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Polish Jazz / Jazz nad Odra festival in Poland


osiol 55 | 3,921  
8 Jun 2008 /  #1
I have mentioned some of this stuff before, but it deserves a thread of its own.

One of the first times Poland really got picked up by my radar-like ears was when I went to the record shop I spent most Saturday afternoons in and picked up a handful of European jazz records. They were compilations from various different countries, including Yugoslavia, the USSR, Czechoslovakia and, of course, Poland. It's a close one between Yugoslavia and Poland as to which one was the best, but seeing as I'm here, I had better say the Polish one wins!

It features Jerzy Milian, Andrzej Kurylewicz, Jazz Carriers, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Wojciech Karolak and Novi Singers. There is some variation in style, from the widescreen soundtrack compositions of Jerzy Milian and the eclectic vocal work of Novi Singers, to the gritty small-band sound of Andrzej Kurylewicz (or is that Jazz Carriers.. I don't know, I'm listening to Zbigniew Namysłowski at the moment so I can't check right now). Not a duff track on the album.

Not featured on the album, but widely praised in the sleeve notes is Krzystof Komeda. I don't know why they didn't include him, as they mention how his "Astigmatic" from 1965 is such an important landmark in European jazz.

Comparing it to the other records I bought at the same time, the Czech stuff had more of a fusion or prog-rock feel - somehow a little more Germanic if that means anything. From the USSR, some of it was okay, although the highly praised Lithuanian stuff didn't really do it for me. From Yugoslavia, there was some good stuff. But notice how none of these countries really exist any more. I did buy some British jazz as well. Joe Harriot is brilliant, but Django Reinhardt, the Belgian Gypsy with missing fingers will always be at the very top as far as European jazz goes.

Anyway, I've just spent the last hour or so listening to a load of stuff by these artists and more on the internet. If anyone has anything they'd like to add about Polish jazz, its history, artists that are worth checking out, and how to find some of this stuff, please contribute.
Wroclaw 44 | 5,379  
8 Jun 2008 /  #2
check: jazz nad odra.... jazz on the odra

Also, check pan pie's thread: jazz on the odra.
OP osiol 55 | 3,921  
8 Jun 2008 /  #3
Is this stuff deeply unfashionable these days? If so, that would be both a good thing and a bad thing. Bad because there's so much good music that deserves to be heard and appreciated, but kind of good because it could help to bring down the price of second hand records.

I'm listening to Krzysztof Komeda on last fm. It's very good.

Thanks for the suggestion, Wroclaw. Not much on that thread at the moment, but it does have a link to the website, which I shall now paste jnofestival.pl.
Neslepaks - | 1  
9 Jun 2008 /  #4
Do you have some "sharelink" with any album of them? like in 4shared, badongo, rapidshare...
LondonChick 31 | 1,133  
9 Jun 2008 /  #5
Lots of jazz played on radioorla.fm which is an English-Polish internet radio station.
tulipan - | 28  
9 Jun 2008 /  #6
You should check Marek Napiórkowski (who as well plays with Anna Maria Jopek - their songs are basically beautiful and touching ) and Leszek Możdżer - a panist classified as jazzman - his performance 'Smells like teen spirit' is awasome!!!

And of course quoting Wroclaw check Jazz on the Odra. You missed it this year, but you're welcome in Wrocław next march :)

Have I mentioned that we're the capital city of jazz in Poland? :P :)
OP osiol 55 | 3,921  
9 Jun 2008 /  #7
You have now. Along with some other stuff I shall pay attention to. Or as much as I can pay attention on such a nice hot sunny day with a beer in my hand... belly.
Seanus 15 | 19,674  
9 Jun 2008 /  #8
It makes me think of the Kinks 'Sunny Afternoon', a classic for the summer
VaFunkoolo 6 | 654  
9 Jun 2008 /  #9
I would like to say once again for the record that Poland has some of the best live music you will ever hear anywhere in the world. I know. Because I have been there.
szarlotka 8 | 2,208  
9 Jun 2008 /  #10
I know that too. Mind you it has gone down hill a bit since my gigging days in Warsaw have come to an end. Who the hell am I kidding!
Seanus 15 | 19,674  
9 Jun 2008 /  #11
I'd second that. There's a thriving scene here in Gliwice. A resident native speaker, Mr Bruce McCallum, often joins in with his harmonica. He's a dab hand at it. The Poles certainly produce musicians of the highest calibre.
VaFunkoolo 6 | 654  
9 Jun 2008 /  #12
I would like it noted for the record that Poland's live music scene used to be much better than it is now but has unfortunately gone down hill since szarlotka stopped gigging

This is seconded by a sheep

The Poles certainly produce musicians of the highest calibre

This is seconded by me
OP osiol 55 | 3,921  
9 Jun 2008 /  #13
Marek Napiórkowski

Just found him on last fm... Just where I found loads of other really good stuff. I even found some rather good Polish bossa nova, if I remember rightly, by an group under the name Bembem. The Krzysztof Komeda stuff on there is brilliant.

