Leszek Możdżer uses his solo ACT debut as an opportunity to pay homage to the second great national hero of Polish music (next to Chopin), Krzysztof Komeda. The jazz pianist and film score composer died in 1969 aged just 38, but by this time had written, amongst other things, the soundtracks for almost all of Roman Polanski’s films. “Komeda is one of my idols,” says Możdżer. “I can still remember the first time I heard his music, it was incredible, this great depth and wisdom that appeared. Over time, I found out more about his biography and immense dedication to music. One of my favourite quotes by him is, ‘Live for music, not from music.’” The listener can hear that Możdżer’s Komeda project has undergone a long maturing period. “The album’s producer, Paweł Potoroczyn, tried to get me into the studio with it for six years. He’s only managed it now. I just didn’t feel ready for it earlier.”

One Polish musical icon pays homage to another; Możdżer’s first solo outing for ACT sees the country’s most popular jazz musician offering his own reverential but original take on the music of the legendary pianist and film composer, Krzysztof Komeda, best known for his Roman Polanski soundtracks.