All Souls' Day Concert SOUL BEHIND 15 - Asia Czajkowska, Igor Nowicki, Waldemar Franczyk, Marcin Grabowski, and Special Guests - at a unique concert in Toruń.

IIt's hard to believe it's already been 15 years since All Souls' Day Soul Behind! We invite you to the 15th anniversary edition of this extraordinary series, which gathers fans of jazz, soul, unforgettable film themes, and songs with great lyrics at the Lizard King club every autumn. On Sunday, November 22nd, we will hear compositions by such greats as Michał Urbaniak, Miles Davis, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Cole Porter performed by phenomenal musicians, along with equally proud performances of Polish standards by Henryk Wars, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski, and Krzysztof Komeda. The concert will be an opportunity to hear valuable, poetic texts (including those by Agnieszka Osiecka, Wojciech Młynarski, and Andrzej Włast) and heartfelt melodies sung by Andrzej Zaucha, Stanisław Sojka, Łucja Prus, Cassandra Wilson, and Peabo Bryson – all performed in an exquisite setting, with great sensitivity and attention to detail, respect for the lyrics, and a healthy dose of improvisation. 2026 is officially the Year of Filmmakers in Kujawy and Pomerania, and numerous film themes will be performed, commemorating Helena Grossówna, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Ray Charles. There will also be surprises from beyond the jazz genre, naturally in "cool" arrangements. Featuring:

Asia Czajkowska - vocals

Igor Nowicki - keyboards

Marcin Grabowski - double bass, bass guitar

Waldemar Franczyk - drums

and SPECIAL GUESTS

As usual, you'll find out who they are when they take the stage. Surprise guests so far have included Bogdan Hołownia, Wojciech Myrczek, Ania Grzelak, Michał Sołtan, Kacper Andrzejewski, Piotr Schmidt, Patrycjusz Gruszecki, Mariusz Lubomski, Jarek Wist, Adam, Tomasz, and Ignacy Wendt, as well as many other, perhaps lesser-known, but no less delightful artists. This year, we can expect many outstanding, unannounced guests, not only from Poland.

The rhythm section will feature equally talented musicians beloved by audience.

Igor Nowicki is a highly regarded pianist, keyboardist, arranger, and academic lecturer. He has collaborated with the Horzyca Theatre in Toruń and artists such as Irena Jarocka, Justyna Steczkowska, Sławek Uniatowski, Sławek Wierzcholski and Nocna Zmiana Bluesa, Zabawny Kazimierz, Eddie Angel (UK), Maria Rodriguez (CU), Jimmy Thomas (USA), and Steve Kindler (USA). He leads the "Pod Dyrekcji" Big Band. He has been associated with Soul Behind since its inception.

Waldemar Franczyk has won numerous awards, including the Grand Prix at the Jazz Krokus Festival and the Grand Prix at the Jazz nad Odrą Festival. He co-founded the Bibobit band and collaborated with artists such as Marek Raduli, Jacek Piskorz, the Toruń Symphony Orchestra, numerous big bands, orchestras, and theaters.

Marcin Grabowski is also a winner of numerous jazz festivals and a valued educator. He has released over a dozen LPs and collaborates with Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz, the Pomeranian Philharmonic, and the Alfred Smoczyk Theatre. Wilam Horzyca and the Musical Theatre in Toruń. He participated in the recording of Janusz Majewski's film "Jazz Outsider."

The concert's originator, main performer, and partially arranger is Asia Czajkowska – vocalist, songwriter, composer, and philologist. She is a scholarship holder from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and her hometown of Toruń.

She has won numerous festivals, including the 40th International Jazz Vocalists' Meeting in Zamość, the Jeremi Przybora National Song Contest "Stacja Kutno," and the Zaucha Festival. Her voice captivated Urszula Dudziak, who, when presenting the award at Ladies Jazz 2025, said: "You sing simply divinely. Amazing! You have everything." As well as Irena Santor, with whom Asia sang nearly 30 concerts on her anniversary tour. The joint project with the First Lady of Polish Song will premiere at the upcoming Szczecin Jazz Festival.

Asia's first solo album, "Some of my favs LIVE" (2015), is an emotional concert recording. In 2024, she released her own, fully original album, "Pianissima," created with nine outstanding pianists. The album was ranked among the best Polish jazz albums of 2024 by Adam Dobrzyński, and was voted Album of the Year by internet users and Radio GRA listeners and awarded the Mayor of Toruń Award. Last year, the singer recorded three more albums: "My Jazzy Valentine" with the Los Angeles Trio (B.Hołownia/J.Eliasz/P.Pańta), the Fryderyk-nominated "Kołysz się skowyysz" - with the Astrolabium choir and the virtuoso of ethnic instruments - Tomasz Drozdek, with improvised solo parts by Asia, and "One Voice" with Dorrey Lin Lyles and Sylwester Ostrowski, from which the tango "Już już" was included on Marek Niedźwiecki's compilation "Smooth Jazz Cafe".

??Klub Lizard King, ul. Kopernika 3, Toruń

??22 listopada 2026, niedziela

??17:00 (otwarcie drzwi)

??18:00 (start koncertu)

Please note that a ticket does not guarantee a seat. Please make your reservation by email: [email protected], providing your name, number of people, contact number, and arrival time.