Kosciuszko Foundation Online Programs

Quarantine Jazz
Mateusz Smoczynski, Violin
and Stephan Braun, Cello

Recorded at Piekarnia Cichej Kobiety in Zielona Gora
on November 7, 2020 as part of "Seifert Concerts" series

From the Kosciuszko Foundation website: Mateusz Smoczyński is an internationally-acclaimed Polish jazz violinist and winner of numerous prizes at major competitions, including the Grand Prix of the Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Competition. A sought-after soloist and ensemble-leader, he has performed at the most important jazz venues and festivals around the world. An active educator, since 2017 he has been an Adjunct Professor at the Jazz and World Music Department of the Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw. Mateusz Smoczyński is also considered one of the most multi-faceted Polish contemporary music composers. An author of numerous chamber and symphonic works, his „Adam's Apple" violin concerto had its premiere at the iconic hall of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) in Katowice, Poland. Stephan studied classical cello and jazz cello at the universities in Hamburg and Berlin. In 2010 he won the 1st prize of the International Jazz Competition in Bucharest with his trio. He played at many famous festivals and concert halls, like Vienna Opera House, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Paris Olympia Theatre, Pori Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, New Directions Cello Festival, Cello Akademie Rutesheim, North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival and recorded as a sideman more than 20 CDs. As a leader, he published 2 own records, one with his trio (called The Raid, released 2008) and one with his singer-songwriter project deep strings (called Façon, released 2012). Cellist Stephan Braun, a seasoned musician to be sure, answers the question once and for all of what the true domain of the cello in jazz is: groove..

Subscribe to the
KOSCIUSZKO TV YouTube Channel
and get notified when a new video gets posted