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Frantisek Uhlir

Born 24.7. 1950 in Usti n/Orlici in Czech Republic.From 1965 has studied double bass,piano and composition at the conservatory in Brno.During his studies has played at the orchestra of the Janacek's opera-house and at the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra. He graduated the conservatory at 1971 with the concert for the double bass and chamber orchestra by J.K.Vanhal(1739-1813).

The first touch with the jazz was listening to the Voice of America that came on midnight for an hour.In this broadcasting I've heard first the Bill Evans Trio with Scott LaFaro on the bass and I was very impressed not only by his playing, but with the way, how this trio played together. I've really been influenced by everything I've heard, but of course I paid special attention to the bassplayers as Ray Brown,Paul Chambers, Ron Carter and Scott LaFaro.

He is regarded as a player carrying forward the so-called Czech string bass playing tradition(G. Mraz,M. Vitous,J.Arnet and others).

He played and collaborated with the best Czech jazz musicians(K.Velebny SHQ, E.Viklicky Q,Linha Singers,Impuls,L.Deczi Cellula International,J.Stivin Q, Baroque Jazz Q,K.Ruzicka,R.Dasek)

During his career he has been collaborating with many international groups and musicians: D.Weckl,B.Bailey,W.Shaw,J.Newman,P.Wilson,Sal Nistico, R.Linka,T.Curson,S.Hamilton,S.Costanzo,R.Weller,B.Moses, S.Robinson,B.Golbin,L.A.Davison,J.Serry, M.Printup, H.Meurkens A.Hermann,from U.S.A.; S.Houben,P,Catherine,J.Piroton from Belgium; B.Dennerlein,D.Goykovich,W.Lackerschmid,W.Haffner,C.Stotter,D.Terzic,A.Hertrich, H.Beckmann, East-West Connection from Germany; Ines Reiger,M.Lackner from Austria, G.Cazzola,R.Magris,G.Centis,Europlane Orchestra from Italy; J.Nicholas,D.Wickins,T.Smith,E. Severn,T.Bancroft,B.Wellins from Great Britain; G.Atzmon, S.Goldenberg from Izrael; D.Moccia,R.Morgentaler,S.Schlegel,O.Giovannoni,F.Ambrosetti from Switzerland, Czech-Norwegian Band,P.Mikkelborg,A.Riel from Denmark;D.Jurkovic from Croatia; M.Hausser from France.

He toured and played with different groups the concerts and the festivals in this countries: Austria(Jazzfestival Wiesen, Germany(Ost-West Festival in Nurnberg, Jazztage Leverkusen, Jazztage Ehingen,Landes Jazzfestival Esslingen,Jazz Rally Dusseldorf), Belgium( Jazz Rally Bruxelles), Holland, Denmark, Norway(Jazzfestival Konsberg),Sweden, Switzerland (Jazzfestival Olten, Jazzfestival Ascona), Italy (Jazzfestival Cormons, Jazzfestival Ivrea, Newport in Torino)Jazzfestival Trieste, France (Jazzfestival Munster,Jazzfestival Colmar),Croatia Jazz Time Fest Rijeka,Spain,Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Izrael(Jazzfestival Eilat,Jazzfestival Tel Aviv),Turkey, Canada(Jazzfestival Montreal),Great Britain(Jazzfestival Edinburg, Jazzfestival Cheltenham,London Jazzfestival), Cyprus,Vietnam,Japan.

He has recorded many albums as a sideman and also two on his name (Basssaga, Frantisek Uhlir Team feat.C.Stotter) and three with the Trio Project Jurkovic+Uhlir+Helesic ( Live 2002, Frantisek Uhlir Trio feat.D.Goykovich - Multisonic 2006,Frantisek Uhlir Trio Maybe Later -Arta Records 2008)

Radio and TV shows inland and abroad From 1987 is Frantisek Uhlir leader of his own group F.U.T.-Frantisek Uhlir Team.

