Prag Pavel J. Ryba

Featured Artist: Pavel Jakub Ryba & M.T.S. Art Ensemble
CD Title: Mind the Step
Year: 1999
Record Label: Bonton Music (Import)
Review: Isn't it amazing how music transcends any real or presumed communication barriers? Pavel Jakub Ryba's native language may be Czechoslovakian but the fretless bass conversation on his CD called MIND THE STEP is clear in any language. He is one amazing artist. As one of the leading personalities of Czech jazz, P.J. Ryba is a star. His enormous energy and extensive repertoire mixes jazz, classical, pop and rock and does wonders for such standards as the Sonny Rollins classic, "St. Thomas." The quartet lends their special international flavor to "Sugar," by the great Stanley Turrentine and "A Child Is Born," by Thad Jones. His bass solo on "My One And Only Love," speaks to the listener with an amazing array of rhythms, tempo and stylistic expressions. Pastorius' influence is hanging in the air on this one and along with Petr Valasek on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, David Krupa on piano and keyboards, and Jiri Kollman on percussion, Ryba & his M.T.S. Art Ensemble exert their influence on your ears. The symphonic marvel, "Jeste jsem to nedostala," is superior. Pavel Jakub Ryba wrote four of the nine songs on the CD with "JE-BEL" being the most memorable original tune on this set because of its exotic note-for-note matchup between Ryba on bass and Petr Valasek on bass clarinet! That one does it for me. This CD is a wonderful experience of Czech jazz and a prime example of Ryba's perfect technique and musical feelings.

Rating: *****
Reviewed by: Paula Edelstei