Eastern Europe has been in a wake of an unprecedented renaissance since the fall of the iron curtain in the late eighties. The up and coming generation of young musicians has spawned an ample amount of talent which has flourished with no restrictions imposed by barbed wire or any other such infringements. The group of Jure Pukl gathers some of these talents into a cohesive unit, which primarily performs the compositions of its leader, Slovenian saxophone phenomenon Jure Pukl, with a characteristic energy. Pukl's composing skills were recently acknowledged by the JazzOn 2005 competition award. The jury lead by Jerry Bergonzi declared his piece Hubscrauber as the winner of the contest.

Pukl's most recent recording features a cohort of top-notch musicians of the younger generation, including drummer Jamire Williams, whose incredible performance last year with the Jacky Terasson Trio at the JazzFest Brno will be long remembered. The saxophonist's current group, consisting of seasoned representatives from the Czech and Slovak jazz scene, draws some of its repertoire also from this album.

The bassist Tomáš Baroš is a talent whose impact will soon transcend the boundaries of the Czech Republic. The manifold playing of the passionate drummer Marián Ševčík reveals some afro-american drumming influences and the solos of the pianist Ondrej Krajňák resemble a stream of water, which will pull in listeners and leave them to float in its current. It is no wonder that Jure Pukl has chosen this line up to let his saxophone shine and easily blend into the group's chemistry at the same time.

A blending of genres, influences and styles is certainly one of the themes of postmodern music. The musical message of the guitarist and composer Kurt Rosenwinkel is yet so strong and personal that it does not give in to trends. Moreover, in any musical context its grace and originality always rises to the surface. Rosenwinkel has profiled himself as an extremely gifted musician, who seems to have chosen the guitar as if by coincidence. The piano, for that matter, was his first instrument and one can hear an unusual degree of a pianistic approach in his guitar playing as well as composing. Rosenwinkel's current quintet, which includes the piano, provides a bit more comfort for him as a soloist, however, it does not tie down his sophisticated guitar harmony by any means. On the contrary, it extends his range of compositional inspiration as well as the possibilities of his arrangements.

The bandmates of Kurt Rosenwinkel are always within the leader's focus and have an essential influence on his writing. "I draw a lot of inspiration for my ideas from my associates as well as my musical influences," says Rosenwinkel. "It is great to see them spring up with the help of their contribution." The enormous level of empathy at play within the band stems not only from a rarely witnessed grade of musicianship, but by a synergetic musical approach and the long-term musical rapport of the band members. The opportunity to see and hear the unique harmony of the tandem front line of Rosenwinkel - Turner, and the inexhaustable reservoir of inspiration in the form of an excellent rhythm section held up by Ballard - Goldberg - Martin will be in experience in itself.

The added value of the Kurt Rosenwinkel Group's music, which ranks among the highest class in modern jazz, is the emotional profundity of its musical message. In unity with the title of Rosenwinkel's latest recording Deep Song, it passes on ideas with a respect to natural musical relations and without regard to genre limitations.

The singer Miriam Bayle is quite a well hidden treasure in the world of jazz vocalists. JazzFest Brno has always been proud to reveal her talents. Miriam presented her projects to the festival listeners in the first two years of its existence, and with a modification in her group's line-up it is the perfect time for her return. A return in the form of her more experienced and matured personality. A personality with a more detached view on music, however, willing to take more risks. After all, it is the ability to take chances and explore, which among other factors propels creativity in jazz.

The Miriam Bayle Group is by no means an accompaniment unit, a phenomenon, which is far too often wittnessed in many vocalist's cases. Fortunately it is a group of distinctive individuals capable of working towards the collective. Her bandmates have an abundance of jazz craftmanship, they can also create an athmosphere to make Bayle feel at home. Many colleagues from the field of jazz vocals - Janis Siegel, Tierney Sutton, Karin Allyson and many others, similarly as Miriam Bayle wish to be a true part of the band. They also know how to use their voice as an instrument, which is another strength of Miriam Bayle, the "Queen of Scat".

One can only stand in awe trying to understand where Bayle finds so much depth and energy to her voice, uncompromised swing feel and perfect English pronunciation. Miriam Bayle is gifted by all these atributes and in addition to that she knows how to handle her talents. Come experience Bayle's mesmerizing voice, the drumming explosions of Bady Zbořil and the sensible comping and brilliant solos of pianist Jakub Zomer. Let us fix our pulses with that of Petr Dvorský's double bass and trace back the entire legacy of the jazz saxophone in the soulful playing of Radek Zapadlo. If you like mainstream, the music of Miriam Bayle Band is just what you are looking for.

