G. Auguścik & J. Skolias sing the songs of Robert Świstelnicki / Skalpel

Join us for the fourth day of the 21st International Jazz in the Ruins Festival, where you'll hear the remarkable songs of Robert Świstelnicki performed by an expansive instrumental ensemble and two world-renowned vocalists. The evening will also feature the legendary nu-jazz band Skalpel, known for blending jazz, electronic music, and more!

Jazz in the Ruins is a platform for dialogue between music, graphic design, and visual arts. Each concert day features the finals of the poster competition, showcasing dozens of top printed works from around the world, along with many other attractions.

Day Four of the 21st International Jazz Festival – Jazz in the Ruins!
1st Concert – 7:00 PM (arrive a bit earlier)

G. Auguścik & J. Skolias sing the songs of Robert Świstelnicki – 7:00 PM

On August 9 at 7:00 PM, during the final day of Jazz in the Ruins, the stage will be taken over by a unique project: “Love Songs of Early Post-Communism and Late Capitalism.” This extraordinary concert blends jazz poetry, spacious Nordic moods, and the dynamic sound of modern American jazz.

G. Auguścik & J. Skolias – two voices, one message

Grażyna Auguścik and Jorgos Skolias are charismatic and sensitive artists who create musical spectacles full of emotion and depth. Auguścik, recipient of the Gloria Artis medal, is one of the world’s most outstanding jazz vocalists. Jorgos Skolias, a legend of Polish blues, jazz, and ethnic music, is a vocal virtuoso who freely weaves improvisation with bluesy expression.

Band Line-up:

Grażyna Auguścik – vocals
Jorgos Skolias – vocals
Robert Świstelnicki – piano, guitar, spoken word
Marcin Pater – vibraphone
Mateusz Szewczyk – double bass
Paweł Urbański – guitar
Paweł Palcowski – trumpet
Piotr Budniak – drums

Poetry in Music – Robert Świstelnicki’s Project

“Love Songs of Early Post-Communism and Late Capitalism” is an original project by composer and philosopher Robert Świstelnicki, turning poetry into a musical narrative about the spiritual and social transformations of recent decades. The music fuses Northern European jazz with blues grit and lyrical, poetic song.

Why should you attend this concert?

Expect an evening full of emotion, where poetic sensitivity meets unrestrained jazz improvisation. Świstelnicki’s project is a journey through musical worlds where melancholy coexists with euphoria, and contemporary issues intertwine with personal reflection.

“This album is the biggest sensation in Polish jazz in 2023.”
– Maciej Nowotny, editor-in-chief, Polish Jazz

“The greatest Polish jazz-vocal album of all time.”
– Prof. Maciej Lewenstein

“The best blend of song and jazz on the Polish scene.”
– Karol Ochodek, Radio JazzKultura

“A visionary album, perfect for repeated listening.”
– Tomasz Janas, Polish Radio; Album Quadrature

“Świstelnicki has proven capable of creating a complex, moving, and deeply personal work. This album will undoubtedly become a milestone in Polish jazz and poetic music.”
– Marcin Płudowski, Laboratory of Musical Fusions

Skalpel – Final Concert of Jazz in the Ruins 2025 – August 9, 9:00 PM

On August 9 at 9:00 PM, to close out Jazz in the Ruins in Gliwice, don’t miss a unique performance by the legendary duo Skalpel, appearing on stage as a quintet. Marcin Cichy and Igor Pudło, the minds behind Skalpel, are icons of European nu-jazz. Their sound intertwines contemporary electronic music with the legacy of Polish jazz from the 1960s and 70s, resulting in a refined and emotionally rich experience.

A Musical Journey in the Spirit of Jazz

With their first two albums, “Skalpel” and “Konfusion”, released by the iconic label Ninja Tune, Skalpel crafted a unique style that gained worldwide acclaim. Reviews in top music media such as NME, Pitchfork, The Wire, and DJ Magazine confirm their exceptional artistry. Their international tours and performances at festivals like Sacrum Profanum, OFF Festival, and Tauron Nowa Muzyka solidified their place in the world of jazztronica.

From Classics to Modernity

After solo projects from Igor and Marcin, Skalpel returned at the Sacrum Profanum Festival in 2012, boldly reinterpreting the works of Penderecki, Lutosławski, Górecki, and Kilar. Their albums “Transit” (2014) and “Highlight” (2020) harmoniously combine classical and modern sounds into a hybrid analog-digital soundscape. Their latest album “Origins” (2022) presents Skalpel in a new light, merging jazz with drum’n’bass, downtempo, electro, trip-hop, and balearic elements. It earned them a 2023 Fryderyk Award in the electronic category.

Awards and Recognition

Skalpel are recipients of the Polityka Passport, Man with the Golden Ear award, and Wrocław Artistic Award. They have been nominated for the Fryderyk and BBC Gilles Peterson Award, winning critical acclaim both in Poland and abroad.

The final concert of Jazz in the Ruins featuring Skalpel in a quintet setting is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in electronic landscapes enriched with the spirit of jazz.
Their energetic yet introspective compositions will take the Gliwice audience on a top-tier musical journey.

Let’s end this festival in style – August 9, 2025, Gliwice, Jazz in the Ruins!