Tomasz Szukalski
Tomasz Szukalski | |
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Background information | |
Born | Warsaw Polish People's Republic | January 8, 1948
Died | August 2, 2012 | (aged 64)
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Musical career | |
Genres | Jazz |
Instrument | Saxophone |
Years active | 1966-2011 |
Labels | ECM Polskie Nagrania Muza Supraphon Helicon Poljazz GOWI Records |
Website | Tomasz Szukalski homepage |
Tomasz Szukalski (born December 25, 1947 in Warsaw, Polish People's Republic, registered by Soviet authorities January 8, 1948.[1][2] - died August 2, 2012 in Piaseczno, Poland)[3] was a Polish jazz saxophone player, composer and improviser. Tomasz is most known for his performances as sideman of Tomasz Stańko, Edward Vesala and Zbigniew Namysłowski. Awarded Magister of Music (Master of Arts) at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Warsaw.
Life and career
Early years
Tomasz studied clarinet but preferred to perform on tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and on special occasions on bass clarinet. Being experiment friendly Tomasz even once tried a chainsaw.
Tomasz started his career in the jazz orchestras of Zbigniew Namysłowski and Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski often outperforming the bandleaders. Other members of the bands included Tomasz Stańko, Zbigniew Seifert, Adam Makowicz, Włodzimierz Nahorny, Janusz Muniak, Michał Urbaniak and Tomasz's lifelong mate Wojciech Karolak.
Tomasz Stańko, ECM and SBB
In the 1970s Tomasz's performances became more avant-garde and free. His bandmates at this time were Tomasz Stańko, Peter Warren and Edward Vesala but Tomasz performed also with Arild Andersen, Dave Holland, Palle Danielsson, Palle Mikkelborg, Terje Rypdal, Juhani Aaltonen and Antti Hytti. During this period Tomasz recorded, as sideman, for the prestigious jazz label ECM Records. Parallel to touring Scandinavia and West Europe with jazz musicians Tomasz performed in Polish People's Republic with the progressive Silesian rockband SBB.[4]
The Quartet and Józef Skrzek
In 1977 Tomasz consolidated his own band The Quartet,[5] which soon gained reputation. His bandmates were Sławomir Kulpowicz, Paweł Jarzębski and Janusz Stefański. In the years 1980-1981 Tomasz continued a duo cooperation with SBB's leader Józef Skrzek and the planned for autumn 1981 joint performance of, almost cultic, SBB and his own The Quartet at the renowned Jazz Jamboree festival, due the tense political situation in Poland, was not finalized. In 1981 Tomasz also performed with Józef Skrzek in the movie "The War of the Worlds: Next Century". Just weeks before the onset of martial law in Poland Tomasz performed with Józef Skrzek, Andrzej Ryszka, Andrzej Urny, Dean Brown and Gil Goldstein in Warsaw and at a workshop in memory of John Coltrane, organised by Joachim-Ernst Berendt at Südwestfunk in Baden-Baden with his The Quartet friends, Tomasz Stańko, Albert Mangelsdorff and John Coltrane’s last drummer Rashied Ali.[6] During Tomasz's stay in Vienna, following December 1981 Czechoslovakia tour (performing "Ambitus Extended" with Józef Skrzek), martial law was onset and Tomasz returned home.[7]
Martial law - Time killers
Tomasz joined again the orchestra of Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski. In 1984 Tomasz mobilised his energy to record with his old mates Wojciech Karolak and Czesław Bartkowski the groovy "Time Killers", which instantly became a hit. In 1985 Tomasz consolidated his new quartet with Piotr Biskupski, Andrzej Cudzich and Andrzej Jagodziński but the quartet didn't survive.[8]
New hope - Artur, Alain, Antti, Apostolis, Arild
