On Thursday November 20, Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stańko and his New York Quartet (comprised of pianist David Virelles, bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Gerald Cleaver) shared the stage at Barbican Hall with Italian pianist Stefano Bollani and Brazilian bandolim player Hamilton de Holanda at the London Jazz Festival. It was a performance of inspirational playing, feisty improvisation and formidable themes derived from Stańko’s acclaimed ECM double album, Wisława– dedicated to the celebrated poet, essayist and Nobel Laureate Wisława Szymborska.

Ivan Hewett of the London Telegraph writes:

This was one of those rare jazz gigs that transported us from pure joie de vivre to the quietest introversion, all within the space of three captivating hours… Moving from Stefano Bollani to the venerable Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stańko and his New York Quartet was like moving from sunshine to deep melancholy twilight. But it was a pleasurable twilight, full of interesting shadows and haunting lyricism.

Read more reviews at www.theguardian.com and www.londonjazznews.com.

[Sources: efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk, telegraph.co.uk]