Poland’s 9th Annual Jazztopad Festival in New York | June 13th-18th, 2025
Jazztopad, Poland’s most innovative jazz festival, announces genre-blurring international lineup for June 2025, its 9th edition in New York City
Lineup includes Immanuel Wilkins with the Lutosławski Quartet (World Premiere), Michiyo Yagi with Hamid Drake, Patricia Brennan & Maciej Obara, Maciej Obara NYC Quartet with John Patitucci & Nasheet Waits, plus Wacław Zimpel, Brooklyn Raga Massive with special guest Amir ElSaffar
Concerts to Take Place in Manhattan at Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium and Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rizzoli Bookstore; and in Brooklyn at Barbès and private living rooms
June 13–18, 2025 in Manhattan & Brooklyn
New York, NY — The paradigm-shifting Polish festival Jazztopad returns to New York City for its ninth edition from June 13–18, 2025, continuing its mission of building bridges between the most adventurous voices in contemporary improvised music. With concerts and events across Manhattan and Brooklyn, this year’s edition once again invites audiences into intimate, boundary-erasing performances by internationally celebrated artists and emerging innovators.
Presented by the National Forum of Music in Wrocław in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute New York, Jazztopad NYC has become a vital satellite of Poland’s most forward-thinking jazz festival. Each year, Artistic Director Piotr Turkiewicz brings together cutting-edge artists from across the globe, creating a creative platform that emphasizes new work, improvisational exchange, and international collaboration.
Immanuel Wilkins. Photo Credit: Joshua Woods
The 2025 edition features a compelling lineup of artists who blend traditional practices with contemporary experimentation—from raga and maqam to free jazz and electroacoustic performance. The events unfold in singular spaces across the city, including Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, Rizzoli Bookstore, Barbès, and private living rooms, offering a mix of high-profile premieres and intimate, community-driven sessions.
“I’ve always believed the best jazz festivals don’t just present music—they build communities across borders,” says Artistic Director Piotr Turkiewicz. “This year’s New York edition reflects our most global vision yet. From Japanese koto traditions and Iraqi maqam to Mexican vibraphone improvisation and Polish string quartet textures, these artists are redefining what improvised music can sound like in a truly international context.”
“Improvisation is a universal language. Jazztopad invites musicians to speak across cultural vocabularies—sometimes for the first time,” Turkiewicz continues. “It’s not about seamless fusion, but real conversation—creative exchange in real time. That’s why I’m especially proud of this year’s premieres and small-room collaborations. You can hear the risk, the trust, and the wonder in the sound.”
Michiyo Yagi. Photo Credit: Karol Sokolowski
2025 JAZZTOPAD NYC SCHEDULE
June 13, 2025, Friday, 7.30 PM
Michiyo Yagi and Hamid Drake duo with Wacław Zimpel
Venue: David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
Line up:
Michiyo Yagi –koto
Hamid Drake –drums
Wacław Zimpel –alto clarinet, khaen, electronics
Partner: The Japan Foundation
June 14, 2025, Saturday, 7.30 PM
Waclaw Zimpel, Arun Ramamurthy & Brooklyn Raga Massive with special guest Amir ElSaffar
Venue: David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
Line up:
Wacław Zimpel –alto clarinet, khaen, electronics
Brooklyn Raga Massive
Amir ElSaffar –trumpet
June 15, 2025, Sunday, 4.30 PM
Patricia Brennan & Maciej Obara duo
Venue: Rizzoli Bookstore , 1133 Broadway, New York, NY 10010
Line up:
Patricia Brennan- vibraphone
Maciej Obara- saxophone
June 15, 2025, Sunday, TBC
Jazztopad Festival at Barbès
Venue: Barbès, 376 9th St. Brooklyn, NY
Line up:
To be confirmed
June 16, 2025, Monday, TBC
Concerts in Living Rooms
Line up:
Jazztopad Festival artists
To be confirmed
June 17, 2025, Tuesday,7.00 PM, 9.00 PM
Maciej Obara NYC Quartet feat. John Patitucci, Nasheet Waits, Dominik Wania
Venue: Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, 10 Columbus Circle New York, NY
