Tomasz Stańko has been playing since the early 60’s in his native land of Poland. He has produced numerous albums since the 70’s as leader and finally got world recognition in the 80’s when he started working with American jazz musicians. Yet this exceptional trumpeter really didn’t get his due in his own country until the late 90’s.
His septet album went gold in 1997 and this quartet’s 2002, 2004 & 2006 albums also went gold in Poland and finally started to chart in the U.S. in 2004. In 2009 his quintet album went Platinum in Poland charting at #16 in the U.S.
Outside of those who know and follow jazz this artist’s name still sadly isn’t a stand out and it should be. Stańko’s style of free form, almost at times avant-garde and spot on improvised playing deserves to be in the rankings with jazz’s more well-known earlier notable 50’s and 60’s artists that we relished in.
This man and the musicians who have made up his bands are not playing covers, they are playing Stańko’s compositions. So please check out his website and dive into this jazz artist’s history and discover all the music that has come out of him and his bands with the latest release, because this is just a mere taste.
Sweet Thing
Composed by Tomasz Stańko.
Released off the 2006 album Lontano.
Tomasz Stańko – trumpet
Marcin Wasilewski – piano
Slawomir Kurkiewicz– bass
Michal Miskiewicz – drums
Longshot's Blog 
Thanks for sharing!
I have come across the name multiple times, but have not really started digging into his works. But will do so now, it seems he deserves it.
Very Welcome Jazz Traveler.