Born: July 7, 1983 Primary Instrument: Piano
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.
In Poland, the album will be released in early March 2010. Before it was included in the subscribers’ edition of Forum magazine, in its summer issue, where an interview with the Tubis Trio was also published.
In June 2009 the German record company Jaro released an album by Karolina Glazer, featuring Maciej Tubis on the piano in two tracks.
Awards:
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.
Last Updated: January 21, 2010
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
As a Leader
Tubis Trio - Live In Luxembourg
Record Label: PK Records
Year Released: 2010
Tracks: All Blues, Flashback, Day By Day, Double Seven, Llama, Anxiety, Resurrection Song, Fottprints (encore).
Personnel: Maciej Tubis: piano, Marcin Lamch: double-bass, Przemek Pacan: drums, feat. Andre Mergenthaler: cello (6)
Maciej Tubis & Polish String Orchestra - Live In Filharmonia Łódzka
Record Label: PK Records
Year Released: 2009
Tracks: All Blues, Flashback, Suffering, Off We Go, Double Seven, Thirteen, Another Day, Fulfillment, Off We Go (encore), Joy (encore)
Personnel: Maciej Tubis: piano, Polish String Orchestra (chamber orchestra)
Maciej Tubis - Spełnienie...
Record Label: PK Records
Year Released: 2008
Tracks: Birth, Another Day, Suffering, Metamorphosis, Fulfillment, Journey, Anxiety, The Day After Tommorow, Flashback, Take It As It Comes, My Łódź (encore), Joy (encore).
Personnel: Maciej Tubis: piano, Mariusz Wiater: double-bass, Emil Waluchowski: drums, Jacek Delong: sopran saxophone
As A Side Musician
Karolina Glazer - Normal
Record Label: Jaro.de
Year Released: 2009
Tracks: The Lost Fairy Tale (1), My Heart Full Of Passion (10)
Personnel: Maciej Tubis: piano (1,10)
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
Lodz
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Maciej Tubis works at the Music Academy in Lodz/PL and at the Music School in Lodz/PL as a jazz instructor.
Playing live on the grand pianos - preferred Steinway pianos. Gig stuff: Yamaha p120 and brand new Roland LX-10 at home.