Scott Hamilton is the premier 'mainstream' saxophonist of today. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1954, although he came along at the time when the kind of jazz he loved - the small-group swing of such great stylists as Illinois Jacquet and Eddie Lockjaw Davis-was out of fashion, and largely out of the public ear he did not allow himself to become discouraged. While he acknowledges the influence of players such as John Coltrane, he continues to perform the music he loves, which first brought him into jazz: great ballads and blues, played from the heart, with the timeless virtues of swinging playing underscoring every phrase. Long regarded a consummate interpreter of standards, Scott Hamilton's big, warm tenor saxophone tone and unerring sense of swing have a way of making every tune he plays uniquely his own.

For the meeting with the Polish great Piotr Cieslikowski on the tenor battlefield he is joined by the top-notch Slovak rhythm section. The title itself indicates that the Nothing but Swing Trio follows the tradition and the musical heritage of the significant jazz musicians' generation of the Forties and Fifties of the 20th century, such as Lester Young, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker and others. However, their repertoire goes far beyond the boundaries of the Fifties. Their musical rapport with both Cieslikowski and Hamilton is apparent from the first note, and they serve as an ideal second to the true tenor duel.

The birth of 4TET was initiated in October 2002 by Jiří Korn in connection with his dance show TEP. It was this project, where the quartet first appeared live with their a capella rendition of the famous song How Deep Is Your Love. The frenetic reaction of the audience and a rapidly growing interest in the group caused an extension of the repertoir with the additions of the famous songs: Tears in Heaven and Yvetta.

The subsequent appearances of the 4TET on TV shows or live throughout the Czech Republic and Germany only serve as a testament to their abilities. From a quick glance at the group's personell, its quality should be apparent to everyone: the legendary Jiří Korn, multi-instrumentalist and the succesful producer Jiří Škorpík, star of musical productions David Uličník (who is quite familiar with the stage of the City Theater of Brno) and his equally engaging colleague Dušan Kollár.

The distinctive artistic expression of 4TET is an ideal peak among this year's prestigious events, therefore the JazzFest Brno presents this ensemble as one of the top performances of this year's opulent program. Many listeners certainly remember the triumphant performance of the vocal group Take 6 two years ago. The members of the 4TET boast an equal amount of showmanship and professionality. Their performance not showcases musical craftsmanship at perfection, but wit and originality as well. The quartet, which in its short existence has already put out two records, performs in public concerts very rarely. It is also for this reason that their show is not to be missed.

A native of Pas de Calais, Anne Ducros began her classical training (musical and vocal) at the conservatoire of Boulogne Sur mer with Lyne Durian. She simultaneously studied law at the University of Lille and succeeded in completing and refining her vocal mastery thanks to the education of Yuri Anoff and Maddy Mespley. Soon afterwards she practiced baroque music, completed a university study where she investigated the music of Couperin, Twig and Bach. Introduced to vocal jazz in 1986, she then set up her first jazz quartet, with which she has won various international competitions. The growing recognition of Anne Ducros is furthermore stimulated by her inexhaustible will to sing, by the extension in number of her public appearances in France and especially by the release of her first album of vocal jazz, "Don't you take a chance" on JTB in 1989.

Her subsequent musical journey has led her to further explore the intricacies of jazz singing as well as many collaborations with renowned musicians, both in the studio and live. This fruitful journey has been topped up with the most recent excellent recording PIANO, piano, which features Chick Corea, Jacky Terrasson and her favorite bassist Sal LaRocca among others. This record's repertoire is also a crucial focal point of her first concert appearance in the Czech Republic. Your meeting with the personality of Anne Ducros will certainly be as uplifting for you as for those who have had the chance to witness her rise to the peak of contemporary European vocalists.

Pianist and primarily composer and arranger, Milan Svoboda, has presented his distinctive musical ideas since the end of the seventies in a variety of ensembles ranging from solo piano or intimate duets, in jazz and fusion bands to long-term engagements in prestigious big bands. It is the latter role as a big band arranger and conductor that he regards as one of his favorites.

Milan Svoboda founded his first jazz big band during his studies at the Prague Conservatory in the mid-seventies. The ensemble was called The Prague Big Band and quickly made its name among the best Czech jazz groups and gained renown abroad as well. In the beginning the Orchestra drew inspiration from the big bands of Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis, Buddy Rich and Don Ellis. But soon original compositions completely took over its repertoire. The modern sound of the Prague Big Band brought fresh air to the Czechoslovakian jazz scene in the late 1970s.

Milan Svoboda characteristically determines the Orchestra's sound as a composer and arranger. His compositions have always formed the main part of the group's repertoire. Svoboda also appears as an author and visiting conductor with other orchestras and frequently teaches international big band workshops. The Prague Big Band is a top-notch, modern, creative big band, among the best on Europe's contemporary musical scene. Its enhancement by hosting Czech piano legend Karel Růžička promises an even greater experience.

