POLISH JAZZ NOW
Polish Jazz – Top of All Time
JAZZFORUM SURVEY
JAZZ FORUM magazine celebrated the rich history of Polish jazz by conducting a comprehensive survey. In this survey, 50 esteemed critics were tasked with selecting the 50 most outstanding musicians and the 50 best albums of all time.
The survey reaffirmed the legendary status of Krzysztof Komeda’s album “Astigmatic” as the pinnacle of European jazz. This iconic album, recorded in December 1965, shares its anniversary with the inception of JAZZ FORUM magazine, making them contemporaries.
Within the pantheon of Polish jazz, the revered “holy trinity” — Krzysztof Komeda, Tomasz Stańko, and Zbigniew Namysłowski — have solidified their positions, with the latter two swapping places in the ranking.
Beyond “Astigmatic,” Zbigniew Namysłowski’s albums “Winobranie” (1973) and “Kujaviak Goes Funky” (1975) once again secured spots in the top three. Tomasz Stańko contributed three albums to the top ten, including “Music For K” (1970) and “Litania” (1997), both tributes to Komeda, as well as his debut album “Balladyna” (1975), featuring Tomasz Szukalski, Dave Holland, and Edward Vesala.
The top ten also featured three albums by Zbigniew Seifert and the standout album of the 1980s, “Time Killers” by the Karolak/Szukalski/Bartkowski trio. Among the fifty best albums, Tomasz Stańko was represented by ten albums, Michał Urbaniak by five, Miłość by four, and Leszek Możdżer by three. Możdżer also earned a spot among the top ten musicians.
The survey results underscore the significance of the early 1970s as the golden era of Polish jazz. This period, which firmly established the genre’s identity and international acclaim, was heralded by the visionary work of Krzysztof Komeda, whose groundbreaking contributions laid the foundation for future generations of musicians.
HAPPENS NOW IN POLISH JAZZ
A new EDITION of the Tomasz Stańko Archives platform
archive.tomaszstanko.com
The new version of the Tomasz Stańko Archives platform ends another year of commemorating the most famous Polish trumpeter.
Implemented in created in 2020 Tomasz Stańko’s Foundation, the project crowns another year of commemoration and popularizing the work of one of the most important Polish jazz men of all time.
On the Tomasz Stańko Archives platform you can already find over 70 pieces handwritten by the artist compositions from various periods of his work. The materials have been digitized and made available in the form of original musical scores and their faithful transcriptions transferred into notation music. Thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the program Digital Culture, this selection is provided free of charge for educational and research purposes.
In the Gallery section, users will find rare, archival photographs documenting private life and artistic works by Tomasz Stańko in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, as well as his unique drawings. In the Collection section you can see the trumpets the artist played and some of the dozens of awards, with which he was honored. Among them, among others: state awards, such as the Commander's Cross with the Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture and awards cultural, including Machiner from 1997, Pegaz magazine award and Polityka's Passport.
Developing the Tomasz Stańko Archives platform, digitizing and sharing material online Dad's achievements are one of the elements of the Foundation's mission. Thus popularizing his work, we want to inspire young musicians to find their own paths, and to inspire fans of his music show different aspects of his versatile talent - says Anna Stańko, founder of the Foundation.
ABOUT POLISH JAZZ
Polish Jazz Network is a coalition of musicians, professionals and jazz enthusiasts. Our mission is to promote improvised music and jazz from Poland, and to serve as a vital link between the jazz fans and international jazz community. Our site is the doorway to the world of improvised music from Poland and beyond. We offer the largest selection of material regarding Polish Jazz (Polski Jazz) on the Web.
THE STORY OF POLISH JAZZ
The Story of Polish Jazz in the 20th century. This short animation covers the period from 1950s to the end of the 20th century. The video is divided in a few short sections, focusing on a different decade in Polish Jazz history: the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, each describing dominating trends.
