Representative Albums: "A Farewell to Maria", "Soul of Things", "Rarum, Vol. 17: Selected Recordings
Biography
Jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stanko began his tenure as a major force in European free jazz in the early '60s with the formation of the quartet Jazz Darins in 1962 with Adam Makowicz. From 1963 to 1967 he played with Krzysztof Komeda in a group that revolutionized European jazz and made an impact across the Atlantic as well. Stanko also put in time with Andrzej Trzaskowski in the mid-'60s before leading his own quintet from 1968 to 1973. The Tomasz Stanko Quintet, which included Muniak and Zbigniew Seifert, garnered considerable critical acclaim, especially for their tribute to Komeda entitled Music for K. The early '70s brought collaborations with a number of avant-garde and creative jazz artists, including the Globe Unity Orchestra, Michal Urbaniak, Cecil Taylor, and Gary Peacock. From 1974 to 1978, Stanko played in a quartet with Edward Vesala, then returned to performing as a leader and soloist. The '80s brought Stanko collaborations with Chico Freeman in Freeman's group Heavy Life, as well as work with James Spaulding, Jack DeJohnette, and Rufus Reid. He was also briefly part of Cecil Taylor's big band in 1984. Shortly afterward, he formed another ensemble, Freelectronic. The '90s brought an alliance with ECM, which issued some of Stanko's most acclaimed work, including another lush, gorgeous tribute to Komeda, 1997's Litania, which was heavy with that composer's film work. The follow-up on ECM, 2000's From the Green Hill, drew from many of the same emotional and historic sources as Komeda's work, but this time the compositions were Stanko's. In 2002, Stanko's contributions to European jazz were honored when he was issued the very first European Prize, which was intended to honor outstanding European jazz musicians. During the final round of voting from 21 critics from as many countries, Stanko won ten votes, narrowly topping the runner-up, Dutch piano player Misha Mengelberg. That same year Soul of Things was released on ECM, followed by Suspended Night in 2004, also on ECM. Too Pee appeared in 2006, as did Chameleon and Lontano. ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide
Stańko lost his natural teeth in the 1990s, though over time he developed a new embouchure with the help of a skilled dentist and monotonous practice. He would spend long hours playing what he deemed to be "boring" long tones which helped to strengthen his lip, in spite of playing with the disadvantage of false teeth.[4]
I don't go out much. I don't drive a car. I don't have a hobby, like golf. Only music. I stopped drinking and I stopped doping. I stopped for financial reasons, to be independent, not for health. I am a strong guy.
Tomasz Stańko was born in Rzeszów, Poland on July 11, 1942.[5] His first encounters with jazz were through Voice of America radio programs and tours initiated by the U.S. State Department. Coming of age in Communist Poland, Stanko was impressed by the correlation jazz had with a message of freedom. In 1958 he saw his first jazz concert given by Dave Brubeck.[6] While attending the Cracow Music Academy he formed his first group in 1962, the Jazz Darlings, along with the pianistAdam Makowicz; the group took inspiration from the music of individuals such as Ornette Coleman, George Russell and Miles Davis and is considered by many critics to be the first group in Europe to perform in the free jazz medium.[7]
During the 1980s he traveled to India and recorded solo work in the Taj Mahal, and also worked with Vesala in groups led by Chico Freeman and Howard Johnson. In the mid-1980s he began doing extensive work with Cecil Taylor, performing in his big bands and also led various groups of his own, including COCX (with Vitold Rek). Then, before returning to ECM Records, Stanko also worked in a trio that included himself, Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen.[7] In 1993 Stanko formed a new quartet composed of the then 16 year-old drummer Michal Miskiewicz, along with Miskiewicz's two friends pianist Marcin Wasilewski and bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz.[9]. That same year he also formed an international quartet that included Bobo Stenson, Tony Oxley and Anders Jormin.[7]; in 1994 the quartet released their first ECM recording titled Matka Joanna. In 1997 Stanko formed a group which performed the songs of pianistKrzysztof Komeda, touring London, Copenhagen, Stockholm and appearing at jazz festivals like those in Nancy and Berlin. The idea for the project came from the president of ECM Records, Manfred Eicher.[4] Stańko is currently represented by Addeo Music International (AMI).
Criticism
Derk Richardson has written for the San Francisco Chronicle that, "Tomasz Stanko is not the first jazz musician to negotiate a rapprochement between gorgeous melodies and free improvisation. But he is one of the most eloquent proponents of extemporaneous lyricism working today."[10] Author Brian Morton has compared Stanko's lyricism to that of Miles Davis, calling it a "direct but individual offshoot."[11]
Stańko, Tomasz; Janusz Skowron; Slawomir Kurkiewicz; Zbigniew Brysiak; Michal Miskiewicz; Andrzej Jagodzinski; Dorota Miskiewicz (1995). Roberto Zucco. Polonia Records CD 059. http://www.stanko.polishjazz.com/.
Stańko, Tomasz; Tomasz Szukalski; Maciej Strzelczyk; Janusz Skowron; Lesław Możdżer; Andrzej Cudzich; Adam Cegielski; Cezary Konrad; Piotr "Jackson" Wolski (1993). A Farewell to Maria. Gowi Records. http://www.stanko.polishjazz.com/.