Wayne Shorter Quartet / Maciej Obara Quartet / Piotr Wojtasik Quartet at Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 2013 (18.07)

The most expected day of the festival (at least by me).
Wayne Shorter is one of the last true giants of jazz music, the member of the legendary second edition of Miles Davis Quintet, on his own leader of a few milestone Blue Note sessions. Moreover his recent releases prove that musical force is still strong inside him. The acoustic quartet with Danilo Perez, John Patittucci and Brian Blade moves freely between the subtle and explosive, each change done with balanced grace and impeccable sense of direction and dramatic narration.

Shorter with just a few notes can ignite the music more or change its direction. The musical ideas flow uninhibited, with just a hints of written melodies. Shorter's quartet play along the Miles Davis vision for his last acoustic group – all the musicians are involved in a musical stream, where just a few notes can signal a dramatic change of direction. I'd like to single out Bian Blade on drums for the incessant drive and mastefull dynamic control (joyfull swinging on toms, hard-hitting on the plates), pure musical joy.

Focus on structure, absolute freedom in expression. Shorter and his company seem to be on of the last jazz greats, one of the few to still hold the key to the musical Truth.

Piotr Wojtasik Quartet at Pod Jaszczurami (28.09. Miles Davis Memorial Night)

It's been 20 years since Miles' death and he's influence is maybe stronger than ever - his modal jazz music being copied as cited as the 'proper jazz', his pioneer electric work inspires young generations of musicians way after fusion ate its tail, among those a number of musicians assocaited with the avant-guarde and free jazz movements (most notably Wadada Leo Smith & Henry Kaiser band) although Davis never really aprreciated the ongoing revolution of free-jazz (he expressed his respect toward Coltrane, his old partner, but criticized Ornette Coleman on a number of occasions).

So it is quite ironic to certain extend that a pianoless quartet that is shaped clearly upon the ornettian model pays a tribute to Miles. But that's just an insignificant thought.

Piotr Wojtasik is one of a premier polish trumpet players, his playing modelled upon the likes of Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw, clear and crisp. Although I don't think he ever managed to attract more international recognition, he's talent was recognized by many foreign (most often american) musicians who would join his projects, most notably Billy Harper, Billy Hart and John Betsch. The quartet includes also the dynamic and powerfull saxophone player Adam Pierończyk (known for his late JazzWerskstatt releases), and a powerfull rhythm section in Michał Barański (on bass) and John Betsch.