Polish Jazz Blossoms at the Chopin Theatre

Chicago Tribune

“Playing original scores and familiar repertoire, Antykwariat epitomized the high lyricism of Polish music, as expressed through contemporary jazz vocabularies. Flutist Mieczyslaw Wolny stood at the center of the group's musical identity, his translucent tone, long-lined melodies and delicately embellished phrases equally alluring in ballads and uptempo fare. With bracing harmonic support from keyboardist Slawomir Bielawiec and soaring lines from guitarist Jan Zienko, the quintet reaffirmed that substantive jazz improvisation and utterly accessible melody making are not mutually exclusive. Antykwariat has made something of a signature of this work, and the musicians' slow-burn crescendos and complex but tautly controlled solos said a lot about the integrity of their work. This is a band that doesn't need to shout its achievements; it trusts listeners to recognize the subtleties of its music.”

- Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune (Nov 13, 2012)