Record Reviews

MACIEJ GRZYWACZ ~ MOVIN` ALONG BLACK WINE 2021/001 (Barcode: 5902020424048) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is a delightful album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer / educator Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with seasoned Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonist / flautist Tomasz GrzegorskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr KulakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Kuba GrzywaczFind albums by this artist (Maciej’s son). The album presents ten compositions by the iconic American guitarist / composer Wes MontgomeryFind albums by this artist, one of the Godfathers of guitar Jazz, and is an obvious tribute to his music. The music offers audiophile sound quality, which delivers everything it promises to do. The album manages to avid the obvious trap of trying to mimic / sound like Wes Montgomery, which of course is absolutely unique and inimitable, and offers what it is set to do, creating a loving tribute to the great musician, with a fresh perspective, which preserves the tradition respectfully and knowledgably. Grzywacz, who is among the very few true Jazz guitar players in Poland / Europe, stays with the basics, playing notes and chords, but manages to stay himself, rather than a second rate imitator. The guitar sound is Montgomerian more in spirit than in “body”, which works very well altogether. The rest of the musicians play along wonderfully, with Stankiewicz adding some of his lovely lyricism while soloing, Grzegorski carries the tunes strictly to the note and the rhythm section keeps a tight ship, navigating the music with precision, while obviously having great fun at it. Overall this is an admirable effort of preserving some of the great Jazz tradition, bringing it up to date but respecting its sources, executed with vigor and precision on top of obvious talent. This album should sit well with every Jazz lover anywhere on this planet, and obviously especially so with Montgomery / Jazz guitar lovers the world over.

Updated: 07/12/2021Posted: 02/12/2021

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JAROMIR HONZAK ~ EARTH LIFE CUBE / METIER 20-09 (Barcode: 8591562000093) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 2000 This is the second album as a leader by Czech bassist / composer Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist, recorded with two Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist and pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist and Spanish drummer Jorge RossyFind albums by this artist. Three guests are featured on selected tracks. The album presents eight pieces, seven of which are original compositions by Honzak and one is a Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist standard. The album´s liner notes were written by my Friend and Mentor Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist. During his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston Honzak met fellow students Stankiewicz and Rossy and invited them to take part in this recording. Stankiewicz brought over Baron and Honzak invited David Doruzka (only eighteen years old at the time of the recording), a promising young musician and future Berklee student, an association that would flourish for years to come. Already at this early stage of his career, Honzak proves his strength as a composer and each of the original compositions presented here are exceptionally well written and coherent, already showing the European musical aesthetics and avoiding the dominance of the Bebop tradition. The beautiful harp / bass duo closing piece and the delicate piano trio and vocalese piece are superb examples of the forthcoming inspirations, which will dominate Honzak´s compositional palette. However the Berklee schooling and American Jazz tradition can be more clearly heard in the way the music is performed on the straightforward quartet numbers, but even those are spiced by Baron´s fiery almost-free soloing and superb piano touches by Stankiewicz. Overall this is a wonderful early recording by Honzak, which is definitely worth of being discovered, even some twenty-two years after it was recorded. The music proves to be timeless and the heartfelt execution still manages to excite. Like great wine, this music ages well over time…

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 26/10/2020

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PAWEL KACZMARCZYK / AUDIOFEELING TRIO ~ VARS & KAPER DECONSTRUCTION HEVHETIA 0126 (Barcode: 8588005257817) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 - 2015 Released: 2016 Three years ago I initiated a series of concerts / recordings as part of the Singer Jazz Festival, of which I am the artistic director, of music by the great "American" composers: Victor YoungFind albums by this artist, Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist and Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, all three of which are in fact Polish Jews, who immigrated to the US at some stage of their life. The fact that they had Polish / Jewish roots is almost completely unknown not only to the American public (which is not surprising), but sadly also to Polish public. The main purpose, therefore, of these concerts / recordings was to bring their Jewish / Polish roots to the attention of music lovers. The music was performed and recorded by my friend, the excellent Polish Jazz pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist and his trio, and the entire series was hugely successful. Neither Kuba nor I anticipated the fact that our project would also influence the entire Polish Jazz scene and produce a huge renewed interest in these three composers, which also produced a string of recordings, of which this album is an example. Pawel KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist is of course one of the most brilliant Polish Jazz pianist, who took the local scene by a storm and during the last decade established himself as a one of its central figures. This is the second album with his trio which includes bassist Maciej AdamczakFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist. Together they perform nine songs composed by Henryk Wars (four songs) and Bronislaw Kaper (five songs, two split into two parts). In addition to the trio the DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist) adds turntablism and electronics. The trio performs beautifully, as expected, playing the classic compositions with the usual flair and technical brilliance. The turntablism, electronics and other sound effects like vintage voice recordings, suit the music well and are non intrusive, but don’t really add anything substantial to the subject matter, beyond being a novelty of sorts. The usage of the term "deconstruction" in the album´s title is however quite problematic. Personally I can´t hear anything being deconstructed in the music played on this album? These are just pretty standard interpretations of the classic songs, but deconstructions? The philosophical / aesthetic meaning of deconstruction is certainly absent here and in general this term is being used (or misused) way to often these days. Overall this is an excellent piano trio recording, with brilliant Jazz performances, as expected. Just forget the somewhat pretentious title and enjoy the music!

