This year’s edition of Kraków Jazz Week, as usual, combines two autonomous components. Under a brand that is gaining increasing recognition both in Poland and internationally, initiatives crucial to the improvised music scene have been coming together for several years. The first of these is Seifert Jazz Days, which pays tribute to the wonderful tradition, history, and legacy left by the brilliant Kraków-based violinist, saxophonist, and composer Zbigniew Seifert, while also inspiring musicians and audiences with his bold vision of the future. The second is the Jazz Juniors Festival and Competition, an event with nearly half a century of tradition, long serving as a pivotal stepping stone and career catalyst for many leading jazz musicians.
Although the core and inseparable part of Jazz Juniors is the competition for young jazz talents, the nearly 50-year-old event has offered audiences much more for many years. For the second consecutive year, the roles of artistic director and artist-in-residence of the Jazz Juniors Festival will be held by the outstanding Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer. An artist whose reputation needs no introduction to music fans: Molvaer was responsible for one of the most significant breakthroughs in improvised music, merging jazz with electronic club music in the late 1990s—a fusion whose influence can still be felt nearly 30 years after the release of his landmark album Khmer. In his dual role as artistic director and artist-in-residence, Molvaer emphasizes diversity, the presence of women in improvised music, and unconventional cross-genre collaborations.
JAZZ JUNIORS COMPETITION
02.10.2025, Cricoteka, ul. Nadwiślańska 2-4, 7:00 PM
For nearly half a century, Kraków’s competition for young jazz musicians has served as a gateway to the next stage of many careers. It was at this event that groups such as Tie Break, Walk Away, and Miłość were discovered by the public. The list of bands and musicians who have passed through the Jazz Juniors competition stage could go on indefinitely, but regardless of the number of participants, shifting history, and various twists and turns, one thing remains constant: quality. And this is not just performance quality, which is obvious given the event’s tradition and prestige.
The quality of the annual competition is primarily reflected in the spirit of the event. Competition among participants—if it exists—is approached with respect and distance. Here, there are no losers, only participants who, after the final auditions, gain a real range of opportunities—from networking and strengthening the jazz community to invitations to perform on European stages. Each of these possibilities carries enormous value, and this is the main goal of the Jazz Juniors organizers.
Admission to the competition auditions is free.
03.10.2025, Cricoteka, ul. Nadwiślańska 2-4, 7:00 PM
Tickets: https://bit.ly/JJ_KasiaPietrzko_NothingPersonal
Kasia Pietrzko Trio
The first evening of the Jazz Juniors Festival will open with a concert by Kasia Pietrzko’s trio. After 10 years, the pianist returns as a leader to the Jazz Juniors stage. A decade ago, she performed in the competition alongside Stanisław Słowiński. The quintet, with Pietrzko among its members, captivated both the audience and the jury, receiving the Grand Prix at the 39th edition.
Tomasz Stańko recognized Pietrzko’s potential, performing with her trio during his last official concert before his death. Persistent and steadily progressing on her artistic path, Pietrzko commands deserved attention with each new album. Her playing, as well as her approach to music and the ensemble as a whole, is mature and complete, solidifying her status as an artist and leader.
Kasia Pietrzko will also make history as the first woman instrumentalist-leader to release an album in the Polish Jazz series, symbolizing positive change in the jazz scene.
The trio’s drummer, Piotr Budniak, is also a two-time Jazz Juniors laureate. He debuted at the festival as a 15-year-old in 2006, winning 2nd prize with his quintet, and returned nine years later with his own project, Piotr Budniak Essential Group, winning 3rd prize.
Lineup:
- Kasia Pietrzko – piano
- Andrzej Święs – double bass
- Piotr Budniak – drums
Nothing Personal
The Norwegian female trio’s performance will provide a striking contrast to the first part of the evening. Their sonic collage combines improvisation with pop songwriting. A burst of melodies, colors, sounds, and ideas is neatly condensed into short, ear-catching compositions—though “pleasant to the ear” might not apply to everyone, as Norwegian press described the trio as “arsonists of the musical landscape.”
