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Targi Kielce Jazz Festival Memorial To Miles is a four-day event commemorating the legendary jazz trumpeter - Miles Davis;  this year’s edition was held on 22-25 September at the Kielce Culture Centre. Targi Kielce has been the event co-rganiser, which has become the event’s tradition.

Saturday concerts of Labyrinth and Anna Maria Jopek & Piotr Wojtasik Quintet were the top-level shows. The hall of the Kielce Culture Centre was packed with spectators to the brim; the musicians were rewarded with the avalanche of applause for each solo they played. The outstanding singer received a big hand for exceptional voice "maneuvers".

The president of Targi Kielce, Andrzej Mochoń, definitely hit the jackpot by inviting the Labirynt band. It was the first grand concert since the death of its founder, Michał Zduniak.

We need to remember that the band discontinued after the founder's death in 2009, and resumed ten years later during the Wąchock Free Fest. From the right, the splendid bassist Krzysztof Majchrzak, the recognized drummer Adam Buczek, who joined the band, the American saxophonist Tom Bergeron and the great violinist Henryk Gembalski. An album was recorded during the live concert.

Great excitement and ovations was also a part of the Friday concerts of Kasia Pietrzko, the pianist. Her performance reconfirmed that she is the hope of Polish jazz. The audience passionately listened to Tomasz Dąbrowski & Individual Beings’ music. The performance of the band Young Power, reactivated by flautist Krzysztof Popek was yet another highlight. Now, under the name Young Power New Edition, a line-up of sixteen musicians performed in Kielce. Half of them played here two decades ago.

The September festival was much more than concerts. The event started with the film "What am I doing here? Miles Davis ”about the creation of Europe’s first statue of this jazzman in Kielce commenced the show.   On that day, a young band from Kielce, Breaking Funk, also performed.

The international star collection of Targi Kielce Jazz Festival included the Mino Cinelu quartet, a French drummer who played with Miles in the 1980s. Photo Jazz lovers were thrilled  

It is worth remembering that  that the chapter with the 20 years’ success story needs a punchline. On Thursday, 17 November, Ron Carter, the famous American double bass player, who was a part of an ensemble with Miles Davis, will perform on the the Kielce Cultural Centre’s stage. The Concert starts at  8 p.m.  Tickets available at https://kck.bilety24.pl/