After 1990 Tomasz performed in various constellations, recorded as sideman and special guest providing unforgettable saxophone solos, and started a long lasting cooperation with the young pianist Artur Dutkiewicz. During his last years Tomasz performed with Artur Dutkiewicz, Wojciech Karolak, Alain Brunet,[9] Tadeusz Nalepa, Piotr Wojtasik, Wojciech Majewski, Tomasz Stańko, Apostolis Anthimos, Arild Andersen, Janusz Skowron, Karin Krog and Antti Hytti.[10]
Disillusion and death
Tomasz was expropriated and, after losing his home, divorced and spent more than a decade in his primitive cabin outside Warsaw, where he had been, since 2004, massively harassed by the remains of SB (the soviet secret police).[citation needed] Also his best, custom made, instruments (Henri Selmer Paris, Julius Keilwerth) were stolen. The Quartet reunited and performed some concerts across Europe in 2006 and 2007 but soon Sławomir Kulpowicz died. Due to massive harassment and provocations[citation needed] Tomasz had a stroke. Around 2009 sick and homeless himself Tomasz gained some attention of friends, especially from Artur Dutkiewicz, who organised "The Day of The Jackal" (Polish: Dzień Szakala) benefit concerts in several major Polish cities. The last and biggest one, organised in Warsaw on November 21, 2010, became the greatest jazz performance of this year in Poland.[11] The following musicians helped Tomasz find a place at an artist's asylum in Skolimów outside Warsaw:
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/DzienSzakala2Szukalski20101121.jpg/400px-DzienSzakala2Szukalski20101121.jpg)
- Michał Barański - double bass
- Ewa Bem - vocal
- Danel Biel - double bass
- David Dorůžka - guitar
- Urszula Dudziak - vocal
- Artur Dutkiewicz - piano
- Tomasz Grzegorski - sax
- Krzysztof Herdzin - piano
- Borys Janczarski - sax
- Paweł Jarzębski - double bass
- Kazimierz Jonkisz - drums
- Wojciech Karolak - Hammond organ
- Tomasz Krawczyk - guitar
- Sławomir Kurkiewicz - double bass
- Robert Majewski - piano
- Adam Makowicz - piano
- Michał Miśkiewicz - drums
- Leszek Możdżer - piano
- Łukasz Poprawski - sax
- Wojciech Pulcyn - bass
- Janusz Stefański - drums
- Józef Skrzek - piano, minimoog, harmonica, vocal
- Jorgos Skolias - vocal
- Tomasz Stańko - trumpet
- Krzysztof Ścierański - bass, guitar
- Jarosław Śmietana - guitar
- Jan Smoczyński - piano
- Michał Tokaj - piano
- Michał Urbaniak - violin
- Marcin Wasilewski - piano
- Aga Zaryan - vocal
- Łukasz Żyta - drums
After a couple of months (2011–2012) spent at artist's asylum Tomasz Szukalski passed on August 2, 2012 at a hospital in Piaseczno, Poland)[12] Tomasz's funeral was performed August 8, 2012 at Bródno Cemetery, just one kilometre from his stolen and occupied home.[13]
Tomasz was awarded posthumously, in 2012, with the Medal for Merit to Culture - Gloria Artis for his achievements for the Polish culture and in 2013 with Fryderyk (in Gold), the Polish equivalent of the Grammy Award, for the works of his lifetime.[14][15]
Heritage
Mister nobody
Tomasz Szukalski performed on far more than 100 albums but just a bunch appears under his own name. Tomasz was one of the most influential Polish musicians, he was the spirit and teacher of a whole generation of musicians. Tomasz was invited as guest by many artists, bands, radio stations, schools, workshops, venues and festivals to teach and to perform his warm, beautiful and both - calm and energizing solos.
Tomasz Stańko about Tomasz Szukalski:
This was completely improvised music (TWET). Transcendental. This greenhorn Szukalski was a revelation.
He was playing perfectly from the very beginning. The very best musicians are like this.
When I was playing with him, I've always been surprised.
He was very creative in the band (with Edward Vesala), what we mostly appreciated was his sound, his expression.
