Karel Ruzicka Jr.

Karel Ruzicka, Jr. has developed a singular creative voice that is made from the many pivotal experiences of his life as a jazz artist. His first success came as his group “The Four” was awarded first prize at Karlovy Vary’s International Jazz Festival, in Ruzicka’s native Czech Republic (1992). He paid a brief visit to New York City where he met Roy Hargrove and in 1996 performed in Prague with the Roy Hargrove Quintet. Ruzicka relocated to NYC after his first album was nominated for a Czech Grammy (“You Know What I Mean” 1997) and his second album “Spring Rolls Quartet” (1999) was awarded Czech Jazz Recording of the Decade. Since then Ruzicka released a third album “Brooklyn Moods” which was also nominated for a Czech Grammy and most recently has teamed up with Ondre J Pivec (organ) and Russell Carter (drums) to form the CPR Electrio. Their debut album was released in 2013 and reveals a deeply creative exploration of groove-based modern jazz. Ruzicka has performed with George Benson, Hiram Bullock, Dean Brown, Joe Locke, Bob Mintzer, Ravi Coltrane, Benny Rietveld, Michael Franks, Jeff “Tain” Watts and many others. www.karelruzickajr.com