Updated: 27/09/2016Posted: 27/09/2016

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INGA LEWANDOWSKA / KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ ULICE WIELKICH MIAST – BALLADY AGNIESZKI OSIECKIEJ INTRO 003 (Barcode: 5907592167027) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999 This is an absolutely brilliant album in the Jazz & Poetry vein, for which the Polish Jazz scene is so famous and in which it excels since its early days. Vocalist Inga LewandowskaFind albums by this artist performs eleven songs, all of which share the author of their lyrics, the Polish poetess Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist, an iconic figure of the post-WWII Polish Culture and author of over 2000 song lyrics. Lewandowska and pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, who also beautifully arranged all the songs on this album, chose mostly Jazz-related material, which features Osiecka´s lyrics and was written by some of the most prominent figures on the Polish Jazz scene, like Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and others. Stankiewicz composed two of the songs presented here. The vocalist is accompanied by a quintet of excellent musicians, which include in addition to Stankiewicz also trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and Austrian drummer Mario GonziFind albums by this artist. The quintet provides superb support to the vocalist but also plays extended instrumental passages, which are simply exquisite examples of European Jazz lyricism. Especially notable is the delicate and sympathetic work by the piano and the "singing" bass solos, for which Oleszkiewicz is world famous. One of the songs presents a vocals / bass duet, which is a true classic! Lewandowska does a splendid job, utilizing more of the Polish Jazz vocal tradition firmly established by legendary performers like Ewa Demarczyk and Wanda Warska, rather than trying to be more up to date, which altogether works in her favor. That time of expressive, melancholic singing, in which every breath matters and every syllable is clearly pronounced and is perfectly audible is a rarity and I wish the new generation of Polish Jazz vocalists would pay more respect to that "lost" Art form. The songs are mostly low key, as the title suggests and Lewandowska cleverly avoids any flashy exhibitionism, staying well within the established milieu, which is chick and elegant. In many respects listening to this album feels like an "end of an era". It was, after all, recorded at the very closing of the 20th Century and seems, in retrospect, to be the last of its kind, a tribute to the days when Polish Jazz experienced its first golden era, associated with intellectual, artistic and often revolutionary spring, which was soon over. I am glad I discovered this wonderful gem, although late, but nevertheless most enthusiastically. It is little known, as it managed to hide from me for so long, but should be studied, as already mentioned, by all upcoming vocalist, as it is a classic point of reference. It is also an absolute must for every Polish Jazz connoisseur, anywhere on this planet.

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JERZY MILIAN ~ OSTATNIA KOMPOZYCJA SJP 007 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the third installment of the project dedicated to the music by and the memory of the iconic Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / arranger / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, carried out by trumpeter / composer Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist. Milian, who died in 2018, cooperated during the last years of his life with young musician from his hometown of Poznan, and even wrote new compositions for them, the first of which was released as part of the first installment of this project called "Music For Mr. FortunaFind albums with this title". Two further compositions: "Dylematy Dla Pieciu" and "Konsylium Z Zyrafa", both of which are multi-part suites, are released here for the first time. The music is performed by top Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Maciej Fortuna, saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Piotr BanysFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub MielcarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Stanislaw AleksandrowiczFind albums by this artist. On two additional tracks Milian plays vibraphone accompanied by symphony orchestra conducted by Grzegorz StasiukFind albums by this artist, who also created the orchestral arrangements. "Konsylium Z Zyrafa" was the last composition by Milian completed before his death, hence the album´s title. The music is everything one might expect from Milian, as far as the compositions are concerned, and from the musicians as far as execution is concerned. Milian was always a master of atmosphere; ad his compositions here confirm his reputation. Fortuna and his cohorts play brilliantly, as expected. Overall this is another piece in the hyper-sized puzzle of Milian´s legacy, which proves his importance as one of the leading European Jazz composers and trendsetters. The album is an absolute must to Milian´s avid fans and completists of his recorded legacy. Although only slightly above half an hour in playing time, it fully justifies to be a part of any serious Polish Jazz collection.

Updated: 18/01/2020Posted: 18/01/2020

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ OPEN (POLISH JAZZ VOL.74) POLSKIE RADIO 0540 (Barcode: 5901448115408) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1987 Released: 2005 This is a superb album by Polish Jazz veteran, saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with a great quintet which includes pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist, drummer Jerzy GlodFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. All the music, except for one standard, was composed by Namyslowski, who seems to be completely untouched by time, full of creative and performing powers and always at the edge of latest Jazz developments. It is his music, which is the true magic here, and although his performances as well as those of the other players are all excellent, the music is immediately recognizable as Polish Jazz, which is hardly surprising when coming from one of the Godfathers of the genre. It was always Namyslowski´s ability to create a perfect link between the Jazz tradition and Polish folklore, which is deeply embedded in his cultural background, which made him a model for a new breed of European Jazz players, those who would stand proudly and say that they can contribute something new and fresh to the already established tradition of American Jazz and make it their own. In retrospect this is another milestone recording in the long and glorious recorded legacy that Namyslowski managed to bestow upon us, and hopefully will be also enjoyed by future generations. A must!

