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Seifert Night in Munich
Seifert Night
Adam Pierończyk's international band and Leszek Żądła's Polish-German trio of jazz artists performed during the 70th anniversary of the Polish section of Radio Free Europe in Munich, as part of the "Focus auf Polen" program organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. The concert took place on May 3 at the Münchner Künstlerhaus.
LESZEK STING TRIO:
Leszek Żądło - sax
Tom Hauser - double bass
Jay Lateef - drums
As part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Polish Radio Free Europe Broadcasting Station, May 2-9 in Munich included a photo exhibition, a film screening, and a jazz concert featuring the music of Zbigniew Seifert. The heroes of this musical evening were two outstanding Polish saxophonists, Leszek Żądło and Adam Pierończyk.
On May 3, 1952, Radio Free Europe broadcast the first Polish program from its new radio headquarters in Munich. Today it houses the faculty of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Munich. Radio Free Europe was an American effort to counter the repressive policies of communist regimes in countries dependent on the USSR. It was initiated by the Committee for a Free Europe, established in 1949 - a private organization working with the US government. The first radio stations, which had the character of substitute radio, calculated to satisfy the expectations of their audiences, began operation in New York in the summer of 1950. From the spring of 1952, broadcasts were prepared in Munich, which has since become RWE's headquarters. For more than 40 years of its existence, the Polish RWE broadcaster was a tool for fighting propaganda, straightening out falsehoods, showing historical truth and providing full information about what was happening in Poland and the world. The organization of the anniversary in cooperation with the University is an excellent opportunity to recall the history of the existence of the Broadcasting Station and to bring closer a place of iconic status - the headquarters of the editorial office - seen as a bastion of reliable journalism.
Associated years ago with Radio Free Europe, saxophonist Leszek Żądło is an outstanding Polish jazz musician who has lived and worked in Munich since the 1970s. Considered one of the most important musicians on the Austrian and German jazz scene, he has worked with such notable jazz artists as Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer, Janusz Muniak and Zbigniew Seifert. As the leader of The Leszek Zadlo Ensemble, the Leszek Zadlo Quartett, the Polish Jazz Ensemble, and the European Art Ensemble, he has given concerts in more than 40 countries around the world and recorded more than 100 albums. In turn, he shared his knowledge and skills by teaching at music academies in Würzburg, Munich and Krakow.
After the fall of communism, his Polish passport was restored, and the Minister of Culture honored him with the Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture. He was also given a special award by "Solidarity" for his financial support or jazz programs at the Polish Radio Free Europe Broadcasting Station. During the RWE anniversary concert, Leszek Żądło will perform with two outstanding German jazzmen: Tom Hauser (double bass) and Johannes Jahn (drums).
Organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in cooperation with the Zbigniew Seifert Foundation, the concert was dedicated to the figure of the outstanding Polish violinist and internationally acclaimed jazz artist Zbigniew Seifert. In the '70s, after emigrating from the country, Seifert settled in Munich, and it was in this city that he created and gave concerts. His music, especially at a time when official art was supposed to implement the ideas of real socialism, became synonymous with freedom and spontaneity.
