Mariana Jouzová & Piotr Wyleżoł Trio ft. David Dorůžka @ Ateliér 57 | 16.8.2026
They did it again. Who would ever think to combine a classical harp with intense, contemporary jazz? Anyone who isn’t limited by old ways of thinking and is ready to embrace something entirely fresh. Last night was that magical time of the month again when the best jazz club in Prague—the one located in Beroun—temporarily turned this historic town into the absolute center of the Czech jazz world. And what a spectacular transformation it was!
This is destined to be another legendary night that will be discussed by everyone fortunate enough to attend. The opening set by Mariana Jouzová on the harp was an absolute showstopper. Mariana provided a breathtakingly beautiful, breezy backdrop to a completely sold-out Ateliér 57 courtyard. Her magical touch washed over the audience with a soothing, elegant, and ethereal sound, creating a deeply specific, peaceful vibe. She captivated the room completely and made time stand still for a moment. It was an unusual and fascinating start to a musical evening, and I truly hope we get to experience more concepts like this in the future.
The Total Contrast
With Mariana’s delicate notes still fading into the summer air amidst thunderous ovations, the evening’s main event made a quick turnaround on stage. The Piotr Wyleżoł Trio stepped up to offer something that stood in fierce, electrifying contrast to the opening act. Piotr Wyleżoł is a world-class jazz pianist renowned for his incredibly rich, energetic, and rhythmically complex approach to modern jazz. Together with the powerhouse rhythm section of Tomáš Baroš (double bass) and Jesse Simpson (drums), they delivered a mind-blowing performance. Remarkably, this was only the second time this specific trio had ever shared a stage together—a fact that became completely impossible to believe once the music started.
Piotr Wyleżoł’s formidable classical background is well known, and critics frequently praise his unique ability to make the piano truly sing. Call it whatever style you like, but last night, he wasn’t singing alone. Together with Tomáš and Jesse, they formed a deep choir of harmony that took the crowd’s breath away. This performance wasn’t just about playing fast notes; it was about building a powerful, emotional arc that could make a packed room fall completely silent before suddenly bringing everyone to their feet with explosive energy. The individual solos alone—constantly interrupted by spontaneous cheering from the crowd—proved that we don’t just need to label this as top-tier European jazz. This was world-class music, end of story.
And when the brilliant David Dorůžka joined in with his guitar, the evening was officially complete. I am well aware that David and Piotr share a rich musical history together, but that deep brotherhood only made the final set sound even more profound.
Ateliér 57’s monthly concert series simply keeps positively surprising us. There seems to be absolutely no ceiling to what one can experience during these Sunday sessions. No matter what plans you have on your horizon, go ahead and book September 27th in your calendar right now. That is the date for the next courtyard concert, which will bring the deeply melodic, expressive trumpet sounds of Julian Hesse to Beroun. As usual, the music kicks off at 19:00. See you all there, if not earlier! 🙏 🙏 😀
To see all the evening’s pictures click HERE!
