Articles by Cheptoo Kositany
Jazz Riffs Amidst the Rubble: How Ukraine's Artists Keep Jazz Alive in Wartime
by Cheptoo Kositany
In bomb shelters, makeshift clubs, and even occasionally on the front lines, Ukrainian jazz artists are keeping the flame of the music alive. The story of jazz in Ukraine is long and winding, stretching back to the Soviet era. In the 1920s and '30s, jazz seeped into the Soviet Union, brought by records, radio broadcasts, and visiting musicians. Despite the ideological disapproval of the Communist Party, which viewed jazz as decadent Western music, it found a dedicated audience, ...
Continue ReadingWorld Jazz Network Meets Polish Jazz
by Cheptoo Kositany
From March 12-15, 2025, Szczecin was not just a city but a vibrant hub for international exchange and collaboration in the jazz industry. The World Jazz Network Meets Polish Jazz conference, a key part of the 10th edition of Szczecin Jazz 2025, was a unique event that brought together leading institutions and experts promoting jazz worldwide. Organized by Szczecińska Agencja Artystyczna, in cooperation with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Jazz Forum magazine, and the World Jazz Network, the conference was graced ...
Continue ReadingSylwester Ostrowski: Building Cultural Connections Globally with Jazz
by Cheptoo Kositany
Sylwester Ostrowski is an accomplished tenor saxophonist, composer, producer, and bandleader of the Jazz Brigade. He is experiencing major success in his music career, built around collaboration with other artists, and partnering with jazz institutions through his organization Szczecin Jazz. Ostrowski's global connections span four continents from Europe, North America, Africa, to Asia. Ostrowski is a leader in Poland using jazz to build cross-cultural connections. His work has earned the city of Szczecin his hometown the label “The ...
Continue Reading
