Prague live music: Out of hibernation—Jamie Marshall’s AAB delivers a burst of pure musical energy

My last review of Jamie and his crew was titled “We all need some AAB every now and then…” After last night’s incredible concert at Jazz Dock, I promise you that headline is more accurate than ever. The full band lineup—Svatka Štěpánková (vocals/bass), Jamie Marshall (vocals/guitar), Radek Hlávka (guitar), Martin Petrásek (drums), Suzanne Higgins (sax), Amy Sauve (piano), and Andy Schofield (sax)—haven’t shared a stage together since February. The pure musical energy they delivered, combined with the visible joy of their reunion, was something you could hear, see, and sense in every single note. That electric feeling instantly transferred to the audience, proving that yes, we truly do need a dose of AAB every now and then.

The deep musical chemistry between Jamie and Svatka, mixed with their playful on-stage banter and Jamie’s honest comments about how much he missed this project, and Svatka, made the entire room feel like coming home. And Jamie, trust me—we have all been missing you guys, too! On guitar, Radek handed us some truly brilliant licks and solos, proving once again that he is a guitarist to be reckoned with when discussing the top six-string handlers in the country. Martin was his usual big-smiling self, locking down the rhythm section flawlessly alongside Svatka—a foundational pair you can always trust. Meanwhile, the band’s newcomers—Amy, Suzanne, and Andy—didn’t just shoulder their share of the workload; they clearly had a fantastic time doing it, to the benefit of us all.

The massive 20-song setlist delivered exactly what we came to hear, packed with staples like Boots and Trust Me. But I must spotlight one specific moment at the opening of the second set: a rare, intimate performance of the classic jazz standard, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, delivered by Radek and Jamie as a pure duo. The song stretches far back into their mutual musical history, and while it’s a tune familiar to everyone on the planet, last night was different. As the notes rang out across a sold-out Jazz Dock, with Radek doing his magic on the guitar and Jamie delivering his signature gravelly, soulful voice, the entire establishment went dead quiet. It was a profound moment of tenderness—the true definition of raw feeling. I am more than pleased that this song has found its way back into AAB’s repertoire.

I also want to give credit to Jamie for something I wish more artists had the guts to do. Most of us paid for our tickets to listen to a professional concert—not to a drunk trying to steal the spotlight with gibberish comments. There are plenty of other bars in Prague to fulfill a desire for attention. Telling a disruptive person to put a sock in it isn’t arrogant or impolite; it is an act of fundamental respect to the rest of the crowd who came for the music.

Though yesterday hadn’t been the easiest of days for me personally, I still went to bed with a massive smile on my face thanks to Jamie Marshall’s Amplified Acoustic Band. I proved to myself that we really do need some AAB every now and then—and I have a strong feeling I wasn’t the only one who fell asleep with a grin last night. Thank you, Jamie and AAB! 🙏🙏🙏😀