Born: February 17, 1982 Primary Instrument: Guitar
Libor Šmoldas was born on February 17, 1982 in Olomouc, but has lived in Prague since his childhood. He devoted himself to music at an early age, starting with the recorder and trumpet, then beginning to play guitar when he was twelve. After initial forays into rock and blues he began to take an interest in jazz, mainly due to his fascination with the recordings of Charlie Parker. At sixteen he was already appearing in Prague jazz clubs with the blues band of American singer Phil Speat, as well as at Sunday jam sessions at U Malého Glena. He took guitar lessons from Josef Kůstka, Luboš Andršt, Zdeněk Fišer and Petr Zelenka. After finishing primary school he attended the Evropská High School of Music in Prague before being admitted to the jazz guitar department of the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory as a student of Jiř- Šindler in 2001. Two years later he transferred into the Conservatory’s newly-opened Post-Secondary School, which is directed by Jarom-r Honzák. There he studied under Petr Binder, Josef Štěpánek and David Dorůžka; after graduating he himself became a professor of guitar, ensemble performance and rhythm training.
In 2005 he went to Freiburg to audition for a scholarship to the prestigious American conservatory, the Berklee School of Music. Although he was awarded a scholarship, he decided to remain in Prague. That same year he played in Brazilian Mood, the band of Polish-Cuban singer Yvonne Sanchez, opening for Billy Cobham on a tour of Turkey and Cyprus. He performs regularly with organist Ondřej Pivec and his Organic Quartet at numerous European festivals, including Cheltenham, Sibiu, Kishinev, Prague Spring, Jazz Brno, Athens, Phillips Jazz Festival Prague (winning the Phillips Festival award in 2005) or Getxo Jazz Festival (winning the award of the audience). Together with the quartet, he recorded the albums Never Enough (2007) and Don’t Get Ideas (2006), the latter of which won the 2006 Anděl award for Best Czech Jazz Album and was widely praised in both the Czech and international press. (AllAboutJazz, Hammondbeat USA, Music Web International, Harmonie, Lidové noviny). With the Libor Šmoldas Trio he performs mostly his own music, although the ensemble also accompanied American trumpeter Bob Montgomery at his 2007 concert in Prague as well as British trumpet player Steve Fishwick. The trio was also chosen to perform at prestigious festival Young Prague in 2007. The first CD of this group “On The Playground” was released in august 2007. Since 2006 he has also been performing with his wife, singer Vendula Šmoldasová (Zeur-tia), whose repertoire consists primarily of Brazilian bossa nova (CD Zeur-tia, 2008, features top Polish musicians Lukasz Zita and Michal Tokaj). Currently Libor has been leading his own quartet with basist Josef Fečo, drummer Tomáš Hobzek and pianist Petr Beneš. However the quartet's repertoir consisting mostly of Libor's original music was recorded by another line-up in New York: Gerge Mraz, Jeff Ballard and Sam Yahel (CD “In New York On Time” 2010). Since 2010 is Libor a member of the blues band Groove, led by great organist Jan Koř-nek.
Despite his young age, Libor Šmoldas is an inseparable part of the Prague jazz scene, working with the legends of Czech jazz as well as with promising young players. He teaches at the Jaroslav Ježek Post-Secondary School of Jazz and at New York University’s Prague campus, composes his own music, and is generally considered one of the best Czech jazz guitarists.
Awards:
Best Czech jazz album 2007“ From beginning to end, “In New York On Time” proves to be a masterful display of compositional creativity, group interplay, and musical integrity..... The excitement from the musicians is palpable. “
-All About Jazz, NYC
“ CD “In New York On Time” should help to significantly expand Libor Šmoldas' fan base beyond the borders of the Czech Republic. “
-All About Jazz
On The Playgound
Animal Music
2007
Personnel: Lukasz Zyta : drums, Ondrej Pivec: Hammond organ.
On The Playgound
Animal Music
2007
Personnel: Lukasz Zyta : drums, Ondrej Pivec: Hammond organ.
As a Leader
In New York On Time
Animal Music
2010
Personnel: Jeff Ballard : drums, George Mraz: bass, Sam Yahel: piano.
As A Side Musician
Don't Get Ideas
Organic Quartet
Cube - Metier
2006
Never Enough
Organic Quartet
Animal Music
2007
Zeurítia
Zeurítia
Aniaml Music
2009
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Primary Instrument:
Guitar
Location:
Prague Czech republic 149 00
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
