Mikrokolektyw

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records, listened to the Voice of America Jazz Hour, and supported local musicians. Forty-three years later, living in the land that gave jazz to the world, I still try to follow developments in my native country.

Last month I was told that Mikrokolektyw, a duo of young Polish musicians, was to play in Ann Arbor, and I was asked to collaborate with them on a few tunes. I was extremely pleased, but also somewhat concerned: I knew nothing about them. I obtained their new recording on the Delmark label, Revisit, and instantly was drawn into their music. I also discovered that they have a great following in Europe but also play with many of the best musicians in Chicago--hence the release on the Windy City's best music label. I immediately wanted to write about them, but the upcoming collaboration seemed to create a conflict of interest. Nevertheless, the opportunity to play with, as well as to write about, two wonderful jazz players from my native land (both of them born since I left) was just too strong a temptation.

Mikrokolektyw consists of trumpeter Artur Majewski and percussionist Kuba Suchar; they also use samplers and electronics such as the analog synthesizer Minimoog. Well schooled in the jazz tradition, they have an eclectic postmodern approach that uses elements of popular and contemporary classical forms and combines acoustic and electronic sounds in a unique manner.