PODCASTS
Recommended Podcast - Rebel Spirits: The Story of Polish Jazz
STREAMING NOW
"Kuyaviak Goes Funky" by Zbigniew Namysłowski
“Kuyaviak Goes Funky” is a seminal album by the renowned Polish jazz alto saxophonist Zbigniew Namysłowski, released in 1975. This album stands out as a bold fusion of traditional Polish folk melodies with the contemporary rhythms of funk, showcasing Namysłowski’s innovative approach to jazz. The title track, “Kuyaviak Goes Funky,” exemplifies this blend, infusing the Kuyavian folk dance with a modern twist that resonates with the listener’s sense of nostalgia and novelty. Namysłowski’s virtuosity on the saxophone, along with his ensemble’s skillful improvisations, makes this album a timeless classic in the European jazz canon. It reflects a period when jazz was not just a genre of music but a language of cultural expression, bridging the past with the present in a harmonious dialogue. “Kuyaviak Goes Funky” remains a testament to Namysłowski’s legacy as a pioneer who expanded the horizons of jazz music beyond conventional boundaries.
RECOMMENDED ALBUMS
Babooshki, Karolina Beimcik, DANA VYNNYTSKA - Będziemy się krężyli
The album “Będziemy się krężyli” by Babooshki, featuring artists Karolina Beimcik and Dana Vynnytska, is a delightful exploration of folk music with a modern twist. Released on March 13, 00, this album has been appreciated for its calm and pastoral tones, blending the traditional folk genres of Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland with elements of jazz and world music.
The album’s tracks are a collection of harvest and Christening songs from various regions, including Biłgoraj, the village of Załuki near the Belarusian border, and the Polissya region, which is known for preserving ancient relics of pre-Slavic and pre-Ukrainian culture. The musicians have revisited the richness of old traditions and heritage, infusing them with an original musical style that resonates with listeners who appreciate cultural depth and musical innovation.
Karolina Beimcik’s vocals and violin, along with Dana Vynnytska’s voice, create a harmonious blend that carries the listener through a journey of serene landscapes and heartfelt emotions. The inclusion of other instruments like the trombone, piano, guitar, double bass, and percussions adds layers to the sound, making it rich and textured.
Overall, “Będziemy się krężyli” stands out as a testament to the beauty of Eastern European folk music and its timeless appeal. It’s a must-listen for those who enjoy music that tells a story and captures the essence of a culture.
RecommendED PLAYLIST
komeda WITHOUT KOMEDA - playlist
Krzysztof Komeda’s music has been inspiring the generations of musicians for decades.
PolishJazz.com presents playlist of his compositions from the wide variety of bands and musicians who have never played with Polish Jazz master but share devotion to his art.
Features Fantomas, Simple Acoustic Trio, Leszek Możdżer, Raz Dwa Trzy, Oleś Brothers, Janusz Zduniak, Marianna Wróblewska, Ruby Rushton, Ares Chadzinikolau, Kent Sangster, Atom String Quartet…. and many more!
WATCH VIDEO
kRZYSZTof komeda
Documentary movies
POLISH JAZZ Archives
Documentary movies
POLISH JAZZ in the movies
Motion pictures
THE WORLD OF POLISH JAZZ
Live performances & music videos
THE STORY - polish jazz in 20th century
the BEGINNINGS
…trumpeter Ady Rosner soon became the best and the most popular Jazz musician in Poland. He formed a swinging orchestra with Polish musicians gaining wide recognition among critics and enchantment with audiences. Rosner's bands not only achieved national recognition but also an international reputation. Later on, after escaping Nazi German / Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939, Rosner emigrated to Russia where he went through series of unbelievable "alternative lives": from being the highest paid musician in all Russia to gulag's prisoner to (after Stalin death) driving force in Soviet Jazz….
1970’s
Created in 1968, the Studio Jazzowe Polskiego Radia was a venue and a workshop for musicians and composers. It would be virtually impossible to find any important Polish jazz composer or soloist who at one time or another in their career had not been involved with the Studio. The space created a collaborative collective consciousness for jazz. Without it and its leader, Jan “Ptaszyn” Wróblewski, Polish jazz would not be the same. …
1950’s
After 1945, like the rest of Eastern and Central Europe, Poland fell to Russian communist rule. …Young people that were often against the regime rediscovered jazz. The music was said to go into "the catacombs." Jazz could only be played at private homes and parties. One band came to dominate the hidden landscape of the Polish jazz scene. The name of this group was Melomani. …
1990’s
…history repeated itself again in the next decade when even "Younger Power” emerged as the most creative stream of Polish jazz of the 1990s. They called their music "jass” to distinguish themselves from conventional "jazz” music. Although sometimes very unorthodox, jass remained improvised music, based on the same doctrine and conventions essential to jazz. The band "Miłość” (Love) was a superstar of the jass movement and its leading force. Four musicians have emerged from the band…