A series of jazz concerts by the Smietana Quartet from Poland will beheld in Hanoi and HCM City to celebrate Polish Independence Day whichfalls on November 11.
They will perform songs by F Chopin, WMontgomery and O Colleman, as well as pieces composed by Jarek Smietana,leader of the quartet. He is one of Poland's premier jazz musicians.
Between1975 and 1981, he was the leader of the legendary Polish jazz groupExtra Ball. Since 1982, he has played with the Sounds, the SymphonicSound Orchestra and the Polish Jazz Stars Band while co-leading theSmietana Quartet, who have played all over the world.
During hiscareer, he has been featured and recorded with some of the world'sgreatest jazz artists such as Art Farmer, Freddie Hubbard, EddieHenderson, Joe Zawinul and Gary Bartz. He has also written hundreds ofsongs and has led many workshops and clinics.
All the notes fallnaturally into place. Never garrulous or merely exhibitionistic, it is ajazz concert of the highest calibre. Each phrase is swinging and isfull of drive and feeling. That is how musician Leszek Kotarskidescribed Jarek Smietana on Jazz Forum in Poland.
"Being one ofthe most outstanding Polish jazz musicians, he has created his own musicstyle and individual sound, always personal yet constantlycommunicative. His first priority is the highest possible artisticlevel," said Kotarski.
Drummer Adam Czerwinski was born in 1965and is one of the best Polish jazz drummers. He has played with mostmajor Polish jazz groups and became a member of the Smientana Quartet in1991. He has made more than 30 recordings.
Marcin Lamch is anacoustic and electric bass player, composer and producer for thequartet. He has worked with many prominent artists from differentmusical genres including pop, rock, new folk and jazz.
PianistPawel Tomaszewski works as an organist, keyboardist, composer, arrangerand producer for the group. He is also the front man for the TomaszewskiTrio and The Gentlemen, and has supported top Polish and internationalartists. His music has won him prizes at many important jazzcompetitions in Poland.
The first performance will take place atthe Vietnam National Academy of Music Concert Hall, 77 Hao Nam Street,Hanoi, at 8pm, on November 9.
Free tickets can be collected fromthe venue. Two days later, the artists will perform at the HCM CityOpera House where tickets will cost 100,000-300,000 VND .
Thequartet will also perform at 9pm on November 12 at Tran Manh Tuan's Saxn'Art Jazz Club (28 Le Loi Street, HCM City) and at 9pm on November 14at Quyen Van Minh's Binh Minh Jazz Club (65 Quan Su Street, Hanoi).
Saxophonist Tuan will join the performance in HCM City as a guest artist./.