Tomasz Stanko

NPR's Day to Day had a fine segment today from critic David Was.


Was reviewed Stanko's latest cd, Suspended Night. Stanko is, next to Dave Douglas and Ron Miles, amongst my favorite of today's trumpet players. He hails from Poland and plays with a voice that you have no choice but to take seriously. While, as Was mentions, his stylings come from Miles and his writing and scales come from Ornette, Stanko makes some very fresh music (as is so common from his label, ECM).
Was also says something important in his piece- while alot of folks hear a Kind of Blue-ish tone in Stanko's playing right now- the band really sounds more like Davis' second quintet, with Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter, et al. There's something distinct in the combined sound of that band- it was always weirdly spooky and pretty to me. Stanko achieves some similar band structures. Click on the picture to visit his page. If you're lucky, he's on tour now and may be coming to town.

Listen to the Day to Day piece here. (scroll down to the "Polish Jazz Master" bit.) The segment is full of audio teases.