Melomani | |
|---|---|
 Melomani in 1956. L–R: Trzaskowski, Thomys, Matuszkiewicz, Kujawski, Sobociński, Wojciechowski and Studziński | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Melomani Jazz Group Hot Club Melomani |
| Origin | Łódź, Poland |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1951–1958 |
| Labels | Polskie Nagrania „Muza” |
| Past members |
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The Melomani, later known as Hot Club Melomani, were a pioneer Polish jazz band. Formed in Łódź in 1951 by Jerzy Matuszkiewicz, they were the first self-styled Polish jazz musical group.[1]
Founded during the period of Stalinism, when jazz music, regarded as a synonymous with the "reactionary American culture", was officially banned by the then communist authorities, Melomani were forced to conduct underground activities until 1955.[2] By then, many musicians had contributed to the band, one of them being Krzysztof Komeda, whose concepts inspired the group at one point to split into two different line-ups operating under the same name – a traditional one (playing dixieland) and a modern one (playing bebop).[2]
- ^ "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - the fate of jazz and jazz education in Poland in the second half of the 20th Century. By Janusz Szprot". Archived from the original on 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ a b "Hot Club Melomani". Biblioteka Polskiej Piosenki. Retrieved 20 December 2023.