Jazz Articles about Vitold Rek

About Vitold Rek

Album Review

Tomasz Stańko: Polish Radio Sessions 1970-91

Read "Polish Radio Sessions 1970-91" reviewed by Kevin Poindexter

by Kevin Poindexter
February 24, 2026

In post-World War II Poland, jazz served as an act of defiance against the state, a resistance to the cultural restraints imposed on society. With its improvised nature and swinging rhythms, it stood in direct opposition to the rigid structure of socialist society. Where jazz relies on individual improvisation as a form of expression, socialist society demanded the opposite from individuals; they were expected to be just another part of the machine. Universal conformity was the goal, and since jazz ...

Album Review

Lajos Dudas: The Lake and the Music

Read "The Lake and the Music" reviewed by Mark Sullivan

by Mark Sullivan
June 6, 2020

The Hungarian-born, German-resident clarinetist Lajos Dudas has a lengthy discography, and his long career was celebrated by the Vimeo video Ein Künstlerportrait. He has played classical music, and jazz from bebop to free. But, for what he says is his final album, he has chosen to play fresh interpretations of jazz standards and songs from the Great American Songbook. He is joined by his longtime accompanist, guitarist Philipp Van Endert on all of the tracks (along with drummer Kurt Billker ...

Album Review

Lajos Dudas: The Lake and the Music

Read "The Lake and the Music" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
May 25, 2020

At 80-years old, clarinetist Lajos Dudas is dropping off the keys to the recording studio while making his way out—Dudas claims this is his last recording and, if true, he ends things on a high note at the intersection of The Great American Songbook and free jazz. Dudas' previous recording, Return to the Future (Jazzsick Records, 2018) was a jogging approach to this present, and last, The Lake and the Music, where Dudas uses 10 tried-and-true standards as his jumping ...

129

Album Review

Vitold Rek & EastWestWind: Home

by Jerry D'Souza
October 1, 2007

Vitold Rek first studied the double bass in Cracow playing classical music. A change came when he heard Ray Brown play and from there on jazz manifested itself in his compositions and he became part of trumpet player Tomasz Stanko's band. Rek made a significant contribution and was soon in the company of outstanding improvisers like Charlie Mariano, Albert Mangelsdorff, Karl Berger and John Tchicai. He recorded with all of them and went on to lead his own groups including ...