Album insights
"Dark Eyes" by Tomasz Stanko showcases his emotive Slavic jazz style and unique trumpet sound. Like his inspiration, Miles Davis, Stanko is known for his mentoring skills and has assembled a group of talented young musicians hailing from Northern Europe. With ties to Finland dating back to the 1970s, Stanko has collaborated with pianist Alexi Tuomarila and drummer Olavi Louhivuori, both known for their creativity and expressiveness. The album introduces an array of new Stanko pieces, such as the poignant "The Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch" and a reworked version of "Last Song" from his debut "Balladyna," alongside compositions by Krzysztof Komeda like "Dirge for Europe" and "Etiuda baletowa nr. 3." Supporting Stanko's trumpet are guitarist Jakob Bro, providing subtle tones, and bassist Anders Christensen, grounding the ensemble's sound with a pulsating rhythm.