František Kop

After the usual training at the Elementary Art School (LŠU), he studied under Karel Velebný at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory. From the early 1980s, he collaborated with leading jazz ensembles. During his basic military service in the Army Art Ensemble, he co-founded the group Zelený kvartet, which later, under the name Naima, won the award for the best domestic jazz band of the year three times in a row from 1987 to 1989. He gained further professional experience in Emil Viklický's quartet, playing with American soloists like Joe Newman and Lou Blackburn. He was also involved in commercial engagements with Leon Slezák's orchestra, accompanied Hana Hegerová, played in the Binder-Konrád Blues Band, was part of the contemporary music group Agon, and engaged in his pedagogical work, among other activities. In 1995, he founded the František Kop Quartet, which debuted in the Prague Spring festival program that same year and released the highly acclaimed album "Twinkle" in 2000.

From 1997 until the present, he has been part of the funk-rap ensemble JAR. He is a member of Petr Malásek's group, with which he accompanies pop singer Lucie Bílá. After a brief period in the jazz department of the Academy of Performing Arts, he began teaching at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory in 2016, focusing on saxophone playing and jazz improvisation.

Petr Malásek

A significant Czech composer and pianist who has composed music for nearly two hundred films, TV series, theatrical plays, and productions. His repertoire is extensive. Although his heart seems to lean most towards jazz, he also excels in classical, popular, film, and stage music.

Petr Malásek started playing the piano at the age of four. After completing elementary school and conservatory, he studied at the Music Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts (composition under Jiří Pauer and Václav Riedelbauch from 1985 to 1990).. 

His roots extend into a renowned musical family. Besides his beautiful film music, he gained fame by accompanying famous figures in Czech pop music, including Hana Hegerová, Marta Kubišová, and Lucie Bílá. As a pianist, he has been a member of the František Kop Quartet, a jazz ensemble composed of leading Czech jazz personalities, for twelve years. He contributes both as a performer and composer to their work.

Martin Lehký

He studied at the conservatory in Prague, focusing on bass guitar at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory. He collaborated with numerous domestic and foreign jazz performers. Currently, he also teaches at KJJ and is a member of the group that accompanies Lucie Bílá and Marta Kubišová.

Pavel "Bady" Zbořil

In 1985, he completed his studies in percussion at the conservatory in Plzeň. He is a sought-after player and studio musician. He has collaborated with artists like Jiří Mráz, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, and Roy Hargrove. He has been a long-standing member of the JAR group and performs in the backing bands of Lucie Bílá and Marta Kubišová. Since 2000, when the František Kop Quartet recorded the album "Twinkle" for Arta Records, he has been part of a stable lineup alongside pianist Petr Malásek and bassist Martin Lehký. The ensemble emphasizes original composition, crafted by František Kop and Petr Malásek. In 2021, the František Kop Quartet released the album "News Of The Past" (Amplion Records), showcasing the band's contemporary musical style, oscillating between structured composition and jazz improvisation.