PERFORMERS: Paul DeMarinis, tenor saxophone; Mike Parkinson, trumpet, Kim Portnoy, piano, Willem von Hombracht, bass; and Kevin Gianino, drums; with local Equity actors Eric J. Conners, Jeff Cummings, and Jane Paradise.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM: This event features readings of Szymborska’s poetry intertwined with Stanko’s music from his 2013 ECM album Wisława.

TOMASZ STAŃKO & WISŁAWA SZYMBORSKA: Internationally recognized as Poland’s premiere jazz artist, Tomasz Stańko’s career as a composer, band leader, and trumpeter encompassed the raw blues of Rex Stewart, the poignant balladry style of Miles Davis, the high range feats of Dizzy Gillespie, to free emotional expression in his quest for artistic vision.

Nobel Prize® winning poet Wisława Szymborska’s poems deal with explorations of mundane daily life, love found and lost, important historical figures and events, portrayed in alternatively pensive, acerbic, humorous, and penetrating settings, sometimes asking more questions than giving answers.

Szymborska and Stańko were close friends and collaborated on several acclaimed poetry-jazz presentations. The concert is focused on poetry by Szymborska as set to music by Stańko from his 2013 ECM tribute album Wisława.

For an introduction to Tomasz Stańko and the album, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD-AXm18hX0. 2023 marks the centennial of Wisława Szymborska’s birth and the fifth year of Tomasz Stańko’s passing.

A suggested donation of $15/adults, $10/students & seniors supports the 2023 International Summer Jazz Academy (ISJA), July 23-30, in Kraków, Poland. The ISJA was founded by Isidore Rudnick, Coordinator of Fine Arts for the Cincinnati Public Schools. Mike Parkinson, former Webster University Music Department Chair, was an original ISJA instructor and Artistic Director from 1995-2005, assisted by colleagues and students, including Willem von Hombracht, Artistic Director from 2008-2015. Willem and Mike have been invited to return as Artistic Directors by Grzegorz Motyka, Krakow School of Jazz & Contemporary Music, the ISJA presenter. SAINT LOUIS POLONIA, a registered 501-C-3 nonprofit, is the primary American sponsor for the ISJA.

The following organizations jointly organize the event
SAINT LOUIS POLONIA INC, 11469 Olive Blvd #1115, Creve Coeur, MO 6314 https://stl-pl.org/
UPSTREAM THEATER, 501 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103 https://upstreamtheater.org
NOTTELMANN MUSIC, 1590 Lemay Ferry Rd, St. Louis, MO 63125 https://nottelmannmusic.com/