Mikuláš Pokorný Solo @ Atrium Žižkov | 19.10.2026
Yesterday, I found myself sitting in the audience at Atrium Žižkov for the 31st International Jazz Piano Festival. On the stage was a performer frequently labeled as a “talented rising star piano virtuoso.” Before I get into any details, let me make a minor correction. This is, of course, my personal opinion—like all reviews are, a fact that seems to be forgotten every now and then for “technical reasons.”
The truth is, Mikuláš can no longer be titled a rising star. Those days are officially gone. He has passed that milestone completely, a conclusion that was impossible to deny after last night’s performance.
What we experienced in Žižkov was a young virtuoso firmly carving out his own distinctive path in the music world. This isn’t a sudden “Eureka!” moment; these things don’t happen overnight. It takes years of grueling work, pain, and relentless self-criticism. For most musicians, that breakthrough remains completely unachieved. Why? I have no idea, and I don’t think anyone else does either. But having followed his trajectory closely for a while now, the last two years have clearly been the turning point. I don’t mean technically—I leave that for the corporate music experts to dissect—but his artistic presence has completely transformed. He has unlocked a deep self-confidence, slowly admitting to himself and the room that he isn’t just good; he is far better than that. There is absolutely no shame in being aware of your own skill. It’s all about how you bring it out—it’s not what you say, but how you say it. You can hear it in everything he touches at the moment, whether he is building radical new arrangements for classic tunes, unveiling his own brilliant compositions, or delivering absolutely remarkable improvisations that reshape a melody right there on stage. It is a more than admirable skill.
I will admit I walked into the Atrium with an immense amount of curiosity. After all, we are talking about a young musician who has made his name as an esteemed, highly sought-after ensemble player. Making the transition from the safety of the rhythm section to the absolute spotlight of a solo performer is never easy—history has proven that plenty of times.
At the start, there was a faint hint of tension in the air, which is more than normal for a debut. But the moment the first notes of a blues rang out, that tension became a distant memory. Balancing timeless standards with his own intricate compositions, he held the room captive. I certainly wasn’t alone in my thoughts; the collective focus in the room was palpable. I might be completely wrong about everything I write, but I can’t be totally lost. If you are standing up there for your very first solo performance and you have the sheer bravery to close the entire night with a polka from 1914, your self-confidence is exactly where it needs to be. Not only that, but that exact polka earned the absolute loudest ovation of the entire evening. It was thoroughly deserved.
What makes this journey so fascinating is that he hasn’t even hit his peak yet. Those who read this independent blog know I love to lean on a good cliché when the moment fits, and this one belongs entirely to him: the sky is no longer the limit.
Thank you, Mikuláš. The pleasure was entirely mine. 🙏🙏🙏😀
