What was the first concert you have ever attended?
November 2011. Sobremesa tour in Rzeszów. I remember a few hours before the concert I was in the hotel bar then next minute the band walked in. I was slightly reluctant but approached Anna and introduced myself. She was absolutely charming and so happy that I had travelled such a distance for her concert. She is still the same whenever I see her. Given the nineteen amazing concerts I have attended I would still sacrifice them all to have been at the magical Warsaw concert she performed with Pat Metheny. Every time I watch that on You Tube it gives me goosebumps.
What type of personality is Anna Maria Jopek?
Magnetic. Such a diva on and off stage with bags of charm to match. Generous too off stage especially. Will gladly sign every autograph after a concert or pose for photos. All these qualities match her amazing vocal talent. Such a powerful voice from a little lady but a giant on stage. Her amazing talent which can stretch to all genres be it jazz, folk, popular or her work with The Song Of Goat Company.
Many people ask me ‘ you don’t speak the language, are you missing anything ?’ And they’re probably right but most of the music I listen to is instrumental jazz and when I do listen to music with lyrics I become lazy and end up listening to the melody. To me when I hear Anna’s voice I think of it as an instrument and a powerful one at that, so I don’t feel I’m missing that much but rather gaining more.For me the notes have always been more important than the lyrics, so when I first discovered Anna’s vocal talent it felt I had discovered a new instrumental sound, so singing in a different language suits me. I have discussed this with another AMJ fan from my country ( Steve from Stoke) who has also been to many concerts and we are both in agreement that when hers songs are sung in Polish the music works but when she sings in English especially the songs from ‘Secret’ the effect is lost and the songs magic is lost. So in a way I am suited for Polish music.
How do you like performance of the other band members Anna Maria Jopek ? I’m sure Anna would agree like me , that what makes AMJ extra special is her wonderful band and special guests that have performed with her over the years. In Krzysztof Herdzin and Pedro Nazaruk we have two magicians, so multi talented it’s ridiculous. The number of instruments they can play expertly is incomprehensible and both have wonderful voices as well, especially Pedro. Then there’s Kubi ( Robert Kubiszyn) who’s bass playing is world class. Another genius band member who always seems to be traveling the globe with other musical projects as well. I distinctly loved his bass work on last years autumn tour when he and Anna alone played Ucisz Się and also love his work on Cyraneczka. Although he does not play as regularly with the band these days I love the guitar playing of Marek Napiorkowski whose style is similar to a favourite of mine (Larry Carlton). I once turned down a Pat Metheny concert in my home city and instead traveled to Lublin to watch his sextet play. I would love to have seen more of Cezary Konrad because I love his playing. Last year I was staying in Torun for a few days and on the spur of a moment thing, I hopped on a train to Warsawa to see Cezary play in a trio with Kubi and Krzysztof in lovely small venue in the Old Town. It was one of the best jazz concerts I’ve been to and I’ve been to many. I have also had the pleasure of seeing Mino Cinelu play in four concerts with Anna and the band a few years ago and I was blown away by his talent. As a guest performer he has contributed hugely to the AMJ discography. Of world class performers I haven’t seen but hope to in the future would be Dhafer Youssef, Leszek Mozdzer, Makoto Ozone and Richard Bona. Special mention to Yami who I have seen on the Sobremesa tour and also with his own band in Wroclaw. Always fun to watch and a lovely person too with an amazing smile.
Knowing Polish music you also know better Polish people. What is your opinion about them?
Very polite and charming people. I wish it could be said of some English people. I sense their pride in their country from the difficulties they have faced throughout their history and where they are now. In all my visits to Poland I have had no bad experiences with the Polish people, only pleasant ones. Special mention and thanks goes to Tomasz Gajewski, Anna’s assistant who has always looked after my needs and made me feel welcome when meeting the band. A typical Pole if ever there was.
How about Polish cities and Polish cuisine? What are your top choices?
My favourite Polish city is a tough call between Warsawa and Gdansk. I have only been once to Gdansk and loved walking round the old port and the amber glow of the souvenir shops. There’s so much to do here, with the new Solidarity museum and day trips to Sopot and Gdynia. I would have loved a trip to Hel and back if I’d had enough time. One of the least impressive buildings in Gdansk I saw was the old post office where the first shots of WW2 were heard. Unimpressive as it was,it did not hide my excitement of seeing the building from my favourite book The Tin Drum and the famous post office scene. I have had seven visits to Warsawa and never tire of it . I love the mellowness of the Old Town or a stroll through Łazienki Park or just witnessing the hustle and bustle in the heart of the city or visiting one of its many museums. There’s always plenty to do. A living miracle of a city that rose from devastation to an architectural paradise in so little time . Suprisingly I have only visited Krakow once so I reserve judgement until I visit it again. Loved its old town square but felt so sad visiting Auschwitz and Birkinau but something I always wanted to do . Another city I love with a beautiful square is Wroclaw where you can’t beat gnome hunting. Other cities visited that have surprised me with how good they are Toruń, Olsztyn, Plock, Lublin and Zielena Góra . A highlight for me was a walk down Piotrkowska Street where the music video of AreYou Going With Me was filmed in Łódź, a city familiar to Manchester where I live. Other cities visited are Koszalin, Bydgoszcz, Inowrocław, Radom, Rzeszów, Włocławek, Gorzów Wielkopolski and Poznań and the town of Oława. A special mention to Ryan Air, PKP, Regional trains and the world famous Polskibus to getting me to all these wonderful places at such little cost. I still only feel I’ve scratched the surface of Polish visits with many more sites and wonderful things to see. My ideal AMJ concert tour would be Zakopane in the middle of the ski season …all bases covered there.
Part and parcel of a good trip to Poland must be the food and as a lover of good food with a very good appetite, then yes I’m more than happy with Polish cuisine. Wherever I go I must have my Zurek and preferably in a bread bowl. It’s taste is unique that nothing else tastes similar to it. If I am in Warsawa then I must find a Zapieceks for my pirogue fix and they have to be fried in butter with bacon (smaczny). Another favourite is Bigos , a real pork feast. All these dishes have to be washed down with vodka with hazelnut Soplica being my favourite or Żołądkowa Gorzka. As cooking is my profession I have tried my hand at all these dishes at home and work. Zurek is now on the menu in the staff canteen where I work with the staff always asking for ‘that Polish soup’ and it has to be in a duże bowl. As a keen golfer my golf bag is always stocked with a bottle of Soplica that I always share with my playing partners during the round at various intervals. My friends back home are now very familiar with the words Zurek, Soplica and of course AMJ. I hope to teach them more words and promote what’s great in Poland.
Photo © Tomasz Gajewski