Polish-Pakistani jazz trio to perform in Islamabad and Lahore

A unique musical collaboration between Poland and Pakistan is set to take place in Islamabad and Lahore as the Poncyljusz/Dani Khan/Trąbczyński Trio performs at the International Jazz Festival on September 25 and 26.

The specially formed trio will bring together European jazz, contemporary improvisation and Pakistan’s traditional tabla rhythms. The Islamabad performance will be held on September 25, while the group will perform in Lahore on September 26 at Ali Auditorium.

The project is part of the international JAZZ PO POLSKU “Around the World” initiative, which aims to promote Polish music and build cultural connections through live performances. The project has already taken Polish musicians to 25 countries.

The upcoming performances will mark the second consecutive visit of JAZZ PO POLSKU to Pakistan. The initiative previously brought the JAH Trio to the country in 2025. This time, organisers have created a special collaboration featuring musicians from Poland and Pakistan.

The trio includes Pakistani tabla player Dani Khan, who represents the Punjab Gharana tradition. Poland is represented by guitarist, composer and producer Mikołaj Poncyljusz and double bassist Tymon Trąbczyński, both associated with Warsaw’s contemporary jazz and experimental music scene.

The group’s music will combine composed passages with spontaneous improvisation. Guitar and double bass will create an open harmonic foundation, while Khan’s tabla will play a central role in shaping the musical dialogue.

Rather than treating cultural differences as a barrier, the project uses them as a source of creativity. The musicians will explore the meeting point between European jazz and the rhythmic traditions of the Indian subcontinent.

Jakub Krzeszowski, founder of the JAZZ PO POLSKU Foundation, said the Pakistan tour represents a special collaboration between Polish and Pakistani musicians. He described the project as an example of how music can create a common language between different cultures.

The two concerts are expected to offer audiences an evening of jazz, improvisation and traditional rhythms while highlighting the growing cultural exchange between Poland and Pakistan.