Brom Gustav: 100 years (4x CD) - CD

When a proper collector of Czech jazz looks at the discography of the Gustav Brom Orchestra, comprising more than 1,500 individual titles - compositions or songs, he might come to believe that everything essential has already been released on available sound carriers, that there is nothing more to discover.

The reality is exactly the opposite: we're far from knowing everything, that this tireless bandleader captured on tape, the number of which scientists estimate to be even higher than the number on the Esta tags, Ultraphon, Supraphon, Pantone, Opus and others. These treasures are hidden in the phonotheque of Czech Radio Brno, where we searched and pulled out boxes that had been covered with dust for half a century. As we proceeded: After the opening jingle, including a welcome by the bandmaster, we gathered for the first time ever all six pieces with a solo clarinet by a rare guest, New Orleans native Edmond Hall. The following are representative selections of the composing members of the orchestra, first of all Jaromír Hnilička, followed by other pillars of the band, Josef Audes, Josef Blaha, Mojmír Bártek and others. Brno's third-string composers, Pavel Blatný, Miloš Štědroň, Arnošt Parsch and Alexej Fried, who have long collaborated with Gustav Brom, have not gone unnoticed. Prague musicians from Karel Velebný's circle, who repeatedly came to Gustav Brom with their scores, are also mentioned: K. himself. IN. and his teammates, Karel Růžička, Emil Viklický, Josef Vejvoda and Petr Kořínek. The greater part of the fourth reel belongs to the sung recordings, as these were also among the best of the orchestra's output, which has been operating under its founder for nearly 55 years. That's quite a piece of history.

Year of publication: 2022