An underground contemporary jazz act.
Irka Zapolska Quartet blends conceptual storytelling with free improvisation, creating jazz that is both surreal and deeply expressive. Their debut album, Perception of Preception (2023), tells a tale of an upside-down world filled with grotesque creatures and shifting illusions — a musical journey shaped by interplay and improvisation. The record, featuring Irka Zapolska (vocals), Dominik Kisiel (piano), Filip Arasimowicz (double bass), and Maksymilian Kreft (drums), was nominated for the 2024 Fryderyk Award in the Jazz Debut of the Year category. Their upcoming album, The Song of a Jubjub (autumn 2025), draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark. With a new lineup — Irka Zapolska (vocals), Franciszek Raczkowski (piano), Filip Arasimowicz (double bass), and Bartosz Szablowski (drums) — the band dives into a dreamlike, absurd soundscape where improvised music becomes story.
Irka Zapolska Quartet plays contemporary vocal jazz that blends conceptual literary-inspired storytelling with free improvisation.
Irka Zapolska Quartet is from Poland.
The current lineup features vocalist Irka Zapolska, pianist Franciszek Raczkowski, double bassist Filip Arasimowicz, and drummer Bartosz Szablowski.
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