Record Reviews

TOMASZ STANKO ~ POLISH RADIO SESSIONS 1970-1991 POLSKIE RADIO 2504-2509 (Barcode: 5905610875251) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 - 1991 Released: 2025 This is an archival 6CD Box Set, which collects recordings made by the iconic Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist. These recordings, found in the Polish Radio archives and edited by Adam DomagalaFind albums by this artist, span a period of over two decades and reflect Stanko’s development as a musician and leading figure of the Polish Jazz scene, during the first period of his activity as a leader, after leaving the ensembles led by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. This period was characterized by dramatic changes and experimental explorations. Stanko was accompanied by the crème de la crème of the Polish Jazz and Jazz-Rock musicians active at the time, including drummers Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist, Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist and Andrzej RyszkaFind albums by this artist, pianist Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist, bassists Bronislaw SuchanekFind albums by this artist, Witold SzczurekFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Vitold RekFind albums by this artist) and Jerzy KawalecFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / electronics Janusz SkowronFind albums by this artist and Tadeusz SudnikFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. The Box Set includes an informative bilingual booklet, which describes the relevant discographic details, as well as personal notes by several of the musicians and quotes from Stanko’s autobiography “Desperado”. All the music included in this Box Set is previously unreleased. CD1 (eight tracks TT 33:47 recorded 1970 / 1971) presents the Stanko quintet with Muniak, Seifert, Stefanski and Suchanek. Two tracks are compositions by Komeda, three by Stanko and the remaining three are credited to all the quintet members. Stylistically these recordings mark the transition between modern European Jazz and Free Jazz / Improvised Music. Further and more extensive recordings of this quintet’s music is available on the two live albums recorded in 1972: “Wooden Music IFind albums with this title” and “Wooden Music IIFind albums with this title”. CD2 (five tracks TT 37:04 recorded 1974 / 1975) presents the trio called “Unit” with Stanko, Bartkowski and Makowicz. Two tracks are compositions by Stanko, one is a standard and two are by John Coltrane. It is a beautifully intimate session, which defines Stanko’s aesthetics and trumpet sound, which will eventually lead to is international career. The trio recorded a studio album in Germany, entitled “Stanko - Makowicz Unit Featuring Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums with this title” and another album in Poland for the PoljazzFind albums on this label label (still waiting for a reissue). CD3 (six tracks TT 38:02 recorded 1975) presents another trio with Stanko, Bartkowski and Szukalski. Two tracks are compositions by Stanko and the remaining four are credited to all the trio members. This recording follows shortly the recording of Stanko’s debut album for ECMFind albums on this label, entitled “BalladynaFind albums with this title”, recorded with Szukalski, British bassist Dave HollandFind albums by this artist and Finnish drummer Edward VesalaFind albums by this artist, but precedes its release. The music is characteristic to Stanko’s distinctive style, which combines Polish lyricism with Free Jazz. CD4 (nine tracks TT 38:04 recorded 1985 / 1986) presents a revolutionary quartet called “Freelectronic” with Stanko, Skowron, Sudnik and Szczurek. Six tracks are compositions by Stanko and the remaining three are credited to all the quartet members. The music presents a relatively short period of Stanko’s flirt with electronic music and Avant-Garde Rock, which was way ahead of its time and brilliantly innovative. The quartet released a live album recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1987, called “SwitzerlandFind albums with this title” (but also released under several different titles by different labels). CD5 (six tracks TT 30:59 recorded in 1991) presents an intimate duo recording of Stanko and Szczurek. Five tracks are compositions by Stanko and one is by Szczurek. The impromptu “live in the studio” recording presents the close affinity between the two musicians and the result is a great example of the “Art of the Duo”, which is always fascinating and highly rewarding. CD6 (five tracks TT 1:04:51 recorded in 1983) presents a live recording by a sextet led by Stanko with Anthimos, Kawalec, Szczurek, Ryszka and Torres at the legendary Warsaw Jazz club Akwarium. All the music is composed by Stanko. This music shows Stanko playing advanced Jazz-Rock Fusion with young musicians, highly inspired by the electric period of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, from a decade earlier. Most of the material captured here was released later on the “C.O.C.XFind albums with this title” studio album. It is almost beyond self-evident that this Box Set is one of the most important, or perhaps even the most important archival / retrospective / historic Polish Jazz album ever compiled. Thanks to the patience and determination of the editor Adam Domagala, the Polish Jazz fans the world over are able to discover and enjoy this epic music, which might have been otherwise lost forever. I am pretty confident that there are still hours of music by Stanko, where these recordings came from, so a second volume of this wonderful Box Set is perhaps a possibility? Overall, this is certainly one of the most fabulous collections of music a Jazz connoisseur can put his hand on, so don’t even think twice, as these editions have a tendency to get sold out notoriously. This music is universal, so if your Stanko’s record collection is relatively small, this is a great opportunity to enlarge it, and if you already have everything Stanko ever recorded, it is even more essential to get it ASAP.

Updated: 10/12/2025Posted: 10/12/2025

CD 6 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend