Grazyna Auguścik Quintet “On the way” live recording

he Polish leg of the "On The Way" tour proved that Grażyna Auguścik is a master of bridging disparate musical worlds without ever succumbing to cheap eclecticism. Reviewers across the country—from the historic stages of Lublin to the coastal jazz hubs—were uniform in their praise for the striking collision of introverted, European melancholy with relentless, Chicago-bred rhythmic geometry. This quintet doesn't play it safe with comfortable standards; they operate as a single, breathing organism. Rob Clearfield’s piano lines and the razor-sharp Ulery/Deitemyer rhythm section do not merely back the vocalist—they engage in a dense, almost hypnotic dialogue with the leader. European audiences walked away with an experience of jazz stripped of academic pretense, defined instead by a rare, organic synergy.
Now, that very same energy, distilled through the crucible of the European tour, returns to its point of origin. On September 23rd, Chicago’s Constellation will transform into something far greater than just a spot on a tour map—it becomes a living, breathing recording studio. The Grażyna Auguścik Quintet will be capturing this "On The Way" material for a live album, offering listeners an intimate invitation to be part of the sonic archive. The uncompromising acoustic clarity of Constellation provides the perfect canvas for this music—rich in texture, space, and improvisational audacity. For the dedicated listener, this evening is essential. It is a rare vantage point to witness the creative process at its peak of realization, and to help shape an album that refuses to fit into conventional boxes. Space is inherently limited; the document is being written in real time.