Karel Růžička
Karel Růžička , also simplified Karel Ruzicka (born June 2, 1940 in Prague ; † September 26, 2016 there ), was a Czech jazz pianist and composer; he was considered the "grand master of the Czech jazz piano."
Live and act
Ruzicka already played the piano as a child; He came to jazz through Willis Conover's radio broadcasts on Voice of America . Between 1955 and 1960 he studied at the Prague Conservatory , but initially as a drummer because too many pianists were being trained there. In his unmistakable style, “the percussive element always stood out”.
After a few years as theater music at the Semafor Theater , Karel Krautgartner brought him to the Czech radio jazz orchestra as a pianist in 1965, where he stayed until 1990 and for which he also arranged and composed. He also directed his own ensemble, with which he also presented his own albums. He also worked with Laco Deczis Jazz Celula , with SHQ Karel Velebnýs SHQ and Luděk Hulan's band . In 1982 he released the first solo album with Czech piano jazz, Zahrada radosti . He also played with Rudolf Dašek , George Mraz , Jiří Stivín , Rudolf Rokl , Milan Svoboda and Gustav Brom . Under Jirí Belohlávek he also performed Bohuslav Martinů's Concerto Grosso for 2 pianos & chamber orchestra .
As a composer he also wrote vocal works and symphonic music as well as the music for the feature film Tisnove volani (1985). Since 1984 he has been teaching composition at the Jaroslav Jezek Conservatory in Prague.
His son Karel Růžička jun. is also a jazz musician (saxophonist).
Discography
- Jazzové piano ( Supraphon , 1968)
- Karel Růžička +9 (Panton, 1972)
- Jazzové nebajky (Panton, 1973)
- Klávesová konkláva (Supraphon, 1978)
- Ozvěny (Supraphon, 1979)
- Zahrada radosti (Panton, 1981)
- Fata Morgana (Arta, 1991)
- Going Home (Arta, 1993)
- Celebration Jazz Mass (Supraphon, 1994)
- Con Alma (P&J Music, 1995)
- Flight ( Melantrich , 1995)
- Nikdy nejsi sám ( Český rozhlas , 1995)
- Pierrot (Arta, 2001)
literature
- Alexander J. Schneller u. a .: That Jazz of Praha. Fourteen jazz portraits in words and pictures. Vitalis , Prague 2006 (pp. 154-164); ISBN 3-89919-097-1 .
Web links
- Web presence
- Literature and other media by and about Karel Růžička in the catalog of the National Library of the Czech Republic
- Karel Růžička in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Zemřel jazzman Karel Růžička
- ↑ a b Karel Ruzicka. The grand master of the Czech jazz piano. A musical portrait
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Růžička, Karel |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Czech jazz musician and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 2, 1940 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Prague |
| DATE OF DEATH | 26th September 2016 |
| Place of death | Prague |