I had to rely on top class musicians, and in Poland there were just a few. Szukalski, Szczurek, Skowron.
Whoever he was playing with, he was the better performer.[16][17]
Selected discography
Recorded | Issued | Title | Performer | Kind | Label |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | 1974 | Koncert podwójny na 5 solistów i orkiestrę (Double Concerto for Five Soloists and Orchestra) |
Tomasz Szukalski, Zbigniew Seifert, Janusz Muniak, Włodzimierz Nahorny, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Czesław Niemen, Bronisław Suchanek, Janusz Stefański, Stu Martin, Tomasz Stańko, Jan Jarczyk, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski and others | live in studio | Poljazz Z-SXL 0553 |
1972 | Sound of Marianna Wróblewska | Marianna Wróblewska | PN Muza SXL 0847 | ||
1972 | Naga 1 | Niebiesko-Czarni | PN Muza SXL 0881 | ||
1972 | Naga 2 | Niebiesko-Czarni | PN Muza SXL 0882 | ||
1973 | Winobranie Vintage) |
Zbigniew Namysłowski | PN Muza SXL 0952 | ||
1973 | Rien ne va plus | Novi Singers | PN Muza SXL 1009 | ||
1973 | Night Jam Session in Warsaw 1973 | All Stars After Hours | live | PN Muza SXL 1033 | |
1973 | Interjazz 3 | Tomasz Szukalski, John McLaughlin and others | live, compilation | Supraphon 1 15 1739 | |
1974 | Easy! | Wojciech Karolak | PN Muza SXL 1069 | ||
1974 | Chałturnik | S.P.P.T. Chałturnik | PN Muza SXL 1079 | ||
1974 | TWET | Tomasz Stańko, Edward Vesala, Peter Warren, Tomasz Szukalski | live in studio | PN Muza SXL 1138 | |
1974 | Sprzedawcy glonów (Algae Dealers) |
Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski | live in studio | PN Muza SXL 1141 | |
1975 | Kujaviak Goes Funky | Zbigniew Namysłowski Quintet | PN Muza SX 1230 | ||
1975 | Three Thousands Points | Krzysztof Sadowski | PN Muza SX 1277 | ||
1975 | 2004 | Sikorki (Tits) |
SBB | live in studio | Metal Mind Productions |
1975 | Jazz Jamboree 75 Vol. 2 | Karin Krog & Zbigniew Namysłowski Quintet | live | PN Muza SX 1340 | |
1975 | 1976 1993 2008 |
Balladyna | Tomasz Stańko, Tomasz Szukalski, Dave Holland, Edward Vesala | live in studio | ECM Records 1071, 1777597 |
1976 | Ach! Jak Przyjemnie | Sami Swoi | live in studio | PN Muza SX 1353 | |
1976 | Drums Dream | Czesław Bartkowski | PN Muza SX 1419 | ||
1976 | 2004 | Anthology, Vol. 05 | SBB | live in studio | Metal Mind Productions |
1976 | Rodina | Edward Vesala, Tomasz Szukalski, Tomasz Stańko, Juhani Aaltonen, Pekka Poyry and others | Love Records LRLP 189 | ||
1976 | Satu | Edward Vesala, Tomasz Szukalski, Palle Mikkelborg, Terje Rypdal, Palle Danielsson, Tomasz Stańko, Juhani Aaltonen and others | ECM 1088 | ||
1976 | 1978 | Live at Remont | Tomasz Stańko - Edward Vesala Quartet | live | Helicon HR 1002 |
1977 | Love Chant | Jan Wallgren - Bengt Ernryd Quartet | Dragon | ||
1978 | 1979 | Almost Green | Tomasz Stańko, Tomasz Szukalski, Palle Danielsson, Edward Vesala | live in studio | Leo 008 |
1978 | Jasmine Lady | Zbigniew Namysłowski | PN Muza | ||
1978 | 1979 2009 |
The Quartet | The Quartet | live in studio | Poljazz Z-SX 0688 Anex AN 302 |
