanding with only one concert in the luggage before this. But once again the old saying came true, “Practice is for those without talent”. With the harmony these four instrumental masters created among themselves it was hard to believe or understand that this quartet had such a short history behind them. For me personally it was the ballads that were the highlight of the evening, Here especially the sweet and soft sound of Julians trumpet or the sensitive touch of Libors guitar demonstrated their artistry. It made me understand the real meaning of goosebumps… Said all that, I must also mention the cooperation between Peter and Jesse that took us every now and then to a level where chairs were of no use, this was a bass and drum talking to each other at its best, I will not say R&R since this was a jazz concert but…
Mostly originals
Most of the tunes presented to us were originals made by the members of the group, which also tells something about the skills and the professionalism we experienced last night. All this would be nothing without the joy and love for the music, and not to forget, the respect for your fellow band members, and this was also something that one could sense true the whole concert yesterday. The beginning of the second set also gave us a little extra when Vendula Šmoldasová, also known by the stage name Zeurítia performed a standard to show that Libor is not the only musician in the family.
This whole concept, including the place itself, Jesse’s workshop, the catering by Bara, the small surprises with the artists, the very special feeling that these Sunday events hold is a brand/trade mark for Ateliér 57, like I mentioned many times before, something also Julian mentioned at the end of the concert when he wished he be invited back some day, as we all hope he will! All this has slowly also reached the general public, at least I got that impression last night when the place was almost sold out at a very good time of the evening. This is good because A57 is very special, and I doubt that you’ll find anything else with the same atmosphere anywhere in the republic. I can’t help thinking, and I’ll get back to this some other time, but somewhere there’s a nagging feeling telling me that this is how it’s supposed to be, hmmmm… 
This whole concept, including the place itself, Jesse’s workshop, the catering by Bara, the small surprises with the artists, the very special feeling that these Sunday events hold is a brand/trade mark for Ateliér 57, like I mentioned many times before, something also Julian mentioned at the end of the concert when he wished he be invited back some day, as we all hope he will!
All this has slowly also reached the general public, at least I got that impression last night when the place was almost sold out at a very good time of the evening. This is good because A57 is very special, and I doubt that you’ll find anything else with the same atmosphere anywhere in the republic. I can’t help thinking, and I’ll get back to this some other time, but somewhere there’s a nagging feeling telling me that this is how it’s supposed to be, hmmmm… To see all the evening’s pictures click HERE!
The next concert @ Ateliér 57 is this: 21.9 Luboš Soukup (CZ) Quartet & Jana Kaniaková Ljodyna (UA) 19:00