Many Americans who came to Poland to play with local rhythm sections were surprised and impressed by the quality of the Polish jazz musicians. Alto saxophonist/composer Zbigniew Namyslowski was one of those top talents. The four-year-old Namyslowski started out on the piano and made a switch to cello when he was 12. On those two instruments he made his concert debut at the Sopot International Jazz Festival in 1957. Subsequently he started to play the trombone and on that instrument he became, especially in traditional jazz, an authority. Soon after that though he made another switch to the alto saxophone, the instrument that would remain his main axis for the rest of his life. In 1963 he founded a quartet that after 45 years, in varying line-ups, still exists. The current line-up consists of the fine fleur of the new generation of Polish jazz musicians. 26 years ago Namyslowski already played at the North Sea Jazz Festival with the group Air Condition.
