folk holidays

JAZZ GUITARIST DAVID DORŮŽKA AND HIS BANDMATES JOURNEY THROUGH JEWISH MUSICAL TRADITION OF EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST ON THE ALBUM GILGUL.

An unpretentious fusion of jazz, Jewish music, and the concept of the transmigration of souls

Internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist David Dorůžka has long been a regular presence on the Jewish music scene. His previous album, Autumn Tales, already
partially explored this terrain. But if you expect traditional jazz from David, think again—while he certainly values its legacy, it has never been the sole foundation of his artistic expression.
On Gilgul, Dorůžka and his collaborators delve into the traditions of Jewish music from both Europe and the Middle East. You might not even recognize him as a jazz musician at first—but in the end, it doesn't matter, because the music draws you in from the very first note.Together with flutist and vocalist Robert Fischmann and drummer Martin
Novák, Dorůžka offers a powerful, unique testament to the timelessness and cultural permeability of Jewish music—whether it's born in synagogues or in everyday life. Deeply intertwined with Jewish faith, liturgy, and philosophy, this music nevertheless invites reinterpretation by even the boldest modernists—without fear of diminishing its value. That, perhaps, is what continues to make Jewish music so endlessly fascinating.

Photo: Dušan Tománek