Taking place from November 23 to 26, it promises a stellar lineup this year, according to Dariusz Grodziński, the director of the local Center for Culture and the Arts (CKiS).
The bill includes a galaxy of stars, starting with the legendary drummer Billy Cobham, who will close the festival on November 26, playing with the renowned pianist and drummer Gary Husband, a member of John McLaughlin's quartet 4th Dimension.
Polish musicians are also prominently featured, with Adam Bałdych and Leszek Możdżer among the headliners.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, November 23, with the premiere of Kacper Smoliński's unique composition "Sculptures for Jazz Septet and Orchestra," featuring the Kalisz Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the Bolivian-Polish conductor Ruben Silva. Smoliński himself will perform on the harmonica.
The evening will open with a solo recital by Maciej Tubis, focusing on the works of composer Krzysztof Komeda, best known for numerous film scores.
Friday's lineup includes the Austrian piano trio PRIM, the Piotr Wyleżoł International Trio featuring the saxophonist Andy Middleton, and the renowned Ukrainian-American jazz pianist Vadim Neselovskyi with a string trio, presenting a deeply personal repertoire entitled "Ukrainian Diary," aiming to express the emotional landscape of his national identity.
Saturday's program features the Polish-German duo Sendecki & Spiegel, Norwegian saxophone giant Marius Neset & Band, and the Marcin Wasilewski Trio featuring Henryk Miśkiewicz and Adam Pierończyk in "Komeda Memory."
The festival concludes on Sunday, November 26, with a grand finale featuring the Borderlands Trio from the United States, the duo of Leszek Możdżer and Adam Bałdych in "Passacaglia."
In addition, there will be nightly concerts at the Calisia One club, featuring Horntet on Friday and the Alec Orea Quintet, a Brazil-Poland collaboration, on Saturday.
Alongside 13 concerts on the main and club stages, the festival will also mark the launch of the photo book Jazz in Calisia. This 200-page publication, curated by Julia Mirna, Piotr Łuszczykiewicz, and art historian Maciej Szymanowicz, combines historical records of past performers with a collection of photographs.
In a nod to the festival's legacy, Thursday will see the unveiling of the "Piano-Forte" sculpture designed and crafted by sculptor Krzysztof M. Bednarski set in front of the CKiS as a tribute to the festival's 50-year history in Kalisz.
The festival has been a consistent feature in Kalisz for 50 years, enduring even through challenging times like the imposition of martial law in 1981 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, when performances shifted online.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP