Largest Polish Jazz Fest Outside Poland Started as 'Innocent Jam Session'

While Chicago may be known worldwide for its jazz music and thriving Polish population, most people probably never stop to consider the intersection of the two.

However, the All Souls Jazz Festival, which is entering its 14th year in Chicago, serves as a reminder that there's more to Polish music and culture than just polka. The festival will be held tonight, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. in Wicker Park's Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Coordinators said attendees come from far and wide to attend the event.

"Chicago is a capital city of jazz in the world," said festival organizer and Artistic Director Tadeusz Zaczek. "And we are kind of challenging local musicians, showing them that Polish jazz is in good condition."

The performance is the American counterpart to a jazz festival that's been running annually in Krakow for more than 50 years. Zaczek said Krakow's All Souls Festival started as a post-World War II existentialist movement among Polish musicians to honor the dead.

"In Poland, there is a celebration of All Saints on Nov. 1, and then the second day is All Souls Day," Zaczek said. "So the idea was just to remember those who were already playing up in heaven."

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Zaczek, a bass guitarist who hasn't been an active player for about 10 years, has been involved with organizing the Chicago festival since its humble and unlikely beginnings.

"It started as an innocent jam session with five musicians and so far grew up as the biggest presentation of Polish jazz outside of Poland," he said.

This year's festival will feature more than 20 artists, including renowned Polish jazz guitarist Jarek Smietana, who will be performing with drummer Adam Czerwinski and Australian jazz singer Bill Neal. Other lineup highlights include Chicago-native singer Grazyna Auguscik and the Antykwariat Jazz Quintet.

While many of the musicians are from Poland, Zaczek said audience members will have nothing to worry about if they don't understand Polish because there will be an English-speaking emcee and the music will include a blend of diverse cultural influences.

"Even the musicians from Poland who are here right now, they are playing Jimi Hendrix," Zaczek said. "They are playing standards by Bill Coltrane, all the fathers of jazz, you know."

See the All Souls Jazz Festival's website for tickets, a full lineup, and more information.