If there’s a will, there’s a way: Vápenice Fest @ Ateliér 57

Prague’s best jazz club, the one in Beroun, Ateliér 57, doesn’t stop to amaze me. We are all used to the very high quality the bands that perform have, but this time they didn’t settle for just one world-class international act. Instead, they expanded the entire repertoire, adding stellar musical projects and local legends to create a true Fest with a big “F.”`

 

The evening kicked off with guitar gurus Milan Angelo and Max Light in a dynamic duo format. Their lightning-fast fingerwork felt like a rare, wild mixture of pure passion and jazz running straight through their veins. Next up was Olivia Trummer performing solo . While promoters call her “a uniquely gifted artist,” believe me when I say that is a massive understatement. Her sensitive, magical touch on the black-and-white keys combined with her stunning vocals is a pure pleasure to inhale. (As a quick side note, I stole today’s headline from her, though she originally borrowed the quote from English poet George Herbert and gave him full credit on stage).

 

Our host, Jesse Simpson, had recently been commissioned to perform at the prestigious Leoš Janáček International Music Festival jam session on Friday, June 12th. The festival organizers clearly don’t know Jesse—if you give him free rein, anything can happen. And it did. He gathered an absolute powerhouse lineup around him: Jesse Simpson on drums, Gianni Gagliardi on saxophone, Max Light on guitar, and Makar Novikov on bass. Together, they took classical compositions by Leoš Janáček and Bix Beiderbecke, infused them with Jesse’s custom arrangements, and delivered a classical-jazz fusion so historic that we will undoubtedly be hearing about it for a long time. It was stunning, deeply impressive, and exactly the kind of show you will tell your grandchildren about. I won’t spill all the details just yet—stay tuned for a deep-dive report on this astonishing project later!

 

While it has been hard to find a free seat at A57 lately, yesterday actually gave the crowd some room to breathe. I promise you, once word gets around about what happened last night, there will be many regretful music lovers sitting at home, especially in Beroun. Missing out once is a mistake, but letting it happen twice is a bad habit! Luckily, you have a chance to redeem yourself. Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 19th, when A57 hosts the next Vápenice Fest Brazil! Featuring the Zeuritia Quartet and the Fernanda Santanna Quartet, this outdoor summer concert kicks off early at 18:00 . There might be even more surprises added to the program, and I will let you know the second I find out.