Finding common ground can lead to great partnerships and great music. That's part what makes Wolak and Donnelly an exciting duo. Clarinetist Kornel Wolak and jazz pianist Chris Donnelly are coming to Yorkton on February 19 as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series.
Music has always been a major part of Wolak's life, as he was born into a musical family in Poland, the son of two professional musicians.
"Growing up for me was being surrounded by music all the time, most of the time it was classical music of course. As a little boy as far as I remember I was going to my parents' orchestra rehearsals, chamber music rehearsals, having musicians at home, parents practicing all the time," Wolak recalls.
He says that he began on the piano from when he could sit, and started playing the clarinet at 12, an instrument he says "warmed his heart." From there, he began performing and his education around the clarinet, and eventually became part of the Quartetto Gelato two years after arriving in Canada, before leaving in 2009 to focus on solo work.
Wolak says that the partnership with Donnelly began playing together almost by accident, as they had both applied for Debut Atlantic, the equivalent of Prairie Debut on the east coast. He says that they suggested there might be a bigger audience if they performed as a duo, and they worked to find some common ground between their styles. He says that the experience in Atlantic Canada was a great tour, and that it's not only a great collaboration, but also a great friendship.
"The program is a very healthy compromise between light classical and jazz. We're trying to accommodate each other's styles as best as we can, while keeping our own identities as individual performers... It's a healthy mix between more serious and more well known popular repertoire. We're very proud that we were able to find this common ground without sacrificing our own integrity as players."
He says that it was challenging to find the common ground musically, but the joy of the collaboration made it easier to get there and find new arrangements that suited both styles.
"When the attitude is right and you're looking forward to making music with a friend, all the obstacles can be easily overcome," he adds.
"The moment you have to be creative with something that's written out note by note, it really pushes the boundaries of your creativity."
He says that the duo would look for pieces that could be crossover pieces and work to make them suit each other, something he says has already delighted audiences in earlier tours.
The duo also has a new album on Alma Records, Common Ground. Wolak admits that they worked a bit backwards, starting performing together but not putting together an album together until this year. Wolak says that the music isn't aimed at any particular age group or type of audience, so everyone can get something rewarding in the program, with new interpretations of favorites and recognizable songs.
"I cannot recall a single performance where someone would be disappointed with the choices."
Wolak says that the duo is excited about the new tour, both sharing their music with different audiences and discovering the prairies as they travel from place to place.
Prairie Debut presents Wolak and Donnelly on February 19 at 8:00 p.m., as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series. Tickets are available at the Yorkton Arts Council, Welcome Home Floral and Gift Shop, and at the door.
