The rain had been falling in Munich that September night in 2004, a relentless drizzle that seemed to soak into the very bones of the city. The muffled sounds of the rain hitting the cobblestones outside the Muffathalle added a percussive undercurrent to the scene inside, where the air was thick with anticipation. The Tomasz Stanko Quartet was about to take the stage, and the crowd knew they were in for something extraordinary.
Tomasz Stanko stood in the shadows, his trumpet gleaming dully under the dim lights. His presence was magnetic, a man who had seen it all, from the smoke-filled clubs of Krakow to the grand stages of New York. Tonight, he was in his element, surrounded by his protégé and his band, the young lions of Polish Jazz: Marcin Wasilewski on piano, Slawomir Kurkiewicz on double bass, and Michal Miskiewicz on drums. They were more than just a band; they were an extension of Stanko’s soul.
The quartet had been on the road for what seemed like forever, crisscrossing Europe and the United States, playing night after night. But Munich was different. This was a city that understood Jazz, that lived and breathed it. The Muffathalle was packed, the audience a mix of academics from the Ludwig Maximillian University and Jazz aficionados, all gathered under the banner of “Unforeseen,” a symposium dedicated to improvised music.
The lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the crowd. Wasilewski’s fingers danced over the piano keys, laying down a delicate, haunting melody that seemed to hang in the air like smoke. Kurkiewicz’s bass joined in, a deep, resonant counterpoint, and then Miskiewicz’s drums, a whisper of brushes on snare. Finally, Stanko lifted his trumpet and played the first note, a mournful, melancholy sound that cut through the silence like a knife.
The music flowed seamlessly, a conversation between four master musicians who knew each other so well that words were unnecessary. Stanko’s trumpet was both a leader and a storyteller, weaving tales of love and loss, of dreams and despair. Wasilewski’s piano responded with a lyrical beauty that was both intricate and spontaneous, while Kurkiewicz and Miskiewicz provided a solid yet flexible foundation, their rhythms interlocking like the gears of a finely tuned machine.
As the night wore on, the music shifted from the structured compositions of their “Suspended Night” repertoire to the freer, more exploratory sounds that would later define their “Lontano” phase. It was a journey, a progression that captured a moment in time when the quartet was on the cusp of something new and exciting.
The audience was spellbound, caught up in the magic of the moment. They could feel the energy, the passion, the sheer joy of creation that radiated from the stage. This was more than just a concert; it was an experience, a glimpse into the heart and soul of one of the greatest Jazz quartets of the era.
Backstage, after the show, the atmosphere was electric. Stanko, usually a man of few words, was effusive in his praise for his band. “You played like it was the last concert of your lives,” he told them, a rare smile creasing his weathered face. “Remember that feeling. That’s what makes the music come alive.”
For Wasilewski, Kurkiewicz, and Miskiewicz, those words were more than just a compliment. They were a mantra, a guiding principle that would shape their careers long after Stanko was gone. The pianist would later recall those nights with a mixture of nostalgia and reverence. “We were growing by his side, and he was watching us. Every concert we played with him was important – the most important, almost as if it was the last one.”
Years later, after Stanko’s death in 2018, Miskiewicz would reflect on the lessons they learned from their mentor. “Tomasz didn’t talk to us much,” he said in an interview. “It was always about playing what you feel. That was the kind of artist and bandleader he was. We felt very free to do what we do.”
The Tomasz Stanko Quartet would go on to play together for nearly a quarter of a century, their final concert in Warsaw in 2017 marking the end of an era. The special bond between Stanko and his young musicians was often noted by critics. “Stanko’s rapport with Wasilewski is uncanny,” wrote one reviewer, “with the two of them sliding almost seamlessly between passages of intricately composed melody to free improvisation over the modal vamps favored in the writing.”
By the time they took the stage in Munich that rainy September night, the quartet was already a force to be reckoned with. Wasilewski, Kurkiewicz, and Miskiewicz had established themselves as one of the most potent trios in Jazz, their recent releases garnering critical acclaim and a growing international following.
But on that night, in the intimate confines of the Muffathalle, it was the magic of the moment that mattered. The music they created was a testament to their talent, their dedication, and their unbreakable bond with Tomasz Stanko. It was a night that would be remembered not just for the notes that were played, but for the emotions they evoked and the stories they told.
As the last echoes of Stanko’s trumpet faded into the night, the audience rose to their feet, applauding not just the musicians, but the journey they had taken together. Outside, the rain continued to fall, a gentle reminder of the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of life itself. But inside the Muffathalle, on that unforgettable September night, the music lived on, a timeless tribute to the power of Jazz and the enduring legacy of Tomasz Stanko.
Release Date: 21st Jun 2024