Karel Velebný
Encyclopedia
Karel Velebný was a Czech jazz
musician, composer, arranger, actor, writer and music pedagogue. Velebný was one of the founders and pioneers of modern Czech jazz in the second half of the 20th century.
and at 15 - already a modern jazz enthusiast - taught himself to play alto saxophone
. He graduated from gymnasium
then studied drumming at the Prague Conservatory
. He made his first public performance as a student, and became a full-time professional as soon as he graduated. From 1955 to 1958 he played with Czech jazzman Karel Krautgartner
's orchestra, then joined contrabassist Luděk Hulan to co-found Studio 5, which became the key ensemble of modern Czech jazz. He continued to work with Krautgartner until the latter emigrated in 1968.
In 1960, the Studio 5 ensemble was absorbed by the Taneční orchestr Československého rozhlasu (Dance Orchestra of Czechoslovakia Radio), but Velebný and the original Studio 5 members soon quit. In 1961, Velebný and flautist Jan Konopásek co-founded SHQ, initially part of the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre (thus Spejbl and Huvínek Quintet), but later extending into independent performances. It became one of the most important bands in Czech jazz history. Velebný was its leader, composer, arranger, played as a multi-instrumentalist and taught the younger band members. SHQ's instrumental line-up and membership changed frequently. Later, Velebný was diagnosed with a serious heart disease and was forced to quit as a saxophonist and vibraphonist. In his later years, his instrumental role was mainly restricted to piano.
Karel Velebný played with various Czech jazz ensembles, including Kamil Hála's orchestra, the Linha Singers ensemble and occasionally with Gustav Brom
's Big Band
. Jiří Stivín
, Luděk Hulan
, František Uhlíř, Rudolf Dašek
, Josef Vejvoda
, and Jan Konopásek were among his regular collaborators. Velebný and S+HQ also accompanied Eva Olmerová
on her first studio album The Jazz Feeling.
As a composer, Velebný concentrated solely on jazz, in compositional styles and arrangements reminiscent of Gerry Mulligan
, Chick Corea
, Gary Burton
and Benny Golson
. He wrote mainly for his own ensembles (notably Studio 5 and SHQ) but also for the Kamil Hála Orchestra, the Karel Vlach
Orchestra and others. His oeuvre comprises over 200 compositions, which include his prolific contributions to film music.
Velebný was also a founder and leader of specialised Czech jazz pedagogy in the 1970s. In 1978 he was invited to the Berklee College of Music
, where he studied jazz teaching and the different approaches of European and American jazz. He organized and led the Summer Jazz Workshop in Frýdlant until his death in 1989. As a teacher, Velebný emphasised knowledge of techniques which could be broadly applied on jazz standard
s. He also wrote the specialist jazz textbook Jazzová praktika (The Jazz Practical).
Velebný contributed significantly to Czech theatre. He co-founded the Jára Cimrman
Theatre, under the pseudonym dr. Evžen Hedvábný, and made occasional onstage appearances - as an actor - during its early days.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician, composer, arranger, actor, writer and music pedagogue. Velebný was one of the founders and pioneers of modern Czech jazz in the second half of the 20th century.
Biography
At 7 years old, Velebný played pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and at 15 - already a modern jazz enthusiast - taught himself to play alto saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
. He graduated from gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
then studied drumming at the Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory
Prague Conservatory, sometimes also Prague Conservatoire, in Czech Pražská konzervatoř, is a Czech secondary school in Prague dedicated to teaching the arts of music and theater acting.- Instruction :...
. He made his first public performance as a student, and became a full-time professional as soon as he graduated. From 1955 to 1958 he played with Czech jazzman Karel Krautgartner
Karel Krautgartner
Karel Krautgartner was a Czech jazz and classical clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger, composer, conductor and teacher.- Life :...
's orchestra, then joined contrabassist Luděk Hulan to co-found Studio 5, which became the key ensemble of modern Czech jazz. He continued to work with Krautgartner until the latter emigrated in 1968.
In 1960, the Studio 5 ensemble was absorbed by the Taneční orchestr Československého rozhlasu (Dance Orchestra of Czechoslovakia Radio), but Velebný and the original Studio 5 members soon quit. In 1961, Velebný and flautist Jan Konopásek co-founded SHQ, initially part of the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre (thus Spejbl and Huvínek Quintet), but later extending into independent performances. It became one of the most important bands in Czech jazz history. Velebný was its leader, composer, arranger, played as a multi-instrumentalist and taught the younger band members. SHQ's instrumental line-up and membership changed frequently. Later, Velebný was diagnosed with a serious heart disease and was forced to quit as a saxophonist and vibraphonist. In his later years, his instrumental role was mainly restricted to piano.
