Membership Appreciation Friday Jazz Soirée – Robert Swistelnicki Presents: Mateusz Kolakowski, Piano

Join us for an unforgettable evening of world-class jazz as we celebrate our valued members with a special Friday Jazz Soirée featuring internationally acclaimed Polish pianist Mateusz Kolakowski, presented by Robert Swistelnicki

Event Details

Friday, June 12 at 6:30 PM
The Kosciuszko Foundation Washington, DC Center
2025 O Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

Tickets: General admission ($25 for Non-Members) on sale  HERE

FREE admission for KF Members. RSVP required to KFDC@thekf.org

Wine and refreshments will be served.

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The event is co-sponsored by the Sylvan and Eugenia Bobinski Fund.

A remarkable artist whose career bridges the worlds of classical mastery and contemporary jazz innovation, Mateusz Kolakowski has captivated audiences across Europe, the United States, Cuba, India, and Kenya. A graduate of the Music Academy of Katowice in Poland, Kołakowski first earned recognition as a classical prodigy, winning prestigious international piano competitions at a young age before discovering his passion for jazz.

His extraordinary musical journey led him to renowned venues including The Knitting Factory in New York City, The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, where he performed alongside celebrated artists such as Stanley Jordan. He has also collaborated with jazz legend Dave Liebman, earning critical acclaim and Poland’s prestigious “Gwarancja Kultury” award.

Known for his deeply expressive improvisations and sophisticated fusion of jazz and classical traditions, Kołakowski creates performances that are both technically brilliant and emotionally compelling. His artistry blends lyrical sensitivity with daring spontaneity, offering audiences a truly unique concert experience.

Discography

„Triology – “Presence” – Livingroom Records (USA, 2000)
“14th Spring” – Jazz Forum Records (2003)
“ad LiBiTuM-1st Warsaw Jazz Concert” (2007)
Mateusz Kołakowski & Dave Liebman – „Live at Jazz Standard” (Fenommedia 2009)
Kołakowski/Wykpisz/Korelus – „Schoenberg” (ForTune 2016)

Natalia Kordiak Quintet – „Bajka” (Hevhetia 2019).

Robert Świstelnicki, who will be a host of the event, is a lyricist, poet, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer and philosopher from Poland, who currently lives (part-time) in Chicago. His previous project (in a rough translation from Polish) was called ‘Love Songs of Early Post-Communism and Late Capitalism’ (SJ Records 23’). That jazz-poetic project has been, among others, chosen as the Album of the Year (Editor’s Choice) by “Polish Jazz”; and in reviews it was called: “one of the biggest sensations in Polish jazz in recent years” (M. Nowotny), “the best Polish album of ALL TIME” in its category (prof. M. Lewenstein), an and a “new point of reference” (M. Płudowski).

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His most current project is called “Songs of a Decaying Empire”; the first album of this project is forthcoming at the Music Corner Records label. Świstelnicki collaborates with Grażyna Auguścik, Mark Feldman, Arek Skolik, Jorgos Skolias, Natalia Kordiak, Wojciech Myrczek, Marvin Tate and many others.

Whether you are a jazz enthusiast or simply looking for an elegant evening of exceptional live music on a summer Friday night accompanied by a glass of wine, this special concert promises an inspiring and intimate musical experience.

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