Ondřej Štveráček plays Yamaha soprano saxophone exclusively.
Sketches is a tenor player’s delight. The Coltrane influence is something I love hearing. The passion and spirituality in the music is moving. Also Ondrej’s soprano sound is other worldly and adds a great musical ingredient. Jerry Bergonzi (Jazz Saxophone Legend)
LISTENING TO ONDREJ’s NEW CD “SKETCHES” WITH ABSOLUTE PLEASURE AND JOY. WHOLE THING IS JUST GREAT – CHOICE OF MATERIAL, EFFORT BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE BAND AND SOUND QUALITY OF THERECORDING. AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS PROOF THAT JAZZ IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL. PERSONALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR MORE, BECAUSE THIS EXTRAORDINARY QUARTET HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY. GREAT STUFF GENTLEMEN!!!! Najponk (Leading Czech Jazz Pianist).
Ondrej Stveracek’s new quartet CD (“Calm”) featuring Gene Jackson is dynamic and compelling. They are all on the same page playing such strong yet reflective music. The sound that Ondrej gets is haunting and makes you want to hear more. Congratulations. Jerry Bergonzi (Jazz Saxophone Legend) 2016
Ondrej’s new cd CALM is a modern jazz masterpiece!!!! Kick ass disc!!!!
Najponk (Leading Czech Jazz Pianist) 2016
…this is truly one compelling session of jazz sure to stir up some excitement. With outstanding musicianship and an energized selection of music worth repeated spins, saxophonist Stveracek has another winner of a recording on his hands, certain to get serious attention. Edward Blanco about “Calm” (Allaboutjazz.com) 2016 review.
“This CD is high powered and intense with very modern overtones. I love Ondrej ́s sound and behind the sound. His intonation and nuances are impecable. The band sounds like a real band. A must listen.” Jerry Bergonzi about album What´s Outside.
“When Ondřej Štveráček picks up his tenor sax, people tend to stop what they’re doing and tune in. His standout bebop playing, heavily influenced and inspired by John Coltrane, has become something of a showstopper… PRAGUE POST
Ondřej is an incredible saxophone player – one of the best in the world in my opinion – and I recommend you check him out if you don’t know him. The night I met him, I went to a jam session, naively thinking I’d blow everyone away (thoughts like that are long gone) only to hear Ondřej busting out “sheets of sound” like Coltrane on “Black Pearls”!!! Osian Roberts (UK Saxophonist)
Coltrane´s in the house… Eric Ineke (Dutch drummer legend) about Štveráček´s playing.
Prague-based saxophonist Ondrej Stveracek and his sterling quartet are a driving force in Central Europe’s thriving jazz scene and the group’s stellar outing on The Form, is more than ample testament to this claim. A young lion from the Czech Republic, Stveracek was inspired by the music of John Coltrane and, although drawn in by his style, he clearly distinguishes himself by developing a voice of his own. The album presents an audacious session of post-bop jazz where his own musical style and the approach on such pieces as the electrifying high-octane opening title track, provide further evidence of the drift from the Coltrane influence. All About Jazz Ondrej Stveracek Quartet: The Form (2014) – Edward Blanco (6.4.2014)
Ondrej Štveráček’s thunderous tenor sax recalls ‘new breed’ reedmen like Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman who honed their sound in the billowing wake of John Coltrane’s legacy. It is impossible not to hear echoes of the icon in this young Czech lion – a whole-horn, sound-for-its-own-sake approach with chops to support any idea that occurs – but he is clearly on his way to a more original concept with What’s Outside. On “Out-Sight” and Coltrane’s “Africa” Štverácek nearly melts the remaining varnish from his faded sax, taxing his reed with overblown immediacy while “Weaver of Dreams” reveals a gentler side; unlike his idol, he eschews ‘shaggy-dog’ storytelling in favor of succinct, songserving narratives.
