Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski

Jan “Ptaszyn” Wróblewski was one of the most important figures in the history of Polish jazz, and his significance extended far beyond instrumental performance alone. He was a tenor and baritone saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor, writer, and long-time radio host, which made him one of the most recognizable personalities connected with jazz in Poland. He was born on 27 March 1936 in Kalisz. His professional stage debut came in 1956 at the first Sopot Jazz Festival, where he performed with Krzysztof Komeda’s sextet. It was during that period that Komeda gave him the nickname “Ptaszyn,” which stayed with him for the rest of his life. At the same time, he made the decision to become a professional...