Pawel Kaczmarczyk

One of Poland's pre-eminent jazz pianists from the younger generation, composer, soloist and sideman. Called a revelation of Polish and European jazz scene; valued most of all for his virtuosity, creativity and surprisingly mature technique. Being only a teenager he started to participate in a various jazz festivals and competitions where he received many awards. Year 2000 for Pawel Kaczmarczyk is the beginning of informal education under the aegis of legendary jazzman Janusz Muniak, with whom he cooperates to this very day. He took the first place in the New Hope category of Jazz Forum Magazine's "Jazz Top" readers' poll from 2004 through 2007. His debut album by KBD Trio (with Michal Baranski on bass, and Pawel Dobrowolski on drums) has received many positive reviews as well as his second album “Audiofeeling”, but it was “Complexity in Simplicity” released by prestigious ACT Music in 2009 that opened him the door to an international career. Pawel Kaczmarczyk has become the third polish musicians (after Stanko and Wasilewski) who is recording for such a prestigious European label as a leader of his own band. “Complexity in Simplicity” by Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band was acclaimed the Album of The Year in the poll organized among Jazz Forum readers and what seems most significant is Paweł Kaczmarczyk’s victory as the Pianist of The Year. Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band is now touring intensively and at the same time Pawel Kaczmarczyk is being invited to participate in many different projects by other artists.

Pawel Kaczmarczyk has worked with a wide range of musicians, including Emil Mangelsdorff, Monty Waters, Lee Konitz, Steve McCraven, John Betsch, Wayne Dockery, Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer, Theodosii Spassov, Vitold Rek, Janusz Muniak, Piotr Wojtasik, Adam Pieronczyk, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Piotr Baron, Jorgos Skolias, Marek Bałata, Kazimierz Jonkisz, Artur Rojek (Myslovitz), Zbigniew Wegehaupt.

Discography

Albums:

1. Kaczmarczyk/Barański/Dobrowolski Trio „LIVE” (Radio Katowice/Jazz Forum 2005) 2. Kaczmarczyk „AUDIOFEELING” (ARMS Records 2007) 3. Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band “COMPLEXITY IN SIMPLICITY” (ACT Music 2009)

As guest:

1. Rafał Sarnecki “Songs From A New Place” (ARMS Records 2008) 2. New Bone “It’s Not Easy” (GOWI Records 2009) 3. Grzech Piotrowski „Emotronica” (Alchemik Studio 2009) 4. Leszek HeFi Wiśniowski feat. Krzesimir Dębski “KINETYKA” (EW Music 2010) 5. Rafał Sarnecki „The Madman Rambles Again” (Fresh Sound Records 2011)

He started his musical education in 1991, in the State Primary School of Music “I.J. Paderewski” in Kraków, in classic piano class led by Professor Krystyna Werblańska. From 1992-93 he studied also in percussion class of Leon Olejniczak, which resulted in performances along with school percussion group in Kraków Philharmonic Hall (1993). His interest in jazz emerged in the first years of the primary school. He was influenced by his elder brother who plays saxophone. In the fourth grade of the primary school, Paweł founded, together with his school friends, his first jazz quartet, with Szymon Kamykowski playing saxophone, Tomasz Michalik playing bass guitar, and Grzegorz Fieber on percussion. This band performed along with outstanding musicians (Jarosław Śmietana, Andrzej Cudzich, Leszek Szczerba, Jacek Królik) during a concert in Kraków Philharmonic Hall (1998). In 1995 Paweł Kaczmarczyk participated for the first time in International Summer Jazz Academy, where he took lessons from Professor Leszek Kułakowski, as the youngest participant of the workshop. Since that moment he dedicated himself mostly to jazz music. In 1997 he joined a private Krakow School of Jazz and Entertainment Music, where he took lessons from Adam Niedzielin. Together with other students of the school, he gave concerts in Germany and in Hungary. In 1997-98 he performed in Kraków Philharmonic Hall as the first Polish within Japanese festival "Young Piano Virtuosos - Original Piano Concerts Festival", playing child’s piano concerts of such composers as Mikołaj Górecki or Zenon Kowalowski, accompanied by Capella Cracoviensis symphonic orchestra lead by Stanisław Gałoński. In 1998-2000 he worked for TVN television, participating in the "Twój Problem, Nasza Głowa" (“Your Problem, Our Solution”) programme, in which, together with home band made up of children, he played jingles.

In 1999 he was accepted, with excellent grades, to the State Secondary School “F. Chopin” in Kraków, to classic piano class led by Wojciech Cieciora. At the same time he started taking lessons from legendary pianist Wojciech Groborz. In that period he prepared to start his own author’s band with Łukasz Adamczyk (Que Passa) with bass guitar and Ryszard Pałka (Golec uOrkiestra) on percussion (2000). During one year they performed on a regular basis in jazz clubs in Kraków (Harris Piano Jazz Bar, “U Muniaka” Jazz Club), perfectioning their skills. In 2001 the group achieved their first successes. In May 2001 the Paweł Kaczmarczyk Trio band was awarded the 2nd "Golden Crocus" prize at the Jazz and Entertainment Music Festival in Jelenia Góra, where the jury included such great celebrities of the European jazz scene, as, among the others, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Piotr Wojtasik and Piotr Baron. A month later, Paweł Kaczmarczyk along with his trio performed at "The Old and The Young - Jazz in Kraków" festival, right before the concert of Piotr Baron’s quintet. After this concert, the trio received numerous positive reviews.

