Czechoslovak Radio Jazz Orchestra

Czechoslovak Big Band Jazz Ensemble

The Czechoslovak Radio Jazz Orchestra, also known as the Czechoslovak Radio (CSR) Jazz Orchestra, was a prominent ensemble in the former Czechoslovakia, particularly noted for its contributions to the jazz and big band music scene during the mid-20th century. The orchestra was a professional body associated with the national radio broadcaster, and it played a significant role in promoting jazz within the country and beyond its borders. The ensemble was known for its high level of musicianship and for performing works by both Czech and international composers. It collaborated with numerous esteemed soloists and conductors over the years, contributing to the development of jazz in Eastern Europe during a time when the genre was experiencing various levels of acceptance and support from the state authorities. The orchestra's recordings, broadcasts, and live performances were an important part of cultural life in Czechoslovakia before its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.