Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet - Kalaczakra
“Kalaczakra” marks the powerful return of Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet, one of Europe’s leading jazz ensembles.
Built around a catchy horn motif, a distinctive bass line, and a free-flowing, pulsing drum rhythm, the track brilliantly blends Polish and spiritual jazz traditions with a raw, modern edge—bold, uplifting, and unmistakably fresh.
The new single offers the first glimpse of their upcoming double album Live Spirit I, recorded live at Warsaw’s iconic Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio.
The release features four brand-new compositions alongside electrifying new takes on WMQ classics, including a stunning 20-minute version of “Polka”, the title track from their best-selling record.
This is WMQ at its core: deeply rooted in Polish jazz tradition, elevated by the spiritual depth and uninhibited virtuosity of improvisation, and shaped by a distinctly modern sensibility and urban energy. Live Spirit I is not just a celebration of the group’s unmistakable sound—it’s a powerful reflection of their ongoing evolution.
The album was recorded during the international tour for their critically acclaimed studio release Beautiful People. Alongside the Warsaw concert, the quintet performed dozens of shows worldwide—selling out London’s Jazz Cafe and earning ovations in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.
Wojtek Mazolewski says: Jazz, to me, is music that reconciles opposites—free spirit and formal discipline, lyrical subtlety and raw emotion, individual charisma and euphoric unity. WMQ’s music is my response to an anxious world. I want our sound to offer people a sense of relief, an escape from everyday chaos, and a way to connect with something bigger—and better—within ourselves.
As both a virtuoso bassist and composer, Mazolewski seamlessly blends traditional jazz with contemporary influences, creating a sound that is both hypnotic and emotionally charged. His 2014 album Polka was named one of the five best jazz records of the year by DownBeat, and earned high praise from Kind of Jazz in the UK. The follow-up, When Angels Fall—featuring reimaginings of Krzysztof Komeda’s compositions—was also widely acclaimed by outlets like DownBeat and London Jazz News.
Mazolewski’s creative reach extends beyond WMQ, including his experimental Tryp Tych Trio project with Tamar Osborn and Sarathy Korwar, and collaborations with artists such as Pete Wareham, Tomasz Stańko, Urszula Dudziak John Zorn, Tim Berne and Dennis González.
His latest studio project Beautiful People—released in collaboration with !K7—showcases a bold immersion in spiritual jazz traditions, while remaining deeply rooted in Slavic culture and sharply attuned to the pulse of the present.
The latest single, “Beautiful People,” has accumulated over 420,000 streams on YouTube and Spotify to date. In total, Wojtek Mazolewski has surpassed 6 million views on YouTube and over 8 million streams on Spotify.
Live Spirit I captures WMQ in peak form: a tightly unified collective that shifts effortlessly from meditative focus to ecstatic improvisational flights, powered by the energy of a live audience. Mazolewski’s compositions flourish in this setting, revealing a potent mix of vitality and groove—qualities that have kept jazz relevant across generations and continue to attract new listeners.
