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Maciej Tubis

Maciej Tubis is a pianist, born in Lodz in 1983. He graduated with distinction from the Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Lodz, majoring in piano under the supervision of Professor Beata Cywinska. At the moment he teaches improvisation at the Academy. Already ass a pupil of musical school he was already considered a promising classical pianist.

He took part in many competitions, and received distinctions in the Chamber Competition in Torun and the National Competition for Music High Schools in Lodz, was a finalist of the junior Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition and was fifth in the chamber category in the Competition of Interpretation of French Music. When he was 14, he gave a concert with the orchestra of the Stanislaw Moniuszko Musical Schools Complex in Lodz. All this did not, however, impede his interest in jazz. He took part twice in Jazz Workshops in Chodziez, he also attended improvisation and big band lessons. What he considers his biggest achievements are second places in Jazz Pianists Competition in Warsaw in 2004 and the distinction awarded by the Second Channel of the Polish Television in the show Creative Valley, or what the young art looks for, for the tune “Fulfillment” in 2006. In May 2007 he received a special award in the Entertainment Pianist Competition held in the Agnieszka Osiecka Studio in Channel Three of the Polish Radio. He was also a finalist of, among others, the International Contest of Young Jazz Groups „Jazz Juniors” (2002, 2004) and the Bielsko Jazz Blizzard (2004). Maciej Tubis gave concerts in numerous jazz clubs all over Poland and recitals in radio stations. He is inspired by the works of Arvo Part, minimalist music and Scandinavian jazz, but also any other kind of music flowing straight from the heart which can be felt immediately. In April 2007, a big concert was held in the Concert Hall of the Lodz Philharmonic. The music recorded during the concert was published in November 2007 on the first album, “Fulfillment…” („Spelnienie…”).

Maciej Tubis has already released 3 albums. The first of them was recorded at a big concert in the Concert Hall of the Lodz Philharmonic on 21 April 2007, played in a jazz trio and in a duo with Jacek Delong on soprano saxophone. “Fulfillment” brings us poetic sounds of a certain illustrative value and, as a matter of fact, very approachable”, said Łukasz Iwasiński of Jazz Forum, where the album received a very good review. The second album, released in December 2008, was also recorded at a concert at the Lodz Philharmonic played on 10 May by Maciej Tubis and the Polish String Orchestra. Arranging and orchestrating the tunes was a challenge: piano improvisations were accompanied by classical musicians and Maciej, the spiritus movens of the project, wrote all the parts. Only the piano parts were fully improvised, which made the concert exceptional. The latest album was recorded at the Tubis Trio concert in Luxembourg, at the stunning Robert Kriesp Salle. The guest star of the concert was a famous cellist from Luxemburg, Andre Mergenthaler. In the January 2010 issue of the British Jazzwise magazine, the famous jazz critic Stuart Nicholson listed the “Live In Luxembourg” album as the fifth best jazz record in 2009. It was also fifth on the Village Voice best album list. The album was played by Mike Chadwick in the Cutting Edge programme in the London-based Jazz FM and is available in England.

Tubis Trio: So Us

by Geno Thackara
January 22, 2020

There are so many acts that are easy not to notice--yes, even in the jazz world where just about everybody is under the radar in some way--but this Polish piano trio still seems more of a buried treasure than most. They've quietly built an impressively smart catalogue almost in secret, like an out- of-the-way quality restaurant that earns irresistible word of mouth even if you don't see its name on billboards. Pianist Maciej Tubis, bassist Paweł Puszczało and drummer Przemysław ...

Multiple Reviews

3x3: Piano Trios, vol. II

by Geno Thackara
November 19, 2018

Tubis Trio Flashback AudioCave 2018 Sophisticated chops? Check. Solid chemistry? Definitely. Knowledge of jazz tradition combined with determination to avoid sitting still? Of course. Maciej Tubis and his cohorts in the Tubis Trio certainly check all the proper boxes expected of a professional combo. Beyond that, though, they distinguish themselves with a sheer fun factor that's practically irresistible. With a palpable joy in playing and a string of melodic hooks catchy as all get-out, Flashback ...

Album Review

Tubis Trio: The Truth

Read "The Truth" reviewed by Geno Thackara

by Geno Thackara
September 17, 2017

A title such as The Truth may seem like some kind of commentary or bold statement in what's strangely referred to as the post-truth era, though Maciej Tubis and his cohorts thankfully don't bring any such weighty baggage to their first studio date (following two live releases with slightly different lineups). “In the end, you need to play on your own. You need to tell the truth and the genre called jazz suddenly eludes you. We don't want to deceive ...