Line up:
Maciej Obara –saxophone
Dominik Wania – f piano
John Patitucci –double bass
Nasheet Waits –drums
June 18, 2025, Wednesday, 7.00 PM and 9.00 PM
Immanuel Wilkins & Lutosławski Quartet –world premiere
Venue: Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, 10 Columbus Circle New York, NY
Line up:
Immanuel Wilkins –saxophone
Lutosławski Quartet:
Roksana Kwaśnikowska –1st violin
Marcin Markowicz –2nd violin
Artur Rozmysłowicz –viola
Maciej Młodawski –cello
June 20, 2025, Friday, 7.00 PM and 9.30 PM
Immanuel Wilkins & Lutosławski Quartet – Canadian premiere
Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Venue: Western Front, 303 East 8th Ave, Vancouver BC V5T 1S1
Line up:
Immanuel Wilkins –saxophone
Lutosławski Quartet:
Roksana Kwaśnikowska –1st violin
Marcin Markowicz –2nd violin
Artur Rozmysłowicz –viola
Maciej Młodawski –cello
Patricia Brennan. Photo Credit: Noel Brennan
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Wacław Zimpel
Wacław Zimpel is a multi-instrumentalist and producer, known primarily as a clarinet player and experiments at the intersection of genres. The New York Times described him as a “musical chameleon.” Despite completing his classical studies, he has devoted himself entirely to improvisation and expanding his musical horizons to include non-Western sounds. Wacław Zimpel has performed at such major festivals as Atonal in Berlin, WOS in Santiago De Compostela and Draaimolen Festival in Tilburg, and has given concerts in India, Japan and at international editions of Unsound in Canada and the United States.
Michiyo Yagi
Michiyo Yagi studied the traditional Japanese transverse harp known as the koto under the late Tadao Sawai and Kazue Sawai, and graduated from the NHK Professional Training School for Traditional Musicians. During her subsequent tenure as Visiting Professor of Music at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, U.S.A. she premiered numerous modern compositions for koto and came under the influence of maverick American composers such as John Cage, Christian Wolff, Conlon Nancarrow, and John Zorn. In addition to performing solo, with the Michiyo Yagi Trio or the newly-formed multi-koto ensemble Talon – all with an emphasis on her original compositions, extended techniques, and unique vocals based on the traditional jiuta style – Yagi continues to be active as the leading improviser on her chosen instrument.
Patricia Brennan
Mexican born vibraphonist, marimbist, improviser and composer Patricia Brennan “has been widely feted as one of the instrument’s newer leaders.” observed The New York City Jazz Record. Patricia has won the rising star vibraphonist award from Downbeat magazine’s 70th (2022) and 72nd (2024) Critics Poll and was listed #4 vibraphonist of the year on the 71st (2023) & 72nd (2024) Critics Poll. Patricia has performed in venues such as Newport Jazz Festival, SF JAZZ, and Carnegie Hall, as well as international venues such as Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City and Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has also appeared on National Television, Public Radio, and the BBC radio show “Freeness” hosted by Corey Mwamba.
Maciej Obara NYC Quartet
Polish saxophonist and composer Maciej Obara leads a celebrated Polish-Norwegian quartet featuring pianist Dominik Wania, bassist Ole Morten Vågan, and drummer Gard Nilssen—an ensemble known for three acclaimed ECM albums. For the Jazztopad Festival’s NYC edition, Obara presents a special project with American jazz luminaries John Patitucci (bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums), creating a cross-cultural dialogue through his expressive compositions. Both Wania and Obara previously collaborated with the legendary Tomasz Stańko. Obara has forged a distinctive sound rooted in European lyricism and free improvisation. Pianist Dominik Wania, a central voice in the group, studied at the New England Conservatory under Danilo Pérez and is celebrated for his technical brilliance and lyrical sensitivity. His solo release Lonely Shadows was the first solo album by a Polish artist on ECM. Wania has worked with a wide range of artists, including George Garzone, Dave Liebman, Eddie Henderson, and Joey Baron.
