A star-studded quintet of London’s finest contemporary jazz musicians pay tribute to the late, great Polish jazz musician and composer, who sadly departed 5 years ago.

Tomasz Stańko first brought his eloquent lyricism to European jazz in the 1960s, gaining international renown. His career entered a majestic second act in the 1990s, with ten standout albums following over the next two decades.

When he first heard live jazz, Stańko concluded that ‘the message was freedom’. Over the years, his creative curiosity led him from seminal free jazz exploration in Europe to New York-based collaborations with cutting-edge American players, including Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry, and the Globe Unity Orchestra.

His meditative, brooding sound was instantly recognisable. ‘Nobody,’ wrote The Guardian, ‘holds a single, long-blown trumpet note like… Stańko’.

The evening upholds Stańko’s commitment to the freshest sounds in jazz, showcasing upcoming British talent associated with ECM Records, such as guitarist Rob Luft, singer Alice Zawadzki & bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado.

Quintet lineup:

Chris Batchelor - trumpet

Alice Zawadzki - voice & violin

Rob Luft - guitar

Misha Mullov-Abbado - double bass

Jay Davis - drums

Photo credit: Jan Bebel & Jazz Forum