The three decades, in 1985 five roommates, fellow students – Krzysztof Zawadzki, Adam Wendt, Bernard Maseli, Zbigniew Jakubek and Jacek Niedziela – are on the brink of their long musical journey without even knowing it. Zawadzki throws out an idea to set up a band and… boom! After only 3 months of rehearsals they are all good and ready to conquer the world. They take the music scene by the storm, a series of intense gigging is crowned by wide reaching recognition and appreciation of their talent. They win the Jazz nad Odra and Pomorska Jesien Jazzowa competitions, they are invited to perform at Jazz Jamboree. The Jazz Forum Magazine scores them the top New Hope in the Jazz industry (the same magazine will go on to recognise them as best electronic jazz band a further 17 times).

Their debut album “Penelopa” is released in 1986 and the same year brings the first change within the band with bass player Niedziela leaving and Zbigniew Wrombel replacing him before another album is released. The next “newbie” bass player Pawel Maciwoda joins Walk Away in 1987 after Wrombel’s departure. With Maciwoda now on board, they perform at Jazz Jamboree again, the gig is recorded and released as their first live album “Walk Away Live”.

1988 is the beginning of Walk Away’s long collaboration with Urszula Dudziak which lasts until 1995. They get on like a house on fire, gigging intensely and their album “Magic Lady” is released. The band is a raving success across Europe, supporting Miles Davis on his European tour.

The first half of the ’90s is a hectic yet intense time for Walk Away. 1991 sees Maciwoda leaving and Marek Blaszcyk replacing him. 1992 is the year of “Help Yourself” release with the guest appearance of Grzegorz Skawinski. 1993 is Jazz Jamboree with Ewa Bem. 1995 is Jazz Jamboree again but this time with Frank Gambale and the last bass player rotation with Blaszczyk leaving and Tomasz Grabowy taking the Walk Away bass spot for good. The first Walk Away decade is summed up with the “F/X” album release with guest appearance of world class artists: Eric Marienthal, Mike Stern, Mino Cenelu and Urszula Dudziak. The subsequent performances in collaboration with Eric Marienthal and Dave Fiuczynski have been released on the “Walking Around” album.

1996 is the year of couple more goodbyes – after Maseli and Jakubek leaving, Walk Away is now a quartet with Janusz Skowron on the keyboards. A year later they release “Changes’” following the tour with Randy Brecker. 1998 is series of concerts in collaboration with Bill Evans and the guitar player Dean Brown and the release of “Night Life” and 2000 is joint gigging with Marienthal and Brown and the release of “Double Walk”. Skowron leaves the band the same year and Bernard Maseli rejoins Walk Away in 2000. Marek Podkowa, the Walk Away saxophonist will join and leave the band within a year.

In 2004 the prodigal son, Adam Wendt, rejoins Walk Away and “Zariba” is released in collaboration with Billy Evans, Miki Birta and Steve Logan. 2010 is the core Walk Away reunion (Zawadzki, Maseli, Grabowy, Wendt, Jakubek) and this is how we still can enjoy Walk Away in 2015.

Three decades of Walk Away is a never-ending journey of musical adventures, successes and superb artistic collaborations. You can enjoy this unique atmosphere, sounds and vibes while listening to “The Best of” album – a compilation of the best tunes from 30 years of the WALK AWAY presence on the jazz scene.