The Kosciuszko Foundation Online Programs presents a concert from the Quarantine Jazz series with violinist Matusz Smoczynski and cellist Stephan Braun.

Mateusz Smoczyński is an internationally-acclaimed Polish jazz violinist and winner of numerous prizes at major competitions, including the Grand Prix of the Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Competition. A sought-after soloist and ensemble-leader, he has performed at the most important jazz venues and festivals around the world. An active educator, since 2017 he has been an Adjunct Professor at the Jazz and World Music Department of the Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw. Mateusz Smoczyński is also considered one of the most multi-faceted Polish contemporary music composers. An author of numerous chamber and symphonic works, his „Adam’s Apple” violin concerto had its premiere at the iconic hall of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) in Katowice, Poland.

Cellist Stephan Braun, a seasoned musician to be sure, answers the question once and for all of what the true domain of the cello in jazz is: grove. Stephan studied classical cello and jazz cello at the universities in Hamburg and Berlin. In 2010 he won the 1st prize of the International Jazz Competition in Bucharest with his trio. He played at many famous festivals and concert halls, like Vienna Opera House, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Paris Olympia Theatre, Pori Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, New Directions Cello Festival, Cello Akademie Rutesheim, North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival and recorded as a sideman more than 20 CDs. As a leader, he published 2 own records, one with his trio (called The Raid, released 2008) and one with his singer-songwriter project deep strings (called Façon, released 2012).

More: the KF concert description and links