In Shanghai, the great composer's music is interpreted by five Polish pianists on five grand pianos
On the one hand
Chopin's music is extremely inspiring and, on the other, his music exemplifies an incredibly flexible matter which nourishes the visions of the liberated artists' soul. The proof for that is observable in dozens of CD's including jazz and rock interpretations which can be found on the contemporary music market.
What is remarkable about all these interpretations is that the demarcation line goes across not only the musicians' age but also across their background. To follow this trend the organizers of the Shanghai concert decided to entrust the Great Frederic's works to the imagination of several pianists who represent the young generations of the Polish jazz scene. They were given an unusual tool - five grand pianos. To add a little more spice to this situation, a young virtuoso representing our Polish classical pianistics was invited to join in the performance.
Participants have chosen one piece from Chopin's great oeuvre and prepared their own interpretation. The artists have five grand pianos at their disposal.
Sławek Jaskułke links which allow gathering together of all five different pieces from five different artists.
Sławek Jaskułke is a classical trained jazz pianist representing the young generation, who was also the founder of an another interesting event - the jazz-symphonic experiment entitled "Fill the Harmony Philharmonics" (recorded in 2005 with the Hanseatica Chamber Orchestra). This event was acclaimed by music critics as a great success.
Participants: (in alphabetical order):
- Katarzyna Borek (1980) - one of the most outstanding classical pianists of the young generation, a laureate of many international music competitions. In 2009, she won the "Young New Talents" competition in Belgium.
- Joanna Duda (1983) - a pianist who studied at the Academy of Music and after that period she took piano lessons from a jazz pianist Michał Tokaj. She has been collaborating with Sławek Jaskułke and Kasia Borek. Currently besides her own project Super Extra 3jo she participates in music projects such as Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet and Afrokolektyw.
- Sławek Jaskułke (1979) - a revelation of Polish jazz pianistics, a composer of film and theatre music, a member of Zbyszek Namysłowski Quartet. He performs and records solo, with his own band 3yo, and as a member of many occasional projects.
- Paweł Kaczmarczyk (1984) - A student of the Academy of Music in Katowice, 'New Hope' in the 'Jazz Forum' plebiscite (2004-2006), a laureate of many international music competitions and stipendiary of the Polish Secretary of Culture. He recorded CD's in Poland and Germany (ACT), he is a leader of his own band Audiofeeling.
- Piotr Wyleżoł (1976) - a graduate of the Department of Jazz of the Academy of Music in Katowice and Kraków's Music Conservatory. The laureate of many International music competitions, e.g. The Competition of Jazz Improvisation in Katowice (1998). A leader of his own projects and a sideman in many others (Nigel Kennedy, Bennie Maupin, Gary Bartz, Monty Waters, Janis Siegel, John Purcell among others).
The "Chopin for Five Pianos" project has been carried out through an initiative of
Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
The project premieres at Europe Square as part of the "EXPO 2010" in Shanghai, on September 12, 2010 at 4:00 PM.
A day earlier, the same concert will be performed at Shanghai's Changing Art Center (650 Xian Xia Road, Szanghai, at 7:15 PM).
Another Polish event of the weekend in Shanghai features the premiering performance of
"Chopin. Romantic Artist" BalletSource press release