Karel Ruzicka Jr.
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Karel Ruzicka Jr.

| INDIE | AFM

| INDIE | AFM
Band Jazz Funk

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Discography

Hotline-Still Calling (Arta - 1992)
The Four-Space and Rhythm (Arta-1994)
Karel Ruzicka & Karel Ruzicka Jr.- Flight(Melantrich-1995)
Karel Ruzicka-You're Never Alone (CzechRadio-1995)
Karel Ruzicka Jr.-You Know What I Mean (Arta-1997)
Spring Rolls Quartet-Spring Rolls (Cube-Metier-1998)
Sexy Dancers-Sexy Dancers (Columbia-1998)
No Guitars-No Guitars (Columbia-1998)
J.A.R-Homo Fonkianz (Columbia-1999)
Monkey Business-Why Be In When You Could Be Out
(Columbia-2000)
Karel Ruzicka Jr.-Brooklyn Moods (Cube Metier-2004)
Monkey Business-Kiss Me On My Ego (Columbia-2005)
Gina Sicilia-Allow Me To Confess
(SwingNation Records-2006)
Streaming audio can be found at
http://www.reverbnation.com/karelruzickajr

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Bio

Karel Ruzicka Jr. is a Grammy nominated saxophonist, composer and producer. Combine hard bop, funk, Brazilian music, classical music, fusion, pop, rock, blues, afrobeat and you get close to where he is am coming from. The groove and melody are definitely his focus, because music should make you want to move. His groups consist of international and New York City jazz greats. Karel Ruzicka Jr. is influenced mainly by John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson and Michael Brecker; plus the classics: Ravel, Dvorak, Debussy and Bartok among others. He was born in Prague, and his mother was a member of the Czech Opera. His father, Karel Ruzicka, is a well-known jazz pianist, composer and educator. Karel studied at Prague Conservatory and the Conservatory of Jaroslav Jezek. Since emigrating to the USA in 1997, he has studied with Grammy Award winners Bob Mintzer, Joe Lovano and more. In 1996 he performed with the Roy Hargrove Quintet, plus many others including Wynton Marsalis and members of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He also toured with R&B legend Ben. E. King and drummer/composer Jeff "Tain" Watts. He also performs with such artists as George Benson and Michael Franks. Karel has won many awards in international jazz competitions: in the Czech Republic in 1991 and 1992; Talent Of The Year in 1993, and in 1998, twin wins for Tenor and Alto Saxophonist of the Year.
“You Know What I Mean,” was nominated for the Czech Grammy and voted Jazz Album of the Year. In 1998, I recorded the Jazz Album Of The Decade, “Spring Rolls Quartet.” Karel collaborated with trombonist extraordinaire Fred Wesley, of the legendary James Brown Horns, on "Why Be In When You Could Be Out" by Czech funk supergroup Monkey Business. 2005 saw more Monkey Business, featuring saxophonist David Sanborn, guitarist Hiram Bullock and bassist/vocalist Glen Hughes of Deep Purple. Currently he is performing regularly with an extraordinary electric bass player Benny Rietveld along with drummer Cindy Blackman and Manu Koch on keys. Most recently he toured with internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Michael Franks.