Standards (In memory of Marek Bliziński and Jarosław Śmietana)

On back cover we can see "SL 517-2 / 2015" but the music was recorded in Feb, 2016. Marcin's memories of [a=Marek Bliziński] I was shocked when I first heard Marek play. As I listened to his records I realised that I have only heard such music while listening to world-famous guitarists, such as [a=Joe Pass] or [a=Jim Hall]. I was deeply impressed by his modern phrasing, harmonies and rhythmic precision. His guitar sounded great and reminded me of the biggest achievements of jazz guitar playing. He accompanied the great Polish jazz players like [a=Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski], [a=Zbigniew Namysłowski], [a=Janusz Muniak], [a=Tomasz Stańko], [a=Michał Urbaniak], [a=Włodzimierz Nahorny] and Wojciech Karolak]. My interest in playing jazz started upon hearing the way he played with [a=Ewa Bem], a truly wonderful vocalist. I used to play classical music and a lot of blues before, but it was Marek who made me want to play jazz. Marcin's memories of [a=Jarosław Śmietana] Jarek impressed me not only with his playing. but also his approach to the guitar, an instrument for jazz, blues and rock. He was never afraid to experiment with his play-style. His guitar would both swing like it did in the greatest jazz records ever made and weep like Jimi Hendrix's. On top of that, Jarek was a composer of many songs in which he masterfully showcased all the colours of the guitar. His phrasing and his tone shall stay in my memory until the end of time. He would always have great contact with the audience and a lot of energy on stage, which greatly influenced my approach to playing the guitar. Jarosław Śmietana showed me that one's love for music and playing the guitar can be a passion for their entire life.