2001's 'Soul of Things' opened a new chapter for the great Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko. Celebrating inspirational roots in Miles Davis and Chet Baker while also introducing a gifted young band, it proved to be a disc that could speak to a very broad public and win unanimous press approval. Since then the quartet has thrilled audiences worldwide, collected many awards, and further honed their exceptional interactive improvisational skills. When they went into the studio (Studio la Buisonne in the South of France) to record 'Lontano' they were on top form after a long Asian tour.
Stanko had written many new tunes but was keen also to open the music to the production initiatives of Manfred Eicher, who helped channel the material in fresh directions and also guided the group towards carefully paced improvisations that sustain and develop the climate established by Stanko's very soulful ballads. The group also delivers a new arrangement of Krzysztof Komeda's "Kattorna" and a version of "Tale" - first heard on Tomasz's ECM debut 'Balladyna' more than 30 years ago.
Recorded 2005
Personnel: Tomasz Stanko - trumpet, Marcin Wasilewski - piano, Slawomir Kurkiewicz - double-bass, Michal Miskiewicz - drums.