Petr Dvorský Quartet: Tribute to Ray Brown @ Jazz Dock 2.3.2026
The history of music is littered with “supergroups” that look perfect on paper but fail to spark on stage. Last night at Jazz Dock was the glorious antithesis of that. We witnessed some of the elite of the Czech jazz scene as the Petr Dvorský Quartet (Petr Dvorský – b; Jesse Simpson – dr; Stanislav Mácha – p; Jan Kyncl – sax) took the stage and showed us exactly how to waltz—specifically, how to do “The Gravy Waltz.”
The evening was a heartfelt tribute to the legendary American bassist Ray Brown, but it also marked a significant double premiere: Petr’s first time as a bandleader at Jazz Dock, and the debut of this specific lineup. I sincerely hope this wasn’t a one-off. What a match! These are four individuals who no longer have anything to prove; they know their worth, the audience knows their worth, and that certainty allowed them to pour every ounce of their energy directly into the music.
The evening was a heartfelt tribute to the legendary American bassist Ray Brown, but it also marked a significant double premiere: Petr’s first time as a bandleader at Jazz Dock, and the debut of this specific lineup. I sincerely hope this wasn’t a one-off. What a match! These are four individuals who no longer have anything to prove; they know their worth, the audience knows their worth, and that certainty allowed them to pour every ounce of their energy directly into the music.
Manna for the Ears
While all four members are technically proficient at a “10+” level, the magic went beyond individual skill. The solos were absolute manna for the ears, yet even they weren’t the true highlight. Nor was it just the arrangements—which Jesse Simpson praised so effusively, and for a reason, when I spoke to him after the set, noting how much he truly enjoyed playing them.
What really brought the house down was the palpable mutual respect and the pure love for the craft. They played with a relaxed brilliance, free from the pressure to perform and fueled instead by the simple joy of a like-minded connection. We in the audience were the lucky beneficiaries, sitting back and soaking up everything they offered.
I sincerely hope we will hear more from the Petr Dvorský Quartet in the near future. They can do it, and because we are worth it!
What really brought the house down was the palpable mutual respect and the pure love for the craft. They played with a relaxed brilliance, free from the pressure to perform and fueled instead by the simple joy of a like-minded connection. We in the audience were the lucky beneficiaries, sitting back and soaking up everything they offered.
I sincerely hope we will hear more from the Petr Dvorský Quartet in the near future. They can do it, and because we are worth it!
Thank you, Petr Dvorský Quartet 
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.To see all the evening’s pictures click HERE!
