Krzysztof Kobyliński
Erik Truffaz
The 51st International Jazz Pianists Festival in Kalisz, Poland came to an end on November 24th, 2024. Just like last year's jubilee edition of the event, its organizer - the Center for Culture and Art in Kalisz - prepared a program that included as many as four concert days.
The festival began on Thursday, November 21st, 2024 with a concert by a duo - Polish pianist Krzysztof Kobyliński and French trumpeter Erik Truffaz. For the Polish musician this performance had a particular historical dimension, as Kobyliński played again in Kalisz after exactly 50 years. The artists with their over an hour-long concert, filled with harmonious compositions, perfectly put the Kalisz audience in a jazzy, slightly melancholic and reflective mood.
Kalisz Philharmonic String Orchestra & Krzysztof Herdzin
Kalisz Philharmonic String Orchestra & Krzysztof Herdzin
Ruben Silva & Krzysztof Herdzin
After a short break, it turned out that the performance of the next artist was no coincidence. In keeping with festival tradition, the Grammy-prizewinning Kalisz Philharmonic was also involved this year, with its String Orchestra under the baton of Ruben Silva performing the hour-long suite for piano and string orchestra “Wanderer's Notes,” a work by pianist and composer Krzysztof Herdzin, written for a special commission from Marek Moś's AUKSO orchestra. In the performed piece, one could find not only jazz sounds, but also elements characteristic of contemporary and film music. Krzysztof Herdzin's presence on stage heralded a changing of the guard as artistic director of the Festival. After almost 30 years, Paweł Brodowski decided to take a seat in the audience and put the festival reins in Herdzin's dignified and experienced hands. It is hard to imagine next year's Festival without Paweł Brodowski, however, knowing the achievements and numerous projects that Krzysztof Herdzin has co-created, I think we can be calm about the fate of the Kalisz IJPF.
Mateusz Pałka
Piotr Południak
Patryk Dobosz
Patryk Dobosz
Friday's installment of the Festival on November 22nd 2024, began with the trio of charismatic Polish pianist of the younger generation Mateusz Pałka. The band, founded in 2016, is also made up of double bassist Piotr Południak and drummer Patryk Dobosz. The trio's music resounded with numerous inspirations from classical music and Polish folklore, filled with moodiness and nostalgia, while captivating with the freedom of improvisation.
Michał Tokaj Quintet
Sławomir Kurkiewicz
Henryk Miśkiewicz
Michał Tokaj
Henryk Miśkiewicz & Michał Miśkiewicz
The second concert on Friday evening was a tribute at the Center for Culture and Art to the music of one of the most outstanding Polish jazz musicians - Andrzej Trzaskowski. The “Tribute to Andrzej Trzaskowski” program was prepared by Michał Tokaj and was specially commissioned by the Kalisz Festival. The Tokaj quintet, consisting of: Michał Tokaj - piano, Robert Majewski - trumpet, Henryk Miśkiewicz - alto and soprano saxophone, Sławomir Kurkiewicz - double bass, and Michał Miśkiewicz - drums, are undisputed stars of the Polish jazz scene. The musicians performed, among others, the rearranged three-movement suite “Synopsis (Expression I, Expression II, Impression),” as well as “Requiem for Scott La Faro,” from the album The Andrzej Trzaskowski Quintet, released in 1965.
Yaron Gershovsky
Janis Siegel
Adam Czerwiński
Yaron Gershovsky, Janis Siegel, Doug Weiss, Adam Czerwiński
Friday on the Main Stage culminated with the program “The Colors of My Life,” performed by a Polish-American band consisting of: Janis Siegel - vocals, Yaron Gershovsky - piano, Doug Weiss - double bass and Adam Czerwiński - drums. Janis Siegel and Yaron Gershovsky are musicians associated for years with Manhattan Transfer, the legendary jazz vocal group. After the end of the group's activity, its members, thirsty for stage excitement, continue to give concerts, which was reflected in an unforgettable performance during the IJPF in Kalisz, crowned with a thunderous standing ovation.
Mateusz Kaszuba
Michał Rutkowski
Traditionally, after the concerts on the Main Stage of the Center for Culture and Art in Kalisz, the most loyal festival audience moved to the Festival Club located in the Calisia One complex that is built on the site of the former Kalisz piano factory. On Friday evening, or rather night, Mateusz Kaszuba's Trio, consisting of: Mateusz Kaszuba - piano, Michał Rutkowski - double bass and Artur Małecki - drums. Among other honors, this band is the winner of this year's Wojtek Siwek Jazz Individuality Competition at the Jazz on the Oder festival in Wroclaw.