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WOJCIECH PULCYN ~ TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE HADEN FOR TUNE 0125 (Barcode: 5906395808274) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album as a leader by veteran Polish Jazz bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist, dedicated as the title suggest, to the great American bassist / composer Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the Polish Radio studio by a group of Pulcyn´s cohorts, which include trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist and Pulcyn´s eight years old son Piotr PulcynFind albums by this artist (who plays cello) appear on one track each. The album presents nine pieces, six of which were composed by Haden, two by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and one is a traditional tune. Over the years I have had the immense pleasure to hear Pulcyn live many times and his performances were always impeccable and inspiring. His affinity with his instrument is as close as humanly possible and his humility and kind manners are an example of musical chivalry. Therefore this album, which finally puts the spotlight on his musical skills, is a long overdue opportunity to pay dues to his talents and personality. The music should be pretty familiar to serious Jazz listeners, in particular those who follow the long and impressive career of Haden from his early days as a member of the revolutionary Ornette Coleman quartet, which changed the face of the Jazz idiom, to his work as a leader of his own ensembles. It is modern, often groundbreaking music, which remains completely relevant to this very day, and to be honest it is still on the forefront of the genre, despite the years that have passed sine it was originally composed. The really fascinating aspect of this album is the fact that this music, created and performed originally by American musicians, is treated here with a completely new and more importantly European approach, which sets new meaning to the music and invigorates it immensely. I am tempted to say that this specific treatment of the music is more fascinating than the original in many respects, and for sure it is as far from imitation as can be imagined. The performances are all stellar, as expected from the participating musicians. Dabrowski, who consistently earned a position of one of the top European Jazz trumpeters, fondly fits the shoes of the great Don CherryFind albums by this artist, again displaying his personal style and approach rather than imitating the Master. Sliwa, a young and upcoming player, stands shoulder to shoulder with the veterans, playing like a pro. Stankiewicz, a marvelous pianist, is a symbol of lyricism and never misses a note, always knowing when to touch the keyboard ever so delicately and Frankiewicz, a faithful companion in endless rhythm sections, supports the bassist amicably and telepathically. From the opening solo bass track to the very last moment of this album Pulcyn´s bass is prominently featured in many diverse roles and intonations, always perfectly in accord with the music and the rest of the band, a true silent hero behind the scenes, who makes everything perfect. This album is definitely a superb tribute to Haden´s genious, but at the same time it is a tribute to Pulcyn´s legacy as one of the top Polish Jazz bassists and an icon of stability, perfection and personal standing. Thank you Wojtek for all those beautiful moments!

Updated: 21/10/2017Posted: 21/10/2017

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ FILM STORY KSQ 003 (Barcode: 5903796604016) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist recorded with his “regular” American trio: Polish (resident in US) bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and American drummer Tina RaymondFind albums by this artist. American guitarist Jordan BerliantFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Bob SheppardFind albums by this artist guest, each on one track each. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Stankiewicz. It is hardly surprising to see Stankiewicz returning to cinematic music, even if this is only hinted by the album’s title, considering the fact that he dedicated a very significant part of his career in the last decade or so to interpretations of cinematic music written by composers of Polish / Jewish origin, who achieved fame in America, such as Victor YoungFind albums by this artist, Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist and Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, a process to which I had the privy of watching closely and even contribute to some extent. The music on this album, although completely original, bears the same characteristics of the cinematic music, that gave the world a huge part of what is now considered as the Jazz standards. Stankiewicz has the same magic ability to write heartfelt, often heartbreakingly romantic melodies, which become immediate classics, or standards so to say. There must be something Polish, if not genetically at least culturally, in the ability to create such music, time after time, without being corny, trivial and repetitious, and Stankiewicz manages to do it repeatedly. The same applies to his playing, which combines brilliantly delicate touch of the keyboards and precise minimalism, which create optimal expression. Watching Stankiewicz perform is almost artistically sensuous, as he makes love with the instrument every time he touches it and sometimes even when he doesn’t. Supported by Oleszkiewicz, who is undoubtedly on the greatest bass players around, and Raymond, who is extremely supportive and considerate, the trio flies through the material with grace and elegance, which is rarely encountered these days. Overall, this is a Masterly piece of music, which combines deeply moving compositions with brilliant performances, creating together an immediate classic Jazz piano trio recording, which is irresistible to any true Jazz lover on this spinning globe of ours. This is true Polish / European Jazz at its very best, which eschews pose and gimmickry and astounds with its musical truth. This is simply beyond recommendation…

