Krzysztof Komeda

Biography

Krzysztof Trzciński (27 April 1931 – 23 April 1969), known professionally as Krzysztof Komeda, was a Polish film composer and jazz pianist widely regarded as one of the most influential Polish musicians. He is best known for writing the scores for Roman Polanski's films Knife in the Water (1962), Cul-de-sac (1966), The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967), and Rosemary’s Baby (1968).

Komeda's album Astigmatic (1965) is often considered one of the most important European jazz albums. British critic Stuart Nicholson describes the album as "marking a shift away from the dominant American approach with the emergence of a specific European aesthetic." Komeda is also known for blending jazz with classical and traditional Polish music.