Czech big band. Established in 1960 as the house orchestra of the Czechoslovak Radio Prague, they were initially led by Karel Krautgartner. They split into the Czechoslovak Radio Jazz Orchestra in 1963, with an essentially identical lineup. The orchestra was temporarily renamed to Orchestr Karla Krautgartnera (2) in March 1967 until Krautgartner’s emigration in August 1968. Between 1969–1982 the orchestra was led by Josef Vobruba, who had already been one of the conductors since 1962. From 1983 until 2001, the orchestra was led by Felix Slováček.

In the early 1990s the orchestra’s name was changed to “Big Band Radio Praha” and eventually to “Big Band Českého Rozhlasu” (BB ČRo), still featuring František Kryka as the longest active member since 1961, and led by Václav Kozel since September 2002 until December 2012. (Since January 2013 until December 2014 the new Czech Radio “resident” big band is the former Gustav Brom Orchestra, presently led by Vladimír Valovič as “Rozhlasový big band Gustava Broma”.)

Note: This artist should not be confused with the Czechoslovak Radio Dance Orchestra Bratislava which was a different ensemble, albeit with the same employer.