Articles by Marek J. Śmietański
Alex Ventling, Rafał Jackiewicz, Greg Foat, Out Of/Into & More
by Marek J. Śmietański
It's time to say goodbye to the old year--not by recapping 2025, but by finally wrapping up our roundup of last year's standout new releases. The first New Year's edition of the show (episode 121) will focus primarily on December premieres, with a handful of overlooked gems from the autumn slipping in as well. This time, we're highlighting six exceptional live albums (two of them archival treasures) alongside a truly international lineup spanning three continents, with a strong European presence ...
Continue ReadingAaron Parks, Artur Dutkiewicz Trio, Julius Gawlik & More
by Marek J. Śmietański
The final regular episode of the show this year (the 120th) is dedicated to November's new releases. Fewer albums dropped than usual, but that doesn't mean they were any less fascinating. Quite the opposite, in fact: I've unearthed a handful of true gems once again, including three promising debut albums that feel like discovering hidden treasure in your own backyard. Since this is the only November edition, I'm skipping the usual split between Europe and the rest of the world ...
Continue ReadingAnders Hagberg, Arek Czernysz Quartet, Coulondre/Dolmen/Privat & more
by Marek J. Śmietański
From October's new European releases, I chose 19 remarkable premieres for Episode 118th--with the majority coming from merely three regions: five each from Poland, France, and the Scandinavia. The selection brimmed with daring, unconventional instrumentation, revealing itself most vividly through intimate and startling duets and trios. A superb set... nothing more, nothing less--just pure jazz alchemy, so dive in. Polish-language podcast (Bemowo FM broadcast).Playlist Intro: Hank Levy “Whiplash" from Whiplash: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Varese Sarabande) Host talks ...
Continue ReadingChristmas Jazz featuring Kurt Elling at Arena COS Torwar
by Marek J. Śmietański
A collection of photos from the Christmas Jazz concert at Arena COS Torwar in Warsaw on December 16, 2024 featuring Kurt Elling, Andrii Pokaz, Svitlo Orchestra and jazz band. ...
Continue ReadingElysian Fields, Zeitgeber, Kate Wyatt, Rin Seo Collective & more
by Marek J. Śmietański
Episode 119th of Jazz Crumbs wraps up the October releases. After the European chapter in episode 118th, we travel to the rest of the world. The sound is calmer and less experimental this time, with clear nods to tradition. There are plenty of albums by artists from outside the American mainstream--Canada, Cuba, South Africa, and several strong international projects. The new face of Australian jazz, however, truly catches the ear. Notably, only three of the featured albums are debuts. As ...
Continue ReadingMożdżer & Szymanowski at Love Polish Jazz Festival 2025
by Marek J. Śmietański
A collection of photos from the Możdżer & Szymanowski concert at Ice Arena in Tomaszów Mazowiecki (Poland) on September 19, 2025 featuring Leszek Mozdzer and Karol Szymanowski. The duo paid homage to the legend of Polish jazz--saxophonist Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski (who passed away in May 2024)--by reinterpreting his compositions. ...
Continue ReadingJames Danderfer, Michael Wolff, Fieldwork & more
by Marek J. Śmietański
Part two of our September jazz roundup continues in 117th episode--now venturing beyond Europe. Most of the highlights come from North America (the US and Canada are on fire), plus a few excellent releases from Australia, Japan, and Cuba (with a slight geographic stretch or two). Only two genuine debut albums in this episode, but one absolutely mind-blowing comeback from someone who's been off the radar for years. Plus a handful of records that, a dozen or so years ago, ...
Continue ReadingVincent Peirani, Flur, Le Maxiphone de Fred Pouget, RGG & more
by Marek J. Śmietański
116th episode is our September new releases roundup. After the summer break, so many exciting albums were released that we had to split it into two parts. In this part, we're diving deep into the heart of European jazz: spotlighting Poland, France, and Scandinavia, with standout international collaborations and standout albums from Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland (the latter featuring an artist with Japanese-Polish roots). Several recordings will surprise you with their unique atmosphere. Let the jazz take you away! ...
Continue ReadingFlorian Weber Quartet at ECM Warsaw Festival 2025
by Marek J. Śmietański
A collection of photos from the Florian Weber Quartet concert at Chopin University of Music (UMFC) in Warsaw on September 6, 2025 featuring Florian Weber, Michel Benita, Ziv Ravitz and Anna-Lena Schnabel. Other photo reports from the same festival: Mette Henriette at ECM Warsaw Festival 2025, Mathias Eick Quartet at ECM Warsaw Festival 2025 and Giovanni Guidi Trio at ECM Warsaw Festival 2025. ...
Continue ReadingRGG featuring Robert Więckiewicz at Lem Festival
by Marek J. Śmietański
A collection of photos from the RGG & Robert Więckiewicz concert at EC1 in Lodz on October 7, 2025 featuring Łukasz Ojdana, Maciej Garbowski, Krzysztof Gradziuk and Robert Więckiewicz (a famous Polish film and television actor), who read excerpts from Stanisław Lem's novel Solaris. The concert was one of the highlights of the Lem Festival “Megabit Bomb," dedicated to algorithms that are the foundation of AI development and the basis of quantum mechanics. ...
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