# Tomasz Szukalski

Tomasz Szukalski (25 December 1947 in Warsaw, Polish People's Republic, registered by Soviet authorities 8 January 1948 – 2 August 2012 in Piaseczno, Poland) was a Polish jazz saxophonist, composer and improviser. Szukalski worked with Tomasz Stańko, Edward Vesala and Zbigniew Namysłowski. Awarded Magister of Music (Master of Arts) at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Warsaw. Szukalski was a revered master of tenor saxophone and his style was often compared to that of John Coltrane and Ben Webster.

## Life and career
### Early years

Szukalski studied clarinet but preferred to perform on tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and on special occasions on bass clarinet or baritone saxophone. Being experiment friendly, he once tried a chainsaw.
Szukalski began his career in the jazz orchestras of Zbigniew Namysłowski and Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski. Other members of the bands included Tomasz Stańko, Zbigniew Seifert, Adam Makowicz, Włodzimierz Nahorny, Janusz Muniak, Michał Urbaniak and Tomasz's lifelong mate Wojciech Karolak.

### Tomasz Stańko, ECM and SBB

In the 1970s, Szukalski's performances became more avant-garde and free. While he continued to perform with Tomasz Stańko, he also worked with Peter Warren and Edward Vesala as well as Arild Andersen, Dave Holland, Palle Danielsson, Palle Mikkelborg, Terje Rypdal, Juhani Aaltonen and Antti Hytti.
During this period, in 1975, he recorded with Stańko on the trumpeter's album entitled "Balladyna" for ECM. Parallel to touring Scandinavia and West Europe with other jazz musicians, Szukalski performed in Poland with the Silesian rockband SBB.

### The Quartet and Józef Skrzek

In 1977, Szukalski consolidated his own band The Quartet, which soon gained high reputation. His bandmates were Sławomir Kulpowicz, Paweł Jarzębski and Janusz Stefański. Some of the last concerts of this famous constellation were performed according to various sources in 1979 or 1980 at Village Vanguard in New York. In the years 1980-1981 Szukalski continued a duo cooperation with SBB's leader Józef Skrzek. The planned bookings for autumn 1981 joint performance of SBB and his own The Quartet at the Jazz Jamboree festival, due to the tense political situation in Poland, were not finalized. The duo realized the album "Ambitus Extended" and Szukalski also performed with Józef Skrzek and his short living project Józef Skrzek Formation. They toured across Polish People's Republic and Czechoslovakia and performed the soundtrack for the science-fiction movie "The War of the Worlds: Next Century" (1981).
Just weeks before the onset of martial law in Poland Tomasz performed with Józef Skrzek, Andrzej Ryszka, Sławomir Piwowar, Andrzej Urny, Dean Brown and Gil Goldstein in Warsaw and with his The Quartet mates at a workshop in memory of John Coltrane "We'll Remember Coltrane" (New Jazz Meeting), organised by Joachim-Ernst Berendt at Südwestfunk in Baden-Baden, where also Tomasz Stańko, Albert Mangelsdorff and John Coltrane's drummer Rashied Ali were present. During his stay in Vienna, following December 1981 Czechoslovakia tour (performing "Ambitus Extended" with Józef Skrzek), martial law was imposed and Szukalski returned home.

### Martial law - Time killers

To survive the martial law in Poland Szukalski re-joined the orchestra of Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski playing known American standards. In 1984, he recorded with his old mates Wojciech Karolak and Czesław Bartkowski the groovy "Time Killers", which instantly became a hit. In 1985, Tomasz consolidated his new quartet with Piotr Biskupski, Andrzej Cudzich and Andrzej Jagodziński and eventually his friend and neighbour, the drummer Marek Stach, but the new quartet did not survive due lack of performances and the atmosphere of martial law. Tomasz's custom made Henri Selmer Paris tenor saxophone and Julius Keilwerth soprano saxophone have been stolen in Warsaw a couple of months before he moved to his cabin outside Warsaw.

