The International Jazz Juniors Festival and Competition in Kraków is an annual four-day music feast for all jazz lovers.

Jazz Juniors Festival boasts 45 years of history and a well-established position on the musical map of Poland. Ever since it has added the promotion of young Polish musicians abroad to its objectives (through, among others, the foundation of a Council of International Partners), the Festival has also gained recognition in the global scene. Apart from the competition for young musicians, it also presents concerts featuring world-famous artists.

We talk about the 46th Jazz Junior festival to the event’s director Tomasz Handzlik and artistic director Adam Pierończyk – read more.

The international jury of Jazz Juniors 2022 competition, consisting of Adam Pierończyk (chair), Trilok Gurtu, and Reinier Baas, has selected the best candidates for the finals. From among 32 jazz ensembles from various parts of the world, six bands have been chosen to perform in the final stage, held on 28th September at Cracow’s Cricoteka. These are: Tantfreaky, Klemensiewicz/Jopek, Ílú, Filip Żółtowski Quartet, Ziemia, and Brzeziński Quartet.

The 46th Jazz Juniors competition for young musicians is thus about to enter its final stage. As in every year, there are numerous prizes and awards. The finalists’ performances will be listened to by a jury made up of world-famous artists, but also by an assembly of international guests and partners, representatives of foreign festivals and record labels, which offers the young musicians a chance to be signed up for concerts and albums. From among as many as 32 bands from Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, and Hungary, the jury has selected six that will appear in the finals.

‘Six bands have qualified for this year’s Jazz Juniors Competition. This time most of them are from Poland,’ says Adam Pierończyk, head of the jury. ‘These six will be assessed by an international jury, made up of Trilok Gurtu (India), Reinier Baas (the Netherlands), and myself, in the double capacity as a representative of Poland and the jury’s chair. The candidates’ musical standards are invariably high, as in the previous years; their music – stylistically varied. It will thus be a pleasure to hear these young artists very soon in Cracow.’

The following artists will perform in the final stage:

• Tantfreaky: six Wrocław-based musicians combining modern electroacoustic sound with the vibrating voice of their frontwoman,
• the Klemensiewicz/Jopek duo, improvising on the basis of impressionist music and Polish folk tradition,
• Ílú trio, drawing on the musical culture of Cuba, from which its members originally come,
• Filip Żółtowski Quartet, combining improvisation with Slav melodies, electronic sound, and hip-hop beats, 
• Ziemia jazz quartet, one of the finalists of last year’s Jazz Juniors 2021,
• and Brzeziński Quartet with its leader Krzysztof Brzeziński (piano / synthesisers), presenting a fusion of untypical types of sound.

Which of these bands will win the 46th Jazz Juniors Competition? The results – already on 28th September. Apart from the main prizes, there are also important individual awards, whose previous winners include the greatest Polish musicians. One of these is the Janusz Muniak Award (established in 2020) for an outstanding instrumentalist. Another of this year’s accolades is Andrzej Cudzich Foundation’s award for the best bassist.

Source: press release