Fervent Night
Jazz after dark tastes especially delicious. On 15 July, Jazz Night features plenty of free concerts (at outdoor stages and in Kraków’s clubs) and marathon improvisations, and of course dazzling stars! We start our music-themed insomnia at the Small Market Square, with Luca Ciarli Quartet kicking off the proceedings. The Italian violinist leading the ensemble perfectly intertwines contemporary jazz with Mediterranean sounds. Grażyna Łobaszewska & Ajagore ensemble put us in an excellent mood. One of the finest Polish singers returns with a new album celebrating the 40th anniversary of her work. Łobaszewska explains that the latest release is a tale of healing, of fixing that which is broken. And of course we will hear the vocalist’s unforgettable greatest hits, dazzling anew performed by the refreshed lineup of Ajagore.
The evening’s brightest star will be the Spanish group Patax led by the charismatic percussionist Jorge Pérez González. The musician is famous for his controversial YouTube videos where instead of traditional percussion sets he uses… Eh, you’ll find out for yourselves – it’s perfect material for a nighttime performanceJ. The ensemble’s live appearances are famed for their hot sounds of fusion music blending jazz inspired by Weather Report and Zawinul Syndicate with funk, flamenco and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Their repertoire also includes several dazzling arrangements of Michael Jackson’s hits. Not bad!
Another unmissable concert comes from the Jazz Band Ball Orchestra, regarded as Poland’s oldest traditional jazz ensemble. The formation celebrates its 55th anniversary at the Pod Jaszczurami club, supported by the American pianist and vocalist Stanley Breckenridge. And beyond the Old Town and Kazimierz, jazz resounds at unusual venues such as MOCAK, a stage by the Nowa Huta Reservoir and at the Kurant music bookshop. (Artur Jackowski, magazyn "Karnet")
