Janek Gwizdala Goes Deep in Oz Noy Trio’s 50-Minute Live Set

Oz Noy has a habit of surrounding himself with monster bass players, and this trio is no exception.

A newly released video captures the complete first set from Noy’s performance at Porgy & Bess in Vienna with Janek Gwizdala on bass and Clarence Penn on drums.

Gwizdala is playing his Mattisson five string through an Ampeg rig, navigating everything Noy throws his way while staying incredibly interactive with both Noy and Penn. The set includes “The Just Grind,” “Chocolate Soufflé,” “Ruby, My Dear,” “Boom, Boo Boom,” “Giant Steps,” and “Fun One.” The takes on the Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane classics are especially worth checking out.

Noy has a long history of putting incredible players in the bass chair. Will Lee, James Genus, Reggie Washington, Jimmy Johnson, Roscoe Beck, John Patitucci, and Étienne Mbappé are among the bassists who have appeared on his albums and in his groups over the years.

Gwizdala has been busy on his own as well. His latest release, Quiet Places, was recorded live at Sam First with Peter Erskine and Nir Felder in April 2026. It follows a busy 2025 that included Clear, a solo bass and effects recording, Seminario with Daniele Camarda, and Found. His educational catalog continues to grow too with courses covering technique, ear training, transcription, and an extensive live archive, along with books and companion material including Decoding Giant Steps. That makes hearing him tackle Coltrane’s tune here even more fun.

This Vienna concert continued for another six tunes and an encore, so hopefully Part 2 is on the way.