Welcome to JazzPrix,

the place to share your vision of music.

“JazzPrix” is a contest for newcomers jointly presented by the organizers of Jazz an der Donau and the Czech Bohemia JazzFest.
The goal of the bilateral contest is to support and promote cultural exchange between Germany and the Czech Republic through jazz and the various views about and approaches to this type of music.

With immediate effect, all musicians and bands of all jazz styles with a maximum average age of 25 and without a record contract are invited to submit their application and information.

Winner 2012

Miroslav Hloucal Quartet and Jonas Herpichböhms Ohropack Are Winners of the JazzPrix 2012

On March 10, the finale of the third bilateral jazz competition for up and coming musicians, JazzPrix, took place in Straubing’s Mannschaftscasino. Playing in front of great crowd, all of the finalists gave strong performances with Miroslav Hloucal Quartet and Jonas Herpichböhms Ohropack claiming the top two spots at JazzPrix 2012.

Straubing/Munich, March 2012 – A high level of musical talent and an obvious passion for performing were on display with the finalists of JazzPrix 2012 on March 10 at Straubing’s Mannschaftscasino. In the end, the group from Mannheim, Jonas Herpichböhms Ohropack, and the Miroslav Hloucal Quartet from the Czech Republic came out ahead of the pack.
As in past years, the winning band, Miroslav Hloucal Quartet, received prize money of € 10,000, and the second place finishers, Jonas Herpichböhms Ohropack, received € 3,000 – a substantial sum for starting a musical career. Heinz Huber, co-initiator of the bilateral competition: “The quality of all of the participating bands impressed me once again. Those that have had the pleasure of hearing these groups know that jazz has a solid future.” A high level of musical expertise could also be found off the stage for the third finale of the competition. The panel of judges this year was comprised of Czech jazz star Rudy Linka (John Abercrombie & Jim Hall among others), founder of the jazz label Artia Records, Otakar Svoboda, and ex-Reamonn guitarist, producer and label boss Uwe Bossert. An expert trio that took their task seriously, choosing the Miroslav Hloucal Quartet and Jonas Herpichböhms Ohropack from the six bands – all of which were thoroughly enjoyed by the enthusiastic audience. Ralph Huber, of Jazz an der Donau e.V. and co-initiator: “We had more applications than ever this year, along with a super qualified panel of judges and incredibly talented bands. The JazzPrix 2012 was a complete success at every level.”
Correspondingly good was the atmosphere among the roughly 200 guests at Straubing’s Mannschaftscasino, which hosted the JazzPrix finale for the first time this year.

About Miroslav Hloucal Quartet:
Miroslav Hloucal has been among the Czech Republic’s best trumpet players for years. With his lyrical, technically-sound style of play, he already has garnered plenty of attention with his work in groups such as Lanugo, Infinite Quartet, Punkte and Bucinatores. With the Miroslav Hloucal Quartet, he now leads his own band which is committed to fusion, funk and contemporary jazz.

About Jonas Herpichböhms Ohropack:
Jonas Herpichböhm (drums), Niko Seibold (alto saxophone), Janis Hug (trumpet), Konrad Blasberg (double bass) and Konrad Hinsken (piano) met each other at the Music Academy in Mannheim, while Jonas’ brother Tilman rounds out the sextet. The band’s modern jazz sound weaves in classic, bebop and pop music undertones

JazzPrix 2012 – The Finalists
Pantoum
Ebene 0
Jonas Herpichböhms Ohropack
Tom Listl Trio
Trioskop
Miroslav Hloucal Quartet (Winner of the Czech preliminary round)

Bringing home a win: The Miroslav Hloucal Quartet with the panel of judges in the background