Joe Kučera (born Josef Kučera; 8 July 1943) is a Czech jazz saxophonist and flautist. He was born in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was a partially-annexation, annexed territory of Nazi Germany that was established on 16 March 1939 after the Occupation of Czechoslovakia (1938–1945), German occupation of the Czech lands. The protector ...

(now the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

). He began playing clarinet at age of seventeen and later changed his instrument to saxophone and flute. Since 1967, he played with

Michal Prokop Michal Prokop (born 1 April 1981 in Prague) is a Czech professional BMX and Mountain Bike Four-cross rider. Started his sporting career at the age of five, Prokop has claimed two World Cup circuit gold medals, and three World Championship jersey ...

's band Framus Five and two years after, he emigrated to Austria with fellow jazz musician Sammy Vomáčka. Later he went to Berlin. He worked with many musicians, such as

Jackie Leven Jackie Leven (18 June 1950 – 14 November 2011) was a Scottish songwriter and folk musician. After starting his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he first found success with new wave band Doll by Doll. He later recorded as a solo ...

Werner Lämmerhirt Werner Lämmerhirt (17 March 1949 – 14 October 2016) was one of the most important German singer-songwriters and guitarists in the contemporary folk music style. He sang and wrote in both German and English, in a recording career that spanned m ...

and many others. He founded jazz festival Jazz Meeting Berlin in 1997.

Discography

As leader

*''Balance'' (1986) *''Dillema'' (1998) *''Memories/Looking Back'' (2017)

As sideman

;With Jesse Ballard *''Livin' Like Fire'' (1977) *''Jesse Ballard's Paradise Island Band'' (1998) *''Talkin' to the Rain'' (2003) *''Constantly in View'' (2007) *''Cut It All Loose'' (2014) ;With Jasmine Bonnin *''Keine Angst'' (1979) ;With Paul Esslinger *''Journey to Mandalonia'' (1987) ;With Hans Hartmann *''Swindia'' (1984) ;With Nino Hilmann *''No Identity'' (1980) ;With Ikarus *''Solaris'' (1982) ;With

*''White Spots'' (1978) *''Crossroads'' (1982) *''SaitenZauber'' (1999, Stockfisch) *''Heimspiel'' (2003, Toca Records) ;With

*''Control'' (1975 LP) *''Great Songs from Eternal Bars'' (2001) ;With Spinning Motion *''Confidence in the Future'' (1980) ;With Michal Prokop *''Blues in Soul + 9x Bonus'' (1995)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kucera, Joe 1943 births Living people Czech jazz saxophonists Jazz flautists Czech flautists Musicians from Prague 21st-century saxophonists 21st-century flautists