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03/08/2024 JAZZ CAFE POSK 20:30 £20
AGA ZARYAN QUARTET WITH ALICJA ŚMIETANA STRING QUARTET: UMIERA PIĘKNO
Aga Zaryan‘s creativity is the quintessence of that which is finest in the history of jazz, a continuation of the tradition of legendary accomplishments by female jazz vocalists.
The artist owes her worldwide recognition to a unique style, with a characteristic lightness of phrasing and a warm, matte tone of voice.
She was the first Polish artist to release records under New York’s legendary Blue Note Records label. With this, the artist joined names such as: Norah Jones, Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Bobby McFerrin.
Aga Zaryan is a recipient of the most important awards in the music world, recognized as one of Poland’s finest jazz vocalists (a many-time winner of Jazz Forum magazine’s Jazz Top poll – in the Jazz Vocalist of The Year category).
The record-breaking sales of her albums show that ambition, and a sublime style, allow her to reach a wide-ranging community of listeners. Aga wins the hearts of audiences, performing all over the world.
Aga Zaryan is also actively involved in several social causes, being a PAH Ambassador and an associate of KPH, among other things. For her activism, she was awarded the Star of Charity in 2017.
AGA ZARYAN QUARTET with Alicja Śmietana String Quartet: "Beauty is Dying".
On the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, we invite you to a concert with the repertoire from the moving jazz album "Beauty is Dying" (“Umiera Piękno”) performed by the outstanding vocalist Aga Zaryan and her band, with the participation of Alicja Smietana's string quartet!
The album "Beauty Is Dying" was recorded in 2007 in cooperation with the Warsaw Uprising Museum. It contains poems by poets related to this important historical event. The music for them was composed by the extremely talented pianist Michał Tokaj.
Eight insurgent poems - including those of its participants Krystyna Krahelska, Anna Świrszczyńska and priest Jan Twardowski - are works written during times of terror, fight and suffering, but talking about love and longing for a normal life.
The album was recorded by a jazz trio - Michał Tokaj (piano), Michał Barański (double bass) and Łukasz Żyta (drums), supported by a harp and a string orchestra, has a beautiful, captivating atmosphere.
In "Umiera Piękno", Aga Zaryan shows her intimate, lyrical side and evokes strong emotions in the listener, prompting deep reflection.
This outstanding album was awarded the Fryderyk Award in the best poetry album of the year category and gained the status of a gold record.
Aga Zaryan is the winner of numerous awards in the Polish music world. Recognized as one of the leading jazz vocalists, she released her eleventh album titled "Sara" in 2022, which prompted critics to award the artist once again the title of the best Polish jazz vocalist of the year - JAZZ TOP 2022. The artist was also nominated for the Fryderyk Award for the album "Sara”, 2023.
Line-up:
Aga Zaryan – vocals
Michał Tokaj – piano
Michał Barański – double bass
Łukasz Żyta – drums
+ Alicja Śmietana String Quartet