THE REVIEWS OF ALBUM “FLASHBACK” – 2018:

LIZARD MAGAZINE – MERY ZIMNY

“Joy, vigor, melodiousness and superb compositions – that’s how I’d describe “Flashback”, Tubis Trio’s newest album.” MAREK NIEDŹWIECKI – POLISH RADIO

„Boys, you did an awesome job. You recorded incredibly beautiful sounds. I highly recommend this album… Congratulations on the cover photo idea!” LONGPLAY – ROBERT RATAJCZAK

“It’s about time we stopped comparing the band’s music to E.S.T. or Brad Mehldau. Today, Tubis Trio has their own unique sound and character, and “Flashback” proves it beyond any doubt.” THE REVIEWS OF ALBUM “THE TRUTH” – 2017:

THE REVIEWS OF ALBUM “FLASHBACK” – 2018:

LIZARD MAGAZINE – MERY ZIMNY

“Joy, vigor, melodiousness and superb compositions – that’s how I’d describe “Flashback”, Tubis Trio’s newest album.” MAREK NIEDŹWIECKI – POLISH RADIO

„Boys, you did an awesome job. You recorded incredibly beautiful sounds. I highly recommend this album… Congratulations on the cover photo idea!” LONGPLAY – ROBERT RATAJCZAK

ALLABOUTJAZZ – GENO THACKARA:

Besides offering plenty of detail under the surface, The Truth can just as easily serve as jazz for people who don’t normally like jazz: a charming and genuinely buoyant listen for just about any taste. (…) Alongside the sophistication and interplay of a smooth-swinging combo, the leader’s songs are brightly melodic enough to brighten any day, Monday or otherwise.

Review justifying the selection of the album amongst the best albums of 2017. TELEEXPRESS (NATIONAL TELEVISION DAILY NEWS PROGRAMME) – MAREK SIEROCKI:

It’s a brilliant record! Excellent compositions. It turns out again that music, jazz included, is all about melodies. This album is a fantastic piece of studio work. World-class! JAZZISM (12/2017) – ANGELIQUE VAN OS:

Their music is a combination of catchy melodies and a contagious, brilliantly selected light pop rhythm filled with syncopation and elegiac solos, especially by Tubis. The compositions are ear-friendly without being dull. Their strength becomes evident in the energy and dynamic performance of the band, creating an impressive balance of which “Seven Heavens” is a perfect example. JAZZFLITS – TIPS JAZZ CORNER:

This unknown Polish piano trio sounds similar to EST, Tingvall, Gogo Penguin and other modern trios. Yet, they have “something” that distinguishes them from the others. Promising debut! “TRÓJKA”, A POLISH NATIONAL RADIO CHANNEL – MARIUSZ OWCZAREK:

Melodies on canvas – such is the new album by the Tubis Trio. I recommend without being too objective. AUDIO MAGAZINE (ALBUM OF THE MONTH 10/2017) – MAREK DUSZA:

The most prominent emotion that oozes out of each piece is joy. This album holds your breath throughout. It has been a while since I was injected with such a positive dose of positive energy after listening to just one jazz album. JAZZPRESS (10/2017) – KRZYSZTOF KOMOREK:

The band’s strength comes mainly from their authenticity and honesty. “This is our story, these are our emotions. Jazz or not, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the truth.” This motto, which can be found in the album’s insert, is something the band remains faithful to. JAZZ AND BEYOND (12/2017) – MACIEJ LEWENSTEIN:

Maciek is the master of cantilena. He develops melodies in an incredibly easy and yet complex way. (…) At the very end, it is an ingenious, excellent record with very many absolutely outstanding fragments. SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE – ADAM BARUCH:

Overall this is an excellent example of contemporary instrumental music, which is accessible to a wide audience without making any compromises as far as the music quality is concerned. This Polish trio proves again that Poland is a reliable source of great European music, which is on par with anything being created beyond its borders, usually quite ahead of the pack. LIZARD MAGAZINE (09/2017) – RAFAŁ ZBRZESKI (9/10):

What we have here is a an unpretentiously melodic record filled with ever so perfectly balanced music. You couldn’t get bored listening to it if you tried. Full, contemporary sound meets imagination and sensitivity. JAZZ FORUM – MONIKA OKRÓJ:

