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POLISH JAZZ FOR ASIA Nine Gates Festival, Beijing 2017 – Rafał Sarnecki Sextet; Photo: M. Głowiński / Jazz Po Polsku.
Six Polish jazz bands of the younger generation are now on a Jazz Po Polsku (Jazz Polish-Style) concert tour of China and South Korea to last until November. It ties in with world celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence. The artists are presenting their own repertoire, as well as pieces inspired by the work of iconic Polish jazz musicians. Tour venues include Guangzhou, Beijing and Chengdu. Maciej Proliński takes a look at what’s in store for Chinese jazz fans.
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The aim of Jazz Po Polsku is to promote improvised Polish music outside the country, as a genre which has many years of tradition and history. The project also helps in establishing international cultural cooperation and integrates artists from many countries, "says project originator Jakub Krzeszowski. "This year's edition of Jazz Po Polsku refers to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the rebirth of Poland as an independent state. On this occasion, Chinese audiences will have the opportunity to listen to six Polish jazz bands which will perform both their own music and music inspired by the works of Poland’s most famous composers, including Krzysztof Komeda, Bronisław Kaper, Henryk Wars and Zbigniew Namysłowski. The project is financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the ongoing 2017-2021 programme of celebrations, and is conducted within the Adam Mickiewicz Institute "Cultural Bridges" project. The performances are organised in cooperation with the Chinese Association of Jazz Musicians (CJA) and supported by the Polish Institute in Beijing, the Polish Embassy in China and the
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Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai. This year's Jazz Po Polsku concert tour kicked off with performances by guitarist Rafał Sarnecki’s quintet in two cities in the Sichuan province - Chongqing and in Chengdu (September 15, 17). On the bill were original works from his latest album "Climbing Trees", as well as Polish jazz classics, including those inspired by the works of Bronisław Kaper and Zbigniew Namysłowski. Krakow's High Definition Quartet, which will play in Beijing and Changchun in October, will perform a special programme entitled "Dziady" (Forefathers’ Eve), dedicated to works by 19th century national poet Adam Mickiewicz. According to a press release, the musicians make an "attempt at a musical interpretation of the Old Slavic rite of communing with the souls of the dead" which features prominently in Mickiewicz’s work. In addition, the Tomasz Chyła Quintet under charismatic violinist Tomasz Chyła, made up of younger generation musicians coming from the thriving Gdańsk-GdyniaSpot jazz scene on the Baltic sea coast, will also play in China as will a jazz band from Wrocław which grew out of the hip-hop scene,
and Electro-Acoustic Beat Sessions (EABS) who will perform film music by Krzysztof Komeda. The concert tour will end with concerts by the outstanding singer Monika Borzym accompanied by the Fusion Strings Quartet, which includes musicians of the Beethoven Academy Orchestra. Their music will be set to moving lyrics by poetess Anna Świrszczyńska. Chinese jazz fans will be introduced to pieces coming from "I am space" recorded last year with John Scofield and Wojciech Waglewski, which won a Platinum Record award in Poland. The group will play in Harbin on October 28, Shanghai on November 3, and Hangzhou a day later. In October, at the Jarasum Jazz Festival in Korea, Paweł Kaczmarczyk Quartet will play a "Vars & Kaper: DeconstructiON" gig devoted to Bronisław Kaper and Henryk Wars, two Polish composers whose works were used in over 200 US films. "Fans of Miles Davis and John Coltrane will probably be surprised to find that the famous jazz standards "On Green Dolphin Street"and "Invitation " were actually written by Bronisław Kaper,” Kaczmarczyk says. The artist is one of Poland’s best pianists. He is also a composer, soloist and sideman. •