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Valdek Szymański Quartet
Valdek Szymański - trumpet, violin, compositions, lead
Ilona Damięcka - piano
Robin Draganic - double bass (Canada)
Dexter Stanlay-Tauvao, drums (New Zealand)
Highly expressive music, with elements of jazz/rock improvisation, but not only that. Theres time for reflection and melody. Very rhythmic and dynamic. We find elements of humor, but also philosophy.
The music is versatile and unique in its genre, incorporating only his own compositions. The bandleader, depending on the occasion, switches from violin to trumpet, diversifying the sound and thus defining the character of individual compositions.
In his youth, Szymański was a leading figure in Polish jazz. He is also a graduate of the Academy of Music in Katowice. Together with the Heavy Metal Sextet, he has won numerous awards in Poland and abroad. Among other things, he won first place at the Jazz Juniors in Kraków, including an individual award. He also took first place at the competition in Dunkirk (France), and at the "Pomeranian Jazz Autumn" festival, he won the "Key to Career" with his band. The "Golden Dyzio" award was given to Ptaszyn Wróblewski for his greatest achievement in 1982. At the 1983 competition in Hoeilaart (Belgium), Szymański received the main individual award, "Best Soloist," and the Heavy Metal Sextet placed second, just behind Krzesimir Dębskis "String Connection." In the "Jazz Forum" magazines "Band of the Year 1984" poll, HMS also placed second behind "String Connection." Szymański has recorded two LPs for "Poljazz" with the "Heavy Metal Sextet" and an original CD, "Journey to the East." After his studies, he emigrated to Germany and spent most of his life there. He currently lives in Poland and returns to his favorite music and his own compositions. In 2025, he won first place for composition at the 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 distinction for creativity at the "Jean-Philippe Rameau" in Paris.
He has performed 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. Szymańskis new ensemble features an international lineup, specially selected to meet the requirements of his compositions:
Ilona Damięcka - Piano. A graduate of the Faculty of Jazz and Popular Music at the Academy of Music in Katowice, where she studied jazz piano under Wojciech Niedziela. She is a winner of the Krzysztof Komeda Composition Competition in Słupsk. She has recorded five albums, including two of her own. In August 2020, her second album, "Hope," was released. Ilona Damięcka has collaborated with some of the most outstanding Polish musicians, including Janusz Muniak, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski, Andrzej Cudzich, Henryk Miśkiewicz, Michał Miśkiewicz, Piotr Wojtasik, Maciej Sikała, Andrzej Olejniczak, Marcini Mateusz Pospieszalscy, 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 performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. 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)
He studied free jazz at the University of Montreal and classical music in Berlin. He has lived there ever since
and has led jazz evenings at the renowned "B-Flat" club for many years. He is valued for his incredible experience, musicality, and brilliance. He has played with virtually all
significant musicians in Berlin and beyond.
Tickets: PLN 90
Reservations by phone: 604600016
Tickets: https://jazzmentklub.tixx.pl
Valdek Szymański - trumpet, violin, compositions, lead
Ilona Damięcka - piano
Robin Draganic - double bass (Canada)
Dexter Stanlay-Tauvao, drums (New Zealand)
Highly expressive music, with elements of jazz/rock improvisation, but not only that. Theres time for reflection and melody. Very rhythmic and dynamic. We find elements of humor, but also philosophy.
The music is versatile and unique in its genre, incorporating only his own compositions. The bandleader, depending on the occasion, switches from violin to trumpet, diversifying the sound and thus defining the character of individual compositions.
In his youth, Szymański was a leading figure in Polish jazz. He is also a graduate of the Academy of Music in Katowice. Together with the Heavy Metal Sextet, he has won numerous awards in Poland and abroad. Among other things, he won first place at the Jazz Juniors in Kraków, including an individual award. He also took first place at the competition in Dunkirk (France), and at the "Pomeranian Jazz Autumn" festival, he won the "Key to Career" with his band. The "Golden Dyzio" award was given to Ptaszyn Wróblewski for his greatest achievement in 1982. At the 1983 competition in Hoeilaart (Belgium), Szymański received the main individual award, "Best Soloist," and the Heavy Metal Sextet placed second, just behind Krzesimir Dębskis "String Connection." In the "Jazz Forum" magazines "Band of the Year 1984" poll, HMS also placed second behind "String Connection." Szymański has recorded two LPs for "Poljazz" with the "Heavy Metal Sextet" and an original CD, "Journey to the East." After his studies, he emigrated to Germany and spent most of his life there. He currently lives in Poland and returns to his favorite music and his own compositions. In 2025, he won first place for composition at the 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 distinction for creativity at the "Jean-Philippe Rameau" in Paris.
He has performed 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. Szymańskis new ensemble features an international lineup, specially selected to meet the requirements of his compositions:
Ilona Damięcka - Piano. A graduate of the Faculty of Jazz and Popular Music at the Academy of Music in Katowice, where she studied jazz piano under Wojciech Niedziela. She is a winner of the Krzysztof Komeda Composition Competition in Słupsk. She has recorded five albums, including two of her own. In August 2020, her second album, "Hope," was released. Ilona Damięcka has collaborated with some of the most outstanding Polish musicians, including Janusz Muniak, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski, Andrzej Cudzich, Henryk Miśkiewicz, Michał Miśkiewicz, Piotr Wojtasik, Maciej Sikała, Andrzej Olejniczak, Marcini Mateusz Pospieszalscy, 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 performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. 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)
He studied free jazz at the University of Montreal and classical music in Berlin. He has lived there ever since
and has led jazz evenings at the renowned "B-Flat" club for many years. He is valued for his incredible experience, musicality, and brilliance. He has played with virtually all
significant musicians in Berlin and beyond.
Tickets: PLN 90
Reservations by phone: 604600016
Tickets: https://jazzmentklub.tixx.pl