TOM GREENLAND (New York City Journalist, 2011)
Czech hard-bop saxophone star Ondřej Štveráček has been a rising star on the Czech jazz scene for nearly a decade, stepping out from the pervasive influence of John Coltrane’s “sheets of sound” technique into a style that can veer from touchingly tender to raving with passion. A must-see... Prague Post, March 2012
PLAYED WITH: Gene Jackson, Dave Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi, George Mraz, China Moses, Allen Vizutti, Paul Bollenback, Harry Sokal, Alex Sipiagin, Roberta Gambarini, New York Voices, Igor Buttman, Brian Charette, Uwe Plath, Piotr Wojtasik, Eric Vaughn, Douglas Sides, Dennis Rowland, Ryan Carniaux, Kevin Mahagony, Kalman Olah, Joe Cohn, Benito Gonzales, Poogie Bell, Mel Canady, Philip Harper, Jorge Vistel, Kuba Stankiewicz, J.D.Allen, Peter Beets, Joris Teepe, Erik Ineke, Boris Kozlov, Kornel Fekete-Kovacs, Erik Doelman, Udo Van Boven, Rob Van Bavel, Eric Vaughn, Radovan Tariška, Martin Valihora, Oskar Rozsa, Osian Roberts, Tzumo Arpad Olah, Mark Aanderud, Ondrej Krajňák, Klaudius Kováč, Pavel Wlosok, Martin Valihora, Jonathan Crossley, David Dorůžka, Pablo Held, David Patrick, Deitra Farr, Eric Allen, Jaromír Honzák, Karel Růžička, Karel Růžička Jr. , Matuš Jakabčic, Ida Kellarová, Iva Bittová, Yvonne Sanchez, Najponk, Jaromír Honzák, Laszlo Sule, Emil Viklický, Najponk, Juraj Griglák and more…
Born November 3rd, 1977, Most, Czechoslovakia.
Starts to play clarinet when he´s 10 years old, switches to tenor saxophone at 15 and joins Litvínov Big Band, where he gets prize for best soloist in 1995 in Czech Republic Big Band competition.
In 1998 moves to Prague for studying at Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory and starts to play at Prague Jazzclubs and czech top jazz players.
In 2003 finalist of prestigious International Jazz Contest Hoeilaart in Belgium.
From 2006 member of legendary GUSTAV BROM Big Band, MATUŠ JAKABČIC CZ/SK Big Band, EAST-WEST EUROPEAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA.
Debut album “ONDŘEJ ŠTVERÁČEK QUARTET – WHAT´S OUTSIDE” was nominated as THE BEST JAZZ ALBUM 2010 and second album “THE FORM” was picked as ONE OF THREE BEST JAZZ ALBUMS 2013 by jazz critics.
The extraordinarily gifted tenor saxophonist Ondřej Štveráček enjoys the freedom of jazz with a similar exhilaration as other up-and-coming Czech musicians. He has been a regular member of Gustav Brom Big Band for many years now, has collaborated with the most outstanding young musicians from both the Czech and Slovak Republics as well as with artists from abroad (Jerry Bergonzi, Dave Liebman, George Mraz, Joe Cohn). Apart from activities as a sideman, he focuses primarily on his own concept of playing the saxophone, undoubtedly inspired by the jazz tradition.
Coltrane´s Sheets of Sound concept percolates through Štveráček´s phrasing and his tone resembles that of his idol’s as well. Coltrane and Štveráček also share great horn control and flawless technique. Štveráček is never intimidated by breakneck tempos, odd meters or complex harmonies. Even though one would be hard pressed to find a better teacher than Coltrane, Štveráček has recently been drifting further apart from his influence to find his own voice to the great benefit of himself and his listeners. He has already put out two albums with his band and is touring all major destinations in Central Europe. Both his debut What´s Outside and sophomore release The Form have garnered critical acclaim.