1979 | Loaded | The Quartet | live in studio | ||
1979 | Swing Party | Krzysztof Sadowski | PN Muza SX 1796 | ||
1979 | Neitsytmatka (Maiden Voyage) |
Edward Vesala, Tomasz Szukalski, Sławomir Kulpowicz, Paweł Jarzębski, Tomasz Stańko | Polarvox LJLP 1014 | ||
1980 | Józefina | Józef Skrzek | pl:Wifon LP 037 | ||
1981 | Wojna Światów - następne stulecie (War of the Worlds - Next Century) |
Józef Skrzek, Tomasz Szukalski, Robert Gola, Janusz Ziomber, Jan Skrzek | PN Muza SX 2342 | ||
1981 | Ambitus Extended | Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski | Helicon HR 1006 | ||
1981 | Wojna Światów - Live (War of the Worlds - Live) |
Józef Skrzek Formation | live in Czechoslovakia | Wydawnictwo 21 21.014 | |
1981 | Kolędy (Carols) |
Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski | old Polish X-mas carols single 45 RPM |
Helicon HR 001 | |
1982 | Matko, która nas znasz... | Stanisław Sojka feat. Tomasz Szukalski | live in studio | Helicon HR 1009 | |
1983 | Kolędy (Carols) |
Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski | old Polish X-mas carols single 45 RPM |
Helicon HR 002 | |
1984 | Time Killers | Wojciech Karolak - Tomasz Szukalski - Czesław Bartkowski | Helicon HR 1012 | ||
1985 | Tina Kamila | Tomasz Szukalski | for daughter | PN Muza SX 2250 | |
1986 | Tina Blues | Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | live | Poljazz PSJ 172, Wipe 7084 | |
1986 | Interjazz 5 | Milan Svoboda & The Polish - Czech Big Band | live in studio | Supraphon | |
1986 | Music from Poland at MIDEM '86 | various artists | PN Muza SX 2292 | ||
1987 | Polish Jazz Vol. 1 | Wipe 7081 | |||
1987 | 1987 | Sen szaleńca (A Fool’s Dream) |
Tadeusz Nalepa | PN Muza 2437 | |
1983-1988 | 1988 | Radioaktywny (Radioactive) |
Stanisław Sojka | PN Muza SX 2661 | |
1988 | Sunrise Sunset | Grażyna Auguścik | PN Muza SX 2615 | ||
1989 | Plays Ethio - Jazz | Mulatu Astatke | Poljazz PSJ 252 | ||
1989 | Blues Duo SZ - SZ / Sz-Sz Blues |
Tomasz Szukalski - Janusz Szprot | live in studio | Wipe 7079 | |
1989 | Borżomski Wąwóz / Body And Soul |
Jazz Chorał & Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | with a band from Georgia | PN Muza | |
1991 | Absolutnie (Absolutely) |
Tadeusz Nalepa | PN Muza SX 3011 | ||
1991 | Body and Soul | Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | live | Polonia Records CD 003 | |
1993 | 1994 | A Farewell to Maria | Tomasz Stańko | GOWI Records CDG 12 | |
1994 | 1994 | Balladyna - Theatre Play Compositions |
Tomasz Stańko | GOWI Records CDG 16 | |
1996 | Selected Recordings (:rarum XVII) | Tomasz Stańko | compilation | ECM Records 8017 | |
1997 | Gadające Drzewo (Talking Tree) |
Stół Pański feat. Tomasz Szukalski, Sławomir Kulpowicz & Andrzej Przybielski | ZBIG Records 001 | ||
1999 | Lady Walking | Artur Dutkiewicz | en:Universal Music 546070-2 | ||
1999 | Escape | Piotr Wojtasik | |||
1999 | 2004 | Anthology, Vol. 14 | SBB | live | Metal Mind Productions |
2000 | 2001 | Reinkarnasja | Grzegorz Karnas | Not Two | |
