Articles by Cezary L. Lerski

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Satoko Fujii on Sound, Freedom, and Not Two

by Cezary L. Lerski
September 11, 2026

Across nearly three decades, Not Two Records has documented some of the most adventurous music in improvised art--and few artists embody that spirit more fully than Satoko Fujii. A pianist, composer, and bandleader of extraordinary range, Fujii has released over 100 albums, each marked by curiosity, fearlessness, and emotional clarity. Her relationship with Not Two is one of the label's defining stories: built on trust, shared values, and a commitment to music that exists outside commercial expectations. In ...

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Janusz Stanisław Lewandowski: Karłowicz – Żeleński: Jazz Impressions

by Cezary L. Lerski
March 3, 2026

Released by Acte Préalable, a label internationally recognized for its dedication to Polish classical music, Karłowicz-Żeleński: Jazz Impressions marks a rare and intriguing departure from its usual repertoire. Known for championing overlooked composers and meticulously curated classical recordings, the label here ventures into the jazz world, presenting a project that bridges traditions without diluting either. What emerges is not a stylistic hybrid but a carefully-conceived artistic dialogue between classical art song and contemporary jazz instrumentation. Karłowicz-Żeleński: Jazz Impressions ...

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Maciej Lewenstein: Quantum Mechanics of Polish Jazz

by Cezary L. Lerski
October 11, 2015

Maciej Lewenstein was born in 1955 in Warsaw. He is a theoretical physicist and currently an ICREA professor at Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO) in Castelldefels near Barcelona, Spain. He has written more than 500 scientific papers and is the recipient of many international and national prizes. Next to theoretical physics his other passion is music and jazz in particular. First edition of his new English-language book Polish Jazz Recordings and Beyond, was published in 2014 by ...

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Polish Jazz for Dummies: 60 Years of Jazz from Poland

by Cezary L. Lerski
October 14, 2005

Introduction After 1945, like the rest of the Eastern and Central Europe, Poland fell under the dominance of Stalinist Russia-- and the Soviets certainly did not dig the swing!! Consequently, only certain musical forms were allowed to flourish, particularly those with folk rhythm, without syncopation. One tempo was prescribed for everybody and army marching bands rose in importance. The process of political and cultural oppression intensified after 1949 and jazz music was outlawed as the music of the ...

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Tomasz Stanko: A Mix of Two Extremes

by Cezary L. Lerski
June 14, 2004

I've always been a mix of two extremes... The conversation with Tomasz Stanko.

This interview was conducted via phone on May 18th, 2004 by Cezary Lerski from Polish Jazz Network one month before Tomasz Stanko Quartet tour in the United States and Canada.

All About Jazz: Dear Tomasz, your music has always been for many, myself included, an extreme of musical sophistication, the art form that requires special effort to comprehend, the art form accessible only to few ...