### Artur, Alain, Antti, Apostolis, Arild

After 1990, Szukalski performed in various constellations, recorded as sideman and special guest, and started a long lasting cooperation with the young pianist Artur Dutkiewicz. During the last decade of the 20th century and the first of the 21st century, Tomasz performed with Artur Dutkiewicz, Wojciech Karolak, Alain Brunet (the French jazz trumpeter and vice minister of culture), Tadeusz Nalepa, Piotr Wojtasik, Wojciech Majewski, Tomasz Stańko, Palle Danielsson, Janusz Skowron, Karin Krog and Antti Hytti and again as special guest of the reunited rockband SBB. During 2007 and 2008 Szukalski with his young Polish drummer Krzysztof Dziedzic and his Norwegian friend, the bassist Arild Andersen, toured with Apostolis Anthimos as Apostolis Anthimos Quartet. At his hermitage cabin outside Warsaw Tomasz was visited by his friends and musicians inviting him to their recording sessions and performances, most often by the pianists Artur Dutkiewicz and Wojciech Majewski who always relied on "uncle Tom's" advice. Tomasz only occasionally visited Warsaw, e.g. to meet the ill Czesław Niemen just a couple of weeks before his passing away.

### Death

Szukalski lost his father's home (occupied by soviet invaders), divorced and spent nearly two decades in his primitive cabin outside Warsaw, where he lived permanently since 2003. Even at his rural hermitage the soviet provocations, invigilation and robberies didn't stop and Tomasz was even visited by a policeman demanding to teach him playing a trumpet and staying at Tomasz's cabin overnight. After one such visit Tomasz's driving licence was revoked. The Quartet reunited and performed a few concerts across Europe in 2006 and 2007 but soon Sławomir Kulpowicz died. Around 2009, homeless and ill, Szukalski gained some attention from friends, especially from Artur Dutkiewicz, who organised "The Day of The Jackal" (Polish: Dzień Szakala) benefit concerts in several major Polish cities. The last and most extensive, organised in Warsaw on November 21, 2010, became the greatest jazz performance of this year in Poland, outperforming even the venerated Jazz Jamboree. The following musicians performed at the last benefit and some of them helped Tomasz find a place at an artists asylum in Skolimów outside Warsaw:
* Michał Barański - double bass
* Ewa Bem - vocal
* Danel Biel - double bass
* David Dorůžka - guitar
* Urszula Dudziak - vocal
* Artur Dutkiewicz - piano
* Tomasz Grzegorski - sax
* Krzysztof Herdzin - piano
* Borys Janczarski - sax
* Paweł Jarzębski - double bass
* Kazimierz Jonkisz - drums
* Wojciech Karolak - Hammond organ
* Tomasz Krawczyk - guitar
* Sławomir Kurkiewicz - double bass
* Robert Majewski - piano
* Adam Makowicz - piano
* Michał Miśkiewicz - drums
* Leszek Możdżer - piano
* Łukasz Poprawski - sax
* Wojciech Pulcyn - bass
* Janusz Stefański - drums
* Józef Skrzek - piano, minimoog, harmonica, vocal
* Jorgos Skolias - vocal
* Tomasz Stańko - trumpet
* Krzysztof Ścierański - bass, guitar
* Jarosław Śmietana - guitar
* Jan Smoczyński - piano
* Michał Tokaj - piano
* Michał Urbaniak - violin
* Marcin Wasilewski - piano
* Aga Zaryan - vocal
* Łukasz Żyta - drums
After a couple of months spent at artists asylum, Szukalski died on August 2, 2012, at a hospital in Piaseczno, Poland His funeral was held on August 8, 2012, at Bródno Cemetery, just one kilometre, less than a mile, from his family's stolen and occupied home.
In 2012, Szukalski was posthumously awarded with the Medal for Merit to Culture - Gloria Artis for his achievements for the Polish culture and in 2013 with Fryderyk (in Gold), the Polish equivalent of the Grammy Award, for the works of his lifetime.

## Heritage
### Influence

Tomasz and Artur Dutkiewicz also sometimes offered jazz workshops for children. Tomasz was able to present his enormous wisdom, which would otherwise afford many years of education in a very condensed and simple form, which attracted many young jazz musicians consulting "uncle Tom" at every possible occasion, most often backstage after his performances or in jazz clubs, to gain some knowledge and practical advice. Tomasz also picked up and educated young jazz talents, who otherwise wouldn't be noticed and often performed as special guest promoting their debut recordings. Also aspiring singers like Anna Maria Jopek or Agnieszka Skrzypek alias Aga Zaryan profited from Tomasz's support and promotion, therefore in the Polish jazz community he was often called "uncle Tom". Szukalski was probably the youngest member of a jury of a few professional musicians, who decided about the professional qualifications needed to officially perform in the political reality of the late Polish People's Republic and therefore some, who were forced by the soviet authorities to be checked by that jury, e.g. Mateusz Pospieszalski may remember him as a strong teacher.

