POLISH RADIO
SESSIONS
1970-91
Tomasz Stańko, Poland's most famous jazz musician and world-renowned trumpet virtuoso, had been a regular guest at Polish Radio recording studios for years. During longer and shorter sessions he was accompanied by leading improvising artists. The desire to present an unknown part of the legendary Desperado's oeuvre to jazz lovers turned to the idea of releasing a unique collection - a radio portfolio of the artist from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The entire collection comprises of six records.
Considering needs of the listeners, box-sets come out in several formats. Next to the regular black-vinyl edition we have a limited white vinyl box edition for collectors. For digital enthusiasts, there is a CD box-set. As well, music is available on all streaming platforms. All albums - both LP and CD - are accompanied by a 48-page booklet containing photos of Tomasz Stańko's bands, reproductions of sheet music, comments from the musicians participating in the recordings, and a previously unpublished portrait of the Artist.
The mastering was made by Grammy Award-winner Jacek Gawłowski, who, using modern technology, amplified the Master's brilliance, recorded years ago on magnetic tapes and stored in the Polish Radio Archives.
Cats / Wilderness / Stress / Ballad / Lullaby from "Rosemary's Baby" / Wooden Music, pt. 2 / Wooden Music, pt. 1 / Piece for Diana. Tomasz Stańko's first fully formed ensemble. The quintet performs legendary compositions by Krzysztof Komeda, pieces by the leader, and three spiritual, meditative works composed/ improvised collectively.
Placebo / Poacher / Stella by Starlight / Countdown / Giant Steps. Jazz standards and a foray into the world of improvisation bordering on the avant-garde. Adam Makowicz plays the Fender Rhodes electric piano and its bass modification.
Castle of Mist / Bluish / Few Shades of Blue, parts 1-4 / First Free Etude / Second Free Etude / Third Free Etude. A carefully composed free jazz suite, utilizing the versatile skills of the brilliant saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski. This experimental music was recorded using studio overdubs.
Almost Gama I / Now A / We / Airfield / Magic Time / Euforila II / Asmodeus / Eagle-Owls / Almost Gama II. The unusual configuration of acoustic and electroacoustic instruments (without percussion) gave Tomasz Stańko's band a modern, trance sound, comparable to the world's leading artists combining electronics with jazz.
Rue de la Tour / The Two First, the Third and a Few Others / Almost Black / My W.S.B. Friend / Trumpet One / Bass One. Lyrical duo of trumpet and double bass and the magic of spontaneous improvisation by two virtuosos. Tomasz Stańko and Witold Szczurek (outside Poland known as Vitold Rek) made one of the first Polish jazz recordings using digital technology.
Mr. DD / Babylon Samba (CD and streaming only) / Purple Liquor / Hey! / End Jam (CD and streaming only). A recording of a concert broadcast by Polish Radio Four from Warsaw's Akwarium Jazz club. The music is rhythmic and loud, with Latin and funky elements.
