The very special lineup…

Petra Vlková, Skip Wilkins, Libor Šmoldas @ Květnický mlýn, 22.3.2025

It takes two to tango and three very special musicians to make you listen to those old jazz standards over and over again. Petra Vlková – voc; Skip Wilkins – p; Libor Šmoldas – g. each on their own poses these qualities, put them together and you know what Hans Christian Andersen meant when he said “Where words fail, music speaks.” Last night’s concert in Květnický mlýn saw the feeling of mutual musical understanding. I don’t know how else to describe the almost sensational positive creeps that my body had during yesterday’s performance. Maybe It was Libors fenomenal way to make these old songs sound like new, or Skip’s mastering of the piano that clearly has its roots somewhere where it all started or Petras’ very personal and compelling voice or maybe all together and separately? And to be quite honest, I didn’t really care, I just enjoyed myself just like the rest of us, the evenings trio included, because that’s what it sounded like.

All the way back to the 16th century

If last night’s line-up was very special, so was the place for the concert. A family owned picturesque and dignified old mill with roots all the way back to 1558, right in the middle of the village with the same name, Květnice, about 25km. outside Prague. The mill stands on the shore of a pond surrounded by green areas. The mill doesn’t hold concerts on a regular basis, the event last night was the first for this year. Sometimes you can also find a different variety of exhibitions here. Whatever the reason, the mill is worth a visit. But since it’s not a public place you need to get yourself there during a happening, unless you’re satisfied with just strolling around on the outside. And also a small warning, if you try to get there for a musical event, make sure to purchase your ticket in advance. The quality of last night’s trio had clearly reached Květnice long before the band itself. The place was packed, sold out and I and all the other lucky one’s in the audience knew why!