Some of the best Jazz comes from Poland and it has that unique Slavic lyrical sound. As part of Waltham Forest Borough of Culture 2019 Ashka Komorowska-Jalal, founder of B Side Events is bringing some of the best Polish Jazz to the borough.
Showcasing the most interesting and highly acclaimed artists to come out of Poland the Polish Jazz Series will bring together polish communities and local audiences at 5 concerts throughout July-November.
Niechęć
Thursday 4 July
St Mary’s Music Hall, Walthamstow
Some say they could be called the twisted kids of Kamasi Washington and Sigur Ros, but in fact Niechęć manage to avoid being placed in a niche and offers a fresh and unique approach. The band’s name translates to “dislike”, which is actually the opposite of how their music affects its listeners. Their hypnotic mixture of jazz, ambient, electronic music and alternative rock can be addictive, as well as the dark, mysterious and at moments hysteric atmosphere they create. What makes them really special is their attachment to Polish Jazz legends like Tomasz Stańko and Krzysztof Komeda, and ability to recontextualize this deeply emotional melodic legacy into suites that balance aggression with grace.
Marcin Masecki Jazz Trio
Friday 16 August
St John’s Music Hall, Leytonstone
Warsaw born Marcin Masecki, a Polish avant garde pianist, arranger and producer, graduated at Berklee College of Music. This versatile musician is famous for his unique approach to music, which is a fusion of various genres, oscillating between jazz, classical and experimental sounds. Not easy to be classified or labelled, he was chosen by the Cold War director Paweł Pawlikowski to arrange and produce music score to the movie.
Kuba Wiecek
Thursday 19 September
St Mary's Music Hall, Walthamstow
One of the great young talents in Polish Jazz. Kuba Więcek is a composer and saxophonist who’s new album has had raving reviews for its fresh sound and new approach to playing jazz.
High Definition Quartet
Friday 18 October
St John's Music Hall, Leytonstone
High Definition Quartet is one of the most interesting and award-winning Polish jazz ensembles of the younger generation. Their originality and musical freshness have created an impact in Poland and abroad. They’ve won a number of awards including First Prize at Jazz Hoeilaart 2011.
EABS
Thursday 21 November
Leyton Great Hall
Wrocław's sextet EABS pursues the tradition of the Polish school of jazz, while escaping various sound patterns, presenting a carefree and completely original approach to genres and established musical standards, as proven on their debut album. EABS breathe fire into jazz, ignoring clichés, exploring and experimenting. The band will present material from their highly acclaimed new album Slavic Spirits.
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