Polish Jazz - Recs & Discussion

[Dub Modal]

I did a prerequisite search of the site but didn't find any threads that dealt specifically with Polish jazz in this Recommendations forum. If I missed it, please advise. 

On a recent trip to Krakow, I noticed that there seemed to be a considerable jazz scene there. From buskers on the corner to the Summer Krakow Jazz Festival posters (that I unfortunately missed by a few days, and that included acts like Meldhau & James Carter's Organ Trio), and the HQ of Audio Cave - a prominent Polish jazz label. There was a record vendor in the Okraglak day market that was super nice and who hipped me to several Polish jazz artists, and he especially loved Audio Cave LPs. I had all the intent in the world to go back there that afternoon and pick something up but missed him. Since then I've found Audio Cave on Bandcamp and have enjoyed several of those artists like Tubis Trio, Fumanek, Dominik Strycharski, Gralak, Taduesz Sudnik et al. I'm definitely familiar with Tomasz Stanko and enjoy several of his albums. 

If anyone else digs Polish jazz, please chime in and provide some recs. 

[jlhoots]

Jazz In Polish Cinema (Out Of The Underground 1958-1967)- 4 CD set

[optatio]

On my shelf:

 

Various – Jazz W Polsce - Antologia = Jazz In Poland - Anthology    ... Poland 2002

https://www.discogs.com/de/release/10897916-Various-Jazz-W-Polsce-Antologia-Jazz-In-Poland-Anthology

[clifford_thornton]

would be interested in recommendations too. I really only know the Komeda, Stánko, Namyslowski, Traszkowski orbits.

[mjazzg]

 

Some good suggestions already. Poland certainly has a rich Jazz heritage.

The film music of Krzysztof Komeda is steeped in Jazz

Tomasz Stanko from 'Astigmatic' with Komeda to his later ECM run any of which are well worth your time. Lots of excellent albums between too like 'Purple Sun' (apologies just read your original post where you mention Stanko)

Some recommendations from the Polskie Nagrania Muza  label to investigate from the 60s onwards, 

Andrzej Trzakowski Quintet

Andrzej Kurylewicz Quintet - 10+8

Jerzy Milan Trio - Bazaar

Orchestra of the Polish Radio - Jazz Studio

Zbigniew Namyslowski - Winobranie

 

Edited August 21 by mjazzg

[mjazzg]

A contemporary player who I find fascinating and is 8nvariably a guarantor of a good release is Rafal Mazur

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1988671-Rafal-Mazur

[Dub Modal]

Speaking of Komeda, that Okraglak vendor also spoke glowingly of this album, saying that it's a masterpiece

 

I haven't been able to listen and verify but he piqued my interest. The songs here are all Komeda's, played in solo piano with some electronics. 

3 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

A contemporary player who I find fascinating and is 8nvariably a guarantor of a good release is Rafal Mazur

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1988671-Rafal-Mazur

That's a familiar name, but as I scrolled through I didn't see anything I've heard before. 

Edited August 21 by Dub Modal

[sgcim]

This guy belongs to a jazz guitar online forum I sometimes visit He get funky wit Bobby Watson here:

He posted some Polish sax player's group once that was one of the best things I ever heard, but I forget the name of the group

[optatio]

Toruń is Göttingen's twin town in Poland. That's why I went often there and attended the Jazz Od Nowa Festival. The program for the years 2001 - 2024 gives a good overview of the actuel Polish jazz scene https://jazz.umk.pl/historia/. For example, in 2019 I saw there the late Zbigniew Namysłowski at the University Aula https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6UJwn7jDj4. He was honored by the Rector of the University of Toruń on his 80th birthday! 

 

[mjazzg]

56 minutes ago, Dub Modal said:

Speaking of Komeda, that Okraglak vendor also spoke glowingly of this album, saying that it's a masterpiece

 

I haven't been able to listen and verify but he piqued my interest. The songs here are all Komeda's, played in solo piano with some electronics. 

 

Sounds interesting 

[optatio]

2 hours ago, optatio said:

Toruń is Göttingen's twin town in Poland. That's why I went often there and attended the Jazz Od Nowa Festival. The program for the years 2001 - 2024 gives a good overview of the actuel Polish jazz scene https://jazz.umk.pl/historia/. For example, in 2019 I saw there the late Zbigniew Namysłowski at the University Aula https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6UJwn7jDj4. He was honored by the Rector of the University of Toruń on his 80th birthday! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6UJwn7jDj4

I add the line-up:

Zbigniew Namysłowski (as, ss)
Jacek Namysłowski (tb)
Sławomir Jaskułke (p)
Andrzej Święs (b)
Dawid Fortuna (dr)

[Dub Modal]

1 hour ago, optatio said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6UJwn7jDj4

I add the line-up:

Zbigniew Namysłowski (as, ss)
Jacek Namysłowski (tb)
Sławomir Jaskułke (p)
Andrzej Święs (b)
Dawid Fortuna (dr)

Thanks. Will check this out 

[Dub Modal]

On 8/21/2024 at 7:02 PM, optatio said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6UJwn7jDj4

I add the line-up:

Zbigniew Namysłowski (as, ss)
Jacek Namysłowski (tb)
Sławomir Jaskułke (p)
Andrzej Święs (b)
Dawid Fortuna (dr)

There's a lot to like there. Especially dug that bass solo. Ventured out and found another live show by this quintet:

 

 

[optatio]

1 hour ago, Dub Modal said:

There's a lot to like there. Especially dug that bass solo. Ventured out and found another live show by this quintet:

Yes, I know this. Patryk Dobosz replaced here Dawid Fortuna on drums!