I do keep seeing the name Pink Freud. I haven't dared to click on that one for fear of some sort of prog-rock fusion hell! Talking of prog-rock hell, what did the sheepie just say?

the Kinks 'Sunny Afternoon',

Indeed it is, sir. I shall now pick up my guitar and remind my neighbours exactly what a hoof can do.

Correction: I found him on last fm, but with no tunes. There's something on theyoutube though. The kind of thing I prefer to hear live (especially at a festival rather than indoors), but wouldn't go out and buy. Let's 'ave it 'ere though...

Now this next one is more my cup of tea (black tea, obviously). Pan Komeda. A bit more of a late night feel.


tulipan - | 28  
9 Jun 2008 /  #14


Lechu i Nirvana

a nice hot sunny day with a beer in my hand...

ehhh
OP osiol 55 | 3,921  
9 Jun 2008 /  #15
Strangely, whilst Nirvana was one of the bands of the moment when I was in my youth, I started getting into jazz at about the same time. Grunge, techno and Dizzy Gillespie might seem like an odd combination.

ehhh

Am I really going to have to go and buy more beer?
szarlotka 8 | 2,208  
9 Jun 2008 /  #16
One word - Melomani

Nuff said
tulipan - | 28  
9 Jun 2008 /  #17
I forgot about Henryk Miśkiewicz or Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski



here's more blues than jazz but whatever

Am I really going to have to go and buy more beer?

:))

cheers!
OP osiol 55 | 3,921  
9 Jun 2008 /  #18
Everyone's invited round for beer and jazz. Tonight only.

here's more blues than jazz but whatever

Well, I mentioned bossanova, and we've had Nirvana, so whyever not?

Melomani

The stuff time machines were invented for, eh?
tulipan - | 28  
9 Jun 2008 /  #19
Bossanova? it's more like chillout music in general (or i'm thinking about different band)

Ok, here's some not Polish song to say good night to everyone. Pat martino whom i adore:

youtube.com/watch?v=8o8ywTTEgm0

Everyone's invited round for beer and jazz. Tonight only.

I've just finished that one you bought and have to go to read some stuff. Who said that it has to by just one night? Let's organize some regular jazz sessions :)
Kris4ready - | 3  
3 Mar 2009 /  #20
[Moved from]: Jazz clubs in Warsaw

Do you know of any great Polish Jazz Clubs in Warsaw? If yes, what are the names and locations?
sobieski 106 | 2,118  
4 Mar 2009 /  #21
Try Tygmont. Great place
jonni 16 | 2,482  
9 Mar 2009 /  #22
Tygmont is indeed great. Some people like Akwarium under Złoty Taras or Metro in the Hotel Metropol, but live music in those places is a bit sporadic. There's Jazz Bar (about 30 metres from the South-east exit of Metro Stokłosy, but it's hard to tell when they are planning a live session. When they do, it's good.
aphrodisiac 11 | 2,437  
1 May 2009 /  #23
Novi Singers



similar, but much more contemporary is Urszula Dudziak, one of the best Polish singers.





Krzysztof Herdzin
niburak - | 36  
6 Jun 2009 /  #25
Thank you for this.
This musik sounds like my life.
McCoy 27 | 1,269  
30 Oct 2009 /  #26
Merged: Poliż dżez (Polish Jazz)

Big Band Katowice - Sorcerer



Henryk Debich - Kameleon 1975
Michal Urbaniak - Navana 1978
Tomasz Stańko Quartet - Tale

more to come
krysia 23 | 3,058  
30 Oct 2009 /  #27
Jazz on the Odra Festival in Poland

Can anybody tell me the dates for the Jazz on the Odra festival In Wroclaw this year and who the headline artists are?

this is the website of jazz nad odra
jnofestival.pl
i guess you can find everything there
for myself i cant wait i'm curious last year i missed it unfortunately
SeanBM 35 | 5,806  
1 Nov 2009 /  #28
Cool thread.
I am just writing something so I have it bookmarked because you have to use ''Ż'' in the search box.

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