Band history dates back to 1978, when it was formed in the non-existent today "Zachęta" club under the name "Ragtime Capella". The band was founded by banjo player Edward Wnęk. An invaluable source of inspiration was the annual ( since 1973) trip to the festival " Old Jazz Meeting - Golden Washboard ", held in Warsaw "Stodoła", where always all the most distinguished Polish traditional jazz and European and U.S. jazz stars as well were present.
It was not without significance for the band development that Kraków city, with traditional jazz bands ( Jazz Band Ball Orchestra, Old Metropolitan Band, Beale Street Band , Swing Orchestra Cracow) is very close.
In the early years of the band a stylish piano ragtime was performed by Krzysztof Ożga . Over the time RK consistently expanded its instrumental composition from the quartet in 1978 (p, tu , washboard / dr , bjo ) to nonet in 1985-1989 ( with addition of fl , viol , cl, tp , tb ) . The happy- jazz approach to music by Scott Joplin , Joseph Lamb , James Scott and others was inspired by arrangements of Turk Murphy Jazz Band, New England Ragtime Ensemble and Polish jazz band Hagaw.
In 1989, the band for the first time took part in the contest "Złota Tarka " qualifying for the finals with an international cast , which was reported as a great success.
Already a few years earlier , in parallel with ragtime , dixieland was played , especially because of true klezmer imagination and virtuosity of Edward Karwala (clarinet ) . The dixieland option adopted the name Leliwa Jazz Band , which did not obligate longer to play only in ragtime style. In addition to the classic bands of New Orleans and Chicago ( Hot Five , Hot Seven , Bix Beiderbecke ) a large impact on the style of LJB had the Polish band Old Timers.
The following years brought development original stylistic tone , with 4 or 5 melodic instruments ( the sound of tenor saxophone and baritone saxophone was add to the trumpet , clarinet and trombone) , with a consequent dixieland counterpoint , sometimes with a "happy " inserts and spicy harmonic moments.
An important diversion of the repertoire are songs from the early swing and arrangements of the world's vocal hits . The recent introduction of sousaphone (Roman - multi-instrumentalist ) favors a return to the roots : Leliwa JB Again, more often, plays ragtime ! ( with tube and washboard - as in 1978).
LJB successfully participated in OJM '98 in Iława , in 2004 was awarded , and the next he won the Grand Prize "Złota Tarka , 2005" . After the Golden Washboard came other awards: first place in the Bohdan Styczyński Competition . ( Warsaw, 2005 ) , the Golden Scarab for the band and trumpeter Stanisław Stanczyk in the Henryk Majewski Competition, and - most particularly enjoyable - Award of city of Tarnów " Uskrzydlony 2005", for LJB's contribution in promoting of the city and the region .
LJB often performs on the festival stages. Let us list some of them: " 50 Zaduszki Jazzowe - Kraków 2005 ", " Hot Jazz Spring - Czestochowa , 2006" , " III Zakopiańska Wiosjna Jazzowa - 2006 ", " Old Jazz Meeting 2006 ", " Mazurska Fiesta Jazzowa - Gizycko 2006 ' , as well as annual participation in the regional event " Baszta Jazz Festival " in Czchów . Distinguished honors for LJB was being selected to represent the Polish traditional jazz on " Euro Jazz Festival - 2006 " in Paris .
LJB members - twins - Kazimierz and Józef Partyka - decided to start their own jazz club in the Bombay -Music restaurant, where cyclic " Jazz Thursdays " take place, always ending with a spontaneous jam session . There is alwazs a lot of old traditional jazz. Of course , in addition to many other bands, LJB plays there quite regularly.
Tarnów Cultural Center with TCK Jazz Club - located in the medieval walls of the old town of Tarnow are LJB patrons and supporters. The band's name comes from the crest Leliwa belonging to Leliwitas - founders of the city.
In Tarnow sprouted grain thrown many years ago by the organizers of Polish traditional jazz with Jerzy Bojanowski at the head ( the founder of the " Stofoła " and the Złota Tarka competition) . We are very grateful to you Mr Jerzy for that. Because this bans is for each of us a big part of life , the realization of dreams , and the joy of playing for those who like us love the good old jazz .
