Emily Saunders: Hi Tomasz, fantastic to catch up! Can we kick off with your inspiration – could you tell us about yourself and what first pulled you towards jazz and live music? And was there a particular artist, record, gig or club night, that made you think, “yes, this is where I want to be”?

Tomasz Furmanek: Hello Emily, indeed so lovely to meet, and thank you for popping in!

Music has consumed me and been very important to me from an early age. I vividly remember when, as a kid, I bought my first jazz album – it was a vinyl record titled “Urbaniak,” but in reality, it was as much a Michał Urbaniak album as a Zbigniew Namysłowski one. I was captivated from the first listen – by the unique elegance of the compositions, by the playing of both leaders, the sound of their instruments, the refined themes, the fascinating solos… And I was just a kid then.

My musical interests, activities, and passions have never been limited to jazz alone, but jazz holds I think the most important place in my musical heart. You can’t cheat in jazz (at least not for long); it’s a fusion of true talent, extraordinary skill, and that something very special that can’t always be learned. At the same time, it’s a musical genre based on true musical dialogue, alive and happening in a given moment, in the now – hence the need to preserve and protect live jazz venues, this need cannot be overstated!

Furthermore, I particularly value jazz’s respect for experience and development – ​​including on a human level – in jazz, time and age are not enemies, they are allies, which is especially valuable in an era obsessed with youth and the overvaluation of youth. Here, wisdom and experience that come with age are respected and continuously valued.

ES: It’s been fantastic seeing Jazz Café POSK growing from strength to strength, especially at a time when many grassroots venues are under real pressure. Therefore, with a huge thank you to your determined work – how challenging have you found things, and what keeps you motivated when the work is difficult?

TF: Thank you so much for these kind words. What you’re saying is a wonderful compliment, but here too, there are concerts with fewer people attending… but the audience is indeed growing year by year, and there are many evenings when we have a full house. I think it’s incredibly important to maintain an interesting, diverse program that always maintains a high standard. Whatever it is – whether it’s purely jazz acts or music that touches on jazz – it has to be excellent, because building and maintaining audience trust is extremely important.

What’s most challenging (apart from financial responsibility, of course) is the fact that I’m alone, working without a so-called team. Running a club as a single person is extremely demanding and often exhausting, as I’m responsible for everything. The bar staff isn’t part of the POSK Jazz Café, as the bar is under separate management and caters for all POSK events, including Jazz Café POSK. The sound engineers are freelancers whom I book for concerts. Beyond that, there’s me and a whole lot of things to do and manage. This activity is a passion, a great pleasure, often an honor, a heartfelt effort.

ES: What do you think gives Jazz Café POSK its special character as a space?

TF: It’s a different space from most other jazz clubs in London, if only because, being in the basement, it’s spread over two levels, and in the middle of the room there are stairs (with a huge number of cushions) where you can also sit comfortably. I really care about the mood and atmosphere in the club. I’d love for it to be more than just coming to a concert… and I often get feedback from the audience that this is exactly what it is – which always makes me incredibly happy. We don’t serve food in the club; there’s only a bar (there are a few restaurants in the building serving delicious pierogi and other Polish and European delicacies, so you can eat there before the concert), during the concert, the audience focuses solely on the music, which fosters concentration and the formation of a beautiful, special bond between the audience and the musicians.

ES: The club has both a very loyal audience and sense of community. What do you think people are responding to, and how important is the relationship between the audience, the musicians and the space itself?

TF: Yes exactly, the importance of the special relationship between the audience and the musicians is indeed a special bond. Plus sound quality is paramount in a music venue, and even more so in a jazz venue. This was obvious to me when I started managing the club. I managed to secure the purchase of a new console, speakers, and various other equipment by POSK, and also with time, I managed to find and collaborate with a few sound engineers who are simply excellent, so I can happily say that the current sound quality at JCP is fantastic – a fact repeatedly emphasized by guests. All of this, plus, of course, outstanding artists on stage, these are key priorities.

ES: How do you feel Jazz Café POSK’s sits within the wider London jazz scene?

TF: I often hear that the club is considered an important part of the London jazz scene, and by many guests, as well as many musicians, is considered to be one of their favorite jazz venues. Jazz Café POSK is very popular with Brits and Londoners, many of whom return regularly and recommend the place to friends and acquaintances. Having some really big names who really enjoyed performing here and keep coming back is a great compliment and I think it says something important about Jazz Café POSK.

ES: Looking back over the most recent season, which nights stayed with you most strongly?

TF: Oh, there were so many… I’m constantly excited about concerts at Jazz Café POSK, as I always try to book excellent concerts and exceptional performers. Each concert has something special about it; I probably couldn’t, and wouldn’t, want to single out just a few. Let me just say that, considering the last few concerts, I was hugely impressed by Sylvie Noble’s concert, which, along with a group of outstanding young musicians (including the exceptional bassist Ursula Harrison), brilliantly presented the music of iconic pianist-composer Carla Bley (as part of the Next Generation Jazz concert series)! After this excellent concert, I felt more confident about the future of jazz! 🙂

ES: As Jazz Café POSK takes its yearly summer break – does that important pause feel like a rest, a planning period for the next season and year ahead, or both?

TF: Ha! It’s not a rest at all…it’s a period of planning and preparing for next seasons…work as usual, just without concerts on weekend evenings. It’s time to prepare for the 3rd edition of The POSK Festival of Jazz Voice (October 2nd and 3rd, 2026), it’s time to prepare our concerts for this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival…it’s time to plan and book the end of this year and the beginning of next…There are so many things to do. I hope that in the Summer we’ll also be able to carry out some renovation work at the club, after consulting with POSK…fingers crossed! So, as you can see, it’s not a time for relaxation and rest, but I’ll definitely manage to carve out a two-week holiday during this period! 🙂

ES: That all sounds so exciting, can’t wait to hear more about it later in the year.

ES: What date do things kick off for the next season, and what can audiences look forward to when Jazz Café POSK launches its new season?

TF: The next season will kick off with the third edition of The POSK Festival of Jazz Voice on the first weekend of October, Friday the 2nd and Saturday the 3rd! Dear all, you simply can’t miss it! This festival is a wonderful celebration of great jazz voices and exceptional, captivating vocalists – I’ll just mention that the previous two editions featured such outstanding artists as Norma Winstone, Ian Shaw, Emma Smith, Vimala Rowe, and Alice Zawadzki… the list of special vocal artists goes on. We won’t disappoint this year either; the program will be announced soon, so watch the space and add the first weekend of October to your calendars! So dear jazz lovers, come over, I’d be delighted to welcome and host you all to Jazz Café POSK! I promise an excellent jazz vocal feast and a great, friendly atmosphere. I most warmly invite everyone!

ES: That sounds fantastic – so a key time to save the date in everyone’s diaries is the first weekend in October!

It’s been wonderful to chat Tomasz, and a huge thank you for everything you’re doing – from the countless artists who’ve been supported by your important work, and the growing audiences that flock to hear great live music in our vibrant city!