Gustav Brom with Orchester Gustav Brom - Swinging the Jazz (2016)

Czechian Gustav Brom led one of the foremost European big bands of the 1960’s. This amazing Czechoslovakian band was rated among the top ten big bands in the world, playing festivals and concerts throughout Europe, India, and Cuba. Most of the pieces are by the band members, just one more reason why this was such a tight-knit group. Lypso swings with strong tenor and trumpet solos. On Dedicated to Eric a medium-tempo melody alternates with somber sustained chords and impressive baritone and trumpet solos. Trombones and drums start and end Contraband with a baritone-drum duet and bass solo packed in-between. Sumpf features the popular Czech singer Helena Blehárová, as she scats her way through this bluesy piece. Abas emits a bop feel and hard-swinging trumpet and sax solos. Henry Mancini’s Moon River, the only standard on the album, is given a hip treatment in ¾. The ballad Von Joseph has Gil Evans-like harmonies behind an introspective melody. Kater Peter leaps out with the trumpets leading the way. The jazz waltz Waldmächen once again features an impressive solo from Helena Blehárová. Eigenartige Verwandte mixes modernist harmonies with exemplary baritone trombone and solos. Taschkenter Nächte revolves around the reflective vibraphone solo – a fitting ending to this affirmation that jazz was alive and swinging behind the Iron Curtain.

Helena Blehárová, vocals
Josef Blaha, organ, piano
František Navrátil, alto saxophone
Josef Audes, baritone saxophone
Zdeněk Novák, tenor saxophone
Bronislav Horák, tenor saxophone
Mojmír Bártek, trombone
Josef Pelc, trombone
Jaromír Hnilička, trumpet
Alfa Šmíd, trumpet
Artur Pavlíček, trumpet
Imre Moži, double bass
Václav Skála, drums
Alfa Šmíd, vibraphone
Gustav Brom Orchester
Gustav Brom, bandleader