Updated: 27/11/2021Posted: 27/11/2021

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ INSPIRED BY LUDOMIR ROZYCKI ANAKLASIS 027 (Barcode: 5907795212241) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 - 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, which presents eight (one in two versions) interpretations of music composed by the Polish Classical Music composer Ludomir RozyckiFind albums by this artist. The music is mostly performed in a solo piano setting, except one track (recorded in the US) in a classic piano trio setting with bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Tina RaymondFind albums by this artist, two more piano trio tracks with bassist Jakub OlejnikFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist, and finally one track, which features vocals by Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist. The album was released by the prestigious Polish AnaklasisFind albums on this label label as part of its “Revisions” series, and is the second album by Stankiewicz in that series. The music is stunningly beautiful, full of typical Polish lyricism and melancholy, which pours out of Stankiewicz like a sound painting, deeply touching the listener’s heart, despite the fact that it is all extremely delicate and fragile. As usual in his case, the recording was preceded by years of study and research of the music by Rozycki, before these personal inspirations were formed and eventually recorded. Since I have witnessed this modus operando by Stankiewicz during the many years of our acquaintance, I am of course hardly surprised by the method, but as usual greatly surprised by the result, which in his case is always unpredictable. Stankiewicz is definitely the most expressive, refined and romantic pianist among his Polish colleagues, many of which are of course piano Masters of international fame. Every delicate touch of his fingers on the keyboard is always absolutely right not only melodically and harmonically, but most importantly emotionally. This album presents him both in the solo piano and piano trio environments, the latter his most natural habitat, and proves again that he is simply an extraordinary musician in a class of his own. Listeners of this album might as well try and explore some of the fascinating music by Rozycki, which is sadly rather neglected these days. He was an extremely prolific composer and much of his work, especially in the Neo-romantic style, is definitely worth getting familiar with. Overall, this is another brilliant album by a great Polish Jazz Artist, which consistently expands his remarkable recorded legacy. His many admirers won’t hesitate before grabbing a copy and for those people, who never heard any of his recordings, this is a wonderful gateway to his musical world. Congratulations go also to the Anaklasis label for doing such a remarkable job with this series!

Updated: 02/11/2023Posted: 02/11/2023

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ INSPIRED BY ROMAN STATKOWSKI ANAKLASIS 008 (Barcode: 5907795208749) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quartet setting with Israeli saxophonist Daniel RotemFind albums by this artist, Polish (resident in US) bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and American drummer Tina RaymondFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, which are arrangements of music by the Polish Classical composer Roman StatkowskiFind albums by this artist, based on the motives from his opera "Maria". This album is a logical follow up to the three albums by Stankiewicz, recorded and released between 2014 and 2017, which were dedicated do commemorate the three great Polish / Jewish composers, who achieved fame and glory in the US and together created a huge part of the repertoire, which is now considered as "Jazz standards": Victor YoungFind albums by this artist, Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist and Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist. I had the immense pleasure to belong to the "inner circle" of people behind creating this spectacular tribute, by writing the liner notes to the "The Music Of Victor YoungFind albums with this title" (the first of the three albums) and consistently presenting the music as part of the Singer Jazz Festival, of which I am the Music Director. Last year (2019) I also had the pleasure to present the music on this album as well. During his background research on Young, Kaper and Wars, which was done with incredible seriousness, dedication and commitment, Stankiewicz discovered that both Young and Wars studied composition with Statkowski at the Warsaw Music Academy, which led him to discover the music of Statkowski, who sadly was almost completely forgotten in time. Not surprisingly the decision to pay tribute to that fabulous music was born and resulted in recording of this album. Polish Jazz fans familiar with the achievements of Stankiewicz know exactly what to expect form this album, as his proven record can be equaled by only very few of his contemporaries. The music is full of elegance, grace and above all deep sensitivity, which proves that the transformation of Classical music into the Jazz idiom can be done without compromising any of its components. Stankiewicz touches the piano keys as if making love with the instrument and his inner aesthetic is simply astounding. As expected, the rest of the quartet members are all first rate players, who prove to be ideal partners in creating this wonderful piece of music. Piano Jazz lovers, serious music connoisseurs and Stankiewicz fans will love this music to bits and many probably already bought this album (despite the unattractive cover art). Ideal listening in times the world is being quarantined, since music knows no limitations!

Updated: 21/03/2020Posted: 21/03/2020

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ IT`S CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN WARNER MUSIC POLAND 190295533755 (Barcode: 190295533755) ~ POLAND ~ Xmas Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This Xmas Jazz album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist was released a year ago (2018), but my personal health havoc at that time prevented me from writing about it then. Luckily Xmas has the habit of revisiting us at regular intervals, so here we are again nearing the White Holidays and I can return to this music and share my reflections about it with my readers, better late than never. The album was excellently recorded in LA and features a marvelous Jazz piano trio, which also includes veteran Polish (resident in US) bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and American drummer Tina RaymondFind albums by this artist. American guitarist Jordan BerliantFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album presents eleven tracks, which are a mixture Xmas Jazz standards, Classical Xmas songs and traditional Polish Xmas carols, all arranged by Stankiewicz. Stankiewicz is a beautifully sensitive pianist and his albums, especially those recorded in the last decade, on which he interprets Polish Classical Music composers (Wojciech KilarFind albums by this artist and Roman StatkowskiFind albums by this artist) or Jazz standards by composers of Polish descent (Victor YoungFind albums by this artist, Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist and Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist) are some of the finest recordings on the Polish Jazz scene. Over the years I have had the immense pleasure to present his projects during the Singer Jazz Festival in Warsaw, of which I am the Artistic Director, and we have become friends, for which I am of course grateful. The same approach of seriousness, sensibility and immense talent are also part of this project. As we all know, Xmas Jazz albums are often not more than a mixture of cynical opportunism and sappy sentimentalism, bordering on complete kitsch, if not worse. It makes me very happy that Stankiewicz managed to avoid all the traps and produce a bona fide Jazz album, which stands on its own independently of the subject matter. In most cases the arrangements are so sophisticated that the original music is not necessarily associated with Xmas per se and achieves a universal appeal. The trio´s performances are stellar, as expected, characterized by a sublime interplay between the trio members and obvious mutual respect. Oleszkiewicz has a reputation of one of the finest bassist worldwide and fully justifies it every time he touches his instrument. Raymond plays very delicately and subtly, as appropriately for this occasion, but always right on the money. Overall this is an excellent world class quality Jazz piano trio album, which should keep every connoisseur of the idiom happy, full of delightful lyricism and virtuosic performances rarely found on record these days. A Merry Xmas to you all, even if you personally don´t celebrate it – the Xmas spirit is universal, as is great music!