### In popular culture

Tomasz Stańko wrote about Tomasz Szukalski in his 2010 autobiography:
   This was completely improvised music (TWET). Transcendental. This greenhorn Szukalski was a revelation. He was playing perfectly from the very beginning. The very best musicians are like this. When I was playing with him, I've always been surprised. He was very creative in the band (with Edward Vesala), what we mostly appreciated was his sound, his expression. I had to rely on top class musicians, and in Poland there were just a few; Szukalski, Szczurek, Skowron. Whoever he was playing with, he was the better performer.
Also some of Szukalski's other friends e.g. Jarosław Śmietana, Wojciech Karolak, Krzysztof Dziedzic and others often made references to Tomasz Szukalski's impact on Polish Jazz. Their popular clip "A Story of Polish Jazz" covers all great Polish jazz musicians often referring to Szukalski.
Szukalski appears in the Polish science-fiction movie "Wojna Światów - następne stulecie" (War of the Worlds - Next Century) by Piotr Szulkin and in some jazz documentaries by Andrzej Wasylewski, e.g. "We'll Remember Coltrane" and the recent multimedia publication "Jazzowe dzieje Polaków" (Jazz History of the Poles). Although being co-composer of the "Wojna Światów - następne stulecie" (War of the Worlds - Next Century) soundtrack and even shortly appearing in one scene, performing "Interception" from the soundtrack album (64th-67th minute of the movie), Szukalski remains uncredited in this pre-martial law production.
Szukalski's popular pseudonym Szakal (Jackal), may also refer to his playing style since the word is derived from the Persian شغال shoghāl, which is in turn derived from the Sanskrit शृगाल śṛgāla meaning "the howler". The pseudonym used by his younger close friends was wujek Tomek (uncle Tom) or simple wujek (uncle), this is because his relations were very direct, whole-hearted and uncompromised. Some of his best friends, e.g. The Quartet musicians and two SBB technicians were able to communicate with Jackal/Uncle nonverbally - a gift very helpful during performances.