Karel Velebný played with various Czech jazz ensembles, including Kamil Hála's orchestra, the Linha Singers ensemble and occasionally with Gustav Brom
Gustav Brom
Gustav Brom, was a Czech big band leader, arranger, clarinettist and composer. He achieved fame in Europe and abroad from the 1940’s right through to his death in 1995...
's Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
. Jiří Stivín
Jirí Stivín
Jiří Stivín is a Czech flute player and composer.He graduated from the Film Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague . He also studied composition at the Royal Academy of Music as well as at the Prague Academy of Music .Stivín performs music from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and...
, Luděk Hulan
Luděk Hulan
Luděk Hulan was a Czech jazz double-bassist and musical organiser. He was an important exponent of Czech jazz in the second half of the 20th century.- Biography :...
, František Uhlíř, Rudolf Dašek
Rudolf Dašek
Rudolf Dašek is a Czech guitarist.Dašek studied at the Prague Conservatory from 1962–1966. While there he formed a trio and became well known as a guest soloist with Karel Velebný’s group SHQ. In 1964 he established a trio which included George Mraz, and from 1967–1968 he played with Ladislav...
, Josef Vejvoda
Josef Vejvoda
Josef Vejvoda is a Czech composer, percussionist, conductor and bandleader.His first notable appearance took place in 1963, when he performed with Jiří Stivín's Jazztet at the Theatre on the Balustrade. In 1967, he was awarded Laureate of the Prague Jazz International Contest of Young Soloists...
, and Jan Konopásek were among his regular collaborators. Velebný and S+HQ also accompanied Eva Olmerová
Eva Olmerová
Eva Olmerová was a Czech pop and jazz singer. She is regarded as one of the greatest Czech jazz singers of all time.- Biography :...
on her first studio album The Jazz Feeling.
As a composer, Velebný concentrated solely on jazz, in compositional styles and arrangements reminiscent of Gerry Mulligan
Gerry Mulligan
Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also...
, Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, Gary Burton
Gary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
and Benny Golson
Benny Golson
Benny Golson is an American bebop/hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger.-Biography:While in high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Golson played with several other promising young musicians, including John Coltrane, Red Garland, Jimmy Heath, Percy Heath, Philly Joe Jones, and...
. He wrote mainly for his own ensembles (notably Studio 5 and SHQ) but also for the Kamil Hála Orchestra, the Karel Vlach
Karel Vlach
Karel Vlach was a Czech dance orchestra conductor and arranger.He founded his first orchestra in 1938. Many important composers, instrumentalists and arrangers of the Czech jazz scene gradually went through his band. In 1947-48 Vlach's orchestra cooperated with the V+W Theatre...
Orchestra and others. His oeuvre comprises over 200 compositions, which include his prolific contributions to film music.
Velebný was also a founder and leader of specialised Czech jazz pedagogy in the 1970s. In 1978 he was invited to the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, where he studied jazz teaching and the different approaches of European and American jazz. He organized and led the Summer Jazz Workshop in Frýdlant until his death in 1989. As a teacher, Velebný emphasised knowledge of techniques which could be broadly applied on jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
s. He also wrote the specialist jazz textbook Jazzová praktika (The Jazz Practical).
Velebný contributed significantly to Czech theatre. He co-founded the Jára Cimrman
Jára Cimrman
Jára Cimrman or Jára da Cimrman is a Czech fictional character created by Jiří Šebánek, Ladislav Smoljak and Zdeněk Svěrák. He is presented as one of the greatest Czech playwrights, poets, composers, teachers, travellers, philosophers, inventors, detectives, mathematicians and sportsmen of the...
Theatre, under the pseudonym dr. Evžen Hedvábný, and made occasional onstage appearances - as an actor - during its early days.
Discography
- untitled LP (DV 10 164, SH Quintet, Supraphon).
- Poezie a jazz II (Supraphon 1965). (Poetry and Jazz II)
- SHQ a přátelé (Supraphon 1965). (SHQ and Friends)
- SHQ (Supraphon 1966).
- Jak hrál SHQ (Supraphon 1966). (How SHQ played)
- Československý jazz 1966 (Supraphon 1967). (Czechoslovak Jazz)
- Karel Velebný Nonet, SHQ & Woodwinds (SABA 1968).
- SHQ Karel Velebný (ESP 1969).
- Motus (Supraphon 1971).
- Týnom tánom (Supraphon 1971).
- Jazzové nebajky (Panton 1973).
- Parnas – Karel Velebný & SHQ s hosty (Supraphon 1981). (Parnas - Karel Velebný and SHQ with Guests)
- Jazzman Cimrman (Panton 1985).
- S+HQ Karel Velebný & Company (Radioservis CR0398-2)