Updated: 06/12/2019Posted: 06/12/2019

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ KILAR V 001 (Barcode: 5903111377007) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is finally the full album (preceded by a teaser EP), which presents one of the best Polish Jazz pianists Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist playing his interpretations of music written by the great Polish contemporary Classical and Cinematic music composer Wojciech KilarFind albums by this artist. The music is performed on solo piano, the most "naked" of all formats but also the most unlimited one. Kilar, who is unfortunately less know outside of Poland than his contemporaries like Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist, Henryk GoreckiFind albums by this artist or Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist, is by no means less important and neither is his wonderful musical legacy. His work as a composer of film scores is truly legendary and his music accompanies over 100 films by all major Polish directors, like Roman PolanskiFind albums by this artist and Andrzej WajdaFind albums by this artist, and also those beyond Poland, both in Europe and the US (for example Francis Ford CoppolaFind albums by this artist). Although a modernist, Kilar´s music is full of romanticism and lyricism, and his sublime sense of melody is second to none. This album includes twelve compositions by Kilar, ten of which are from film scores and the remaining two from TV serials. Stankiewicz treats Kilar´s music with a lot of respect and obvious love. The relaxed and delicate interpretations are full of charming moments, where the improvisations move out and return to the melodic theme. Stankiewicz has a wonderful touch on the piano, which sounds full-bodied and expressive even at a low volume. The overall effect is simply delightful. I especially admire the pianist´s humility and modesty which are the predominant features of his approach to the music. He firmly leaves the focus on the amazing compositions, taking only very limited liberties with the original notes and making his personal input subtly concealed, exposed only to the sensitive listener. Contrary to many other Jazz pianists, who often like to dominate their interpretations of other composers´ music with their own statements, Stankiewicz simply serves as a vessel bringing Kilar´s music to a new audience. Following decades of Polish Jazz musicians obsessively interpreting the music of Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, it´s truly refreshing to hear some musicians turning the attention to other great Polish composers, like the sensational "Experiment: PendereckiFind albums with this title" released recently by pianist Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist or the new album by the superb RGGFind albums by this artist trio performing the music of Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist. This music is very different, but also very interesting and no less challenging intellectually. An absolute must to all piano, solo piano and Jazz-Classical Fusion listeners everywhere. This is a heartwarming piece of music, which is a balsam to the ears, weary from the noise that surrounds us all. This album was released on a new Polish Jazz record label, called VFind albums on this label Records, steered by the producer Adam DomagalaFind albums by this artist. I look forward impatiently to hear the future releases by this label and in the meantime wish the best of luck with this admirable project to both maestro Stankiewicz and his producer.

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ KOCHANOWSKI PIESNI KSQ 002 (Barcode: 5903796604009) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist recorded in a classic quartet setting with saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve songs composed by Stankiewicz and sung by vocalist Jacek KotlarskiFind albums by this artist, which feature poems by Polish Renaissance (16th Century) poet Jan KochanowskiFind albums by this artist, who is considered the Godfather of Polish Poetry and modern Polish language. Stankiewicz undertakes a highly risky task in his attempt to write contemporary music to the poems by Kochanowski, which was attempted by Polish composers many times before with radically different results, especially so when this attempt is to be within the Jazz idiom. I must say that although I know Stankiewicz since many years, he managed to knock my socks off, as the music he managed to create here is simply sensational, both in its beauty and incredible sensitivity to the subject matter. It combines the best of the Jazz tradition, all sounding like a collection of wonderful standards that the listener is somehow familiar with, despite the fact that they appear here for the first time. He also uses the core of Polish folkloristic themes, that every Polish composer is unable to avoid, and which bring the music closer to its literary / linguistic source. And yes, Stankiewicz is the greatest contemporary Polish romantic composer, which is plainly apparent on this album. The rest of the team are all seasoned veterans, who play with Stankiewicz since many years and are all top Polish Jazz figures, which guarantees the spectacular result achieved here. Kotlarski is also an excellent choice, fitting like a satin glove to this project. His extensive stage experience comes handy and his performances here are simply perfect. During my recent visit in Warsaw, stuck between the returning Covid-19 waves, Kuba was one of the very few people we managed to meet and spend a lovely evening with, which is always a great experience. His charming personality and true friendship, as well as mutual respect that we share towards each other, are a rare treasure. He gave me this and one more album (which will be reviewed soon) and I had no idea how superb this music is going to be, so now is the time to thank him. Overall, this is an exceptional Jazz & Poetry album, one of the best of its kind that appeared on the Polish scene in many years. I simply can’t imagine any Polish Jazz lover and poetry lover not to grab a copy of this album instantly, especially in these dark days of sickness and despair. This is a true out-of-body experience! Thank you, my Friend, for sharing your talent with us – you make the reality easier to bear.