Avant-garde influences serve pop music, promising a unique auditory experience. Audiences are encouraged to abandon expectations, as the trio loves to surprise. Their music, like many forward-thinking artists, is only a prelude to what’s to come. Experiencing it live is highly recommended.
Lineup:
- Solveig Wang – electronics / effects / vocals / synth
- Dorothea Økland – electronics / effects / vocals
- Thea Wang – electronics / effects / vocals
04.10.2025, Cricoteka, ul. Nadwiślańska 2-4, 7:00 PM
Tickets: https://bit.ly/JJ_DamasiewiczWania_ErlandDahlen
Piotr Damasiewicz / Dominik Wania
Their collaboration dates back to their studies at the Academy of Music in Katowice, where Damasiewicz formed Power of The Horns. Years later, they reunited as a duo to interpret Artur Olender’s songs. Though the material is far from the jazz idiom, the trumpeter and pianist transformed these compositions into a new artistic dimension. Their album The Way, The Truth, The Life impressed with both technical mastery and emotional depth.
Lineup:
- Piotr Damasiewicz – trumpet
- Dominik Wania – piano
Erland Dahlen
A solo drum performance may sound risky, but not when performed by one of Europe’s most outstanding jazz and jazz-adjacent musicians. Dahlen has several solo albums and can make music from anything—even creating instruments if necessary. Unpredictable and experimental, he excels as both performer and composer. His live concerts are particularly exciting, as all dramaturgy rests on his shoulders, ensuring unique experiences for the audience.
Lineup:
- Erland Dahlen – drums
05.10.2025, Kraków Philharmonic, ul. Zwierzyniecka 1, 7:00 PM
Tickets: https://bit.ly/JJ_Molvaer_SoheilShayesteh
Nils Petter Molvaer, Soheil Shayesteh
Sinfonietta Cracovia, Paulina Porszke
Artistic director and artist-in-residence of Jazz Juniors, Nils Petter Molvaer, has been a major figure in improvised music for decades. Known for merging club electronics with jazz, he continues to explore new artistic directions.
Among his collaborators is Soheil Shayesteh, an Iranian-born, Amsterdam-based audiovisual artist and violinist, currently focusing on Persian kamancheh, composition, and electronic and electroacoustic music. His piece Perceptual Dialogues (for trumpet, kamancheh, orchestra and live electronics) was composed specifically for this festival concert, blending Middle Eastern music, jazz, electronics, and orchestral scope.
The composition layers textures and motifs, merging melancholic strings with precise trumpet passages and lyrical kamancheh lines over electronics. Orchestral parts frame the improvisations of kamancheh and trumpet, maximizing their sonic potential and creating a refreshing palette of sounds. Acoustic sounds interact with real-time electronics, producing immersive textures that blend Persian and Nordic influences.
Lineup:
- Nils Petter Molvaer – trumpet, electronics
- Soheil Shayesteh – kamancheh, electronics
- Sinfonietta Cracovia
- Paulina Porszke – conductor
05.10.2025, Klub Hevre, ul. Meiselsa 18, 10:00 PM
Tickets: https://bit.ly/JJ_Kravchenko_Clees
Kravchenko & Clees
The closing act of the 49th Jazz Juniors Festival will be a night performance by the duo that won the Grand Prix at the 2023 competition. Their brief competition performance already moved the audience profoundly. This time, the Ukrainian-Luxembourg duo will perform a full-length concert based on their debut album, produced in collaboration with Berlin-based saxophonist Wanja Slavin.
With minimalist instrumentation—just vibraphone and voice—they create multidimensional artistic expression. Poetry adds another layer of meaning, turning perceived limitations into creative possibilities. This concert is not to be missed.
Lineup:
- Kateryna Kravchenko – vocals
- Arthur Clees – vibraphone