It is well known that Cracow is as the city of jazz. International festivals are held here, there are plenty of clubs and music scenes. But the most important is the youth and fresh take on jazz.
Tradition is important, but young, new generation artists are the most visible on the music scene of the jazz capitol of Poland. Welcome to the “city of youth”. Krakow music scene is open for young artists since ever. Let’s have a closer look at story of Krzysztof Komeda Trzciński, one of the greatest polish jazz composer. Krakow was the place that had a huge impact on his musical development. He had fallen for jazz music here, but this is not well known fact. It was Witold Kujawski, contrabass player, who acquainted Komeda Trzciński with jazz, and took him to Kraków. The fascination with jazz and the friendship with famous musicians strengthened the connections of Krzysztof Trzciński with music, even though he was a doctor by profession. Trzciński carried jazz music in his heart for all his life.
What would young Komeda do if he came to today’s Krakow? It is hard to guess. For sure he would have many options to choose from. Nowadays Krakow jazz offer is broader than it was in romantic period of Polish jazz, at the turn of the forties and the fifties, called the catacombs. worldblog.net The difference is so huge that it is hard to compare. Especially, as far as the youth is concerned. 15th edition of “The Old and The Young, or Jazz in Krakow” International Festival started in the end of April. This Krakow event provided young jazz musicians the opportunity to confront masters of the art form. It also encouraged joint projects involving artistically inclined youth. This year programme included many concerts of famous jazz musicians. The event, organised by „Jazz Krakow” Art Education Association, has just ended (26 May).
International Summer Jazz Academy in Krakow is a yearly event since 1994. The academy is actually a set of workshops attracting yearly many participants from Poland and outside Poland. The workshops are held by music teachers from all around the world. The programme of the Academy includes jazz history, jazz theory, composition and arrangement lectures. There are also instrumental and vocal workshops, individual, group and Big Band classes. These are two-week classes and ends with concert and gala in Radio Krakow.
It could be realy interesting to participate in such workshops. No music school diplomas or certificates are obligatory.