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14
Album Review

The KUH Trio: Old Souls

Read "Old Souls" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Here is yet another European trio whose name is an acronym, in this case, K for guitarist Edi Kohldorfer, U for bassist Frantisek Uhlir, H for drummer Jaromir Helesic, who when numbered together (or even singly) are Old Souls. Uhlir (70) and Helesic (73) are Czechs, while Kohldorfer (age unknown but has been around the block more than once) is Austrian. Their initial recording as a group consists of ten original compositions, five each by Kohldorfer and Uhlir.

14
Album Review

Frantisek Uhlir: Story of my life

Read "Story of my life" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Story of My Life is a seven-part suite (plus prologue) written by the outstanding and well-traveled Czech-born bassist Frantisek Uhlir to appraise his life as a musician and evoke in musical terms memories of his boyhood home, his love as a teenager of music and sports, his studies at the Brno Conservatory, his life as a working musician, raising children of his own, the vicissitudes of life, and his gratitude for the good fortune that has come his way. Uhlir ...

42
Album Review

The MUH Trio: A Step Into Light

Read "A Step Into Light" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The “MUH" in the MUH Trio is an acronym depicting the surnames of its members, pianist Roberto Magris, bassist Frantisek Uhlir and drummer Jaromir Helesic. Magris is from Italy, Uhlir and Helesic from the Czech Republic. A Step Into Light isn't their first walk around the block; they've been working together on and off for years, and recorded an earlier album, Prague After Dark, also for JMood Records, in 2016. That experience pays dividends, as the trio's ...

30
Album Review

Frantisek Uhlir: Story of my life

Read "Story of my life" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Recognized as one of the finest bassists in all of Europe, Czech Republic-born Frantisek Uhlir, presents Story of My Life, a self-produced personal project in celebration for turning seventy years-young in 2020. He does so in swinging fashion. The album booklet contains photographs with details of many proud moments throughout his life. An intentionally designed aspect of the album is the importance of the number seven to the leader. He composed a seven-part suite full of swing and swagger supported ...

31
Album Review

The MUH Trio: A Step Into Light

Read "A Step Into Light" reviewed by Edward Blanco


One of Europe's top jazz trio groups is simply named The MUH Trio, with the acronym representing world-renowned Italian pianist Roberto Magris, and bassist Frantisek Uhlir and drummer Jaromir Helesic, both prominent on the European jazz scene, most notably in Prague. Though playing together for some time, A Step Into Light is the group's second album and follow up to their critically-acclaimed debut Prague After Dark (2017, JMood Records). The music can be described as traditional straight-ahead jazz ...

28
Album Review

The MUH Trio: The MUH Trio – Prague After Dark

Read "The MUH Trio – Prague After Dark" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


Dating back to the 1980s, Italian jazz pianist Roberto Magris had been working with jazz luminaries such as Kai Winding and Eddie Lockjaw Davis while also performing extensively with Eastern and Central European artists. Late in that decade he recorded three albums with his quartet/quintet formation on they performed across that same region. In the 1990s Magris developed an affinity for the Hammond organ and toured throughout the Americas in that capacity. Among the dozens of top artists he has ...

3
Album Review

The MUH Trio: Prague After Dark

Read "Prague After Dark" reviewed by Jack Bowers


If experience really is the best teacher, meet three of Europe's most well-schooled jazz musicians who together make up the recently formed MUH Trio. The “M" is Italian pianist Roberto Magris (age fifty-eight), the “U" the sixty-seven-year-old Czech bassist Frantisek Uhlir, the “H" Czech drummer Jaromir Helesic, the trio's elder statesman at age seventy. On Prague After Dark, their debut recording as a unit, these seasoned pros prove time and again that there's precious little they don't ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Old Souls

ATS Records
2021

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A Step Into Light

JMood Records
2020

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Story of my life

Self Produced
2020

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Prague After Dark

JMood Records
2017

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60

Multisonic Records
2011

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Frantisek Uhlir: Bass...

Multisonic Records
2010

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Joycie Girl

From: Prague After Dark
By Frantisek Uhlir

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