It is said to be the interplay between the Danish focus on individual artistic expression and the Polish tradition of high-skilled mastery of one’s instrument, that forms the basis for one of the strongest trans-national jazz connections in Europe. Danish-Polish exchange in specifically the jazz scene has its roots in the ’60s and ‘70s, with Krzysztof Komeda’s Henning Carlsen scores and Tomasz Stanko’s love for the vibrant scene of Montmartre.

 

Since 2004, when Poland was accepted into the European Union, thus opening the possibilities for easier participation in exchange programs, a considerable amount of Polish young musicians have been studying at the Danish conservatories. They have been forming bands together with their fellow Danish students, building careers and lives in Denmark, yet still kept their connection to their Polish roots, and today, the Danish-Polish musicians are a definite and considerable part of the Danish jazz scene. They tour both countries, make their own festivals and each year the conservatories see new highly skilled musicians applying for spots, wanting to take part in the exchange.

 

The Danish Polish Jazz Ecxhange is a 3-day trade mission happening each year from 2022-2025 consisting of a Project Bridge seminar and formalized networking, aiming to further the possibilities of collaboration between Denmark and Poland. In 2022, the trade mission took place during the 2022-version of the festival Polish Danish Jazz Days and consisted of 30 industry professionals from Poland and Denmark. In September 2023, the event will take place in Warzaw.

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Danish Polish Jazz Ecxhange is organized, coordinated and curated by JazzDanmark and supported by Augustinusfonden.