Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
For over twenty years, Jazztopad has been founded on the belief that the most important things in music happen when artists have the space to compose and take risks. Thanks to the mutual trust between creators, organisers, and audiences, our festival is often a platform for presenting new projects.
This year, we invite you to the European premieres of an opera by Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding, a composition by Nduduzo Makhathini with the Lutosławski Quartet, and a trio bringing together William Parker, Hamid Drake, and Shabaka, as well as a concert by the new Amir ElSaffar quartet. Korean improviser DoYeon Kim will also perform, and SUTARInova, Raphael Rogiński, and Sissel Vera Pettersen with Meredith Bates will present material to be heard in Poland for the first time. These artists expand the language of contemporary improvised music in a unique way and demonstrate that tradition remains a living source of inspiration.
Jazztopad, however, is not just about concerts. It is also about conversations, meetings, and a community of people united by curiosity and attentive listening. Thank you for being a part of this story for so many years. I hope this year’s edition will bring many discoveries, fascinations, and musical experiences that will stay with us for a long time.
Piotr Turkiewicz
Artistic Director, Jazztopad Festival
