José Torres

Tomasz Stańko: Polish Radio Sessions 1970-91

by Kevin Poindexter
February 24, 2026

In post-World War II Poland, jazz served as an act of defiance against the state, a resistance to the cultural restraints imposed on society. With its improvised nature and swinging rhythms, it stood in direct opposition to the rigid structure of socialist society. Where jazz relies on individual improvisation as a form of expression, socialist society demanded the opposite from individuals; they were expected to be just another part of the machine. Universal conformity was the goal, and since jazz ...