KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA
Moja Ballada

Label: PowerBros
Catalogue No: PB161
Format: CD

Tracks:
1. Knife in the Water (K. Komeda) [16:52]
2. Moja Ballada (K. Komeda) [03:37]
3. Cages (K. Komeda) [07:45]
4. Wickar Basket (K. Komeda) [08:40]
5. Laterna Magica (K. Komeda) [01:40]

Recorded:
Track 1 recorded at 6th Jazz Jamboree Festival at National Philharmony, Warsaw October 1963
Track 2 recorded January 1972 (based on Komeda's solo piano tracks from 1961)
Track 3 recorded January 1966 (original movie soundtrack)
Track 4 recorded January 1967 (original movie soundtrack)
Track 5 recorded January 1967 (waltz from the original movie soundtrack)

Performed by:
Krzysztof Komeda - piano
Tomasz Stanko - trumpet
Michal Urbaniak - tenor sax
Maciej Suzin - bass
Czeslaw Bartkowski - drums
Janusz Muniak - soprano sax (2)
Jazz Studio Orchestra of the Polish Radio conducted by Jan 'Ptaszyn' Wroblewski (2)


About:

NOZ W WODZIE (KNIFE IN THE WATER)
This ballad, from the soundtrack of Roman Polanski’s film of the same name, dates from 1962. It became one of Komeda’s own favourites, which he often played with a trio line-up. This recording was made in 1963, when he enlarged his group to include two soloists: Michal Urbaniak, at that time still a tenor saxophonist (he later switched to the violin), and the young trumpeter from Cracow, Tomasz Stanko.

MOJA BALLADA (MY BALLAD)
Komeda also played this piece with his trio. The version included here was arranged and recorded in 1972 by Jan Wroblewski (nicknamed ‘Ptaszyn’ by Komeda) for the Jazz Studio of Polish Radio under his direction. For this recording Ptaszyn wrote solo parts for Komeda himself on piano and Janusz Muniak on soprano.

KLATKI (CAGES)
WIKLINOWY KOSZ (WICKER BASKET)
LATERNA MAGICA
These three recordings are from cartoons directed by Miros³aw Kijowicz, in which music took the place of dialogue. ‘Cages’ dates from 1966, ‘Wicker Basket’ and ‘Laterna Magica’ from 1967. Komeda wrote music for five of Kijowicz’s films in all, the first two in 1965. The two artists understood and complemented each other very well. Their successful partnership was brought to an end by Komeda’s journey to Hollywood and his tragic, untimely death.