Tomasz Stanko: Jazz as a Synonym for Freedom b y P e t e r M o n a g h a n Tomasz Stanko, the preeminent Polish jazzman, and one of the greatest trumpeters in the art form, ever, has called Chet Baker “my first trumpet love, followed by Miles, who continued as my guru until his very end.” He also acknowledges the in­ fluence o f a wide variety of other trumpet innovators of the modern era: Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro, Booker Little, Don Cherry... That pretty well covers the trumpet waterfront. But Stanko also nods to other essential jazz heroes: John Coltrane, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, the Jazz Messengers... But you can get a further sense o f how the Polish trumpeter’s aesthetic works from his comment that “as far as my sound is concerned, I believe that [painter Vincent] Van Gogh, [saxophonist] Coleman Hawkins, [writer W illiam ] Faulkner, [trumpeter] Roy Eldridge, [artist Amedeo] M odigliani, [writer W illiam S.] Burroughs, and [trumpeter] Buck Clayton might have helped in its buildup.” Stanko once said: “Various media, such as film , theatre, painting, literature and poetry, as well as philosophy and humanity, in its broad sense, have had an effect on me as a composer, improviser, and artist.” This month, we’ll get another chance (Triple Door, March 19) to hear why Stanko has become, through 40 years o f play­ ing in many of the most important bands and moments of European jazz — in fact, of any jazz — a true individualist. He is, nonetheless, rooted in and resonant w ith the course of modern jazz. He is appearing around the U.S. with the stellar young quartet-mates he presented here a couple o f years ago: M a r - cinem Wasilewski, piano; Slawomirem Kurkiewiczem , bass; and Michal Miskiewicz , drum s. T h e y are to u rin g in su p p o rt o f their transporting, spacious new release from ECM , Suspended N ig h t. Stanko was born in 1942 in Rzeszow, a small medieval city poser Krzysztof Komeda (1931-1969), the most sophisticated and industrial and cultural center in Southeast Poland. W ith o f Polish jazzmen, a towering figure then as now who tragically his parents, a lawyer/violinist and a teacher, he moved in 1948 died from a brain injury sustained during a visit to Roman to Cracow, a much older and larger southern city. There, 10 Polanski in California. Stanko joined Komeda’s group in 1963, years later, at age 16, his life was profoundly altered by at­ was on the historic 1964 album Astigmatic, w h ic h sewed some tending a Dave Brubeck concert. It prompted him to take up o f the key seeds o f Eastern European jazz. Stanko has since paid the trumpet. tribute to his early “guru” in various ways, including with a A t age 20, Stanko formed his first band, Jazz Darings, which 1997 album o f Komeda’s music, L ita n ia , on E C M . jazz historian Joachim E. Berendt described as “the first group In 1968, Stanko formed his own acclaimed quintet, which in Europe to play free jazz.” Its main influence was Ornette Coleman. The band attracted the attention o f pianist and com- every Sunday. On March 5, the show features Ben in One Ear Sonarchy McAllister performing on guitar, c-sound, circuit bending, and tapes. Nonprofit audio-arts organization On March 12, Thomas Bell perform s Jack Straw Productions has announced on “big wobbly bass,” along with drum­ the recipients o f grants under its 2005 m e r Kevin Sawka , trumpeter D a v e Artist Support Program. Each year for 12 C a rte r, keyboardist L e if D a la n , and years, now, the program has offered artists electronicist Franklin Mazzeo. in all disciplines time in the organization’s There’s more jazz on March 19, w ith recording studios, and the assistance o f its the 2 Bit Trio featuring improvisers staff engineers. Artists then present their Seth Alexander (sax), Ethan Cudaback projects to the public in various forums, (drums), and bassist Birch Pererra. including Jack Straw’s semi-annual Meet W hat the duo Bran Flakes play, is n o t the Artist Nights. quite clear, but it entails “an enormous This year, Jack Straw recieved 80 appli­ library of audio files and vinyl” from cations, which a panel o f artists reviewed. which the pair makes “a hilarious mess The panel — musician Robin Holcomb, out of the modern world we thought we choreographer Gaelen Hanson, and poet knew .” Kimball MacKay — selected 8 projects And if you think you can emulate for a full grant, and 12 others for partial them, Sonarchy wants to hear from grants. you. To pitch your thing, get in touch Among jazz or improvising musicians w ith Doug Haire at Jack Straw, at (206) to win full grants was trumpeter Lesli 634 0919, or visit www.doughaire.com or Dalaba, w h o w ill create a cue track fo r use www.jackstraw.org/studio/sonarchy, to fin d in live performances o f her recent Tzadik out all about it. C D , Timelines. Accordionist Annie Lewandowski and March 16 is the deadline for appli­ singer Cristin Miller will record a CD cation to the Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz of experimental songs from their duo Vocalist Competition . The competition project, Emma Zunz. w ill be held at Jazz Alle y on A p ril 16. Two Victor Noriega will record a CD of winners w ill be chosen at that time to jazz arrangements o f traditional Filipino travel to Kobe, Japan where they w ill per­ songs w ith his piano trio. fo rm . For details and a dow nloadable ap­ V io lin is t Tom Swafford w ill record a plication form, visit www.hyogobcc.org/ C D o f mixed-ensemble works employing various forms of alternative notation. Drummer and bandleader Greg W il­ liam son w ill record new compositions and arrangements wi th the 17-piece Pony Boy All-Star Big Band. W inners of partial grants included Marc Fendel and Swampdweller w h o w ill record a CD of original tunes fus­ ing jazz, funk, soul, hip hop, and East Indian music. Nathan Levine will record a CD of "burning jazz and quirky chamber mu­ sic combined w ith dub-i-fied back porch swamp funk." Meanwhile, Jack Straw continues airing its series of live recordings for the KEXP (90.3FM) radio show, which airs at m idnight on Saturdays — that’s to say, in the first glorious moments of After 13 years o f fine performance, the Inducted into the Seattle Jazz H all of Michael Bisio Standards Trio is d ra w in g Fame were three renowned figures in local the curtain on its Thursday night gigs jazz: Gaye Anderson, owner o f the New at the Pink Door. Lonnie W illiams led Orleans restaurant; veteran saxophonist the band for the first 10 years, at which H ad ley C alim an , who continues to play p o in t bassist Bisio to o k over. H e is jo in e d strongly in his 70s in a stellar career in throughout this, the last month of the which he has worked w ith Freddie Hub­ fixture, by Bernie Jacobs on reeds and bard, Earl Hines, and many more; and Paul Sawyer on d ru m s. T h e m usic is Robert K n a tt, director o f the award-win­ heard from 8pm to 11pm, no cover. ning jazz band at Washington Middle Vocal great Ernestine Anderson w ill School which for many years has acted be the featured artist in a performance on as a training ground for and conduit to April 2 at the Museum o f Flight’s Great the area’s several nationally ranked high- Gallery. Accompanying Anderson w ill be school jazz bands. G arfield H ig h School’s Jazz Ensemble u n ­ Other awards were: der direction o f Clarence Acox. Proceeds Randy Halberstadt Trio , for Best Re­ from the benefit event w ill be shared cording, Parallel Tracks (O rigin Records), between the Museum and Greenwood also featuring bassist Jeff Johnson and Elementary School’s aviation program. d ru m m e r G ary H obbs. Call (206) 764-5720 for reservations. T h e Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, directed by Clarence Acox and M ichael A benefit concert for Washington Brockm an, Best Acoustic Jazz Group. M iddle School’s music program w ill T h e Jeff Johnson Trio , w ith H ans feature Pearl D jango, Joe Craven and the Teuber (saxes) and Billy M intz (drum s), young mandolinist Jake Jolliff, as w e ll as "Outside" Jazz Group, was named O ut­ the Washington Middle School String side Jazz G ro u p o f the Year.. Orchestra. The concert is scheduled for Wayne Horvitz , Concert o f the Year, Friday March 4 at Town Hall. Tickets for "Joe H ill" at Meany Hall (with an ad­ are available from Silver Platters, Sonic ditional award to presenter, Meany Hall, Boom, or online at www.ticketleap.com. d ire cto r M att Krashan). Jovino Santos Neto , Best Instrumen­ Orchestra leader, trumpeter, com­ talist. poser, and founder o f Cornish College o f Paul Rucker, Best Emerging Artist. the Arts’ jazz program in the late 1970s, Janis M a n n , Best Vocalist.