Colours of Poland in Korczew: Andrzej Olejniczak and the Apertus Quartet

Artists:

• Andrzej Olejniczak – saxophone 
• Apertus Quartet:
  • Marta Kalińska – first violin
  • Zuzanna Jeżyńska – second violin
  • Małgorzata Sowierka-Chmiel - viola
  • Maria Katarzyna Filipiak – cello

Program:

Pieces from the album “Different Choice”, new compositions of Andrzej Olejniczak and other composers

Compere: Michał Marchlewski

The album entitled “Different Choice” released in 2011 is a combination of two musical worlds. On one hand, the lively, flowing improvisation of Andrzej Olejniczak, one of the most acclaimed Polish jazz saxophone players, the co-founder of the Sunship ensemble and a member of the String Connection ensemble. On the other hand – the counterpoint; the Apertus Quartet, a classical string quartet founded by the artists of the Łódź Philharmonic Orchestra, which has been touring the stages of Poland and Europe for nearly two decades. The original combination of classical sensitivity and jazz freedom received praise from the listeners and critics alike. “An incredible amount of work, talent and professionalism is necessary to create such a unique album” wrote Ryszard Borowski in the “Jazz Forum”. He was not alone in this assessment. A decade and a half later, the artists met again. The connection and satisfaction from playing music together returned instantly, which made them quickly create the program developing on the old material. The grand premiere of “Different Choice, Different Times, Different Music” will happen in Korczew, at the stage of the Colours of Poland. “These are new compositions and changed arrangements of pieces performed previously and created by other authors, who had approaches to music that were similar to ours. Interesting, attractive, stylistically diverse and combining several current trends” says Olejniczak.

top photo: Apertus Quartet, phot. HaWa

For Andrzej Olejniczak, the concert in the wooden St. Catherine church built in the first half of the 17th century in Korczew has a special meaning – the artist, who has been living in Spain for the last 40 years, will return to his home area. “I remember Zduńska Wola from my childhood with great fondness. My first piano lessons in a music centre and returning home in the evening with a path through the Freedom Square. Concerts in the firehouse when I was so little that I could not reach the pedals in a bike. The football games near my school and, later, at the Pogoń football pitch after I signed up for the junior football team without telling my father about it. Korczew? This area was always known for its beautiful forests. Together with my sisters, we drove there for cycling trips, taking with us metal containers for berries or baskets for mushrooms. Sometimes, along the way, we also visited the church…” reminisced the saxophonist when asked about his memories of Zduńska Wola.