On May 9, the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles, CA brings two Polish jazz virtuosos—pianist Kuba Stankiewicz and bassist Darek ‘Oles’ Oleszkiewicz—to the stage of the Park Ballroom in the heart of downtown Paso Robles for a concert and wine reception. Stankiewicz and Oleszkiewicz will be joined by Kristina Raymond, a percussionist and drummer who tours and records widely. This concert is a fundraiser for the Paderewski Festival’s Youth Cultural Exchange, which is sending two U.S. students to Poland in July.
The “Jazz in the Ballroom” fundraising concert will feature music by two great Polish composers: Victor Young (1899–1956) and Bronisław Kaper (1902–1983). Although their names are not widely recognized among the public today, their compositions have been cherished by scores of musicians for many decades. Victor Young’s all-time hits include When I Fall in Love, Moonlight Serenade, Street of Dreams, Love Letters, My Foolish Heart, and Stella by Starlight, while Kaper’s On Green Dolphin Street, Invitation, Lili, and San Francisco firmly remain on the list enduring jazz standards. Both wrote hundreds of film scores during their careers, and were honored with Academy Awards—Kaper was the first Polish composer to win an Oscar for Best Music in 1953 and, after garnering 22 nominations, Young finally won his Oscar posthumously for Best Music in 1957.
Stankiewicz and Oleszkiewicz (pictured below) have recently released a recording of Young’s tunes on Warner Records, and are already working on another recording of Kaper, both of which also feature stellar percussionist and fellow Thornton faculty member, Peter Erskine.
Wines of Epoch Estate Wines and Cass Winery will be featured at the “Jazz in the Ballroom” reception beginning at 7 p.m., with music to follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at $30 per person can be ordered online at the Paderewski Festival website, www.paderewskifest.com. Around the corner, La Cosecha Bar & Restaurant will offer a special Paderewski cocktail before the concert, and the public is encouraged to join the jazz performers for dinner after the show at Il Cortile Restaurant. Further details can be obtained by contacting the Paderewski Festival at (805) 235-5409 or e-mailing info@paderewskifest.com. For dinner reservations, please call the Il Cortile Restaurant directly at 805 226-0300.
Saturday, May 9, 2015 | 7 p.m. Wine reception, 7:30 p.m. Concert
Jazz in the Ballroom, featuring Stankiewicz & Oleszkiewicz with works by Young & Kaper
Park Ballroom, 1232 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA
Details & Tickets: www.paderewskifest.com | (805) 235-5409 | info@paderewskifest.com
Admission: $30