Tania Giannouli & Nik Bärtsch
Tania Giannouli
Nik Bärtsch
Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 will undoubtedly remain in the memory of Kalisz music lovers. Such an energizing festival day has not been seen for years. The concert day began with a duo of pianistic individualities - Tania Giannouli and Nik Bärtsch. The musicians have been performing together since 2022, playing two pianos. It could be seen that the musicians, despite presenting completely different styles of expression, complement each other perfectly, combining Nik's minimalism with Tania's melodiousness.
Marta Król
Marta Król and Paweł Tomaszewski's Group
Paweł Tomaszewski
Marta Król
Paweł Dobrowolski
Paweł Tomaszewski & Mateusz Szewczyk
The second concert was a musical tribute to the British band, The Police, performed by Marta Król and Paweł Tomaszewski's Group. The program is known to jazz enthusiasts from an album released in 2017, on which the rearrangement of rock hits from the 1970s and 80s for a jazz sextet was undertaken by Paweł Tomaszewski. The concert, which in its reception was a combination of jazz and soul, was received in Kalisz with great enthusiasm. This was not surprising, as great musicians were responsible for the sound: Marta Król - vocals, Paweł Tomaszewski - piano and keyboards, Przemysław Florczak - saxophones, flutes and clarinets, Mateusz Szewczyk - double bass and bass guitar, Paweł Dobrowolski - drums, and Patryk Zakrzewski - percussion instruments.
Alfredo Rodríguez
Michael Olivera
Yarel Hernandez & Michael Olivera
Yarel Hernandez
Alfredo Rodríguez
For Saturday's finale, the Main Stage was filled with an energizing warmth of sounds straight from Cuba performed by the Alfredo Rodríguez Trio. The band consisted of: Alfredo Rodríguez – piano and vocals, Michael Olivera - percussion, and Yarel Hernandez - bass, is known for its concert spontaneity and expressiveness. This was also the case in Kalisz, where the musicians literally picked up the audience from the first song. The trio's music, combining jazz and Latin sounds, years ago also fascinated the recently deceased legendary musician and music producer Quincy Jones, who decided to support the Cuban's original albums with his experience. During the musicians' performance in Kalisz, there was no shortage of remembrance of Jones, to whom Rodríguez dedicated the rearranged Michael Jackson hit “Thriller,” the sound of which Quincy was also responsible for.
Hania Derej
Krzysztof Kuśmierek
Hania Derej Quintet
Tymon Okolus
Also on Saturday, the most persistent Festival attendees could count on an additional concert at the Festival Club. This time it featured the Hania Derej Quintet, considered one of the most promising pianists of the young generation. The band played as follows: Hania Derej - piano, Krzysztof Kuśmierek - saxophone, Tymon Okolus - trombone, Kosma Góra - bass and Kuba Długoborski - drums.
Joanna Duda
Maksymilian Mucha & Michał Bryndal
Joanna Duda
Michał Bryndal
Maksymilian Mucha
The festival Sunday on November 24th, 2024, began with a concert by the trio of Gdańsk-based composer and pianist Joanna Duda, which consists of Joanna Duda - piano and electronics, Maksymilian Mucha - double bass, and Michał Bryndal - percussion and electronic effects. The trio's music was filled with a prominent irregular rhythmic structure and melodic conceptualism. Despite the non-obvious form, the compositions remained very clear in reception, drawing clear visions and images in the listener's mind. The day before the concert, the band completed the recording session of the new album and treated the audience “as an encore” with a premiere composition.
Dainius Pulauskas Acoustic Group
Dainius Pulauskas
Valerijus Ramoška
Domantas Razmus
Musicians from Lithuania - Dainius Pulauskas Acoustic Group - appeared on stage second on Sunday. The sound of the quintet, one could find inspiration from the fusion style spiced with finesse and piano artistry of the leader. The musicians surprised the audience with, among other things, their own interpretations of Krzysztof Komeda's works. The quintet performed as follows: Dainius Pulauskas - piano, Valerijus Ramoška - trumpet and flugelhorn, Liutauras Janušaitis - tenor saxophone and flute, Arman Isojan - double bass and Domantas Razmus - drums.
Nduduzo Makhathini
Lukmil Pérez
Nduduzo Makhathini Trio
Nduduzo Makhathini
Zwelakhe-Duma Bell Le Pere
Lukmil Pérez
The finale of the festival was the long-awaited concert by the Nduduzo Makhathini Trio. The South African-born pianist and composer is an artist associated with the legendary Blue Note Records. The performance in Kalisz was the only Polish stop on the world tour of this uncommon artist, who, in addition to music, is also engaged in philosophy. During the concert, the trio composed of: Nduduzo Makhathini - piano, Zwelakhe-Duma Bell Le Pere - double bass, Lukmil Pérez - percussion, presented works from this year's album “uNomkhubulwane”. The concert will undoubtedly be remembered not only as a musical feast, but also as a multi-level, mystical experience.
21-24.11.2024 - 51. International Jazz Pianists Festival in Kalisz