Ostrów’s series of jazz concerts titled “Jazz at the Museum” celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The originator of the event, Jerzy Wojciechowski, announced that the commemoration would be duly celebrated, and he kept his promise. This has resulted in as many as eight unique concerts in 2024, including the final three at the end of October and beginning of November. They were:
James Carter Quintet – 151st Jazz at the Museum
On 30 October 2024, the James Carter Quintet performed on the stage of the Ostrów Cultural Center with a program entitled The Music of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. James Carter is a charismatic Detroit-based saxophonist who has worked with artists such as Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, Frank Lowe, Cyrus Chestnut and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Carter has also played in the World Saxophone Quartet and the Charles Mingus Big Band. He is considered a virtuoso not only on the saxophone (alto, tenor and baritone), but also on the bass clarinet and flute. In 1993, at the age of only 24, he recorded his debut album JC On The Set, which earned him a breakthrough reputation among critics. During the concert in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Carter’s band included trumpeter Satish Robertson, pianist Gerard Gibbs, double bassist Hilliard Greene and drummer Elmar Frey. The musicians presented not only their leader’s compositions, but also paid tribute to Eddie Davis, the American tenor saxophonist who died in 1986 and to whose playing style and technique James Carter is now being compared.
Take 6 – 152nd Jazz at the Museum
Take 6 is a legendary American vocal sextet formed in 1980. The band has won as many as 10 Grammy awards, the first for its 1988 debut album Take 6. The group currently consists of Claude V. McKnight III (first tenor), Mark Kibble (second tenor), David Thomas (third tenor), Joey Kibble (fourth tenor), Khristian Dentley (baritone) and Alvin Chea (bass). Take 6 should unquestionably be considered a jazz band, but in the sound of the sextet one can catch obvious inspirations and ideas drawn from soul, gospel and pop music. During the concert in Ostrów Wielkopolski, which took place 6 November 2024, the musicians in the packed hall of the Cultural Center sang such compositions as Back In Love Again, Got To Get You Into My Life, I’ve Got Life, Spread Love, Sailing, Change The World, Stand By Me, Fly Away, Roof Garden and – as an encore which came after a long, standing ovation from the audience – Biggest Part of Me and Alleluia. For Ostrów this was the second concert by this formation, as years ago Take 6 accepted an invitation to Ostrów and left a special musical mark in the memory of the audience – as they do now.
Harold López-Nussa – 153rd Jazz at the Museum
The final concert of the 30th anniversary edition of Jazz at the Museum took place 14 November 2024. The Ostrów Cultural Center was filled with energetic compositions by Havana-based pianist and composer Harold López-Nussa, who performed with his quartet. He is considered a rising star of jazz piano, and his talent has been recognised in the motherland of jazz, the United States. This resulted in a contract with the legendary Blue Note label and last year’s album Timba A La Americana. During the Ostrów show, a significant number of the songs performed originated from this album. The pianist was accompanied by saxophonist Rafael Aguila, also of Cuban descent, American double bassist Luques Curtis and percussionist Ruy Adrian López-Nussa (the leader’s brother). The compositions played reflected the richness of the Cuban musical tradition and touched the audience with their liveliness, combining jazz with Latin and Afro-Cuban sounds.
Text and photos: Szymon Ratajczyk (ratajczyk.art)
Editors: Damian Kacprzak, Mark Gilbert
