The inspiration of folk in the jazz compositions of Zbigniew Namyslowski

Abstract

Zbigniew Namyslowski is one of the most distinguished Polish jazz musicians. He debuted in the late 50-ties, playing violoncello in Krzysztof Sadowski’s Modern Combo band. Violoncello was not commonly seen in jazz music.

He changed violoncello to trombone and played in the Warsaw traditional jazz band New orleans Stompers. It is the band for which he created his first arrangements inspired by the Polish folk. The following works should be mentioned here: Motywy goralskie (Highlander motives) and Starzyk (Pipe Smoker). However, as the time passed, the Dixieland style and the trombone stopped satisfying him. He then replaced the trombone with the alt saxophone and switched from Dixieland to modern jazz. Namyslowski is regarded as one of the greatest post-Coleman and post-Coltrane saxophonists in Poland. Once his adventure with Dixieland was over, his area of interested moved to bop, modern jazz trends, including free jazz. He was one of the first Polish jazz musicians to introduce odd metre to his compositions. This article concerns those works in particular. the author presents here the analysis of Namyslowski’s first compositions in the meter 5/4 and 7/4, such as Piątawka (in 4/5 time) and Siodmawka (Dance in Seven).

In 1973 Namyslowski composed another work with folk reference, entitled Kuyaviak Goes Funky. The composition is based on the 15/8 meter and consists of three parts, in which the melodies references to the Kuyavian idiom, supported by ostinato rhythm figures. The newest stage of his folk discoveries is the establishment of cooperation with the highlander band of Jan Karpiela “Bulecki” and their joint performances. Joint concerts and the records produced inspired the critics to call Namyslowski the “jazz and folk” musician.