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Artist
Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski
12+ albums
jazzpolish jazzsaxophonepolishcontemporary jazz
about
Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski (born 1936 in Kalisz) is a Polish composer and tenor saxophonist most linked to jazz. Wróblewski cames from the generation that, in the Stalinist era, discovered jazz on clandestine radios when it was considered degenerate, immoral, and subversive. Wroblewski debuted at the first Sopot Jazz Festival in 1956 with Krzysztof Komeda's Sextet. Wroblewski was quickly spotted by George Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, to represent Poland in the International Youth Band conducted by Marshall Brown at the 1958 Festival. He was the first musician from behind the Iron Curtain to perform in the group. The Band s performance with a guest appearance by Louis Armstrong was memorialized in the American cult classic documentary "Jazz on a Summer s Day and partially recorded for Columbia (CL-1246). As a result, Ptaszyn toured the US (Boston, New York, Los Angeles), Holland, and Belgium, where he gave several concerts at the American Theatre at Expo 58 in Brussels, along with Sarah Vaughan, Teddy Wilson, and Sidney Bechet, among others. After coming back to Poland, he became the leader of the Jazz Believers band (1958-59; other members included Komeda and Kurylewicz), and incorporated jazz motifs heard in America into their compositions. During the same year, Wroblewski recorded his first album for the Polish Recording Company and debuted at Warsaw s famous Jazz Jamboree Festival. In 1960, he formed the Jazz Outsiders quintet. In the late 1950 s and early 60s,
