ShataQS & Leszek Możdżer: Kasia Pakosa, Michał Rudaś, Leszek Możdżer, Bartek Chojnacki, Małgorzata Kuś, Dominik Klimczak, Maciek Czemplik
Dominik Klimczak
ShataQS: Małgorzata Kuś, Bartek Chojnacki
Bartek Chojnacki
Leszek Możdżer
ShataQS: Bartek Chojnacki, Małgorzata Kuś, Dominik Klimczak, Maciek Czemplik
On Sunday, May 26, 2024, a festival unique on the Polish concert map - the 14th annual Enter Enea Festival, featuring Leszek Możdżer as the artistic director - began on Lake Strzeszyńskie in Poznań.
The event was inaugurated by Leszek Możdżer's musical tribute to the recently deceased Jan A.P. Kaczmarek. Then ShataQS, which is, Małgorzata Kuś with her band consisting of: Maciek Czemplik - guitar, Bartek Chojnacki - double bass, Dominik Klimczak - drums, and Kasia Pakosa and Michał Rudaś - backing vocals. The artists were accompanied on piano and Fender electric piano by none other than - Leszek Możdżer himself! Małgorzata Kuś is a graduate of the Department of Jazz and Popular Music at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, as well the winner (in the repertoire of Edyta Geppert) of the final of the 8th edition of the TV program "Szansa na sukces" (Chance for Success). The singer also gained experience as an actress at the “Buffo” musical theater in Warsaw. She has two albums to her credit - 2019's “Fenix”, written in 432 Hz, and 2023's “WEDA”, which refers to the philosophy of old peoples from Vedic times.
At the end of the festival's first day, the stage was taken over by “creatures from under the ground” - “Crete” by French artist Philippe Quesne, leading the audience to the opening ceremony of the new facility designed by Krzysztof Maniak in Poznań's Visual Park.
Leszek Możdżer, Tomasz Wendt
The second day of the 14th Enter Enea Festival (May 27, 2024) began with a tribute to the recently deceased Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski, whose funeral took place that very day in Warsaw. A piece commemorating the legendary saxophonist from Kalisz was performed as a duet by Leszek Możdżer and Tomasz Wendt.
Ole Morten Vågan, Mette Rasmussen
Hans Hulbækmo
Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra
Gard Nilssen
Another strong highlight of Monday's program was a performance by Scandinavian band Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra. The Norwegian percussionist and composer's multi-member project brought together as many as 17 musicians on stage, including seven saxophonists, two trombonists, two trumpeters, three double bassists and three percussionists. It should be noted that the ensemble includes Polish saxophonist Maciej Obara, who has been working with Gard Nilssen for years.
Jesus Molina
Rock Choi
Alex Polydoroff
Danilo Amuedo
Jesus Molina, Rock Choi, Alex Polydoroff, Danilo Amuedo
The festival guests were also treated to an energizing performance Monday evening by Colombian pianist, vocalist and saxophonist Jesus Molina, considered as a rising star of the international jazz scene. The musician was accompanied by Korean guitarist Rock Choi, American bassist Alex Polydoroff and Brazilian percussionist Danilo Amuedo.
Natalie Tenenbaum
Leszek Możdżer
Jazz excitement on the second day of the festival was crowned by the first ever performance in Poland by Natalie Tenenbaum, a critically acclaimed pianist, composer, music producer and singer. Among other things, the artist is the author of the arrangements for the cult Broadway musical “Mean Girls” by Tina Fey. Her second album, “Standard Repertoire; Vol. 1,” will be released in June (2024). The festival's artistic director Leszek Możdżer also played two pianos with Natalie on Monday night, presenting the audience with, among other things, a jazz interpretation of works by Frederic Chopin.
Ele Howell, Rashaan Carter
Brandee Younger
Ele Howell, Rashaan Carter, Brandee Younger
Ele Howell
Rashaan Carter
Brandee Younger
Participation on Tuesday's concerts on Lake Strzeszyńskie was quite a test of stamina and... water resistance for the Enter Enea Festival participants. Strong storm clouds gathered over Poznań from midday, which also did not let go of music lovers. So most of the concerts had to be watched in the company of an umbrella and rain jackets. Fortunately, the musicians performing during the third day of the festival wonderfully compensated for these inconveniences!
Accompanied by a light drizzle, American harpist Brandee Younger gave her first ever concert in Poland as well. The artist also fulfills herself as a composer and educator. She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022. Younger boasts collaborations with musicians such as Pharoah Sanders, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce and the band The Roots. The harpist was accompanied during her performance in Poznań by double bassist Rashaan Carter and drummer Ele Howell.
