In the Master’s Footsteps

His guitar music resounded with blues tinged with expressiveness borrowed from rock. But he mainly dedicated himself to jazz, exploring the traditions of the genre to eventually call it with all conviction his “way of life”. Before Jarek Śmietana became legendary on the Polish scene, he courted public attention through competitions such as the Jazz on the Oder festival in Wrocław. Today, young musicians at the threshold of their careers are able to follow in his footsteps: during auditions held as part of the 3rd International Jarek Śmietana Jazz Guitar Competition, we will hear fourteen talented guitarists from Poland, the US, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland. Their performances at the concert hall of the W. Żeleński Music High School at Basztowa Street (26-28 June) will be assessed by a jury including the director of the competition Witold Wnuk, Prof. Karol Ferfecki, and outstanding guitarists Marek Napiórkowski, Mike Stern and Peter Bernstein who also perform during the gala concert at the S. Wyspiański Stage of the National Academy of Theatre Arts (29 June). The contest is complimented by informal nighttime jam sessions at Piwnica Pod Baranami. (Bartosz Suchecki, “Karnet”)