### Selected discography

| Recorded | Issued | Title | Performer | Kind | Label |
| 1970-1972 | 2018 | On Stage 1970/1972 | Niemen | live bootleg | New Music - Green Tree – GTR 170 |
| 1972 | 1974 | Koncert podwójny na 5 solistów i orkiestrę (Double Concerto for Five Soloists and Orchestra) | Tomasz Szukalski, Zbigniew Seifert, Janusz Muniak, Włodzimierz Nahorny, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Czesław Niemen, Bronisław Suchanek, Janusz Stefański, Stu Martin, Tomasz Stańko, Jan Jarczyk, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski and others | live in studio | Poljazz Z-SXL 0553 |
| 1972 | | Sound of Marianna Wróblewska | Marianna Wróblewska | | PN Muza SXL 0847 |
| 1972 | | Naga 1 | Niebiesko-Czarni | | PN Muza SXL 0881 |
| 1972 | | Naga 2 | Niebiesko-Czarni | | PN Muza SXL 0882 |
| 1973 | | Winobranie Vintage) | Zbigniew Namysłowski | | PN Muza SXL 0952 |
| 1973 | | Rien ne va plus | Novi Singers | | PN Muza SXL 1009 |
| 1973 | | Night Jam Session in Warsaw 1973 | All Stars After Hours | live | PN Muza SXL 1033 |
| 1973 | | Interjazz 3 | Tomasz Szukalski, John McLaughlin and others | live, compilation | Supraphon 1 15 1739 |
| 1974 | | Easy! | Wojciech Karolak | | PN Muza SXL 1069 |
| 1974 | | Chałturnik | S.P.P.T. Chałturnik | | PN Muza SXL 1079 |
| 1974 | | TWET | Tomasz Stańko, Peter Warren, Edward Vesala, Tomasz Szukalski | live in studio | PN Muza SXL 1138 |
| 1974 | | Sprzedawcy glonów (Algae Dealers) | Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski | live in studio | PN Muza SXL 1141 |
| 1975 | | Kujaviak Goes Funky | Zbigniew Namysłowski Quintet | | PN Muza SX 1230 |
| 1975 | | Three Thousands Points | Krzysztof Sadowski | | PN Muza SX 1277 |
| 1975 | 2004 | Sikorki (Tits) | SBB | live in studio | Metal Mind Productions |
| 1975 | | Jazz Jamboree 75 Vol. 2 | Karin Krog & Zbigniew Namysłowski Quintet | live | PN Muza SX 1340 |
| 1975 | 1976 1993 2008 | Balladyna | Tomasz Stańko, Tomasz Szukalski, Dave Holland, Edward Vesala | live in studio | ECM Records 1071, 1777597 |
| 1976 | | Ach! Jak Przyjemnie | Sami Swoi | live in studio | PN Muza SX 1353 |
| 1972-1976 | 2009 | A Double Concerto For Five Soloists And Orchestra | S.P.P.T. Chałturnik / Polish Radio Jazz Studio Orchestra | live in studio, compilation / decompilation of previously released material | Poljazz / ANEX 312 |
| 1976 | | Drums Dream | Czesław Bartkowski | | PN Muza SX 1419 |
| 1976 | 2004 | Anthology, Vol. 05 | SBB | live in studio | Metal Mind Productions |
| 1976 | | Rodina | Edward Vesala, Tomasz Szukalski, Tomasz Stańko, Juhani Aaltonen, Pekka Poyry and others | | Love Records LRLP 189 |
| 1976 | | Satu | Edward Vesala, Tomasz Szukalski, Palle Mikkelborg, Terje Rypdal, Palle Danielsson, Tomasz Stańko, Juhani Aaltonen and others | | ECM 1088 |
| 1976 | 1978 | Live at Remont | Tomasz Stańko - Edward Vesala Quartet | live | Helicon HR 1002 |
| 1977 | | Love Chant | Jan Wallgren - Bengt Ernryd Quartet | | Dragon |
| 1978 | 1979 | Almost Green | Tomasz Stańko, Tomasz Szukalski, Palle Danielsson, Edward Vesala | live in studio | Leo 008 |
| 1978 | | Jasmine Lady | Zbigniew Namysłowski | | PN Muza |
| 1978 | 1979 2009 | The Quartet | The Quartet | live in studio | Poljazz Z-SX 0688 Anex AN 302 |
| 1979 | | Loaded | The Quartet | live in studio | |
| 1979 | | Swing Party | Krzysztof Sadowski | | PN Muza SX 1796 |
| 1979 | | Neitsytmatka (Maiden Voyage) | Edward Vesala, Tomasz Szukalski, Sławomir Kulpowicz, Paweł Jarzębski, Tomasz Stańko | | Polarvox LJLP 1014 |
| 1977-1979 | 2012 | The Quartet | The Quartet | previously unrealised 1977-1979 Polish Radio live sessions and a 1979 concert at National Philharmonic in Warsaw | Polskie Radio 1246-47 |
| 1980 | | Józefina (Josephine) | Józef Skrzek | | WiFon LP 037 |
| 1981 | | Wojna Światów - następne stulecie (War of the Worlds - Next Century) | Józef Skrzek, Tomasz Szukalski, Robert Gola, Janusz Ziomber, Jan Skrzek | | PN Muza SX 2342 |
| 1981 | | Ambitus Extended | Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski | | Helicon HR 1006 |
| 1981 | | Wojna Światów - Live (War of the Worlds - Live) | Józef Skrzek Formation | live in Czechoslovakia | Wydawnictwo 21 21.014 |
| 1981 | | Kolędy (Carols) | Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski | old Polish X-mas carols single 45 RPM | Helicon HR 001 |
| 1982 | | Matko, która nas znasz... | Stanisław Sojka feat. Tomasz Szukalski | live in studio | Helicon HR 1009 |
