On this enchanting collection of eight originals and one familiar jazz standard, the empathetic trio of Czech bassist-composer Robert Balzar, pianist Stanislav Macha and drummer Jiri Slavicek strikes an immediate chemistry with special guest guitarist John Abercrombie, one of the great improvisers in jazz today. Utilizing his signature fingerstyle approach to the guitar and generating an uncanny, warm-toned flow of notes cascading forth from his instrument, Abercrombie “blows” fluid, horn-like lines over these thoughtful, harmonically sophisticated and inherently swinging compositions with his usual understated flair. Though the guitarist does play an electric guitar and infact incorporates just a touch of distortion in his six-string voice to give it a slight edgy quality, the overall effect is organic, effortless and beautiful. His brilliant playing throughout is supported by this uncommonly empathetic, highly interactive trio of top players on the Czech jazz scene.
A superb outing by four extraordinary musicians.
Bill Milkowski

Absolutely great - Overnight!
There’s no need to look for superlatives and endorsements from world-renowned names because music created by Balzar - double bass, Macha – piano, Slavicek – drums leaves no doubt. I’m known as a sensible person, very judicious and critical, and also quite bored by jazz. However, the guys play fantastically! The solos! The sounds! This is timeless well-mastered mainstream, which oozes with jazz like the spring with new life. It also draws handfuls of beauty from classical music. This is the finish line in a longdistance race.
Petra Konrádová, Reflex 2 June, 2005i

I admit my pretty much complete ignorance of everything about jazz. However, I've decided to embark on a journey to figure it out. So, here I am, interested of jazz and visiting Czech Republic, famous of it's great jazz bands. What could be a better souvenir, then, than an album of Czech jazz? The guy at the record store recommended few albums to me, of which I enjoyed this one most. And I do... I feel that I really can't say anything about it because I don't have the words for it. Therefore I just say that it's good. The trio (bass, piano, drums) plays smoothly, I especially enjoy the work of the drummer. One third of the songs are written by Robert Balzar, the rest are on loan.
Mikko Saari (> link)

...Robert Balzar je tu opravdu hracím motorem. Koneckonců, patří mu i všech osm skladeb. V prvních dvou jako by chtěl nahradit nepřítomnost některého standardu: jeho melodie by se v době, kdy jazzová komunita čerpala z nápadů mistrů americké písničky, standardy skutečně mohly stát. V třetím čísle Thanks to Isidor to najednou jazzově přitvrdí a desetiminutové Travelling se střídáním tří- a čtyřdobého metra je už dnešní jazz par excellence. Marek Patrman má smysl pro jemný triový zvuk i potřebu občas ho zčeřit, Stanislav Mácha ukazuje ve svém dialogu ostinátní levačky s uvolněnou pravačkou v Balzarově Wintertime, že není nadarmo považován za jednoho z našich dnešních nejlepších pianistů. Ve Willy Nilly nám Robert Balzar předvede svou vynikající techniku smyčcem i smysl pro melodiku klasického bopu. Závěrečný kraťas For Your Sound už je jen pozdravem na rozloučenou od skutečného mistra. Nikoli z pouhé společenské slušnosti desku doprovodil i vysoce oceňujícím komentářem George Mráz.
Lubomír Dorůžka

Loescher’s alto soars and sings. His playing combines emotion, creativity and mastery of his instrument, qualities not always found in combination... The expressive Loescher sound will capture your attention. The two versions of "Body and Soul" are worthy of comparison with those by Serge Chaloff and Coleman Hawkins.
Bill Falconer, November 2001 JazzReview.com, Review of "dIstance (c. e.)"