Atom String Quartet: Dawid Lubowicz, Mateusz Smoczyński, Michał Zaborski, Krzysztof Lenczowski
Mateusz Smoczyński
Krzysztof Lenczowski
Leszek Możdżer & Atom String Quartet
Leszek Możdżer
Mateusz Smoczyński
Leszek Możdżer & Atom String Quartet
Another performance on Tuesday evening was dedicated to Krzysztof Penderecki, and was played by the Atom String Quartet (Dawid Lubowicz - violin, Mateusz Smoczyński - violin, Michał Zaborski - viola and Krzysztof Lenczowski - cello) and Leszek Możdżer. The compositions performed were commissioned by the Italian Romaeuropa Festival. The concert confirmed the thesis that music affects not only listeners, but also all matter. For with the end of the last piece, the rain also stopped, giving the listeners a moment of respite in the break before the climax of Tuesday's jazz excitement.
John Patitucci
Dave Weckl
Joey Calderazzo
Dave Weckl
John Patitucci
Joey Calderazzo, John Patitucci
Joey Calderazzo, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl
John Patitucci
Dave Weckl
The third festival day ended with a performance by the Dream Trio. Pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl played for the Poznań audience. These artists need no introduction to jazz lovers. Each of the musicians is considered a virtuoso of his instrument, and the concert and album achievements of each of them inspire respect and admiration. The men joined forces, treating the audience to an amazing musical spectacle.
Linda May Han Oh
Will Vinson
Fabian Almazan, Ewa Kozieł-Suszycka, Olga Winkowska, Linda May Han Oh, Ziv Ravitz, Przemysław Mrowiński, Józef Czarnecki, Will Vinson
Przemysław Mrowiński, Will Vinson
Linda May Han Oh
Ziv Ravitz
The final day of the 14th Enter Enea Festival (May 29, 2024) began with a performance by Linda May Han Oh - a Malaysian-born bassist and composer and Grammy award winner - and her American jazz quartet consisting of: Will Vinson - alto saxophone, Fabian Almazan - piano and Ziv Ravitz - drums. The artists were accompanied by a quartet of Poznań Philharmonic soloists: Ewa Kozieł-Suszycka - 1st violin, Olga Winkowska - 2nd violin, Przemysław Mrowiński - viola and Józef Czarnecki - cello. The musicians performed works from - as it turned out - Leszek Możdżer's favorite album “Aventurine”.
Kassa Overall
Tomoki Sander
Kassa Overall
Matt Wong
Tomoki Sander
Kassa Overall
Matt Wong
Wednesday's second concert was an expression of explosive, energetic musical eclecticism. For Kassa Overall - percussionist, vocalist, but also emcee and musical producer - took the stage with his band, consisting of Bendji Allonce - congas, Tomoki Sander - soprano saxophone, percussion and Matt Wong - keyboards. The musicians treated the audience gathered at Lake Strzeszyńskie to an unusual, expressive demonstration of a masterful fusion of jazz and rap.
Leszek Możdżer, Mateusz Pospieszalski, Wojciech Waglewski
Leszek Możdżer
Wojciech Waglewski
Wojciech Waglewski
Leszek Możdżer
Leszek Możdżer
Mateusz Pospieszalski
Karim Martusewicz
Voo Voo: Wojciech Waglewski, Michał Bryndal, Karim Martusewicz, Mateusz Pospieszalski
Michał Bryndal
Karim Martusewicz
Voo Voo & Leszek Możdżer
The festival's culminating event was the eagerly awaited premiere concert by Voo Voo and Leszek Możdżer. It's hard to believe that these musicians haven't had the opportunity to play with each other until now. But, that's what the Enter Enea Festival is for, to make musical history! Voo Voo played with a lineup familiar to all fans of the band: Wojciech Waglewski - guitar, vocals, Mateusz Pospieszalski - saxophone, vocals, Karim Martusewicz - bass and Michał Bryndal - drums. The artists prepared arrangements of the band's songs enriched with Leszek Możdżer's piano. During the performance, the festival's artistic director Leszek Możdżer revealed his next talent and, to the audience's surprise, also... sang. A heart-grabbing moment was the performance of the song “Stillness,” to which Możdżer's piano gave an extra, almost magical depth. After the last song, the audience did not give up and with thunderous applause “won” as many as two encores. Unfortunately, this was the last feature of the Poznań jazz festival, and fans of the genre are left to wait until October 1, 2024, when the festival's signature concert by Jan Garbarek with Trilok Gurtu will take place.
26-29.05.2024 - 14. Enter Enea Festival