| 1983 | | Kolędy (Carols) | Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski | old Polish X-mas carols single 45 RPM | Helicon HR 002 |
| 1984 | | Ewa Bem Loves The Beatles | Ewa Bem | Polish Jazz Vol.84 Deluxe | PN Muza |
| 1984 | | Time Killers | Wojciech Karolak - Tomasz Szukalski - Czesław Bartkowski | Polish Jazz Vol.89 Deluxe | Helicon HR 1012 |
| 1985 | | Tina Kamila | Tomasz Szukalski | for daughter | PN Muza SX 2250 |
| 1986 | | Tina Blues | Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | live | Poljazz PSJ 172, Wipe 7084 |
| 1986 | | Interjazz 5 | Milan Svoboda & The Polish - Czech Big Band | live in studio | Supraphon |
| 1986 | | Music from Poland at MIDEM '86 | various artists | | PN Muza SX 2292 |
| 1987 | | Polish Jazz Vol. 1 | | | Wipe 7081 |
| 1987 | 1987 | Sen szaleńca (A Fool's Dream) | Tadeusz Nalepa | | PN Muza 2437 |
| 1983-1988 | 1988 | Radioaktywny (Radioactive) | Stanisław Sojka | | PN Muza SX 2661 |
| 1988 | | Sunrise Sunset | Grażyna Auguścik | | PN Muza SX 2615 |
| 1989 | | Mulatu Astatke Plays Ethio-Jazz | Mulatu Astatke | | Poljazz PSJ 252 |
| 1989 | | Blues Duo SZ - SZ / Sz-Sz Blues | Tomasz Szukalski - Janusz Szprot | live in studio | Wipe 7079 |
| 1989 | | Borżomski Wąwóz / Body And Soul | Jazz Chorał & Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | with a band from Georgia | PN Muza |
| 1991 | | Absolutnie (Absolutely) | Tadeusz Nalepa | | PN Muza SX 3011 |
| 1991 | | Body and Soul | Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | live | Polonia Records CD 003 |
| 1993 | 1994 | A Farewell to Maria | Tomasz Stańko | | GOWI Records CDG 12 |
| 1994 | 1994 | Balladyna - Theatre Play Compositions | Tomasz Stańko | | GOWI Records CDG 16 |
| 1997 | | Gadające Drzewo (Talking Tree) | Stół Pański feat. Tomasz Szukalski, Sławomir Kulpowicz & Andrzej Przybielski | | ZBIG Records 001 |
| 1975-1998 | 1998 | Selected Recordings (:rarum XVII) | Tomasz Stańko | compilation | ECM Records 8017 |
| 1999 | | Lady Walking | Artur Dutkiewicz | | Universal Music Polska 546070-2 |
| 1999 | | Escape | Piotr Wojtasik Quintet | | |
| 1999 | 2004 | Anthology, Vol. 14 | SBB | live | Metal Mind Productions |
| 2000 | 2001 | Reinkarnasja | Grzegorz Karnas | | Not Two |
| 2000 | | Phone Consultations | Tomasz Szukalski, Wojciech Karolak, Jarosław Śmietana Quartet | | |
| 2000 | | Barefoot | Anna Maria Jopek | | EmArcy 016 299-2 |
| 2000 | | O co tyle milczenia (Why So Much Silence [Unspokenness]) | Anna Maria Jopek | | Universal Music Polska |
| 2001 | | Grechuta | Wojciech Majewski Quintet | | Sony Music Polska |
| 1999-2002 | 2003 | Made in Poland [ Presented in Ukraine | Tomasz Stańko Quartet, Jarek Śmietana / Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | excerpts from live performances in Ukraine | Lemma – 03011-12/2 |
| 2002 | | My Lullaby | Agnieszka Skrzypek alias Aga Zaryan | | Not Two/ Cosmopolis MW 737-2 |
| 2003 | 2018 | Zamyślenie (Contemplation) | Wojciech Majewski Quintet | | Sony Music Polska |
| 2003 | 2003 | Live in Warsaw (Skarpa Theatre) | Karin Krog & Tomasz Szukalski Quartet | live 50 copies for invited guests of the Embassy of Norway in Poland | Mariusz Zych & Embassy of Norway in Poland |
| 2004 | | Sny (Dreams) | Grzegorz Karnas | | DeBies 002 |
| 2005 | | O Panie przebacz mej myśli, że nie dość jeszcze Miłuję | Józef Skrzek | compilation | |
| 2005 | 2006 | Wolność w sierpniu (Freedom in August) | Tomasz Stańko, Tomasz Szukalski, Marcin Wasilewski, Apostolis Anthimos, Sławomir Kurkiewicz, Michał Miśkiewicz, Janusz Skowron | contribution for the Warsaw Uprising Museum | FIRe 001 |
| 2005 | | Session Natural Irish & Jazz | Carrantuohill | | Celt / Rockers Publishing CC08 |
| 2005 | | The Best of Polish Jazz 2005 | | | |
| | 2009 | Opowieść (A Story) | Wojciech Majewski Quintet | | 4EVERMUSIC 130 |
| 1978-2006 | 2012 | Sławomir Kulpowicz - Complete Edition | Sławomir Kulpowicz, In-Formation, The Quartet, Sławomir Kulpowicz & Shujaat Khan | 5-CD box |
| 1981-2007 | 2010 | The Day of The Jackal | Tomasz Szukalski, Apostolis Anthimos, Arild Andersen, Andrzej Cudzich, Artur Dutkiewicz, Paweł Jarzębski, Kazimierz Jonkisz, Sławomir Kulpowicz, Józef Skrzek, Janusz Stefański, Zbigniew Wiatr | live compilation 100 copies contributed to support the "Dzień Szakala" benefit | Mariusz Zych limited private edition |
| | 2011 | The Masters of Polish Jazz | Piotr Wojtasik | |