We sat down for an exclusive interview with bassist Wojtek Mazolewski to discuss his quintet’s new album, Pure Form, which combines atmospheric melodies and free-flowing improvisation, drawing on free and spiritual jazz alongside the group’s Polish heritage.
Pure Form is released 20th November 2026.
Your new album, “Pure Form”, draws inspiration from the concept of Pure Form developed by the Polish artist Witkacy. What initially attracted you to his work, and how has his philosophy influenced your approach to making the album?
When I was young, I wanted to be a painter, and it was Witkacy’s unconventional paintings that first attracted me to his work. Later, I read his novels, plays and, eventually, his philosophical writings.
It was in those writings that I found ideas and words that resonated deeply with me. I apply similar principles in my own work. Sounds can be symbols of other phenomena. Music can awaken feelings and processes within us that are essential to our growth and the expansion of consciousness. For me, Pure Form contains these ideas. Music is a vehicle for communicating them.
The title of the album comes from Witkacy’s series of paintings Astronomical Compositions, which inspired a performance I created with my band and an actor, titled Witkacy – Astronomical Compositions. Pure Form is a musical continuation of that project.
Your music combines elements of free jazz, spiritual jazz and Polish musical traditions. How have these influences shaped your sound, and how do you balance tradition with experimentation?
Music has led me in this direction. It tells me where to go; I just listen carefully.
As a child, I absorbed a lot of folk singing in the villages of Masuria and Pomerania. A similar style of singing accompanied me in church. It is a very distinctive musical tradition, with every village and parish having its own character and approach.
As a teenager, I discovered punk rock and became involved in the counterculture opposing the communist regime in Poland. The natural evolution was rock, blues and, eventually, jazz and improvisation.
In Gdańsk in the 1990s, we called the combination of all these genres and the freedom to move between them Yass. That was how we learned about music.
Polish culture and identity are deeply rooted in your music. How important is it for you to reflect your cultural heritage in your compositions, especially when sharing your music with an international audience?
I work on myself and get to know myself better every year. I learn to understand my own sensitivity and listen to my heart. I don’t have a specific formula for doing this. I’m simply honest. I write music straight from the gut.
I express my love for my family, for people and for nature. When something touches my heart, I explore it more closely and refine it so that we can bring it to life together as a band. I pay attention to what I feel and how it affects me.
“Polish Jazz” features South London vocalist Plumm. How did this collaboration come about, and how did her voice influence the composition?
Plumm is wonderful. When I first saw her, I felt there was something about her that seemed familiar, as though we had already worked together. We hadn’t, at least not in this lifetime. It felt as if I had met someone I had deeply missed. So I immediately started dreaming about making music together. Eventually, the opportunity came along.
Her beautiful, delicate, feminine approach brings something special to the album through her wonderful voice. She is an outstanding vocalist. She has an incredible power.
Jazz can sometimes seem intimidating to audiences less familiar with the genre. What would you say to someone discovering your music or attending your concert for the first time?
Forget everything you’ve been told. Open your heart and simply enjoy yourself.
We’ll do everything we can to make sure you experience something special. I hope we’ll inspire you to start doing what you love and creating things of your own. Whatever you do in life, see it as an opportunity to creatively share your talents with the world.
What feelings and experiences would you like to convey to listeners through Pure Form, and what does the future hold for Wojtek Mazolewski Quintet?
I want to share freedom, strength, creativity and self-belief through this music. I want to share the joy of creating. We can do anything! Let’s be attentive and kind to one another. Each of you is a wonderful individual. Let’s embrace that with love. I don’t know what the future holds for WMQ, but we’ll certainly keep doing our thing: creating positive music and building a space where anything is possible and everyone can be happy being themselves.