Jazz is a truly American artform, as is jazz drumming. However, that doesn’t mean that this important resource hasn’t been exported to the rest of the world. Poland was an importer of American jazz in the 1950s and 60s. But Communist Russia attempted to outlaw and suppress jazz in Poland. Since Poland broke free of Russia, Poland has slowly blossomed into a proud contributor to the universal tradition of jazz. Today the trio of Polish pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz, and drummer Michal Miskiewicz, is celebrating 30 years together,  they have released many recordings both independently and on ECM, and after years of touring they just made their first appearance at New York’s Village Vanguard accompanying saxophonist Joe Lovano. Michal Miskiewicz is a wonderfully talented jazz drummer, he is steeped in the ECM tradition of European jazz, and he is knowledgeable about Poland’s jazz tradition. However, his earliest and […]

March 2024 Issue