4 months. About 30 concerts. Free music. The next edition of one of the most interesting Polish festivals seems very promising. One could venture to say that it is a holiday of freedom, as this variation of jazz is a pure outburst of liberty. It has as many dedicated fans as bitter opponents. Artists working with this style are either doted on or denigrated. Miles Davis mocked the “free” and Tomasz Stañko revelled in it for many years.
A review of various approaches to free improvisation will make up a peculiar sound map. We will listen to artists from all corners of the globe including the United States, Norway, Italy, Japan, Ukraine, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mozambique, South Africa and Poland. Most of the concerts will be held in Alchemia (the main organiser of the event), but individual performances will also be staged in Re and Harris Piano Jazz Bar.
During the inaugural evening (11 September) we will listen to Peter Brötzmann's Quartet. The German saxophone player, known for his sharp-edged and uncompromising sound invited Toshinori Kondo (trumpet), as well as Massimo Pupillo (bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (percussion) to work with him. It is difficult to imagine Krakow Jazz Autumn without Ken Vandermark. The saxophone player from Chicago and Polish audiences get along like a house on fire. It will be possible to admire the musician twice in the cellars of the club located in the district of Kazimierz. On 13 September as a trio with Free Fall (Ingebrigt Håker-Flaten – bass, and Håvard Wiik – piano) and two days later with The Thing (Mats Gustafsson – saxophones, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten – bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love – percussion).
On 21 September, the stage will welcome the American Locksmith Isidore. The leader of the group is Jason Stein, a guitarist "converted" to bass clarinet under the influence of Eric Dolphy. He will be accompanied by bass player Jason Roebke and Mike Pride on percussion. Gutbucket, another combo from the birthplace of jazz will perform on 25 September (Ken Thomson – saxophone, Ty Citerman – guitar, Eric Rockwin – bass, and Adam Gold – percussion).
Beat Bag Bohemia is by far the most exotic participant of the festival. The Swiss Lucas Niggli and his compatriot Peter Conradin Zumthor with friends from Africa: Rolando Lamussene (Mozambique) and Kesivana Naidoo (South Africa), will have their own gig on the last Friday of September. The vaults at Estery 5 will resonate with the rhythms of percussion, gongs, mbira, djembe and chants straight from the Dark Continent. It will be a journey back to the very roots of improvisation.
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PROGRAMME FOR NOVEMBER:
17 November, Manggha - Matthew Shipp Trio
19 November, Alchemia - Ken Vandermark / Clayton Thomas / Tony Buck Trio
20 November, RE - Engines
24 November, Alchemia - Lou Grassi Trio
25 November, Alchemia - MikoLaj Trzaska / Mark Sanders / Peter-Friis Nielsen Trio
26 November, Alchemia - Clarinet Trio
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