The Vertigo Quintet was founded in the end of the year 2002 as a project of musicians, with a wish to play original music their own way. The repertoir of this superb and unusually accomplished ensemble (within the context of the Czech Republic), consists mostly of originals written by all band members. No strangers to the Czech club scene, they have participated at foreign festivals as well as an abundance of clubs abroad. In April 2005, the group released their recording debut Vertigo Quintet on the Amplion label.

The musical product of the quintet is a meaningful mosaic of different influences, including classical music, primarily the impressionism, but also inspirations drawn from the music of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis or the gurus of the avant-garde, Ornette Coleman or John Zorn. The list of influences of all the band members could certainly go on for a few pages, however, the desire for an individual musical expression as well as unrepeated group sound has the cardinal relevancy. With this philosophy the group meets a possibly illustrious future even at a time, when most of us might assume that everything has already been written or played. It appears this is not the case and we can still appreciate an ample amount of musicians with comprehensive skills and strong opinions on music. At the same time, though, with an open mind, capable of naturally blending musical cultures and influences. It becomes gradually tougher and tougher to make it in the jazz world, nevertheless the Vertigo Quintet succesfully smooths a path for its specific music concept among the European and world stages.

Avishai Cohen, a musician who has been called a "jazz visionary of global proportions" by DownBeat, and was declared one of the 100 Most Influential Bass Players of the 20th Century by Bass Player Magazine, boasts an enormous ammount of musical achievement both as a leader and sideman for leading figures in today's jazz, including Chick Corea, Danilo Perez and Nnenna Freelon among others. Indeed, Cohen exposes his many gifts as a melodic composer, powerful soloist and provoking leader, reflected in the brilliant performances by the trio. Whether in his adopted home of New York City, in his native Israel, or on the road playing his music (where he finds himself much of the year), Avishai Cohen is at home.

At Home is also a title of his new album, which features his current bandmates. Drummer Mark Guiliana formed a rock band called GADU, which included Avishai Cohen, before graduating William Paterson College in 2003. This musical relationship led to Mark's participation as drummer on Cohen's last two recordings, Lyla (which he also co-produced) and At Home. Pianist and keyboardist Sam Barsh has been occupying the keyboard chair in the Avishai Cohen Trio and Quartet since 2003. Together they form a compact unit capable of the simultaneous intertwining of different layers, be it layers of rhythms or musical influences drawn from all group members' musical background; the resulting musical amalgam is a tastefully mixed quintessence of art and entertainment.

In 2001, Julien Birot, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for jazz and electronic music started to think about a project in which electronic programming and improvised music could join together. The same year he meets Robin Notte, Jazz pianist who is equally open to House and Drum'n Bass sounds . To complete their project, the two of them decide to search for a trumpet player sharing their new vision of jazz. It is when Guillaume Poncelet joins in, that the final form is given to what will become the band Wise.

The music of Wise envisions the encounter of jazz and electronic music as a new alliance between the improviser and the universe of computer programming. The electronic environment is meant to be a support for the imagination, outlining the emotions and accentuating the ambiances. On stage, the formation grows to a quintet - trumpet, keyboards, bass, drums, programming - and it proposes an innovative fusion of the energy of jazz-rock and the exploration of electronic sounds. The musicians are re-appropriating the material they recorded themselves to create a universe, free and modern, based on electronic material. Even though the music is filtered, sampled, looped, it stays above all the music of improvisation. The musicians from Wise passionately perform with typical French eclecticism, including modern music, a mix of swing, soul, hip-hop and jazz.

Michael Marcus has been an active member of the New York jazz scene for over twenty years. Since releasing his debut recording, "Under The Wire" (Enja, 1991), he has continued to be part of the cutting edge in American improvised music, touring the festival and club circuits recently both in the US and Europe with his trio of bassist Tarus Mateen and drummers Jay Rosen or Nasheet Waits. Marcus has played and recorded with Albert King, Bobby Blue Bland, Sonny Rhodes, Sonny Simmons (with whom he fronts the Cosmosamatics group), Jaki Byard, Billy Higgins, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, Jymie Merritt, John Stubblefield, Warren Smith, Philip Wilson, and Carlos Ward. He has also been associated with the Makanda Ken McIntyre Ensemble, Grachan Moncur's big band, trumpeter Ted Daniel and his group Energy, Zane Massey and the Liberation Suite Jemeel Moondoc's JUS GREW Orchestra, Oakland legend Vince Wallace, trombonist Joe Bowie's Defunkt, and Saxemble (with Frank Lowe and James Carter). A classic session of Marcus' from 1993 was recently issued for the very first time entitled "Ithem" (Ayler records) with bassist William Parker and the late drummer Denis Charles. Also his first unaccompanied recording "Speakin Out" (Drimala,2002) has drawn quite a bit of attention and high critical acclaim.

Michael Marcus continues his sound searching path with his current quartet in a challenging piano-less format, which provides a tremendous amount of opportunities for him and his band to interact. His well seasoned band mates propel the leader with their exceptional music skills on a top-notch experimental jazz journey.