Ondrej Pivec / Organic Quartet: Don't Get Ideas (2006)

Budd Kopman

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2004

Jazz musicians are magicians and Jazz is the spell they cast

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Published: October 3, 2006

Ondrej Pivec / Organic Quartet: Don't Get Ideas

Ondrej Pivec and his Organic Quartet burn white hot on Don't Get Ideas, from the very first notes of the opening "Mr. Littleroot's Green Room," by Jakob Dolezal, the group's tenorist. Living deeply within the R&B organ trio vibe, yet updating it with their personalities, these youngsters clearly live to play.

The question of originality and derivativeness does not really apply here. Much like Scott Hamilton, who plays inside his chosen style with total honesty, these musicians—organist Pivec, guitarist Libor Smoldas, tenor player Dolezal and drummer Tomas Hobzek—give it away by letting it all hang out, and they are completely believable.

Each player knows exactly what he is about and is in total control. While the timbres of Smoldas' guitar or Dolezal's saxophone are well within expectations, and almost required for this genre to be convincing, their compositions, improvisational ideas and phrasing have a knack for satisfaction. How else can you describe the original compositions that successfully and simultaneously live in the past and the present?

The most important thing about this music is that its energy and assurance communicate directly to the soul. Based on the fact that the Organic Quartet has a regular gig that packs the house, and that Don't Get Ideas is a top-selling record in Czechoslovakia, this music is really touching people. So tap your feet, clap your hands and get up and dance—Ondrej Pivec and the Organic Quartet are here to move you.

Dr. Lonnie Smith would be proud.

Track Listing: Mr. Littleroot's Green Room; Inception; Blues For Wendy; Humble Groove; Don't Get Ideas; Quietude; Knick Knack; Just Chillin'; Pantheola; Lonely Grey.

Personnel: Ondrej Pivec: Hammond organ; Libor Smoldas: guitar; Jakub Dolezal: tenor saxophone; Tomas Hobzek: drums.

Record Label: Cube-Metier
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream

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Puttin'on the Ritz by ORGANIC Quartet, recorded in Ostrava Jazz Open.

Ondřej Pivec Organic Quartet, Noc s Andělem. V.P. This is a short 5minute shot from a TV Show called Noc s Andelem (Night with Angel), where Organic Quartet was awarded by Czech Musical Academy Awards in 2006 for CD "Don't Get Ideas." Composition by Jakub Dolezal, called V.P.

Ondřej Pivec Organic Quartet - Noc s Andělem This is from the same evening, just a bit longer. Titled "Nine Days Wonder," by Ondrej Pivec.

Ondřej Pivec Interview - Události v Kultuře April, 28, 2008. This is from Czech TV news report (Cultural events), just after the debut of new CD Overseason.

Ondřej Pivec Interview - Události v Kultuře, ČT24, March 2008 This is an interview in Czech TV, again, Cultural Events - the topic is about Ondrej Pivec's and Tomas Hobzek's trip to New York and subsequent making of the record Overseason.

Ondřej Pivec - ČT2 (Kultura.cz), March 2008 This is a short document and biography about Ondrej Pivec, the leading persona of Czech and European jazz music.

Song "Turkish Coffee," a latin tune with the sounds of hammond organ Recorded in Jazz Lounge u Stare Pani, Prague, Czech Republic.

Ladybird - solo. FatCat club, New York Recorded in New York, 2007.