Scandinavian Art Ensemble with Tomasz Stanko - The Copenhagen Session Vol. 1

For years, whispers circulated through the jazz scenes of Denmark and Poland—rumors of a lost recording session featuring the legendary Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stańko and a group of Scandinavian and Polish musicians. Now, nearly a decade after the session and seven years after Stańko’s passing, these long-awaited recordings are finally seeing the light of day.

The project originated at Vallekilde Højskole in Denmark, where Stańko was invited to teach at JazzDanmark’s annual Summer Session. A storied program that has hosted luminaries including Bill Frisell and Anat Cohen, the summer school became the birthplace of this unexpected ensemble. Here, alongside a dynamic ensemble of young musicians, Stańko found renewed inspiration, embracing their compositions as much as his own—a rare occurrence for an artist known for leading his own groups.

Scandinavian Art Ensemble with Tomasz Stańko is the result: two albums of expansive, deeply expressive music that merge the melancholic depth of Polish jazz with the spacious, atmospheric qualities of the Scandinavian sound. As trumpeter Tomasz Dąbrowski recalls, Stańko wasn’t just a mentor—he was an equal, driven by curiosity and the desire to push boundaries. “He wanted to play our music. He was always listening, always searching.”

Across these two albums recorded at The Village Recordings in 2016, listeners will hear Stańko’s unmistakable tone interwoven with compositions by both himself and the ensemble members. Pieces like ‘The Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch’ and ‘Before the Rain’ showcase not just his signature lyricism, but also his willingness to step back, listen, and let the younger generation shape the sound.

Beyond his unmistakable sound, Stańko’s influence was about energy—his presence elevated those around him. Bassist Richard Andersson put it simply: “He brings together the energies, and makes us all play better than usual.” This project captures that essence: a legendary artist meeting the next generation on equal footing, creating something entirely unexpected.

A decade after the session, the members of the Scandinavian Art Ensemble have forged their own paths, shaping the jazz landscapes of Copenhagen, Malmö, Reykjavik, and beyond. But the impact of their time with Stańko remains profound. "Releasing these albums is about more than just the music," Dąbrowski says. "It’s about preserving the spirit of Stańko—his generosity, his curiosity, his way of bringing people together. Even after all these years, his presence can still be felt in every note we played."