Updated: 20/11/2021Posted: 20/11/2021

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ NORTHERN SONG INTRO 004 (Barcode: 5907592167034) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1993 Released: 1993 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. It presents nine tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Stankiewicz and two are standards. Stankiewicz started his career in the mid 1980s as a member of Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist´s group at the time, recording with him two albums. In the late 1980s he studied at the Berklee Collage of Music in Boston and upon his return to Poland formed the quartet which recorded this album. Over time he established for himself a leading position on the local Jazz scene as composer, arranger, performer and educator. This album presents melodic mainstream Jazz, executed with flair and perfection by a quartet of highly talented and experienced players, who continue the tradition of Polish Jazz established three decades earlier with a mixture of American Jazz tradition at its best and European lyricism and elegance combined into an irresistible swinging and sparkling Jazz presentation. The individual performances by all quartet members are truly outstanding. Miskiewicz plays with his usual fluency and melodic smoothness, which makes him one of the best players on the scene. The rhythm section is also right where it belongs, with the bass supporting the melody lines on one hand and stating the rhythmic pulse on the other and the drums keep perfect time without being obtrusive. But it is Stankiewicz, who is at the center of the listener´s attention, both as a player and a composer. His beautiful tunes sound remarkably "familiar" even at the first encounter, which of course is a sign of perfect harmonic balance and melodic excellence that characterizes all great Jazz pieces. His piano playing is another proof of his sublime sensitivity and feel for Jazz, which is immediately apparent. It is hardly surprising that this album won the "Album of the Year" title at the time of its release, over twenty years before these notes are being written. In retrospect it is quite clear that great music ages well, and this album sounds as relevant and exciting today as it did at the time it was recorded. Although it is rooted in the mainstream tradition, it presents the best side of the tradition, which is simply eternal. Listening to this album should be pleasurable to every true Jazz connoisseur, anywhere on this planet, as it is simply one of those gems that are always worth revisiting.

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ SPACES KSQ 001 (Barcode: ) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is a wonderful new album by the veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which includes also saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of nine original compositions, all by Stankiewicz. The music is mainstream Jazz, or rather classic Jazz, with the typical Polish tinge; lyrical, romantic and brilliantly melodic. For some reason the new generation of the Polish Jazz players diverged largely into new areas, neglecting the unique approach that identified the early days of the scene, which placed composition above everything else. Stankiewicz seems to have returned to that principle here, with his compositions being the centre of attention. Both the beautiful ballads and the up-tempo numbers have splendid melody lines, which serve as perfect vehicles for the saxophone and piano solos. The actual performance of the music is also kept in very traditional form, without any adventurous undertakings, which would have been out of place here. Sikala, who is the principal soloist here, plays excellently, especially on the soprano, with his long, somewhat sentimental twisted lines being absolutely perfect for this kind of music. The rhythm section plays a refined and tight background, which is always right there, when needed and always balanced with the soloing instruments keeping the music afloat. Stankiewicz plays superbly in the background, but solos sparingly, avoiding drawing too much attention to himself, which is quite unusual for a leader. When he plays solo, he does so with exquisite taste and humility. He obviously prefers the ensemble sound as best suiting his compositions. In spite of all that "retro" setting, this is a great Jazz album by all means. It´s been quite a while since I´ve had the pleasure of listening to such refined music, which is both aesthetically and artistically pleasing. There is nothing wrong with mainstream Jazz, as long as it is so elegantly performed and presents intelligent and heartfelt music. There is little to be added here, except for the fact that this is an album every true Jazz lover around the world should be able to cherish wholeheartedly. I can only prompt everybody to try. Satisfaction guaranteed!

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ STANKIEWICZ PLAYS KILAR (EP) V ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This EP is a brief glimpse at a work in progress, which hopefully will be completed very soon, which presents one of the best Polish Jazz pianists Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist playing his interpretations of music written by the great Polish contemporary Classical and Cinematic music composer Wojciech KilarFind albums by this artist. The music is performed on solo piano, the most "naked" of all formats but also the most unlimited one. Kilar, who is unfortunately less know outside of Poland than his contemporaries like Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist, Henryk GoreckiFind albums by this artist or Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist, is by no means less important and neither is his wonderful musical legacy. His work as a composer of film scores is truly legendary and his music accompanies over 100 films by all major Polish directors, like Roman PolanskiFind albums by this artist and Andrzej WajdaFind albums by this artist, and also those beyond Poland, both in Europe and the US (for example Francis Ford CoppolaFind albums by this artist). Although a modernist, Kilar´s music is full of romanticism and lyricism, and his sublime sense of melody is second to none. Stankiewicz treats Kilar´s music with a lot of respect and obvious love. The relaxed and delicate interpretations are full of charming moments, where the improvisations move out and return to the melodic theme. Stankiewicz has a wonderful touch on the piano, which sounds full-bodied and expressive even at a low volume. The overall effect is simply delightful. Following decades of Polish Jazz musicians obsessively interpreting the music of Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, it´s truly refreshing to hear some musicians turning the attention to other great Polish composers, like the sensational "Experiment: PendereckiFind albums with this title" released recently by pianist Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist. This music is very different, but also very interesting and no less challenging intellectually. I look forward impatiently to hear the complete album soon and with Stankiewicz a priori the best of luck with this admirable project.

