Karel Velebný

Karel Velebný (17 March 1931 – 7 March 1989, Prague) was a Czech jazz musician, composer, arranger, actor, writer and music pedagogue. Velebný was one of the founders of modern Czech jazz in the second half of the 20th century.

Biography At 7 years old, Velebný played piano and at 15—already a modern jazz enthusiast—taught himself to play alto saxophone. He graduated from gymnasium then studied drumming at the Prague Conservatory. He made his first public performance as a student, and became a full-time professional as soon as he graduated. From 1955 to 1958 he played with Czech jazzman Karel Krautgartner's orchestra, then joined contrabassist Luděk Hulan to co-found Studio 5, which became the key ensemble of modern Czech jazz. It became one of the most important bands in Czech jazz history. Velebný was its leader, composer, arranger, played as a multi-instrumentalist and taught the younger band members. SHQ's instrumental line-up and membership changed frequently. Later, Velebný was diagnosed with a serious heart disease and was forced to quit as a saxophonist and vibraphonist. In his later years, his instrumental role was mainly restricted to piano. He organized and led the Summer Jazz Workshop in Frýdlant until his death in 1989. As a teacher, Velebný emphasised knowledge of techniques which could be broadly applied on jazz standards.

Velebný contributed significantly to Czech theatre. He co-founded the Jára Cimrman Theatre, under the pseudonym dr. Evžen Hedvábný (actually, Karel Velebný has invented Jára Cimrman as a polyhistor and a Greatest Czech of all centuries), and made occasional onstage appearances - as an actor - during its early days.

Discography untitled LP (DV 10 164, SH Quintet, Supraphon). Poezie a jazz II (Supraphon 1965). (Poetry and Jazz II) SHQ a přátelé (Supraphon 1965). (SHQ and Friends) SHQ (Supraphon 1966). Jak hrál SHQ (Supraphon 1966). (How SHQ played) Československý jazz 1966 (Supraphon 1967). (Czechoslovak Jazz) Karel Velebný Nonet, SHQ & Woodwinds (SABA 1968). SHQ Karel Velebný (ESP 1969). Motus (Supraphon 1971). Týnom tánom (Supraphon 1971). Jazzové nebajky (Panton 1973). Parnas – Karel Velebný & SHQ s hosty (Supraphon 1981). (Parnas - Karel Velebný and SHQ with Guests) Jazzman Cimrman (Panton 1985). S+HQ Karel Velebný & Company (Radioservis CR0398-2)