31st International Open Air Festival Jazz at the Old Town

July 5th - August 31th, 2025, Warsaw, Old Town Square, 7 PM, free entrance

Organizer:
Fundacja Jazz Art.

Honorary patronage:
Minister Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego, Prezydent m. st. Warszawy

General director, author:
Krzysztof Wojciechowski

Art director, spokesperson:
Iwona Strzelczyk Wojciechowska

The 31st edition of the popular festival will begin in Warsaw on July 5 and will last until August 30. The Old Town Square will once again become the concert heart of Warsaw and will beat to the rhythm of jazz for 2 months of the summer.

It promises to be an interesting program that fits into the history of exceptional meetings with jazz icons and recognized artists.

The original program - stylistically diverse, Polish and international jazz stars, pioneers of the genre, premieres and unique projects - have been the hallmarks of the festival for years.

It is one of the few such festivals in Poland and Europe, addressed to a wide audience with a completely free formula. For years, it has been an artistic and tourist showcase of the capital in the summer, attracting jazz fans from Warsaw, Poland and abroad.

The list of names of artists who have played at the festival is impressive.

The entire top of international jazz performed, including aces and legends such as: Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride, James Carter, Joey Calderazzo, Archie Sheep, David Murray, Roy Hargrove, Ernie Watts, Jacky Terrasson, Richard Galliano, Dino Saluzzi, Bill Evans, Chico Freeman, Lee Konitz, Kevin Mahogany, Bobo Stenson, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Tord Gustavsen, Enrico Pieranunzi, Stefano Bollani, Enrico Rava, Marilyn Mazur, Shai Maestro, Bill Evans, Mike Stern, Stanley Jordan, Palle Mikkelborg, Terje Rypdal, Charnett Moffett, Omar Sosa, Charnett Moffett, Birelli Lagrene, Ulf Wakenius, Courtney Pine, Denys Baptiste. For the first time at the festival, the Polish audience had the opportunity to hear such stars of American jazz as: Duffy Jackson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Scott Hamilton, Cyrus Chesnut, John Pizzarelli, Daniel Jobim (grandson of Antonio Carlos Jobim), and discoveries of American stages like: Avishai Cohen, Hiromi, Alfredo Rodriguez, Kyle Eastwood (son of Clint Eastwood), Hamilton de Holanda, Harold Lopez -Nussa. It was with great pleasure that we presented legends of Polish jazz and outstanding artists such as: Tomasz Stańko, Michał Urbaniak, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski, Janusz Muniak, Tomasz Szukalski, Jarosław Śmietana, Adam Makowicz, Włodek Pawlik, Leszek Możdżer, Włodzimierz Nahorny, Wojciech Karolak, Andrzej Jagodziński, Piotr Baron, Piotr Wojtasik, Krzysztof Herdzin, Kuba Stankiewicz, Joachim Mencel, Marcin Masecki, Paweł Kaczmarczyk, Sławek Jaskułke, Adam Bałdych, Gary Guthman, Marek Napiórkowski, Krzysztof Ścierański, Ewa Bem, Urszula Dudziak, Grażyna Auguścik, Anna Maria Jopek, Lora Szafran, Aga Zaryan and many others. Excellent Polish bands such as: The Quartet, Miłość, Dream Team, Laboratorium, String Connection, Walk Away, Young Power, Simple Acoustic Trio, Marcin Wasilewski Trio, EABS, RGG Trio, Maciej Obara Quartet, Kacper Smoliński Quintet, Piotr Schmidt Quintet, Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet presented their premiere and anniversary projects.

The festival has been widely present in Polish media and internet portals for years. We have been shown by foreign media - BBC, Deutche Welle, Poland in English.

Visit also Facebook website.

A Story of Polish Jazz

5 July 2025

A special project that presents a shortened and somewhat subjective history of Polish jazz. We will hear the leaders of Polish jazz (13 artists – including Alicja Śmietana, Bzyk, Guzik, Krzesimir Dębski, Piotr Baron, Henryk Miśkiewicz, Jerzy Małek, Grzegorz Nagórski, Kajetan Galas, Piotr Wyleżoł, Antoni Dębski, Marcin Wądołowski, Adam Czerwiński) in a broader perspective, presenting both their own compositions and pieces by the creator of the project, J. Śmietana, and the icon of Polish jazz, J. Ptaszyn Wróblewski. A rare galaxy of Polish jazz stars on one stage!

