Tomasz Stańko is an Artist well known to all music enthusiasts, whatever their genre preferences may be. He is a trumpeter who won the hearts of audiences in Poland and all over the world, remaining a free jazz legend for almost five decades.

Tomasz Stańko is an Artist well known to all music enthusiasts, whatever their genre preferences may be. He is a trumpeter who won the hearts of audiences in Poland and all over the world, remaining a free jazz legend for almost five decades. Stańko begun his romance with jazz music in 1962, when along with Adam Makowicz he formed Jazz Darings, called by music historians the first free jazz group in Europe. A year later he was invited by Krzysztof Komeda to join his quartet, in which he stayed for five years. Since 1968, Stańko performed with his own band and for the next forty years he collaborated with several Polish and foreign artists.

And today Metal Mind Productions presents Stańko?s latest release ? ?1970-1975-1984-1986-1988? box. This exclusive box contains remastered editions of five albums recorded between 1970 and 1987. Each of the albums was specially prepared for this occasion ? digitally remastered with the full cooperation of the Artist himself. The oldest one is ?Music for K? from 1970, which is believed to have made Stańko the leader of the international scene. This album is Stańko?s debut as well as his most fiery and passionate release in the free jazz genre. The most important event for Stańko in the 70?s was his collaboration with the Finnish drummer Edward Vesala ? along with him, Warren and Szukalski, Stańko recorded the album ?Twet?, which was an exploration of the free jazz ballad idiom, complete with an enchanting, yet harsh sound of the trumpet. While some fans consider ?Twet? to be Stańko?s best work ever, the album is without question a masterpiece in building tension and space. The 80?s introduce the Artist to various methods of searching for inspiration, as well as to various places and musicians he worked with. The first album that Stańko welcomed the new decade with, was ?Music 81?, recorded in 1982 with Sławomir Kulpowicz,  Witold Szczurek and Czesław Bartkowski. This release showcased unique, rugged melancholy, combined with Bartkowski?s interesting, irregular rhythmic section. The next album included in the box is ?Lady Go? ? recorded in 1986 with Antymos Apostolis, Witold Szczurek and Tomasz Hołuj. A perhaps less acclaimed and popular release, it is still worth the attention and exploring it over and over really pays off. The box is closed with the live album ?Switzerland?, which was recorded on July 14th, 1987, during the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. This live performance shows Stańko?s fascination with electronic sounds ? ?Switzerland? was way ahead of its time, proving to be an announcement of musical trends that were yet to come. This album is also a perfect ending to this compilation, which is a journey through almost twenty years of Stańko?s career. Despite the passing years, albums such as ?Lady Go? and ?Music for K? are still up-to-date and exceptional, surprising with their simplicity and freshness. Tomasz Stańko brilliantly joins the classics with modernity, contributing to the development of art and jazz culture in Europe. This release is dedicated to both music connoisseur and those who only begin to live their jazz fascination.

?1970-1975-1984-1986-1988? box will be available on 13th October 2008 in Europe and 25th November 2008 in USA (via MVD).

Tomasz Stańko
?1970-1975-1984-1986-1988?

Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MMP 5 CD BOX 006
Barcode: 5907785033429
Format: 5 CD BOX
Genre: jazz
Release date: 13.10.2008 Europe / 25.11.2008 USA

Tracklist:

CD 1 - Music for K:

1. Czatownik
2. Nieskończenie mały
3. Cry
4. Music for K
5. Temat Czatownik

CD 2 ? Twet:

1. Dark Awakening
2. Twet
3. Mintuu Maria
4. Man from North
5. Night Peace

CD 3 - Music 81:

1. Alusta
2. Daada
3. Bushka
4. Third Heavy Ballad
5. Ahuha

CD 4 - Lady Go:

1. Modi Modi
2. The First
3. Mr Paul at Marta's Place
4. Almost Gama
5. Lady Go
6. Last Song
7. Lakis and Basia
8. Violet Liquor
9. Les Papillons Gris 
10. Modi Modi 

CD 5 - Switzerland:

1. Lady Go
2. Asmodeus
3. Sunia
4. Too Pee
5. Switzerland
6. Ha ha ha