Highlines 2007

Night jazzing at the Krakow's center

Gazeta Wyborcza, Kraków, July 2007

Two big open air concerts, eight combos, and almost 70 performers - in total eight hours of music. That is the first Krakow's European Jazz Night in figures.

Beside Museum Night and Theaters Night the Krakow's Jazz Night was a following event to promote art among wider audience. This time it was a closer look at Polish and European jazz and introduction of jazz to open air. 

Main initiator of the event was Witold Wnuk, director of Summer Jazz Festival in Krakow. Since organized also by him New Orleans Sunday was a celebration of traditional jazz, Krakow's Jazz Night has to be reserved for modern music trends.

-Krakow is very important place on jazz map of Europe. Has many advantages to be a center not only of Polish but also European jazz,- said Barbara Turlejska deputy director of Culture Department of the Krakow City Council , which took an active part in organization of the event. Also financially the City gave 100 thousands zlotys. However organizers intentions is one, and the artists repertoire is another matter.

Big concert evening started on Saturday 18 hours. on Szczepański Sq. and on Nowy Sq. On one side appeared really new faces like young Estonian jazz singer Sofia Rubina who with Lithuanians of d'Orange combo presented softer sound, balancing on jazz and pop border. On the other majority formed artists for years linked with the Summer Jazz Festival and Krakows' jazz scene : (Janusz Muniak, Marek Bałata, Jarek Śmietana or playing in Krakow for some time Austrian guitarists Andy Manndorf)

Generally they performed clasically and worn out for many ways jazz standards. Marek Bałata was an exeption singing his authors jazz compositions based on … F.Chopin. In this aspect much more interesting was further part of the evening. After open air concerts in five Krakows' club simultanicaly at 23.00 hours classical jam sessions started. For example in Alchemia with Andy Manndorff trio, frequent visitor of the Festival, played young Krakow's saxophonist Adam Pierończyk, even today considered as one of the most creative artist of a new generation of jazz scene. It was possible to combine instrumental virtuosity with precision, clever jazz phrasing and a bit of melody. 

Director Wnuk announced that it will be excellent evening , which will strengthen opinions about Krakow as jazz city - not only traditional. I was fantastic, since an idea of promoting jazz on the biggest squares is worth to support.

by Mariusz Wiatrak