Of Rolling Stones and Precious Gems: An Overview of the “Moving Out” Series

And so I would like to send a deep and humble ‘thank you’ to all my friends who participated and contributed to this concert series. It is the most significant (public) endeavour I have undertaken in Kraków so far. Thank you all for your time, thank you for your magic, thank you for your music, and thank you for saying yes. You were all the droplets of rain that nourished the soil for the blossoming of this project. It could not have happened without you. I look forward to the next five years together. Here is my personal dedication to each of you.

Grzegorz and I work together for another project in Krakow called The Afronauts. Oftentimes, while all the members of the band would be settling in and getting ready for rehearsals, Grzegorz would be pushing buttons on his pedal boards, noodling away at his guitar, spelling all sorts of appetising chords and musical delights. He would often get my musical taste-buds salivating. I would say to him, “we absolutely have to do something with this…” Grzegorz would just smile and say, “yeah, sure, why not?”

We finally had an opportunity to launch the project. We had our premier performance in February 2020 at the opening of an art exhibition that was hosted by another one of my good friends in Krakow, Tomasz Wełna. The exhibition was called “Waiting for the Wind” (czekając na wiatr). It was a huge success and propelled our enthusiasm and faith in the project. All Grzegorz and I wanted were more opportunities to play. It was obvious to me to have this duo start and end off the Moving Out Concert Series.

Karol and I were standing on the sidewalk outside a music venue in Kazimierz one cold winter’s night. We got talking about this and that. Naturally, Karol asked about my experience and life in Poland as a South African. I shared some of my many realisations with him; and at one moment, in his very quiet, well-spoken, and gentle way, Karol thanked me for choosing to stay in this city (Krakow). As if to say “you could have chosen to build your career and live your life anywhere, but thank you for choosing to stay here and for being with us”. It was one of the profoundest compliments I received, and it’s a memory I will probably remember until the end of my days. Thank you, Karol.

My earliest memory of Lukasz was at a jam session at a venue called “Szpitalna 1”. That must have been four or five years ago. It’s been an incredible journey seeing him grow as a musician. I can recall many moments sitting in the crowd at a jam session or concert listening to Lukasz and thinking to myself, “wow… it’s so incredible how much energy he generates with his harmonica playing.” We’ve become more than decent friends over the years. I always appreciate our conversations. I feel like I learn something from Lukasz each and every time we speak. And there’s always a joke or four.

Dave and I shared a stage a few times. Saturday nights in the deep underground of Krakow’s cover-band scene. Every now and then Dave would stop by when I was busking on the streets in the city. He would always spare a coin and a moment to talk. We would usually just speak about this and that. But he is a familiar face that I like seeing around town. He performed a solo set at a cafe in the summer. His performance was raw and heart-felt, without any frills. I’m happy I was there. And so I asked him to come back; to come here for the Moving Out Series. He accepted the invitation.

Both Andrea and Dustin were recommendations from Dave. I hadn’t met them until these performances. I’m glad I had the chance to work with both of them. I was pleasantly surprised to see their lyrical prowess. If I were given the chance of having one of my musical wishes be fulfilled, I would have a difficult time choosing what it would be. There are so many things I wish I could be better at as a musician. But one thing I’ve wished for a long time is the ability to write lyrics and to write them well. The kind that spoke of exactly what I wanted to express without being trite or pedestrian. I appreciate good lyrics and am a champion of the written and spoken word. Both Dustin and Andrea’s sets were a balanced mix of familiar covers and original material. It was their original songs that interested me the most. I’m happy they came. And happier still that they were both keen to share their own works. 

The first time we met was underneath the Florianska gate in Krakow. Michele was busking. I walked by with my saxophone on my shoulder. Michele noticed it and called out to me. We got talking. Naturally, Michele asked where I was from. I told him Cape Town, South Africa. And without another word he picked up his guitar and started singing “Sugarman” by Rodriguez – obviously knowing that I would identify with the song immediately. He started inviting me to the jam sessions that he hosts at Harris Piano Jazz Bar. Thanks to him, and his invitations, I met and know most of the musicians I work with in the city today.

Asking him to perform for the Moving Out concert series was a no-brainer. When I sent him the message to ask if he would be willing to play, I was so moved by the five words he sent in response: “You can count on me”

What a genuine guy…

The first time I met Piotr was at a jam session at Klub Buda about two years ago. There aren’t that many pianists in Krakow. And I really liked Piotr’s style. Our musical tastes aligned. Especially our affinity for the slower, groovier, ‘chill’, R&B, lounge-esque end of the musical spectrum. We’ve always wanted to play together, and we finally got to collaborate for this concert series.

Piotr and Patrycja were founding members of the first band I ever joined when I moved to Krakow. Patrycja saw me playing in Krakow’s main market square back in March of 2015. She took my business card and emailed me a couple of days later, and asked if I would like to join her project. I said yes. Piotr was the bass player in the group. Our personalities were compatible from the very start. I’d even say that Piotr was my first ‘friend’ in Krakow. The person I would call to ‘shoot the breeze’ with. They moved out of Krakow for a few years. I was happy when I learnt they were back in the city. Patrycja sent me a message at the beginning of the corona lockdown in Poland. She said that she was listening to “lean on me” by Bill Withers and said that she always thinks of me when she hears this particular song. I played and sang it to her at a rehearsal once – a moment that I had long forgotten, but she never has. This moment always stuck with her, and she reminded me of that.

Sometimes certain people are introduced to our lives and we cannot quite work out whether we would have wanted to meet them sooner, or whether we had met them at just the right time (in present time). I mostly lean toward the latter. Wassim is such a person for me. I met him about two or three weeks before the beginning of the Moving Out Series. Our mutual friend, Juan, arranged a time and place for us to meet each other. Juan was confident that Wassim and I would have good chemistry, and he was right. 

Paula is another musician I was surprised to have not met earlier than the time of this concert series – especially since she and I have so many mutual friends. Her name was orbiting in the ether during the planning stages of the Moving Out Series. I was putting the roster of musicians together and thinking about who I would ask to perform. Her name was mentioned on more than one occasion. “Ethan, do you know Paula? This Finnish girl. She plays ukulele and sings. We should ask her to play,” Juan said at one of our meetings. Her name was suggested by another friend as well. And I thought “who is this elusive, Finnish, Paula that plays ukulele and sings?”

A few days later, the Hot Tamales band was playing at Klub Buda. Juan texted me. He asked if I would be coming for the performance. I said that I would. He said, “good, Paula is here too. I’ll introduce you to her.”

Juan introduces me to Paula, only for me to realise as we walked up to her that I knew who she was all along! Granted, she and I hadn’t officially met, but I had seen her around a few times. I obviously hadn’t made the connection in my mind that she was the Paula that all the signs were pointing to.

My intention was to have a concert in duo with Mojzesz. He called me up a few days after I had asked him. And very tentatively and respectfully, he asked me if I would be open to expanding the band to have four members. Mojzesz knew that my idea for the concerts were to have solo and duo acts (because of the space limitations; the fact that it was an apartment, and keeping the peace with the neighbours was something I considered). I didn’t object to Mojzesz’s request. And I’m really happy that I didn’t.

This quartet has since gone on to do a handful of performances outside the Moving Out Series. I feel proud to say that at the time of writing this, this particular project is probably the best result that was a direct spin-off from the concert series. I’m excited for where this project is to go.