The Tomasz Stańko Quintet was led by the eminent Polish jazz trumpeter Tomasz Stańko, who was born in Rzeszow, Poland on July 11, 1942, and became a defining figure in European avant-garde jazz from the 1960s until his passing in 2018. Stańko's career was marked by a distinctive sound, often described as lyrical and melancholic, and his approach to improvisation was deeply influenced by the innovations of jazz greats like Miles Davis and the free-jazz movement of the '60s. His musical journey was also shaped by his experiences behind the Iron Curtain, infusing his compositions with a sense of depth and introspection that resonated with cultural and political undercurrents.

In the later years of his career, the Tomasz Stańko Quintet became a platform for Stańko's contemplative compositions and explorative sounds. The group's discography features albums like "Dark Eyes" (2009), a rich and moody work that showcases Stańko’s brooding melodicism and the ensemble's cohesive interplay; "Wooden Music I" (1995) and its follow-up "Wooden Music II" (2000), which saw the quintet delve into an acoustic realm that married jazz innovation with a chamber music sensitivity; "Piece 4" from the session at “Jazz Jamboree '91, Warsaw”; and "Music For K (Polish Jazz vol. 22)" (1970), which holds historical significance within the Polish jazz scene. The "6 & 8 II" album is a testament to the group's improvisational fluidity and Stańko's leadership in maneuvering through complex time signatures. Stańko's legacy remains profound, and his quintet is remembered as one of the purest expressions of his artistic vision, leaving a substantial and influential body of work within the realm of European jazz.