Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet at Porgy & Bess

Tomasz Stanko is a legend of Jazz trumpet. He’s won more prizes than you or I could forget. So what has he done with his later years?

Instead of getting toasty around the couch playing old standbys (often what happens to older jazz musicians and even more so with rockers), boring himself and us, Stanko puts together a new collective every two or three years with hand-picked younger recruits.

With fresh blood in his veins (Stanko refers to himself as a vampire), he infects his young with his talent and musical ingenuity. The result tonight is called the Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet.

The music was langorous and melodic. An easy to degust, but complex pleasure.

Alexi Tuomarila’s work on the piano was understated but overwhelming. Olavi Louhivuori showed more flash on drums but equal power. While less scintillating themselves, Jakob Bro and Anders Christensen on electric guitar and electric bass solidly held up the foundation under Stanko, Tuomarila and Louhivuori.

Not to be missed if you get the chance.

Here are some pictures of Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet in action at Porgy & Bess – I recommend clicking an image for the slideshow as that houndstooth jacket wreaks havoc with the ImageMagick thumbnail algorithms.

Alexi Tuomarila Tomasz Stanko (Leica 90mm 2.8)

Alexi Tuomarila Tomasz Stanko Jakob Bro (Leica 90mm 2.8)

Jakob Bro Tomasz Stanko Anders Christensen
(Leica 90mm 2.8)

Jakob Bro Anders Christensen (Leica 90mm 2.8)

Olavi Louhivuori Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet
(Canon EF50mm 1.4)

Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet (Canon EF 50mm 1.4)

Technical notes: I shot with two lenses, a Leica 90mm 2.8 Elmarit from 1974 and a Canon EF50mm 1.4. The Leica holds its own very well when you hit the focus.

The very best photos are here but for more pictures of the Tomasz Stanko Nordic Quintet at Porgy & Bess or to see larger sizes, that link will take you to a gallery of twenty four selects including these six. Largely for Tomasz Stanko fans or photographers who want to see more of the Leica 90mm 2.8 Elmarit in action.