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Zbigniew Seifert
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Zbigniew Seifert was born in Kraków in 1946 and died in 1979, at the age of thirty-two, of cancer. He began as an alto saxophonist and was strongly influenced by John Coltrane. His real breakthrough came when he joined Tomasz Stańko's quintet in 1970 and focused on the jazz violin. After that he was regarded as one of the most important modern jazz violinists.
Music and breakthrough
In 1973 he moved to Germany, where in 1974 and 1975 he played in Free Sound, Hans Koller's group. In 1976 he performed with John Lewis at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and later he recorded with the group Oregon. His albums include Kunstkopfindianer from 1974, Man of the Light from 1976 and Kilimanjaro from 1979. After his death more recordings appeared, such as Solo Violin.
Influence
In his hands the violin does not sound as it does in classical music but like a saxophone, with long, winding lines and a raw, intense tone. His early death made him known mainly among musicians and far less to the general public. His playing shows how the free and modal jazz of Coltrane could also sound on a string instrument.
Listening
Man of the Light · Zbigniew Seifert, 1976
Discography
Studio albums
- 1974Kunstkopfindianer
- 1976Man of the Light
- 1979Kilimanjaro
- 2017Solo Violin
- ?Passion
Mentioned in other articles
- Polish jazz Genre
Later the trumpeter Tomasz Stańko, the saxophonist Zbigniew Namysłowski, the violinist Zbigniew Seifert and the duo Michał Urbaniak and Urszula Dudziak also became known outside Poland.