Milan Svoboda (jazz musician)

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Milan Svoboda (born December 10, 1951 in Prague ) is a Czech jazz musician (pianist, big band leader) and composer.

Live and act

Svoboda grew up in a musical family; his mother is a musicologist; Jiří Stivín is his cousin. He first completed an organ training at the Prague Conservatory , where Karel Velebný also introduced him to jazz. He then studied music at the Charles University in Prague and composition at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and in 1984 for eight months at the Berklee College of Music . In 1974 he founded the Prague Amateur Jazz Orchestra , from which the Prague Big Band emerged , which was based on the possibilities of the big band sound discovered by Don Ellis , gained international recognition and worked with Eva Olmerová . In 1979 he founded his quartet, which was partly supplemented by Tony Lakatos on tours .

As a conductor and arranger, he led a mixed Czech-Polish big band from 1985, which was made up of outstanding soloists from both countries. With his Contraband Jazz Orchestra , founded in 1988 , he celebrated successes at numerous festivals (first prizes in Karlsbad and Dortmund).

Svoboda has made guest appearances with his big bands, his quartet and as a soloist all over Europe and has recorded numerous albums. He composed the musicals Foam of the Days (based on the novel by Boris Vian , 1994) and Christmas comedy musical and wrote ballet and numerous theater music. He has also written music for films by Samuel Fuller ( Day of Reckoning , 1990) and Karel Kachyňa ( The Last Butterfly , 1991). He composed classical orchestral works such as a Concerto Grosso for violin, piano and string orchestra and a double concerto for piano, violin and string orchestra. He also worked on major musical productions, such as the Prague production of " Les Miserables ".

Svoboda is Professor of Composition and Jazz Harmony at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory in Prague and directs its Jazz Orchestra. Since 2006 he has also been the conductor and artistic director of the newly formed Rudolfinum Jazz Orchestra , which consists of members of the Czech Philharmonic and leading jazz soloists.

Discographic notes

  • Poste restante
  • Keep it up
  • Foam of the Days
  • Family
  • Contraband Goes to Town
  • Jazz at the Castle
  • Sunday session

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Svoboda, Milan
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Czech jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH December 10, 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH Prague