EFG London Jazz Festival: - 'CZECH JAZZ NIGHT' - INNER SPACES

Event information

In collaboration with the Czech Centre, we present three fantastic young musicians from the burgeoning underground Prague jazz scene: ŠTĚPÁNKA BALCAROVÁ trumpet, LUBOŠ SOUKUP tenor sax and VÍT KŘIŠŤAN piano, combine with two outstanding London based musicians: double bassist ADAM KING, and drummer LLOYD HAINES, in a band that’s heavily influenced by the ECM and Scandinavian sound, with beautiful melodies and compositions, and improvisations of great maturity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLJfaOUYGcg Doors open: 6pm, Music 8-11pm £12/£10 MU, student/advance
Inner Spaces quintet (originally Inner Spaces quartet) was formed in January 2009 by trumpetist Štěpánka Balcarová. All band members are currently students at the prestigious Jazz Academy in Katowice, Poland. The band currently performs as a quintet with Czech saxophonist Luboš Soukup, Czech pianist Vít Křišťan, Polish drummer Grzegorz Maslowski and Polish double-bassist Max Mucha. Inner Spaces quintet is an international band, which is evidenced by their absorption of influences from contemporary polish and czech music scenes, as well as influences of classical music. The band plays its own compositions which search for its own musical style and expression. In March 2009, Inner Spaces participated in the Jazz nad Odra competition, where each member of the group received an award, and the band played at the final evening during the festival. In November 2009 Inner Spaces won the 1st prize in famous KROKUS Jazz competition in Jelenia Gora. In December 2009 the band won the 2nd prize in Jazz Juniors Competition in Cracow. In May 2010 the band received 2nd prize at the Jazz Competition in Gdynia.

Štěpánka Balcarová - trumpet, flugelhorn born 10.08. 1986 in Plzeň, Czech republic. Studied trumpet at Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory for two years, now studies at Jazz Academy in Katowice. Collaborated with various bands such as Nedaba quintet, Bluestouch, Bohemia Big Band, Porta Coelli (Petr Kořínek), Big band of Jazz Academy in Katowice. Studies with prominent players: Piotr Wojtasik, Ed Partyka, František Kučera... In March 2009 recieved special award at jazz competition Jazz nad Odra, in November 2009 individual award at KROKUS Jazz competition in Jelenia Gora and individual award at Jazz Juniors in December 2009, in Cracow and a special award for artistic vision at Jazz nad Odra 2010.

Luboš Soukup– tenor, soprano sax, clarinet born 1985 in Chrudim, Czech Republic Studied at Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory, graduated from Jaroslav Ježek VOS. Current student at Jazz Academy in Katowice. Studied with various musicians as David Dorůžka, Jaromír Honzák, Jiří Nedoma, Piotr Wojtasik, Miriam Bayle, Milan Svoboda. Formed his own quartet Points and collaborates with Jan Jirucha Bucinatores Orchestra, Los Quemados, Ondřej Pivec, Petr Zelenka, Vojtěch Eckert, Milan Svoboda, Kryštof Marek. He recieved special award for composition at Jazz nad Odra 2009.

Vít Křišťan – piano born 23. 3. 1986 in Pelhřimov, Czech republic. Studied jazz and classical piano at Conservatory of Jaroslav Ježek in Prague in the class of Irina Kondratěnko, Ondřej Kabrna and Jiří Růžička. Studies at Jazz Academy in Katowice with Wojciech Niedziela and Ed Partyka. Collaboration: Jan Přibyl Quintet, Tomáš Hobzek Quartet, Big Band of Jazz Academy in Katowice. He won the second award at jazz competiton Jazz nad Odra 2009.