Excited by the Unknown (10/2018)

The sounds of the jazz summer still linger in Kraków, and the next dose of the finest improvised music is already just around the corner! “Play difficult and interesting things. If you play boring things, you risk losing your appetite” – these words by the late, great saxophonist Steve Lacy have been chosen by the organisers of the 13th Krakow Jazz Autumn (11 October – 28 November) from the Alchemia Dom Kultury Foundation as the motto of this year’s event. And the artists performing this year certainly have plenty of appetite!

The double-bassist Barry Guy brings his eleven-strong ensemble For to End Yet Again to present his brand new composition inspired by the works of Samuel Beckett and György Kurtág. Another festival regular, Mats Gustafsson, celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of his band GUSH. We will hear some fascinating trios, led by the multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee and trumpeter Peter Evans, and the ReDDeer ensemble of Fay Victor, Elisabeth Harnik and Dominic Lash. There will also be larger groups, such as Martin Küchen’s All Included expanded into a quintet and the septet led the rising star on the improv scene Kaja Draksler. Paulina Owczarek performs with her fascinating, unpredictable Krakow Improvisers Orchestra. (Bartosz Suchecki, “Karnet”)

Improvisation Without End (11/2018)

Improvised music has been making noise in Kraków since October, and fans of the 13th Krakow Jazz Autumn have more treats in store in the second half of November. The Peter Evans Trio continues sound experiments on 13 November at Alchemia. The young trumpeter from New York is joined by Tim Dahl on electric bass and Mike Pride on percussion. On 15 November, Manggha Museum helds conducted improvisation combining music with dance with a programme prepared by the Krakow Improvisers Orchestra, as well as compositions based on Robert Frost’s poetry during a concert by the Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler and her octet. On 19 November, at Alchemia, we get to know the second appearance by the Ruins duo: this time, Tatsuya Yoshida’s percussion finds a common language with Ryoko Ono’s sax. The concert by the ReDDeer trio (20 November, Alchemia) is the perfect opportunity to admire the voice of Fay Victor. The freesong vocalist is joined by Elisabeth Harnik on piano and Dominic Lash on double bass. The festival closes with a bang with three concerts by the GUSH ensemble (26 and 27 November, Alchemia, and 28 November, Manggha Museum) led by the virtuoso of improvised sax Mats Gustafsson. (Bartosz Suchecki, “Karnet”)

FULL SCHEDULE