Lutosławski Quartet
The Lutosławski Quartet performs contemporary music as well as recently commissioned pieces, and focuses on popularising Polish music, including works by Lutosławski, Bacewicz, Szymanowski, and also compositions by one of the group members – Marcin Markowicz. An ensemble made up of versatile and open-minded artists, they blend the contemporary repertoire with the gems of classical, Romantic and jazz music. They have worked with Charles Lloyd, Vijay Iyer, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Sylvie Courvousier, Mark Feldman, James Brandon Lewis and other jazz greats, and recorded the world’s first album of Witold Lutosławski’s chamber works for the Accord label.
John Patitucci
As a performer, John has played throughout the world with his own band and with jazz luminaries Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker, McCoy Tyner, Nancy Wilson, Randy Brecker, Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Hubert Laws, Hank Jones, Mulgrew Miller, James Williams, Kenny Werner and scores of others. Some of the many pop and Brazilian artists he has played with include Sting, Aaron Neville, Natalie Cole, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Milton Nascimiento, Astrud and Joao Gilberto, Airto and Flora Purim, Ivan Lins, Joao Bosco and Dori Caymmi. John has always felt a call to mentor and teach young musicians and to help further and sustain the art of jazz and bass playing around the world. In 2002, following the retirement of Ron Carter, John began teaching at The City College of New York and was a Professor of Jazz Studies there for ten years. He has also been involved with the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program in Washington, D.C. and The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. John is a frequent clinician and guest lecturer at schools around the world and a regular featured performer at the International Society of Bassists conventions. In 2010, John began his involvement with the Berklee College of Music’s Global Jazz Institute, spearheaded by pianist Danilo Perez. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at Berklee, teaching in both the Global Jazz Institute and the Bass Department.
Nasheet Waits
Nasheet Waits, drummer/music educator, is a New York native. His interest in playing the drums was encouraged by his father, legendary percussionist, Frederick Waits. Over the course of his career, Freddie Waits played with such legendary artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, and countless others. Most recently Nasheet has been a member of Andrew Hill’s various bands, Jason Moran’s Bandwagon, and Fred Hersch’s trio. As an originating member of pianist Jason Moran’s Bandwagon, Jason, bassist Tarus Mateen, and Nasheet have been deemed, “the most exciting rhythm section in jazz” by JazzTimes, The 2001 recording “Black Stars” with the Band wagon, featuring Sam Rivers was named the “Best CD of 2001” in (Jazz Times, Jan 2002) and “The New York Times”. In addition he is receiving accolades as the drummer for Nasheet’s recording and performing discography is a veritable who’s who in Jazz, boasting stints with jazz notables such as Geri Allen, Mario Bauza, Hamiett Bluiett, Jane Bunnett, Abraham Burton, Jaki Byard, Ron Carter, Marc Cary, Steve Coleman, Stanley Cowell, Orrin Evans and Stefon Harris.
Hamid Drake
By the end of the 1990s, Hamid Drake had established himself as one of the leading percussionists in the world of improvised music. Drawing from a wide range of traditions, including Afro-Cuban, Indian, and African percussion, as well as the standard drum kit, Drake became known for his diverse and innovative playing. He collaborated with prominent free jazz figures such as Peter Brötzmann, Fred Anderson, and Ken Vandermark, among many others. Drake’s musical journey also extended into world music, performing with Foday Musa Suso’s Mandingo Griot Society in the late 1970s and exploring reggae rhythms as well. He has been part of several influential groups, including the Latin jazz ensemble Night on Earth, the Georg Graewe Quartet, the DKV Trio, Peter Brötzmann’s Chicago Octet/Tentet, and Liof Munimula, one of Chicago’s longest-running free improvisation groups. Additionally, Drake has worked with a wide range of notable musicians, such as trumpeter Don Cherry, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, bassist William Parker, and percussionist Mahmoud Gania. Since 1991, he has also performed a semi-annual solstice celebration with fellow Chicago percussionist Michael Zerang.