[Pim]

I know the usual stuff like Komeda, Stanko, Zbieginiewsky etc... One modern group I could highly recommend is Waclaw Zimpels group Hera. All albums are recommendable but I am especially a fan of the collaboration with Hamid Drake!

[optatio]

49 minutes ago, Pim said:

I know the usual stuff like Komeda, Stanko, Zbieginiewsky etc... One modern group I could highly recommend is Waclaw Zimpels group Hera. All albums are recommendable but I am especially a fan of the collaboration with Hamid Drake!

I have this:

 

 

Zimpel/Traczyk/Rasz: The Light. Multikulti Project MPI 003 [2008]

[Pim]

2 minutes ago, optatio said:

I have this:

 

 

Zimpel/Traczyk/Rasz: The Light. Multikulti Project MPI 003 [2008]

Don’t know that one. It’s one the same label. 

[optatio]

I met the late Jan “Ptaszyn” Wróblewski, the Polish 'jazz icon', in Toruń on February 26, 2005. “Ptaszyn” means "Bird"!

 

[optatio]

16 hours ago, optatio said:

I met the late Jan “Ptaszyn” Wróblewski, the Polish 'jazz icon', in Toruń on February 26, 2005. “Ptaszyn” means "Bird"!

 

 

BIELSKA ZADYMKA JAZZOWA – Pt.Wróblewski Sextet 1999. Jazz Forum Rec. 0030

1 Głód na pokładzie
Composed By – Pt. Wróblewski*
14:31
2 Kołysanka z filmu „Dwaj ludzie z szafą”
Composed By – K. Komeda*
7:01
3 Astigmatic
Composed By – K. Komeda*
13:00
4 His Better Feelings
Composed By – A. Trzaskowski*
13:06
5 What Is This Thing Called Love
Composed By – C. Porter*
13:34

A publication of the Polish Jazzmagazine „Jazz Forum“

[Д.Д.]

Mikołaj Trzaska on alto saxophone and clarinets is a world-class musician. He has a huge discography. I like this old one a lot:

 

Piotr Wojtasik is an excellent trumpeter, he leads a first-rate international group (Michel Donato, such an underrated bassist) on this date:

If you can find it, this is a beautiful disc: Bogdan Precz "Grudusko" https://www.discogs.com/release/31569772-Bogdan-Precz-Grudusko . Trombone / accordion duo, you don't hear that too often. Precz would die young in a car crash. From what I know, this is his only album.   

 

Edited August 25 by Д.Д.

[mjazzg]

Mikołaj Trzaska, excellent suggestion, consistent discography. I like this one

https://www.discogs.com/master/1687871-Joe-McPhee-Mikołaj-Trzaska-Jay-Rosen-Intimate-Conversations

See also the Riverloam Trio with Olie Brice and Mark Sanders. Saw them at Oto ten years ago now probably.

Also, that reminds me about the Oles brothers who have played with Trzaska, and lots of others. Worth looking into 

Edited August 25 by mjazzg

[soulpope]

4 hours ago, Д.Д. said:

Michel Donato, such an underrated bassist ....

Indeed ....

[optatio]

4 hours ago, mjazzg said:

Mikołaj Trzaska, excellent suggestion, consistent discography. I like this one

https://www.discogs.com/master/1687871-Joe-McPhee-Mikołaj-Trzaska-Jay-Rosen-Intimate-Conversations

See also the Riverloam Trio with Ollie Brice and Mark Sanders. Saw them at Oto ten years ago now probably.

Also, that reminds me about the Oles brothers who have played with Trzaska, and lots of others. Worth looking into 

On my shelf:

 

Volume: Æter. Ninth World Music NWM 041 CD [2007]

Saw Mikołaj Trzaska as member of the group 'Miłość' in Toruń, March 2, 2001

[optatio]

5 hours ago, mjazzg said:

 Also, that reminds me about the Oles brothers who have played with Trzaska, and lots of others. Worth looking into 

Oh yes - the Oles Brothers! I have listened to this impressive concert at Od Nowa Jazz Club in Toruń:

 

Custom Trio & Andrzej Przybielski: Free Bop. Polonia Records POLONIA CD 226 [2000]

Edited August 25 by optatio

[optatio]

On my shelf - a 'Who's Who' of Polish jazz ...

 

All Stars After Hours: Night Jam Session In Warsaw 1973. Polskie Nagrania Muza SXL 1033 [1973]

See: https://www.discogs.com/de/release/5982337-All-Stars-After-Hours-Night-Jam-Session-In-Warsaw-1973 

Edited August 25 by optatio