Petra Vlková & Sonic Playground @ U Staré paní | 30.7.2026
It is no secret to anyone who reads yhalinen.com that Petra and Sonic Playground belong at the very top of my “must-see” list. I have spoken before about why: on top of being excellent musicians, they possess a collective harmony that is hard to put a finger on. Their playfulness, visible joy, and the mutual love for the music—and for each other—is unique in this line of business. Most of all, they have a quality that is exceedingly rare today: you will never hear the same concert twice, nor even the same arrangement of a song. You are always in for a completely fresh experience where you never know what comes next. That trait is something I honor above all else. Last night at U Staré paní was no exception. They simply never fail.
With that said, I will leave the standard review format at that and take a slightly different approach today. It is time to officially introduce the band.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Petra Vlková & Sonic Playground:
- Petra Vlková (Vocals & Bandleader): Long before she was anchoring the Prague jazz scene, Petra was already turning heads as a formidable young talent. Back in 2007, she was handpicked for the prestigious live compilation album Jazz na Hradě: Young Female Jazz Vocalists—a special series hosted by President Václav Klaus at the Prague Castle to highlight the country’s most promising rising vocalists. Nearly two decades later, that young blood has matured into a masterclass in vocal elegance. Petra’s signature is her velvet, smoky timbre, but her true superpower is how she treats her voice as an instrument. She doesn’t just sing lyrics; she weaves her vocals directly into the instrumental fabric, reacting in real-time to every chord change and guitar pluck with spontaneous, playful joy.
- Libor Šmoldas (Guitar): Arguably one of Europe’s top-tier jazz guitar virtuosos—if not the absolute top—Libor is a musician who commands deep international respect. He has spent years touring globally and collaborating with heavyweights across the jazz world. In the drumless ecosystem of Sonic Playground, Libor’s role is monumental. He uses his guitar to effortlessly bridge the gap between rhythm and melody. Watching him play is like watching a tightrope walker; he provides the steady, driving pulse usually reserved for a drummer, while simultaneously unleashing fluid, brilliant solo runs that elevate the entire room.
- Mikuláš Pokorný (Piano): Completing the trio is Mikuláš Pokorný, a pianist possessing an exceptionally sensitive musical ear and a brilliant harmonic mind. Mikuláš serves as the harmonic glue of the group, known for his uncanny ability to anticipate where a song is heading before a note is even struck. Instead of just laying down standard block chords, Mikuláš engages in a constant, intricate dance with Libor’s guitar. He shifts fluidly between baseline grooves and delicate, impressionistic textures, ensuring that the trio’s minimalist setup always sounds incredibly lush, full, and dynamic. (He is also always full of surprises—just ask Libor, he will tell you!
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Put all of that together, and you have the magic of Petra Vlková & Sonic Playground. That is exactly why you will find me standing right in front of the stage the next time they appear on the schedule—and you can be sure you will see a note about it right here.
Thank you, Petra and Sonic Playground! 
The Debut Album: The band beautifully captured this distinct live chemistry in the studio on their highly acclaimed self-titled debut album, Petra Vlková & Sonic Playground. Available now in physical CD format, it serves as the perfect archive of their philosophy: living completely in the present moment.
To see all the evening’s pictures click HERE!