Peter Bernstein Quartet

12 July 2025

A giant of the world guitar scene associated with New York. A student of the legendary guitarist Jim Hall, he is an appreciated musician in Downbeat Magazine readers' and critics' polls. The guitar virtuoso draws from musical tradition and modernity. Known for his collaborations with the bands of Nicholas Payton, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and especially for the successes of his organ trio with Larry Goldings, described by The New York Times as "the greatest organ trio of the decade". The leader will be accompanied by sought-after New York musicians - pianist Danny Grissett, double bassist Doug Weiss and drummer Bill Stewart.

Christian McBride - Remembering Ray Brown with Benny Green & Greg Hutchinson

19 July 2025

Polish premiere. After 10 years, a jazz luminary, an American double bass virtuoso, composer, and eight-time GRAMMY winner returns to our stage. The most sought-after and respected artist of the contemporary jazz scene, pays tribute to his mentor, the double bass legend Ray Brown. One of his most famous students will play with pianist Benny Green and drummer Gregory Hutchinson, who were members of the Ray Brown Trio for many years. It will not only be a remembrance of a brilliant artist, but also and above all timeless Great Jazz. For the first time, at the only concert in Poland, we will hear this exceptional project - a concert!

Myrczek & Schmidt Quintet ft. Herdzin - Młynarski. Bynajmniej

26 July 2025

A new, extraordinary musical project to the lyrics of W. Młynarski "the Polish Frank Sinatra", Wojciech Myrczek - the best Polish jazz vocalist, in a star cast and in a masterful performance. The author of most of the original arrangements is the outstanding pianist, composer, arranger, Krzysztof Herdzin, and he is accompanied by, among others, the top trumpeter, band leader, Piotr Schmidt. The excellent quintet masterfully interprets the classics of the master of words, and the jazz arrangements open new doors to the creator's magnificent legacy.

Francesca Tandoi Trio

2 August 2025

The Italian jazz pianist and vocalist has been hailed by critics and the industry as a rising star of jazz and one of the stunning young talents on the international scene. In just a few short years, she has gained recognition as a world-class pianist and vocalist. She has performed with the best jazz musicians (Scott Hamilton, Michael Leagune, Snarky Puppy).

"A masterful pianist, elegant vocalist, talented composer and dynamic bandleader, .. combines technical genius with soulful expression, "where swing meets lyricism".

Piotr Wojtasik Quintet – Premiera Inscape

9 August 2025

A trumpet virtuoso, excellent improviser and composer, winner of many awards (including the Fryderyk), has been speaking a unique musical language for over 30 years. He is regularly invited to international projects. He has 12 original albums to his credit and a high position among critics and music lovers. The outstanding musician will present his latest project Inscape. The repertoire will include pieces referring to post-Coltrane modal jazz, Davis aesthetics, and contemporary broken rhythms.

New Bone Quintet – Premiera Sorrow

16 August 2025

A renowned jazz quintet founded and led by Tomasz Kudyk. The maturity of style and composition shows the great potential of all members of the band, including the outstanding pianist, Dominik Wania. The music on the new album is maintained in a diverse style of contemporary jazz, contains lyrical fragments, interwoven with dynamic motifs using the full color of the band's sound. We will hear the premiere album "moving, full of melancholy, space and beauty. The Polish school of jazz at its best".

Nduduzo Makhathini Trio

23 August 2025

A visionary pianist and composer, he has become one of the most important figures on the South African music scene. He consistently pursues his own artistic vision, combining jazz under the banner of John Coltrane with African folklore. Makhathini's high standard of piano playing is far from commercial treatments. He combines African musical heritage with jazz experiments in an extremely original way, preserving the unique sound of the South African scene, and his mission is to preserve the rich heritage of his homeland while creating sounds that speak to the 21st century world.

EABS The Very Best

30 August 2025

A sensational Wrocław quintet, a Polish leader of the new wave of jazz, in which tradition is the starting point for creating new, surprising solutions for the 21st century. Electro-Acoustic Beat Sessions creates music from the border of such genres as jazz, hip-hop, funk, soul and modern jazz. The band regularly wins Jazz Forum plebiscites in the category of "best electric band".

We will hear retrospective, selected material from the band's releases.