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ THE MUSIC OF BRONISLAW KAPER WARNER MUSIC POLAND 825646368730 (Barcode: 825646368730) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the second installment in a series of albums by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist dedicated to the music written by the composers of Polish / Jewish origins, who are know primarily as the great American composers of many classic Jazz standards, and their true origins are almost completely unheard of. Same as its predecessor, which was dedicated to the music of Victor YoungFind albums by this artist ("The Music Of Victor YoungFind albums with this title"), this album was recorded by the piano trio with Polish (resident in the US) bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and veteran American drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist and presents this time nine compositions by Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist (two of which were co-composed by Walter JurmannFind albums by this artist, his musical partner for many years), including his most famous standards and a few much lesser know pieces. Stankiewicz, as usual, took great pains to conduct a serious research about the composer´s life and music before he selected the compositions included on this album. He is definitely quite a perfectionist in what he does, and this deserves our outmost admiration. The album includes a very educational write-up about Kaper by Anna FerensFind albums by this artist as well as an introductory text by Stankiewicz (in Polish and English) and the album´s artwork continues the design originated on the previous album. In short this is a very professional and highly aesthetic piece of music production in every aspect. The music is of course divine, its beauty timeless and these particular performances treat it with the respect these classics deserve. Stankiewicz and his cohorts play sparingly and delicately, treating each and every note like it was a priceless jewel. The rhythm section accompanies the pianist amicably and harmoniously, filling in the space but never disturbing the piano melody line and the improvised sections. In many respects this is a classic piano trio with a dream team playing perfect music – what else can we ask for. This is the Jazz traditions at its best, without being pretentious or condescending. It is an absolute must for all piano trio connoisseurs, and a great piece of Jazz history. As usual Stankiewicz, who happens to be a friend of mine, emerges victorious and highly accomplished, for which all lovers of great Jazz, myself included, thank him wholeheartedly. Not to be missed!

Updated: 27/02/2017Posted: 02/05/2016

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ THE MUSIC OF HENRYK WARS WARNER MUSIC POLAND 190295865016 (Barcode: 190295865016) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third installment in a series of albums by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist dedicated to the music written by the composers of Polish / Jewish origins, who are known primarily as the great American composers of many Jazz standards, and their true origins are almost completely unheard of. Same as its predecessors, which were dedicated to the music of Victor YoungFind albums by this artist ("The Music Of Victor YoungFind albums with this title") and Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist ("The Music Of Bronislaw KaperFind albums with this title"), this album was recorded by the piano trio with Polish (resident in US) bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and veteran American drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist and presents this time eleven compositions by Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, including his most famous standards and a few much lesser known pieces. Stankiewicz, as usual, took great pains to conduct a serious research about the composer´s life and music before he selected the compositions included on this album. He is definitely quite a perfectionist in what he does, and this deserves our outmost admiration. The album includes a very educational write-up about Wars by Marek ZebrowskiFind albums by this artist (in Polish and English) and the album´s artwork continues the design originated on the previous albums. In short this is a very professional and highly aesthetic piece of music production in every aspect. The music is of course divine, its beauty timeless and these particular performances treat it with the respect these classics deserve. Stankiewicz and his cohorts play sparingly and delicately, treating each and every note like it was a priceless jewel. The rhythm section accompanies the pianist amicably and harmoniously, filling in the space but never disturbing the piano melody line and the improvised sections. In many respects this is a classic piano trio with a dream team playing perfect music – what else can we ask for. This is the Jazz traditions at its best, without being pretentious or condescending. It is an absolute must for all piano trio connoisseurs, and a great piece of Jazz history. As usual Stankiewicz, who happens to be a friend of mine, emerges victorious and highly accomplished, for which all lovers of great Jazz, myself included, thank him wholeheartedly. Not to be missed!

