A staggering eighty percent of domestic violence victims are women. How do politicians intend to tackle this crime? While this certainly is a valid question, a more appropriate one in recent years seems to be "whether" they want to fight it at all rather than "how". When six months ago the UN reported that the number of calls for assistance in the European Union alone increased by 60 percent, a top-down effort was depriving women in Poland of hope and of the fundamental right to self-determination. If we cannot count on the system, let us at least count on ourselves. Such food for thought is inspired by the upcoming concert by the outstanding singer Ewa Bem scheduled as part of the latest, seventh For Women, by Women Grand Charity Gala. The proceeds will go to Poznań's Support Centre for Domestic Abuse Victims, which is one of the places that are undoubtedly restoring such hope.
Speaking of hope, Ewa Bem seems to be one of the singers who for years, through their professional pursuits, have been proving that strength is in fact a woman and that even the greatest sensitivity can be combined with the kind of charisma that many "alpha males" could envy. Bem has been appearing on stage for five decades now. Her debut came with a bang. Although we may not remember this anymore, in the early 1970s, the band Bemibek (later renamed Bemibem) stood out with its high level of innovation on the Polish scene. The artists showed there was a method in the madness of jazz, rock, Latin music and bossa nova. It seems that this sound set Ewa Bem on a path she is been treading sure-footedly to this day to all of our musical satisfaction.
The above is evidenced not only by the fifteen albums that make up her impressive discography, including such gems as the debut Ewa Bem Loves The Beatles (1984) and her much later release Mówię tak, myślę nie (I Say Yes, I Think No) (2000), but - even more so - by her concert appearances. Bem has always been unequaled in her performances with a jazz beagle not only on the biggest stages of Poland, but also throughout the rest of Europe, the USA, Asia and Africa.
And although she was accompanied by such legends as Wojciech Karolak, Zbyszek Namysłowski and Jan "Ptaszyn" Wróblewski on numerous occasions, she has always been musically the closest to Andrzej Jagodziński - a great pianist, arranger and composer, with whom she has been successfully cooperating for 35 years. Audience members will be able to see this for themselves during the For Women, by Women Charity Gala, during which she will be accompanied by Robert Majewski on trumpet, Adam Cegielski on double bass and Czesław "Mały" Bartkowski on drums.
Sebastian Gabryel
translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski
- Ewa Bem in the 7th For Women, by Women Grand Charity Gala
- 20 February, 7pm
- AMU Auditorium
- tickets: PLN 89-129
© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2022