2000 | Phone Consultations | Tomasz Szukalski, Wojciech Karolak, Jarosław Śmietana Quartet | |||
2000 | Barefoot | Anna Maria Jopek | EmArcy 016 299-2 | ||
2000 | O co tyle milczenia | Anna Maria Jopek | Universal Music Polska | ||
2001 | Grechuta | Wojciech Majewski Quintet | Sony Music Polska | ||
2002 | My Lullaby | Agnieszka Skrzypek vel Aga Zaryan | Not Two/ Cosmopolis MW 737-2 | ||
2003 | Zamyślenie (Contemplation) |
Wojciech Majewski Quintet | Sony Music Polska | ||
2003 | Live in Warsaw (Skarpa Theatre) |
Karin Krog & Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | live 50 copies |
Mariusz Zych & Embassy of Norway in Poland | |
2004 | Sny (Dreams) |
Grzegorz Karnas | DeBies 002 | ||
2005 | O Panie przebacz mej myśli, że nie dość jeszcze Miłuję | Józef Skrzek | compilation | ||
2005 | 2006 | Wolność w sierpniu (Freedom in August) | Tomasz Stańko, Tomasz Szukalski, Marcin Wasilewski, Apostolis Anthimos, Sławomir Kurkiewicz, Michał Miśkiewicz, Janusz Skowron | contribution for the Warsaw Uprising Museum |
FIRe |
2005 | Session Natural Irish & Jazz | Carrantuohill | Celt / Rockers Publishing CC08 | ||
2005 | The Best of Polish Jazz 2005 | ||||
1981-2007 | 2010 | The Day of The Jackal | Tomasz Szukalski, Apostolis Anthimos, Arild Andersen, Andrzej Cudzich, Artur Dutkiewicz, Paweł Jarzębski, Kazimierz Jonkisz, Sławomir Kulpowicz, Józef Skrzek, Janusz Stefański, Zbigniew Wiatr | live compilation 100 copies |
Mariusz Zych limited private edition |
2011 | The Masters of Polish Jazz | Piotr Wojtasik |
References
- ^ "Tomasz Szukalski - personal homepage" (in Polish). Tomasz Szukalski.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "First anniversary of Tomasz Szukalski's death" (in Polish). reporter-24.pl.
- ^ "Polnischer Saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski gestorben" (in German). nmz.de.
- ^ "Background - SBB - music from occupied Silesia". SBB.
- ^ "The Quartet - Loaded". polish-jazz.
- ^ "Polnischer Saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski gestorben" (in German). nmz.de.
- ^ Hojn, Andrzej (2003). SBB wizje: autoryzowana historia zespołu (in Polish). p. 262. ISBN 83-919431-0-0.
- ^ Stańko, Tomasz (2010). DESPERADO - Autobiografia (in Polish). ISBN 978-83-08-05326-3.
- ^ "Alain Brunet - Jazz" (in French). Alain Brunet.
- ^ "Tomasz Szukalski (1947-2012) / "Kukunor", live in Finland 2005 (homage by Antti Hytti)". Antti Hytti.
- ^ "The Day of The Jackal - charity concert" (in Polish). RadioJazz.FM.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Polnischer Saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski gestorben" (in German). nmz.de.
- ^ "The Funeral of Tomasz Szukalski" (in Polish). jazzforum.
- ^ "Fryderyk 2013: Tomasz Szukalski (in gold)" (PDF) (in Polish). ZPAV.pl.
- ^ "Fryderyk - News (2013: Tomasz Szukalski & Józef Skrzek)" (in Polish). ZPAV.pl.
- ^ Stańko, Tomasz (2010). DESPERADO - Autobiografia (in Polish). ISBN 978-83-08-05326-3.
- ^ "Fryderyk 2013: Tomasz Szukalski (in gold)" (PDF) (in Polish). ZPAV.pl.