About this event
The music draws from modern jazz, but also rock, hip-hop, and classical music.
Mike Parker — double bass, compositions
Wojciech Lichtański — alto saxophone
Maksymilian Olszewski — drums
Founded in 2024, the Mike Parker Trio represents a new chapter building upon Parker’s many years of experience as a bandleader on the international scene. The trio brings together long-term musical collaborators, placing emphasis on original compositions, collective interaction, and the energy of live performance.
JazzPRESS magazine described Parker's music as a “brilliant symbiosis of all musical genres... original, fresh, unpredictable, and deeply rooted in group improvisation, with a distinct sense of humor to boot.” The server All About Jazz wrote: “For a purely acoustic jazz ensemble, this band has an electrifying energy... Parker and his bandmates create music that is meaningful and inspiring.”
New York native Mike Parker began his professional career at just 17, gigging in New York clubs where he played funk and rock. He studied evolutionary psychology and music at Skidmore College, where he worked closely with bassists Scott Colley, Reid Anderson, and Reuben Rogers, and performed with artists such as John Scofield and Chris Potter. His study stint at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam fundamentally influenced his approach to composition and improvisation, blending modern jazz and post-bop with influences of rock, classical music, and hip-hop. Since 2011, Parker has been an active touring musician in Europe and the United States. In 2014, he founded Mike Parker’s Trio Theory, which played hundreds of concerts and festival performances in over fifteen countries over the course of a decade. During this period, he released several albums of original music and became a prominent figure on the European jazz scene, performing at festivals including Jazz Ascona (Switzerland), XJAZZ Festival (Germany), Prague International Jazz Festival (Czech Republic), and Mondriaan Jazz Festival (Netherlands), as well as in concerts throughout Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe.
Wojciech Lichtański is one of the leading alto saxophonists of his generation in Poland. He is known for his mature tone, refined technique, and expressive improvisation. He is a laureate of major jazz competitions, including Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa and Jazz nad Odrou. He works both as a bandleader and sideman, performing at festivals in Poland and abroad. He is also dedicated to composition and completed his doctoral studies in music performance in 2021.
Maksymilian Olszewski is a highly acclaimed drummer with a wealth of experience on the European jazz scene. He is the recipient of numerous awards from major jazz competitions and festivals and performs regularly across Europe and internationally. In addition to his jazz work, he has a strong background in classical music, which is reflected in his dynamic and flexible approach.
