Like most Polish jazz musicians, Zbigniew Namysłowski learned the basics of jazz listening to Willis Conover’s “Jazz Hour”. Originally starting his musical career playing piano, cello and trombone, Namysłowski became infatuated with the saxophone after meeting composer Krzysztof Komeda, who happened to be carrying an alto saxophone with him, on a train. During that chance encounter, Namysłowski gave the instrument a try and hasn’t stopped playing the saxophone ever since. His original experiments mixing jazz and folk quickly caught people’s attention and in 1962, Willis Conover himself invited Namysłowski and his band to the US to play at the Newport Jazz Festival. This incredible opportunity marked the eve of Namysłowski’s brilliant international career.

Time stamps

[01:00] Jazz and communism
[02:00] Sopot festivals
[04:30] The alto saxophone
[06:06] The Voice of America jazz lessons
[10:02]The American tour
[12:23] Jazz Jamboree
[13:40] Folk
[17:17] Komeda
[18:52] Favorites
[23:28] The passport
[26:24] Polish-American jazz
[27:00] Young talents

Music from the episode

[11:00]  Composition:  Kalatówki ‘59 
Artist: The Wreckers
Album: At the last moment

[14:15]  Composition: Piątawka 
Artist: Zbigniew Namysłowski Quartet
Album: Lola

[19:47]  Composition: Winobranie / Jak nie ma szmalu to jest łaź  
Artist: Zbigniew Namysłowski
Album: Winobranie 

Further reading

• Zbigniew Namysłowski // on Culture.pl

• Interview with Zbigniew Namysłowski // on londonjazznews.com

Further watching

• Zbigniew Namysłowski performing in 2021

• Zbigniew Namysłowski performing “Kujawiak goes Funky” in 1997 

• Zbigniew Namysłowski performing with folk musians during Jazz Jamboree in 1994

Credits

This episode of Rebel Spirits was hosted by Paweł Brodowski. The show is brought to you by Culture.pl, the flagship brand of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

Written by Wojciech Oleksiak & Monika Proba
Produced by Move Me Media
Edited by Wojciech Oleksiak
Proofread by Adam Żuławski
Translated by Mateusz Schmidt
Design by Dawid Ryski
Scoring & sound design by Wojciech Oleksiak

Copyrights

The publisher would like to thank all copyright owners for their kind permission to reproduce their material. Should, despite our intensive research, any person entitled to rights have been overlooked, legitimate claims shall be compensated within the usual provisions.