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INTERNATIONAL SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE 2010: FEATUREBohemia Jazzfest @ 5Small Festival, Big HeartBy Ed EnrightWhen the Bohemia Jazzfest lights up Prague’s Old TownSquare this July, the Czech Republic will once againbecome a hipper place to live and visit. Celebrating itsfifth anniversary this year, the ever-expanding festival has grownfrom a tiny, three-city affair into a seven-city, nine-day extravaganzathat resonates with residents and tourists across this formerEastern Bloc country, located right in the heart of Central Europe.Rudy Linka, the Prague-born jazz guitarist who has gainedinternational acclaim since defecting to Sweden at age 19 and latermoving to the United States, conceived the festival when he foundhimself to be a tourist back in his own country, years after its liberationfrom the controlling forces of the former Soviet Union.“I am so proud of my country—it has an amazing musical historyfor such a little place,” said Linka, who currently lives most ofthe year in New York City. “After some 50 years of isolation,somehow I felt it would be great to present something contemporary.I think jazz is the most modern form of music, and wouldn’tit be great for the local people to see it and hear it so they can bebrave enough to ask, ‘Do I like it, or not like it?’ just to taste it andform their own opinion.”All festival events are free to the public and are held outdoors inbeautiful, historic town squares across Bohemia, a culturally richand frequently romanticized region of the Czech Republic. Stillyoung, the festival has featured a slate of internationally knownjazz artists such as John Scofield, Dave Holland and JoshuaRedman as well as lesser-known European acts from various nearbycountries, like Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Sweden andDenmark.This year will mark the return of Yellowjackets, who played atthe innaugural Bohemia Jazzfest in 2006. Dr. Lonnie Smith alsomakes his second appearance at the fest this summer, as doesGerman saxophonist Johannes Enders. Other 2010 headliners willinclude Stanley Clarke’s group, Béla Fleck with Edgar Maier andZakir Hussain and Tomasz Stanko’s Europe-based ensemble.Linka, as usual, will perform, this time with a trio featuring his regularbassist, Dan Fabricatore, and Kenny Wolleson on drums.As a musician who gigs frequently in Europe as well as NorthAmerica, Linka not only knows what it’s like to perform at multiconcertoutdoor festivals; he also personally knows all the musiciansthemselves, as friends and collaborators.“I know how small things can make a big difference in howmusicians feel and perform,” said Linka, noting the importance ofhaving good sound engineer and feeding performers a decent meal.“You immediately feel like it’s a family-run business—no one isthere just to do the job, get the money and go home.”Linka operates the fest on a shockingly small budget, cobbling togethercontributions (both financial and service-based) from various small sponsorshipsand making the most of the grass-roots support he receives fromthe Czech cities the festival visits. He also has made some important politicalconnections, having formed relationships with Vaclav Klaus (the jazzlovingpresident of the Czech Republic), ambassadors from the UnitedStates and Sweden, and the mayors of Prague and other Bohemian townswho continue to come onboard as the festival extends its reach. Linkareceived significant backing this year from Czech Tourism, part of thecountry’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.“We are not in a situation where we can pay the fees of other festivals,Prague’s Old Town Square lightsup during Bohemia Jazzfest.Rudy Linkaso I am always grateful for artists who accept the invitation to come play,”he said. “We try to work out some kind of arrangement that will be goodfor everybody. And after that will come all of these small things, like amassage in the local spa. These towns we visit are so happy to provide thelittle extras. We have so much support from so many people that we canstill somehow pull it off in the end. Up to the last minute, I try to see how Ican work it so they will be available. Do I go and pick them up somewherein Munich by car? Yes, I do. Nothing is too small to make themcome to us.“That’s what Bohemia Jazzfest is all about,” Linka concluded. “It’s sosmall, but because of that it’s so big and has such a big heart.” DB92 DOWNBEAT May 2010