Simply said, you cannot dislike the music on this record. The melodiousness and moodiness of it finds its way to the hearts and ears of many a listener. Although the pianist’s strong debut a decade ago was full of spontaneity and the mere joy that comes from playing the instrument, this album is a demonstration of coherence, maturity and sophistication, especially when employing the broadly defined polyphony. Most of the pieces carry themes that are so expressive that when the trio replays them at the end, one cannot help but hum along, which goes to show that it is possible to create captivating melodies without resorting to platitude. Moreover, the harmonic nuances, especially in fragments less saturated with sound, add to the mystical aura of the compositions. JAZZFORUM (09/2017) – RYSZARD BOROWSKI (4/5):

The compositions are formed in a carefully thought out and sophisticated way. They sometimes bring Jarrett to mind, but there are also some Latino rhythms on the album as well as some extraordinarily delicate tunes. ETHERJAZZU – PIOTR BIELAWSKI:

It is then a genuine image of the artist displaying emotions to which he yields at a given moment. (…) Because “The Truth” is a true story of a man who’s not ashamed of his sensitive side in the world that is increasingly devoid of that truth… LONGPLAY – ROBERT RATAJCZAK:

In the pianist’s original compositions of we come across a number of different emotions. They are, however, served in a very natural and approachable way and with winsome elegance. (…) The melodic vivacity of individual pieces is quite remarkable. KALEJDOSKOP (10/2017) – ANNA WÓJCIKOWSKA:

“The Truth” is not just about good compositions, but also about great instrumentalists. Tubis writes music that is catchy and with melodics at its centre. POLSKIERADIO.PL – PETAR PETROVIC:

Maciej Tubis presents ten sophisticated musical pieces which are often subdued and sometimes immersed in the aesthetics of E.S.T. The pianist himself does not force himself upon the other band members or the listeners. “The Truth” is a result of brilliant cooperation of the whole trio which shows itself as one healthy and vibrant organism. The piece that I found exceptionally appealing was the ballad called “It’s a Beautiful Winter Out There” – a stunning and emotion evoking work of art. However, this is not the only beautiful moment on this superb album. WYSPA.FM – MACIEJ JANISZYN

“The Truth” is a tasty serving of contemporary, ambitious and mature jazz which does not confine itself to the rigid framework of the genre.

Review of the concert played at the XXXV International Festival of Jazz Pianists in Kalisz:

“Tubis is inspired by Jarrett, Svensson and all kinds of classics, which is reflected in his compositions, incidentally very interesting ones (Fulfillment!) (...) The trio has a big potential and its future is wide open. Keep up the good work!”. Tomasz Szachowski / Jazz Forum 01/2009

“All the concerts were great. The best one was given by the first band, the Tubis Trio. The music was perfect, piano and double bass magnificent.” Heard at Radio Centrum, Kalisz 29/11/2008

Review of “Fulfillment…” Jazz Forum 09/2008 by Łukasz Iwasiński

“Many tunes are played solo by Maciek. He is a versatile musician, his way of playing is full of contrasts, but at the same time rather sparing. It was evidently shaped by the tradition of romanticism, impressionism and even minimalism (vide „Podróż”), probably to a larger extent than by jazz. Tubis creates his compositions skilfully, combining the skills mastered at the Academy of Music: the discipline, control over the stroke dynamic, sensitivity to nuance and a weakness for adornment with a freedom of phrasing and a love of improvisation, hence his music sometimes has a typically jazz feeling. “Fulfillment” brings us poetic sounds of a certain illustrative value and, as a matter of fact, very approachable”.

Review of “Live In Filharmonia Łódzka” / Hi Fi i muzyka 07/08 2009 by Bogdan Chmura

The line-up somehow determined the nature of the tunes. The artist tried to present all his versatility as a composer, arranger, player and improviser. Such a task is challenging even for the best musicians. The music played by Tubis puts together the classics and European jazz (improvisations were influenced by Jarrett, Możdżer or the Scandinavians). The emotions are also important, as can be seen from the track titles: “Suffering”, “Fulfillment”, “Joy”. All in all. An album to recommend (…)

„He approaches the piano and plays the notes which could be meaningless in separation, but not for him. The sounds he plays create a magical feeling. I experienced it many a time. Each moment when I listen to Maciej Tubis is a challenge for me and for my imagination. And on this record, the imagination becomes whole.” Piotr Bielawski / Radio Łódź

Other concerts

“We recommend this band. We liked it!” Jazz Bass Cafe / Pabianice 05/10/2008

“I liked it, but it can’t have been jazz! I don’t like jazz, you know!” / a voice from the audience, Poznański Palace, Lodz 18/11/2007

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