Adam Bałdych European Quartet — Krokus Jazz Festival

Adam Bałdych is one of the most appreciated and original violinists of the contemporary jazz scene. The composer, improviser and artist associated with the prestigious label ACT Music has been delighting audiences for years with a unique musical language in which jazz meets classical music, European tradition and bold improvisation. The British Guardian wrote of him: “Adam Bałdych redefines the term violin”, while the German “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” described him as “the most technically advanced violinist of our time”.

The new project of the artist, Adam Bałdych European Quartet, is a meeting of four outstanding personalities of European jazz, whose work today co-shapes the face of contemporary improvised music. The result of this collaboration is the album “Endless”, which is scheduled for release in 2026. The very idea of the project is based on the dialogue of cultures, traditions and musical experiences, creating a contemplative journey through the sounds and emotions rooted in the European musical heritage.

Bałdych invited three outstanding artists representing different musical worlds to collaborate. Each of the musicians brings their own unique aesthetic to the quartet. Jacob Karlzon, one of Sweden's foremost jazz pianists, is known for his emotional playing and ability to construct spatial, cinematic narratives. Daniele di Bonaventura has been developing the unique language of bandoneon for years, combining jazz, Mediterranean music and classics. Michel Benita, a renowned French double bass player, collaborated with the most outstanding musicians of the European improvised scene, building a reputation as an artist of extraordinary sensitivity and musical subtlety. Together they form a band whose sound balances between silence, space and intense improvisation.

The quartet's music grew out of Bałdych's fascination with Renaissance polyphony and contemporary classical music, but the foundation of the project remains jazz freedom and openness to spontaneous exploration. The compositions included in the “Endless” project are full of contrasts: subtle, almost meditative fragments pass into tense instrumental dialogues, and lyrical melodies meet bold improvisations and the modern sound of European jazz.

It is an extremely organic and emotional music that does not impose interpretation, but invites the listener to participate attentively. Every sound seems to matter here, and the space between the notes becomes as important as the melodies themselves. “Endless” is not just a concert project of four outstanding instrumentalists. It is a multi-layered musical story about dialogue, listening and mutual trust between artists who meet across the borders of cultures and styles.

The audience can expect a concert full of focus, emotion and exceptional musical communication. This is a proposal for listeners who appreciate jazz that is open, modern and deeply rooted in European sensibility. A musical journey that you really want to return to endlessly.