KILAR I KIEŚLOWSKI I Tomaszewski

The central theme of Wojciech Kilar's music for the film "Blind Chance" was a direct inspiration for creating a jazz suite that you will hear this evening as the first ones in the world. It was composed especially for us by Paweł Tomaszewski and will be performed for you by his exquisite quintet.
 

The choice of Kilar as inspiration was intentional. Kieślowski's 1981 film "Blind Chance" with Kilar's fantastic soundtrack tells the story of a young student from Poznań who tries to catch a train to Warsaw. Three plot variants develop his fate in different directions, depending on the title "chance". In the first one, he joins the Polish United Workers' Party; in the second one, he joins Solidarity; and in the third one, he does not support any of the two parties.
 
The unusual jazz interpretation of the lyrical motif from Kilar's piece became a symbol of the passing time for Tomaszewski and a basis for reflection on the complicated fate of the martial law generation. Thus, on the 40th anniversary of the events of December 80, we invite you to a special evening, unique not only because of the excellent music but also because of outstanding performers.

Paweł Tomaszewski – piano
He is an outstanding jazz pianist, a graduate and currently dean of the Jazz and Popular Music Department of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. He is a laureate of many prestigious music awards, including Fryderyk for the jazz debut of the year (2009). He collaborated with such celebrities of the jazz scene as Michał Urbaniak, Urszula Dudziak, Dorota Miśkiewicz or Marek Napiórkowski, to name just a few.
As a composer, he draws from the experience gained alongside great masters. His works attract the attention of critics with a modern approach to form and extraordinary improvisations. Paweł Tomaszewski, pianist, composer, arranger, producer. In the 2021/22 season, Paweł Tomaszewski is an artist-in-residence of the Philharmonic in Szczecin.

Jerzy Małek – trumpet
He is a trumpet virtuoso who needs no introduction to jazz fans. Ranked among Tomasz Stańko or Piotr Wojtasik, he recorded eight albums, enthusiastically received by critics and won numerous awards, including at the famous Jazz and Blues Musical Contest in Gdynia (1998), the "Klucz do Kariery" award at the Pomeranian Jazz Autumn or finally the Grand Prix in the oldest and most important Polish jazz competition, Jazz Juniors (2000). The list of artists with whom he collaborated includes Maria Schneider, Michał Urbaniak, Wojciech Karolak, Tomasz Szukalski, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Leszek Możdżer, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, Gary Bartz, Billy Harper, Steve Logan, Dan Tepfer, Eric Allen, Arild Andersen, Ziw Rawitz, Hans van Oosterhout, Lucas Pino, Troy Miller.

Marek Podkowa – saxophone
He is a graduate of the Jazz and Popular Music Department of the Academy of Music in Katowice. In 1994 made himself known at the International Jazz Improvisation Competition in Katowice, where he took second place, right behind the winner – Leszek Możdżer. He has recorded and performed with the greatest artists, including Kayah, Golec Uorkiestra, Smolik, Edyta Górniak, Justyna Steczkowska, Raz Dwa Trzy, Andrzej Krzywy, Patrycja Markowska, Walk Away, Anna Serafińska, Kuba Badach, Krzysztof Herdzin, Cezary Konrad. He has recorded two studio albums.

Andrzej Święs – double bass
He is one of the leading double bass players of the Polish jazz scene. He collaborates with the Soundcheck ensemble and the famous Grzegorz Nagórski Quartet, but he can also boast of performances with such artists as Lee Konitz, Janusz Muniak, Jan "Ptaszyn" Wróblewski, Adam Pierończyk, Piotr Baron, Joachim Mencel, Ewa Bem, Leszek Żądło, Wojciech Groborz, Arek Skolik, Łukasz Żyta, Grzegorz Piotrowski, Tomasz Grzegorski, Marcin Ślusarczyk, Zbigniew Namysłowski.

Marcin Jahr – percussion
He started his career on a high note – in the Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski Quintet in 1987. Since then, he has constantly been collaborating with the most famous Polish and world jazz musicians. Not only did he perform on stage, but he also recorded over 20 albums. Let us mention at least a few of the great musicians he performed with Garrison Fewell, Nicolas Simion, Joachim Mencel, Piotr Wojtasik ("Jazz Forum" album of the year 1995), Kuba Stankiewicz, Lora Szafran, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Tomasz Stańko, Janusz Muniak and many others.