Karel Velebný stands as a pioneering figure in modern Czech jazz, instrumental in shaping the country's jazz landscape during the latter half of the 20th century. As a composer and arranger, Velebný developed a distinctive approach that blended jazz fundamentals with experimental compositional techniques, establishing himself as a key architect of Czech jazz's evolution.
Beyond his work as a performer, Velebný's contributions as a music pedagogue helped nurture subsequent generations of Czech musicians, cementing his legacy as both a creative innovator and mentor within the European jazz community.