Karel Růžička Jr.

Saxophonist and composer Karel Růžička has been living in New York for more than two decades. While still a student, he was recognized as a major talent on the Czech jazz scene in the 1990s. After recording his first solo album, You Know What I Mean, he participated in recording projects of formations such as The Four and Spring Rolls Quartet and collaborated on Flight, an album which he recorded together with his father and namesake. However, he soon relocated to the mecca of jazz where he has built a respectable career as a sought-after player and teacher. In New York, Růžička recorded his second album, Brooklyn Moods, and in 2018 released another recording project, entitled Grace & Gratitude. On this album, Růžička is joined by a “super team” featuring some of the best players in the field: John Patitucci, Jon Cowherd and Nate Smith. The recording consists of Růžička’s own pieces, composed in a quick succession shortly before the recording sessions and tailor-made for his team. The compositions are dedicated to the memory of the recently deceased members of his family, including his father with whom he had collaborated on many projects in the past.