Imagination and virtuosity squared: Polish star saxophonist meets bass legend (Weather Report, Chick Corea, Miles Davis...)

Tickets 16 - 26 euros (double concert Burkert / Pierończyk&Vitouš)

In 2010, saxophonist Adam Pierończyk, who lives in Leipzig's twin city Krakow, created "Komeda: The Innocent Sorcerer", probably the best recording ever dedicated to his compatriot Krzysztof Komeda. Komeda was a pioneering Polish jazz musician who devoted himself in particular to composing film music and achieved fame through his work with Roman Polanski, especially for his soundtrack to the 1968 psycho-horror film "Rosemary's Baby". Pierończyk scored his homage with two saxophones as lead instruments and a rhythm section consisting of bass, drums and guitar - and thus manages to truly capture Komeda's musical idea.
But how do you top a perfect work? Pierończyk succeeded with a highly spiritual recording for solo soprano saxophone, "The Planet of Eternal Life", the wonderful double CD "A-Train Nights" in quartet formation and in duo with bass icon Miroslav Vitouš on "Wings", which the two are now presenting in Leipzig.
Vitouš' reputation is based on the five albums he recorded as a member of Weather Report in the early 70s, as well as several of his own releases on ECM. His strong and direct sound sings, he dances. Vitouš and Pierończyk (on soprano and tenor) interweave their voices and reflect each other in sometimes feisty, sometimes relaxed conversation. "Enzo and the Blue Mermaid", the album opener, begins with a simple, melodic saxophone riff in the Ornette Coleman style, before the bass enters with its own melodicism and feel. Call and response, born of close listening - the two musicians spontaneously create a number that is able to use free spaces skillfully. Vitouš sounds like his own little orchestra when he soars upwards with the bow, and Pierończyk follows him into the sky on "Bach at Night". "I'm Flying! I'm Flying" brings Pierończyk's bird-like tone on soprano saxophone to the fore as his melody shimmers and flutters around Vitouš' pulsing bass lines, and "Full Moon Sky" takes off with an echoing bass that sounds like it's playing in a cathedral, while Pierończyk's saxophone echoes with prayer tone in the overlapping deep waves of sound. Adam Pieroncyzk and Miroslav Vitouš create beauty (seemingly) effortlessly on "Wings".
Adam Pierończyk (sax) and Miroslav Vitouš (kb)
With the kind support of the Polish Institute Leipzig
Tickets
VVK 22/16 Euro (plus fee)
AK 26/20 Euro