Jazz Night Concert at the Ambassador's Residence
31.03.2023
On Friday, March 31st, 2023 ,The Residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the United States of America hosted a jazz night concert, featuring two Polish jazz icons: Adam Makowicz and Krystof Medyna.
On Friday, March 31st, 2023, The Residence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland was host to two prominent Polish jazz musicians; Adam Makowicz and Krystof Medyna. These two gentlemen are some of the most prominent Polish jazz sounds heard around the world. They both had interesting starts to their respective musical careers, and it all started in 1981, beginning with Adam Makowicz.
Makowicz was already an established jazz musician in New York City, when Soviet martial law was declared and established in Poland in 1981. At the invitation of then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan, Makowicz took part in a television program named: "Let Poland Be Poland": https://youtu.be/ImRycj9CCis
"Let Poland Be Poland" was broadcast all over the world, and was aimed at supporting the Polish struggle to overcome communism. The participation in this intiative made it impossible for Makowicz to come back to Poland, until liberation in 1989.
Krystof Medyna was also supposed to start a jazz tour around the United States with a group of Polish jazz musicians in December 1981, however the Soviet declaration of martial law made that impossible. Medyna made it to the United States anyways (we Poles always find a way), and decided to stay in the Land of the Free.
Adam Makowicz and Krystof Medyna became the established members of the very hermetic jazz environment of New York City. Over the years, they have shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Mark Egan, Rodney Holmes, Benny Goodman and many, many more icons of the jazz world.