No wonder Ondřej Štveráček has picked out Gene Jackson to enhance his line up to let his saxophone shine and easily blend into the group´s chemistry. (JAZZFEST BRNO 2015)
PERFORMED at:
Bohemia Jazz Fest – Czech Rep., Warsaw Jazz Fest – Poland, Ubud Village Jazz Festival – Bali, Indonesia, Novi Sad Jazz Fest – Serbia, Molde Jazz Festival – Norway, Bansko Jazz Fest – Bulgary, Rostov on Don Jazz Fest – Russia, Nish Jazz Fest – Serbia, Bratislava Jazz Days – Slovakia, Brno Jazz Fest – Czech Rep., Přerov Czechoslovak Jazz Fest – Czech Rep. and many more…
PROJECTS
Ondřej Štveráček Trio/Quartet/Quintet, Tribute to John Coltrane Project, SPACE PROJECT, Gustav Brom Bigband, Matuš Jakabčic Bigband, Free Tenors with Harry Sokal, Štveráček / Charette / Šoltis Trio, Kaunis 5, Ben Schroeder Vintage Sextette, Erik Doelman Quintet, East-West European Jazz Orchestra and more…
Na čem dělá… saxofonista Ondřej Štveráček – Český Rozhlas Jazz (22.12.2014)
Česká jazzová sklizeň 2013 – nejvýše hodnocená alba (7.3.2014)
Rozhovor pro časopis Harmonie – 16.2.2014
Fenomenální forma Štveráčkova Quarteta (JazzPort.cz – 27.11.2013)
Rozhovor měsíce: Ondřej Štveráček v nové formě – Český Rozhlas Jazz (29.10.2013)
Rozhovor pro časopis Harmonie – 26.9.2010
Terra Musica – Ondřej Štveráček Quartet (2010)
Ondřej Štveráček Quartet – Nominace na ceny Anděl 2010
Saxofonista Ondřej Štveráček patří už více než dekádu k nejvýraznějším postavám nastupující jazzové generace v Česku. Je kmenovým hráčem orchestru Gustava Broma, pravidelně spolupracuje s výraznými hráči pohybujícími se ve středoevropském regionu. Vedle aktivit sidemana však pilně rozvíjí svůj vlastní systém hry na saxofon nepřehlédnutelně inspirovaný jazzovou tradicí.
Coltranův koncept tzv. Sheets of Sound prosakuje Štveráčkovým frázováním a jeho tónový témbr se bez pochyby inspiruje u stejného zdroje. Ondřej Štveráček má s jazzovou legendou společné i dokonale zvládnuté jazzové řemeslo, nepřekvapí ho jakékoliv, byť i krkolomně uspěchané tempo, vypořádá se s libovolně komplikovanou harmonií či metrem. Ostatně kdo by mohl komukoliv vyčítat, že se učí od jedné z nejvýraznějších postav historie jazzu? V posledních letech se ovšem ve Štveráčkově hře neodbytně dere na povrch jeho vlastní hudebnická osobnost, z čehož těží jak on sám, tak jeho posluchači. S vlastní kapelou nahrál už dvě alba a obráží všechny důležité jazzové destinace střední Evropy. Jak debutové What´s Outside, ověnčené nominací na cenu Anděl, tak předloňské The Form, sesbíraly pochvaly od kritiků i zaslouženou pozornost ze strany posluchačů. Jazz Fest Brno, 2015
Proti rozšířené tuzemské verzi umírněné a snad i trochu zasněné kompoziční a zvukové „škole“ proslulého mnichovské vydavatelství ECM přináší skutečnou explozi energie a vzrušení. Nade vším se vznáší bouřlivácký ideál Johna Coltranea, avšak Štveráček vyjmenovává mezi těmi, kdo na něj zapůsobili, téměř sedm řádek tvůrčích osobností – od swingu až k dnešnímu jazzu. A na jeho hře je to také slyšet.“ Lubomír Dorůžka, hudební publicista, 2010