The raw and heartfelt Slavic music of Tomasz Stańko and his distinctive trumpet find a new setting on "Dark Eyes." The Polish jazz trumpeter, often seen as Europe's answer to Miles Davis, has garnered attention not only as a musician but also as a discoverer of young talent. His latest ensemble comprises young musicians from Northern Europe. Since the early 1970s, Stańko has maintained close ties with Finland, where he collaborated with Edward Vesala. In his current group, he welcomes two talented Finnish musicians: the expressive pianist Alexi Tuomarila and the creative drummer Olavi Louhivuori. On "Dark Eyes," Jakob Bro, a young guitarist who played on ECM's Paul Motian's "Garden of Eden," primarily assumes the role of a subtle sound painter. His fellow Dane, Anders Christensen, provides the band's rhythmic pulse throughout on electric bass. The repertoire includes new compositions by Stańko such as "The Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch"—inspired by a Kokoschka painting—as well as a reinterpretation of "Last Song" from his ECM debut, "Balladyna." Works by Krzysztof Komeda will also be presented, including "Lament for Europe" and "Etude for Ballet No. 3."
