JAN SMIGMATOR & BIG BAND, exclusive guest Scott Hamilton

The concert is held as the 24th Jazz Evening in honour of Karel Krautgartner in the conference centre of Mikulov Castle. Start time 19:30.

The main guest of the evening is Czech swing vocalist Jan Smigmator with his eighteen-member big band. On the domestic scene, he has collaborated with, among others, the Václav Hybš Orchestra, Felix Slováček Big Band, Karel Vlach Orchestra, Bohemia Big Band, B-Side Band, Kentonmania Big Band, Czech Radio Big Band, Gustav Brom Big Band, the Central Music of the Czech Armed Forces, and the Josef Vejvoda Trio. Abroad, he has performed with Ack van Rooyen, Kim Nazarian, Jay Ashby, Bobby Shew, Peter Lips, Jumaane Smith, Mitch Winehouse, and Tom Gaebel. In 2023, he made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall in New York. The exclusive guest will be tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton from the USA, a jazz legend and former member of Benny Goodman's orchestra, who is travelling to Mikulov from Florence, Italy, where he lives long-term.

During the concert, the Karel Krautgartner Order will traditionally be awarded – this year it will be presented to Jan Smigmator.

Before the evening concert, at 17:00, a bronze star will be unveiled on the Walk of Fame in front of Karel Krautgartner's birthplace (Náměstí 25/26, Mikulov). This year's 24th star will be dedicated to the founders and former chairmen of the Karel Krautgartner Friends Association, Ladislav Kolmáček and Jaroslav Smečka, who recently passed away. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Mikulov band Jazz Petit Q under the direction of Milan Esterka (programme from 16:00 to 17:45).