Gustav Brom and the Czech Radio Big Band
Once ranked among the world’s top ten big bands, Gustav Brom’s orchestra continues to preserve its musical excellence. Marking the 30th anniversary of its founder’s passing, this programme celebrates his enduring legacy.
Known today as the Gustav Brom Czech Radio Big Band, the ensemble had humble beginnings. It was founded in 1940 by Slovak-born Gustav Brom in a hotel room in the small town of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm in the Zlín region.
Over the years, the band built a strong international reputation. By the 1960s, it began collaborating with some of the biggest names in jazz and pop, including Diana Ross, Dizzy Gillespie, The Supremes, or Ray Charles, as well as backing domestic vocalists such as Karel Gott or Helena Vondráčková. The band’s reputation grew as it performed at top jazz festivals, from Manchester to Cuba.
Until shortly before his death on September 25, 1995, Gustav Brom remained the ensembles bandleader, making him one of the longest-serving leaders of a single band in Europe. After his passing, Vlad Valovič took over the role. In 2013, the band became the resident big band of Czech Radio.
