Founded in 1972 by Professor Andrzej Zubek, Big Band Katowice is a pioneering jazz orchestra from Poland's Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music. As the nation's first academic big band, it has been a training ground for numerous acclaimed musicians, including saxophonist Andrzej Olejniczak and guitarist Jarosław Śmietana. Their 1977 album, "Music For My Friends," showcases a diverse repertoire, from the energetic swing of "Happening" to the delicate "Ballad for Alice." Over the decades, the ensemble has graced international stages in Germany, France, the USA, and former Czechoslovakia, solidifying its reputation as a beacon of Polish jazz excellence. ([am.katowice.pl](https://am.katowice.pl/informacje/big-band-instytutu-jazzu-188?utm_source=openai))