Grammy nominated saxophonist, composer and producer Karel Ruzicka Jr. was born in Prague, Czech Republic, into a very musical family. His mother was a member of the Czech opera and his father, Karel Ruzicka, is a well-known jazz pianist, composer and educator. His first exposure to jazz was through his father’s extensive record collection. Karel has studied piano and flute from the age of 5, and continued his education at the Prague Conservatory, Conservatory of Jaroslav Jezek and The New School University Jazz Program in New York. Karel began performing professionally at age 16 as a co-leader of a jazz quartet The Four, which toured Europe extensively and won several jazz competitions, beginning with the international jazz competitions in Carlsbad and Prerov, Czech Republic in 1991 and1992. He also won Talent Of The Year in 1993 from the Czech Jazz Society. 1998 saw twin wins for Tenor and Alto Saxophonist of the Year. He was a featured soloist with Big Band Radio Prague and recorded with the prestigious European Broadcasting Union Jazz Orchestra which includes some of the finest E.U. musicians. In 1996 he performed with the Roy Hargrove Quintet on their European tour, plus many other famous performers, including concerts with Wynton Marsalis and members of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, which prompted him to move to New York. Karel has played at festivals and clubs in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Italy, England, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, and in the USA.
Upon emigrating to the U.S in 1997, he has studied saxophone at the New School University and privately with George Garzone, Rick Margitza, the Grammy Award winners Bob Mintzer and Joe Lovano as well as piano and jazz improvisation with the great mentors Barry Harris and Charles Blenzig (musical director for singer/songwriter Michael Franks).
In 2002/2003 Karel Jr. collaborated with the Brooklyn Sax Quartet and performed in over 30 US cities in the national tour production "Voice of the Dragon, produced, created and led by Chinese/American baritone saxophonist Fred Ho, combining jazz, martial arts and theatre.
He continues to perform and record with such esteemed artists as George Benson, Ravi Coltrane, Roy Hargrove, Ben E. King, Ron Affif, John Benitez, Rodney Jones, Jason Lindner, Gavin Degraw, Joe Locke, Nellie McKay, Jeff Tain Watts (drummer for Branford Marsalis and Michael Brecker), Benny Rietveld (bassist for Miles Davis and Santana), Michael Franks and many others. Karel’s debut album as a leader, “You Know What I Mean,”(Arta Records,1997) was nominated for the Czech Grammy and was voted Jazz Album of the Year. In 1998 he recorded the Jazz Album Of The Decade, “Spring Rolls Quartet,” for the U.K./Czech based label Cube/Métier. His latest recording, "Brooklyn Moods," for the same label was released in 2004 and features Bruce Barth on piano, George Mraz on bass and Brandon Lewis on drums and was also nominated for Jazz Album of the Year in the Czech Golden Angel Awards. Other prominent albums include a collaboration with trombonist extraordinaire Fred Wesley, of the legendary James Brown Horns, on the Columbia release, "Monkey Business. In 2005 Karel returned to the studio for more “Monkey Business”, this time featuring saxophonist David Sanborn, guitarist Hiram Bullock and bassist/vocalist Glen Hughes of Deep Purple. Recently he toured with the R&B legend Ben. E. King, jazz drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts and jazz singer/songwriter Michael Franks. When back in town Karel can be be heard at some of the hottest New York City venues such as B.B. King's, Birdland, Blue Note, Fat Cat, Cornelia Street Café, Crash Mansion, 55 Bar, Jazz Gallery, Jazz Standard, Joe's Pub, Kavehaz, Knitting Factory, Smalls, Smoke, Sweet Rhythm, Tonic and Zinc Bar.