Rudy Linka

Rudy Linka (b Prague, 29 May 1960) is a Czech guitarist. He studied classical guitar as a teenager at the Prague Conservatory and learned jazz through his mentor, Karel Velebný. After traveling to Germany in 1980 he defected to the West in Switzerland. In 1985 he moved to Boston and attended the Berklee College of Music under a scholarship obtained with the help of Red Mitchell. The following year he settled in New York, where he had private lessons with John Aber-crombie (recording in 1992) and Jim Hall and began leading his own small groups. Linka performed in a duo with George Mraz at Bradley’s, and he recorded two albums (1994, 1996) in a trio with Mraz and Marvin “Smitty” Smith; following the latter session in January 1996 he toured Europe.