Valdek Szymański Quartet

Musicians:

• Valdek Szymański - trumpet, violin, compositions, lead
• Ilona Damięcka - piano
• Robin Draganic - double bass (Canada)
• Dexter Stanlay-Tauvao - drums (New Zealand)

Description:

Very expressive music, elements of jazz/rock improvisation, but not only. There is time for reflection and melodiousness. Very rhythmic and dynamic. We will find elements of humor, but also philosophy. Versatile and unique music in its own right through the introduction of exclusively original compositions. The band leader, depending on the need, switches from violin to trumpet, enriching the sound and thus imposing the character of individual compositions.

Szymański, in his youth, was among the top of Polish jazz. He is also a graduate of the Academy of Music in Katowice. Together with the Heavy Metal Sextet, he has won many awards both in Poland and abroad. Among others, he received the first prize at Jazz Juniors in Krakow, along with an individual award. At the competition in Dunkirk (France), he also took first place, and during the "Pomorska Jesień Jazzowa" festival, he won with the band "Key to Career". "Golden Dyzio" is awarded by Ptaszyn Wróblewski for the greatest achievement of 1982. During the competition in Hoeilaart (Belgium) in 1983, Szymański received the main individual award "Best Soloist," and the Heavy Metal Sextet ranked second, just behind the "String Connection" band of Krzesimir Dębski. In the magazine "Jazz Forum," in the survey "Band of the Year 1984," HMS also took second place behind "String Connection."

Szymański has two LPs for "Poljazzu" with the "Heavy Metal Sextet" and an author CD "Journey to the East." After his studies, he emigrated to Germany, where he spent most of his life. He currently lives in Poland and returns to his favorite music and his own compositions. In 2025, he won first place for a composition at a competition in Lugano (Switzerland), and in 2026, he received a gold medal at the "World Artistry Music Award" in London, as well as first place and an additional award for creativity at "Jean-Philippe Rameau" in Paris.

He has played with musicians such as: J. Ptaszyn Wróblewski, Tomasz Szukalski, Witold Szczurek, Charlie Mariano, Piotr Baron, Tony Lakatos, Bob Minzer, Jarosław Śmietana, Henryk Miśkiewicz, Stanisław Sojka, Wojciech Niedziela, and many others.

Szymański's new formation is an international ensemble, specially selected to meet the requirements of his compositions:

• Ilona Damięcka - Piano - A graduate of the Jazz and Popular Music Department at the Academy of Music in Katowice, studying jazz piano under Wojciech Niedziela. Winner of the Krzysztof Komeda Composition Competition in Słupsk. The artist has five albums to her credit, including two of her own. In August 2020, her second author album - "Hope" was released. Ilona Damięcka has collaborated with the most outstanding Polish musicians such as: Janusz Muniak, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski, Andrzej Cudzich, Henryk Miśkiewicz, Michał Miśkiewicz, Piotr Wojtasik, Maciej Sikała, Andrzej Olejniczak, Mateusz Pospieszalski, Mietek Szcześniak, Natalia Niemen, Mateusz Smoczyński, and many others.
• Dexter Stanlay-Tauvao - drums (New Zealand) - studied jazz at the Aaron Copland School of Music, New York City, USA, and has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, among others. He received a GRAMMY award with the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. He has played with jazz icons such as Antonio Hart, George Coleman, and Rufus Reid.
• Robin Draganic - Double bass (Canada) - Studied free jazz at the University of Montreal and classical music in Berlin. Since then, he has lived there and has been hosting jazz evenings for many years at the renowned club "B-Flat." He is valued for his extraordinary experience, musicality, and brilliance. He has played with practically all significant musicians in Berlin and beyond.

Ticket: 90 PLN

Phone reservation: 604600016

Tickets: https://jazzmentklub.tixx.pl