Top Polish pianist's escape to the home of jazz
BY MAUREEN HURLEY
At the Russian River Jazz '82 music festival, world-renowned Polish pianist Adam Makowicz made his Sonoma County debut to an enthusiastic audience of nearly 1000 Sept. 12. Billed for the past five years as Europe's number one jazz pianist, and chosen by America's jazz bible Downbeat international critics poll in 1979, Makowicz is making huge inroads on American audiences coast to coast and the Jazz '82 audience was no exception.
A recent emigreé to the United States, Czechoslovakian-born Makowicz lives with his wife in New York. He describes himself as a country boy used to open spaces and villages living in the middle of Manhattan. He emigrated to the US from Poland nearly five years ago because, the wholesome-looking, blond haired pianist said with a twinkle in his blue eyes, "America is the home of Jazz!"
At the Russian River Jazz '82 music festival, world-renowned Polish pianist Adam Makowicz made his Sonoma County debut to an enthusiastic audience of nearly 1000 Sept. 12. Billed for the past five years as Europe's number one jazz pianist, and chosen by America's jazz bible Downbeat international critics poll in 1979, Makowicz is making huge inroads on American audiences coast to coast and the Jazz '82 audience was no exception.
A recent emigreé to the United States, Czechoslovakian-born Makowicz lives with his wife in New York. He describes himself as a country boy used to open spaces and villages living in the middle of Manhattan. He emigrated to the US from Poland nearly five years ago because, the wholesome-looking, blond haired pianist said with a twinkle in his blue eyes, "America is the home of Jazz!"
