At the heart of a 'Rebel Spirit' is an open mind, and it’s this openness that puts an artist like Wacław Zimpel in a vulnerable place that encourages the development of a musical intelligence that is not only intellectual but also spiritual. Wacław Zimpel has really dived into 'music of the world' as he puts it, to deepen his experience of sound and rhythm and to use his compositions to express something that is primal; at the core of what it is to be human.

Wacław may have started his music practice playing classical violin as a child but he moved on to clarinet and saxophone, taught himself to improvise, and at some point in his studies knew that he wanted to move toward free jazz. He is a constantly evolving soul and his visits to India to embrace Konnakol and Carnatic music, that evolved from ancient Hindu texts and traditions, impacted not only his understanding of rhythm but led him toward recognising how trance can affect the listener physically and emotionally. Trance is key to his work. 

He has built an extensive collection of instruments that have informed his music; the Harmonium from North India, a Tibetan horn, and the fujara flute from Slovakia to name a few. In this interview, you will hear about his relationship with the beloved Arp 2500, a modular synthesizer that began its life in the 1970s, that he was able to meet if I can put it like that, during a residency at the William Twee Studios in Den Bosch in the Netherlands. 

Projects such as his Undivided trio and the bands Emergency, The Light, and Hera have given Wacław the space to explore the emotional power of jazz and improvisation, whilst his work with the Chicago-based saxophonist Ken Vandermark's band Resonance and an invitation to perform at the city's innovative Umbrella Music Festival have played a part in extending his audience reach, an important factor for European musicians. 

More recently he has composed music for the Polish film Silent Night, and as he states in the interview his view of himself now is as a music producer - who moves forward at every opportunity. Zimpel is a thrilling presence within the most potent music of today. 

Music from the episode

Massive Oscillations from Wacław Zimpel’s album ‘Massive Oscillations’

Further reading

• https://culture.pl/en/artist/waclaw-zimpel / bio on Culture.pl
• interview with Wacław Zimpel / on nytimes.com

Further watching

• Wacław Zimpel / Boiler Room   / on YouTube.com
• Wacław Zimpel - Lines  / on YouTube
• New Polish Jazz: Ones To Watch - Wacław Zimpel / on YouTube

Credits

This episode of Rebel Spirits was hosted by Debra Richards. The show is brought to you by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

Written and produced by Monika Proba

Executive production by Move Me Media

Edited by Monika Proba

Design by Dawid Ryski

Scoring & sound design by Wojciech Oleksiak

Copyrights

The publisher would like to thank all copyright owners for their kind permission to reproduce their material. Should, despite our intensive research, any person entitled to rights have been overlooked, legitimate claims shall be compensated within the usual provisions.