Melomani

Hot Club Melomani, originally known as Melomani, was a pioneering Polish jazz band formed in Łódź in 1951 by Jerzy Matuszkiewicz. During the Stalinist era, when jazz was banned as a symbol of "reactionary American culture," the group operated underground until 1955. Despite theban, they gained popularity among rebellious youth, playing forbidden jazz to enthusiastic audiences.

The band initially consisted of young musicians from Łódź and other cities, including future notable figures like Krzysztof Komeda, who joined later. Melomani's performances often involved bribing communist police with vodka, allowing them to play freely at times. Their music drew inspiration from American jazz legends like Jelly Roll Morton and W.C. Handy.

By the mid-1950s, Melomani became Poland's most popular jazz group, gaining recognition through events like the 1955 "Jam Session 1" festival in Sopot. Influenced by Komeda's ideas, they split into two groups: one playing dixieland and the other bebop. The band disbanded in early 1958 after jazz was legalized, as their original mission had been fulfilled.

Post-disbandment, members pursued successful careers in music, film, and politics. The group left a lasting legacy in Polish culture, inspiring films like Andrzej Wajda's *Innocent Sorcerers* (1960) and being featured in documentaries such as *Na zawsze Melomani* (2023). Their recordings have been reissued, preserving their impact on Polish jazz history.