Amir ElSaffar
Composer, trumpeter, santur player, vocalist, and bandleader Amir ElSaffar has been described in the New York Times as “the celebrated trumpeter and composer who explores vital connections between jazz and Arabic music.” A recipient of the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award and US Artist Fellowship, and Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University, ElSaffar has earned an international reputation for his work combining jazz and western classical music with the microtonal Maqam music of Iraq and the Middle East. He currently leads four critically-acclaimed ensembles: The 17-piece Rivers of Sound Orchestra; Two Rivers, which combines the musical languages and instrumentation of Iraqi Maqam and contemporary jazz; the Amir ElSaffar Quintet, performing ElSaffar’s microtonal compositions with standard jazz instrumentation; Safaafir, the only ensemble in the US performing and preserving the Iraqi Maqam in its traditional format; and The Alwan Ensemble, the resident ensemble of Alwan for the Arts, specializing in classical music from Egypt, the Levant, and Iraq. In addition, he has worked with jazz legends Cecil Taylor and Archie Shepp, and prominent jazz musicians, Danilo Perez, Mark Dresser, Gerry Hemingway, Marc Ribot, Henry Grimes, and Oliver Lake.
Arun Ramamurthy
Arun Ramamurthy is a multifaceted violinist, composer and educator based in Brooklyn, NY, and is a disciple of the celebrated Carnatic violinist brothers, Sri Mysore Nagaraj & Dr. Mysore Manjunath and the esteemed violinist Sri Ananthakrishnan. He is a versatile artist, performing internationally in both traditional Carnatic and Hindustani settings as well as bridging genres with his own innovative projects like the acclaimed Arun Ramamurthy Trio. Arun is a recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works commission, and will premiere the original work end of 2022. Arun has shared stages with luminaries like Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna, Sudha Ragunathan, Subhankar Banerjee, Reggie Workman, Kenny Werner, Jamey Haddad, Amir ElSaffar among others. Arun’s music has brought him prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Celebrate Brooklyn and more. Arun is a co-founder of Brooklyn Raga Massive, a collective of forward thinking musicians rooted-in and inspired-by the classical music of India. He also created the popular concert series Carnatic Sundays at Cornelia Street Café, an iconic jazz venue in New York’s West Village. As an educator, Arun teaches students ranging from beginners to professional musicians in Indian music performance, technique and theory. He has taught workshops on Indian classical music at music schools, universities, conservatories and summer music programs.
Wacław Zimpel. Photo Credit: Leszek Zych
ABOUT JAZZTOPAD FESTIVAL
Founded in 2004 and held annually at the National Forum of Music in Wrocław, Jazztopad has grown into one of Europe’s leading festivals for improvised music. Since Artistic Director Piotr Turkiewicz took the reins in 2008, the festival has distinguished itself through long-term creative partnerships, high-profile commissions, and its embrace of the unknown—favoring artistic process and experimentation over familiar formats.
Jazztopad has organized satellite editions around the world—from Tokyo and Seoul to Vancouver and Istanbul—in partnership with such prestigious festivals as the Jarasum International Jazz Festival, Tokyo Jazz Festival, Akbank Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival. In New York, the festival has become known for its mix of marquee premieres and underground energy, capturing the spirit of Poland’s music scene while embedding itself in the cultural life of the city.
What sets Jazztopad apart is its commitment to commissioning original works, with over 50 pieces premiered since 2008. These include orchestral works, string quartet commissions, and solo chamber projects by such luminaries as Wayne Shorter, Wadada Leo Smith, Charles Lloyd, Craig Taborn, Joëlle Léandre, Jason Moran, William Parker, Nicole Mitchell, and James Brandon Lewis. These pieces often explore new compositional terrain, with a particular interest in placing improvising soloists into dynamic relationships with classically trained ensembles, including the in-house Lutosławski Quartet and Wrocław’s full symphony orchestra.
Turkiewicz has also placed a special focus on bringing together musicians from disparate traditions—uniting improvisers, contemporary classical composers, folk musicians, and artists working in electronic and experimental formats. The result is a curatorial vision that thrives on dialogue, surprise, and transformation.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
The National Forum of Music (NFM) in Wrocław is one of Europe’s premiere cultural institutions, housing 11 in-house ensembles and presenting concerts in a state-of-the-art, 1,800-seat concert hall. In addition to Jazztopad, the NFM presents leading events across classical, early, and experimental music.
The Polish Cultural Institute New York supports and promotes Polish arts and culture in the U.S. through partnerships with major festivals, cultural institutions, and venues across New York and beyond.
ABOUT THE SPONSORS
NFM, Polish Cultural Institute in NY, Adam Mickiewicz Institute (Culture.pl) and Japan Foundation.
Fully Altered Media