Updated: 27/02/2017Posted: 27/02/2017

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ THE MUSIC OF VICTOR YOUNG WARNER CLASSICS 825646200313 (Barcode: 825646200313) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 The making of this album turned out to be a great journey for everybody involved, full of magic and musical, historical, emotional and educational discoveries, all intertwined and dramatic, which started as a seemingly simple and straightforward task of recording a tribute album to one of America´s greatest 20th Century composers and eventually emerged as a virtual bridge between the "old" and "new" continents, linking biographical treasures, personal encounters, unearthed documents and above all the hearts of so many people on both sides of the great "pond", myself included. Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, who is not only a sublime artist but also a wonderful human being, was the catalyst and the driving force behind this project, and his limitless faith, energy and dedication are encapsulated herein. We all hope that the listeners of this enchanting music will join Kuba and all of us in a wondrous adventure. The biography of Victor YoungFind albums by this artist is surely as dramatic and full of unexpected turns and twists as many of the movies he wrote the musical scores for. Born in Chicago at the turn of the 20th Century, his parents were Polish immigrants of Jewish origin, who had a rich musical background. He was discovered very early as an immensely talented child prodigy, having started to play the violin at the age of six. The tragic early death of his mother influenced the decision to send the ten years old Victor and his sister Helen to the homeland of their ancestors, Poland, where their grandparents still resided, and where he received his formal musical education at the Imperial Music Academy in Warsaw, finishing his studies at the momentous period when Poland received its independence after being occupied and divided between the European Empires for almost a century and a half. Young made quite a career as a virtuoso concert violinist and even managed to play for the Russian Czar Nikolai, which almost cost him his life when the Bolshevik revolution erupted and all people connected to the Czar were promptly dealt with. After a life-threatening encounter in Russia, Young managed to flee to Warsaw, then Paris and later finally returned to his Chicago home. By mid 1930s Young settled in Hollywood and concentrated on composing music for the motion pictures, in time becoming one of the most successful and prolific representatives of the American Dream. He was nominated 22 times for the Academy Award but his only Oscar was awarded to him posthumously. He died at the ridiculous age of 56 leaving behind him a tremendous legacy of hundreds of film scores and wonderful songs, which are still being performed on an everyday basis. There is hardly a Jazz gig anywhere on this planet, where at least one of his standards is not performed, after having been recorded countless times by every imaginable Jazz performer. And yet at the same time almost nobody on the same planet of ours is aware of the fact that Young´s roots lie deeply on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean and his life fits into the "wandering Jew" pattern like a silk glove. The decade Victor Young spent in Poland, as well as his rich Polish roots, remain almost completely absent from his biography and are totally unknown not only in the USA but sadly also in Poland. Generations of Polish Jazz musicians, who played countless times the Victor Young standards, never even imagined that the person behind this music has such close ties to Poland and its Culture. Kuba Stankiewicz took us all on a discovery trip, walking down the streets of Warsaw where Young and his family lived, which he traced from the documents and correspondence between Young and his family members. Most of these highly personal and fascinating documents and photographs were made available by Young´s niece, Helen´s daughter, the wonderful Bobbie Hill FrombergFind albums by this artist, who lives in LA and who embraced this project wholeheartedly, sharing her extensive family archive with us. I imagine that playing Young´s music for Bobbie in her apartment on a piano, that Young bought as a wedding present for his sister, must have been quite a thrilling experience for Kuba and Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist, who was also present at the occasion. The diploma Victor Young received from the Warsaw Music Academy shows that he studied composition with Roman StatkowskiFind albums by this artist, a completely forgotten Polish composer, who surely deserves to be rediscovered. This led Kuba Stankiewicz to find out more about Statkowski and later on to be enchanted by his profoundly beautiful music. Including one of Statkowski´s compositions on this album is therefore completely natural, especially in view of the enormous influence Statkowski had on Young, which in fact is audible, albeit subtly, in several of Young´s compositions. But even without the Statkowski influence, it is pretty apparent that although Young was a bona fide American composer for decades, the intrinsic Polish lyricism and melancholy, as well as his Jewish approach to melody, stayed with him for all these years, deeply embedded in his heritage and influenced by the growing-up period he has spent in Poland and learned from Polish educators. And as we were tracking Young´s life and music, it didn´t take long to se the similarities between his fate and that of several other famous American composers, like Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist and Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, fellow Jewish wanderers, whose Polish roots are almost completely obscured and are waiting to be exposed. But of course it´s the music present on this album, which is after all the center of the listener´s attention, regardless of the contextual relevance. Recorded in a classic piano trio format, the most formidable chamber environment available in Jazz, it lovingly presents the music of Young, which although in most cases is well know, also includes some of his lesser known pieces as well as one of Statkowski´s beautiful compositions, arranged by Stankiewicz. Accompanied by bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz and formidable American drummer Peter ErskineFind albums by this artist, Kuba Stankiewicz delivers the music of Young with passion and emotion, but also with great respect. As already mentioned these compositions have been previously recorded countless times and therefore playing them anew presents an enormous challenge. I hope the listeners will find the spark that Kuba, Darek and Peter share with us, respectfully and elegantly, proving that the long journey was worth the effort. Thank you for reading and for listening! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 19/09/2018Posted:

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ VICTOR YOUNG JAZZ FESTIVAL - MLAWA `23 NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is a commemorative album released during the 5th edition of the Victor Young Jazz Festival in 2023. It presents six tracks recorded during the 4th edition of the festival, all composed by the Polish / Jewish composer Victor YoungFind albums by this artist. The music is performed by three Polish ensembles featuring top Polish Jazz musicians, like saxophonist Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist and others, and a trio, led by Portuguese guitarist Ricardo PinheiroFind albums by this artist. It is a little known fact that Victor Young, one of the most esteemed cinematic composers and author of hundreds of songs, which became Jazz standards, has a Polish / Jewish roots, which include several years during his childhood he spent in the small Polish town of Mlawa. Those Polish roots of Young and other Polish / Jewish composers, like Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist and Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, were discovered and meticulously researched by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, which resulted in three epic albums (see “The Music Of Victor YoungFind albums with this title”, for which I wrote the liner notes) and many concerts, as well as the establishment of the Mlawa Jazz Festival, which Stankiewicz initiated and keeps alive since 2019. I am happy to say that I had modest contribution to all this memorable activity, the result of which is my friendship with Kuba, a wonderful human being and a superb musician. Overall, although the album was not meant as a formal release, but rather a kind of memorabilia for the people involved with the festival, it still offers some great Jazz music performed by excellent musicians. Hopefully this tradition will be upheld in the future, creating a lasting document of the festival.

Updated: 06/01/2024Posted: 06/01/2024

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