So perfect…

Lenka Nová, to me, was an all new and more than pleasant experience. Even though Lenka is a well established woman in the Republic’s world of music our paths hadn’t crossed until last night at a sold out Jazz Dock. This is all my loss, that’s how impressed I was by her concert last night. With a strong and emotional voice she has a way of taking over the whole club, tying you up so you lose track of time, which for me meant that the concert finished way too early, I could have listened to so much more!  And remember, these are my feelings, as a non-native speaker…

 

In the program for the evening one could read “Lenka Nová will appear at Jazz Dock this time with a not-so-typical jazz ensemble.”  I also had a comment before last night that said “don’t expect anything with jazz though, it’s a purely chanson themed concert” and in a strange way both statements describe the evening as it was. To the stage Lenka had brought with her, Josef Štěpánek one of the most famous Czech guitarists, Mikuláš Pokorný, the maybe most skilled and promising pianist in Czech today, and a four string ensemble, Eve Quartet; Marie Jírová – 1st violin; Vladislava Hořovská – 2nd violin; Zuzana Peřinová – viola; Petra Malíšková – cello, a little non-conventional setup. 

 

Lenka is a professional and the very dynamic sound that this format produces suits her style and voice perfectly, but so do the songs with the plain guitar or piano, this of course tells you how good and versatile the performer in question is. And all of this was reflected back in the ovations from the audience, something Lenka must be used to, but she was nevertheless clearly touched and moved by them, creating that special contact with her listeners that so many are applying for but that is still so rare. 

 

A good singer can choose the musicians she wants, top of the cream so to say, but only a great singer gives them a place on the stage. The Eve Quartet performances as their excellent solo was once again an evidence that the musical restriction exists only in people’s mind, classical instruments are really not only for the philharmonic’s. Josef and his guitar showed why he is a longtime collaborator to Lenka, nice going! Mikuláš behind the keyboard left nobody cold, a cliche but so true, some very special solos were to be heard when he got carried away! An insecure and unconfident singer would have maybe protested against this excellent individual performance where a true pro takes it for what it is, a part of the whole concept and forms it to a concert that makes you go home with a smile on your face.  

 

So was this jazz or chanson or maybe something else? I don’t know, I let the experts decide, I only know that it was very good music and you still have the chance to experience Lenka Nová and Eve Quartet feut. Mikuláš Pokorný, Josef Štěpánek today 29.9 starting 20.00 at the same place, Jazz Dock. When writing this there were still standing tickets for sale, otherwise go to the door a little before the start and see if there are some cancellations, because it’s worth it!  

 

P.S. Thank you Lenka for moving the microphone stand