Polish trumpeter / composer Piotr Schmidt returns, undeterred by the pandemic that is changing the face of our globe, to share with us some joyful moments inspired by the music we love so much.

Supported by his regular quartet, which includes top Polish Jazz musicians: pianist Wojciech Niedziela, bassist Maciej Garbowski and drummer Krzysztof Gradziuk, Schmidt presents a set of nine wonderful original compositions and two arrangements of compositions by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, Krzysztof Komeda, which offers a highly aesthetic Jazz experience, superbly amalgamating the mainstream Jazz tradition and more open European attitudes. Two North American players, Canadian guitarist Matthew Stevens and US saxophonist Walter Smith III, guest on six of the tracks, transforming the quartet into a quintet and spicing the proceedings with an enhanced instrumental variety.

Although the majority of the music is firmly based on the beautifully weaved melodic themes, there is also plenty of space for more freely improvised playing, which characterizes contemporary Polish Jazz tendencies, clearly proving that the quartet is able to operate brilliantly in both idioms with the same ease and elegance.

Attentive listening will reveal the incredible level of musicality and creativity displayed by these seasoned musicians. The quartet is by far more than just a trumpeter accompanied by a piano trio; it is an organic body performing music as one, which fully shares the responsibility for the final result. Just close your eyes and listen…

The album closes with a tune called “A Place Of Hope…” which clearly reflects the universal human sentiment we all share today. Hope for times when the dark forecast will change into brightness and this and every other kind of music can be shared by thousands of people attending live concerts again…

Setlist:
01 Ballad (from Knife in The Water) – Krzysztof Komeda 5:58
02 Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone) – Piotr Schmidt 4:50
03 A Melancholy Time – Piotr Schmidt Quartet 6:38
04 Dark Forecast – Piotr Schmidt 5:54
05 Floating in the Wind – Piotr Schmidt 6:22
06 Little Leo – Piotr Schmidt 6:34
07 Psychokinetic Time – Piotr Schmidt Quartet 5:04
08 Sharks, Fat Cats & Other Whales– Piotr Schmidt 5:01
09 Shadows of Darkness – Piotr Schmidt Quartet 5:43
10 Ballad For Bernt – Krzysztof Komeda 5:44
11 A Place of Hope… – Piotr Schmidt 5:07

Line-Up:
piotr schmidt – trumpet
walter smith III – tenor saxophone (04, 05, 10)
matthew stevens – guitar (02, 06, 08)
wojciech niedziela – grand piano
maciej garbowski – double bass
krzysztof gradziuk – drums

Produced by Piotr Schmidt
Music production: Piotr Schmidt, Maciej Stach
Cover picture (Painting) / Cover design: Tomasz Olszewski
Inside photos: Aleksandra Kasztalska
Mixed and Mastered by Maciej Stach in MaqRecords Studio, Wojkowice
Sound Engineer: Maciej Stach
Recorded in October 2020 in MaqRecords Studio, Wojkowice