In 2000 in „U Muniaka” Jazz Club, Paweł Kaczmarczyk started his informal education. Since then, he used to spend in the club up to 300 days a year, supporting the rhythm sections of legendary saxophonist Janusz Muniak. In between the concerts the maestro himself offered precious instructions to the young artists. The club became a legend in the ’90s, thanks to prominent musicians who performed there (Kazimierz Jonkisz, Jarosław Śmietana, Darek Oleszkiewicz, Andrzej Cudzich, Joachim Mencel, Włodek Pawlik, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, Leszek Możdżer), and also thanks to the musicians who made their first steps in professional music on this very spot (Simple Acoustic Trio, Piotr Wyleżoł, Michał Tokaj, Łukasz Żyta, Krzysztof Dziedzic). Every year, Janusz Muniak took his most promising musicians on the famous Jazz Camping Kalatówki, whose art director was Zbigniew Namysłowski. Since 2001, Paweł Kaczmarczyk has never missed any edition of this legendary meeting of jazz musicians from the whole territory of Poland.

In 2002, Paweł Kaczmarczyk has been awarded the best Instrumentalist title at the Polish Jazz and Blues Bands Parade in Gdynia. In May, the pianist was invited as a solist to perform a piece of an outstanding young composer, Sebastian Perłowski, "Rhapsody for Symphonic Orchestra, Big-Band and Piano Solo". The concert was held within the "7th Musical Spring in Nowa Huta". His special guest, in the audience, was the prominent classical violinist Nigel Kennedy. The concert was accepted with a great enthusiasm of the audience. In June, Paweł Kaczmarczyk performed on the Polish-German route (among the other, in the famous club Jazz-Schmiede in Düsseldorf) together with the Tymon Tymański quartet (Miłość, Kury), in which, along with the leader, featured Marcin Ślusarczyk on alto saxophone and Arek Skolik on percussion. In July, the pianist for the first time performed outside the „U Muniaka” Jazz Club, with the band of a legendary saxophonist (Janusz Muniak – tenor saxophone, Marcin Ślusarczyk - alto saxophone, Tomasz Grzegorski - tenor saxophone, Maciej Adamczak – double bass, Krzysztof Dziedzic - percussion) in the courtyard of Radio Kraków within the Summer Jazz Festival in Piwnica Pod Baranami. It was the official start of the collaboration between the young pianist and the giant of the saxophone, which lasts up till now.

In December, the band Kaczmarczyk/Jaros/Dobrowolski Trio won the first prize in the "International Competition of Young Jazz Bands - JAZZ JUNIORS"; and Paweł was awarded as a pianist in this competition. One year later, Paweł received a prize for the Best Instrumentalist at the Polish Jazz and Blues Bands Parade in Gdynia. Right after that, the young musicians launched a concert cooperation with an outstanding saxophonist Adam Pierończyk. In the meantime, Paweł performed many times with blues-rock formation from Kraków - LAPD, in which featured some great musicians of this genre: Liam McMurray - vocals, guitars; Paweł "Baby" Mąciwoda (Skorpions) – bass guitar, Artur Malik (Lombard) - percussion. At the end of the year, he performed along with the Janusz Muniak’s quintet (Janusz Muniak – tenor saxophone, Tomasz Kudyk - trumpet, Maciej Adamczak – double bass, Paweł Dobrowolski - percussion) at Krakowian Jazz All Souls' Day in Chicago. For the young pianist it was a debut concert overseas. Still the same year, Paweł started the studies on the Music Academy „K. Szymanowski” in Katowice in the jazz piano class of Wojciech Niedziela.

In 2004, Paweł Kaczmarczyk made several performances with legendary band Eryk Kulm Quintessence (Eryk Kulm - percussion, Jerzy Małek - trumpet, Tomasz Grzegorski - tenor saxophone, Maciej Adamczak - double bass), among the other at the Jazz Standards Festival in Siedlce. In March, together with the new formation Kaczmarczyk/Barański/Dobrowolski Trio, the pianist won the Grand Prix of the legendary competition "Jazz at the Oder". The trio was granted the chance to perform as a support before the Patricia Barber Band’s concert. A few months later, the Kaczmarczyk/Nowicki/Traczyk/Dobrowolski quartet won the grand prix at the "Kultursalon Hörbiger" – the competition of European jazz bands in Vienna. The guest of honour at this event was the President of Austria Heinz Fischer, who as a great jazz lover congratulated enthusiastically to the young musicians for their performance. In November, the band including Paweł Kaczmarczyk - piano, Andrzej Święs – double bass, Paweł Dobrowolski – percussion, was awarded the audience’s grand prix "Key to Career" at the competition of the competitions (the condition of participation is a prize from another Polish competition), the 30th "Pomeranian Jazz Autumn" at Gorzów Wielkopolski. At the same year, the K/B/D Trio was invited by the chief editor of Jazz Forum magazine, Paweł Brodowski, to two important festivals: Olsztyn Jazz Forum and International Jazz Pianists Festival in Kalisz, where they gave concert as a support before the Esbjörn Svensson Trio’s concert. It was the second appearance of Paweł Kaczmarczyk at this prestigious festival (the first time was the concert with his quartet in 2002 on a small scene).

In February 2005, the K/B/D Trio won the Grand Prix in Bielsko-Biała Jazz Blizzard competition. The musicians were awarded the "Jazz Angel 2005" statue and appeared as support before the Terrence Blanchard Sextet, and registered the concert in the Radio Katowice studio as Kaczmarczyk/Barański/Dobrowolski Trio "LIVE". The album was inserted to the subscription of the Jazz Forum magazine, therefore it was distributed among a large group of jazz lovers and it gained a very positive feedback. At the same time, Paweł Kaczmarczyk was voted by the readers of this magazine ”The Hope of Polish Jazz 2004”. In April, the K/B/D Trio invited to the Polish tour the prominent clarinet virtuoso Brad Terry (USA). Still in the same year, Paweł Kaczmarczyk started joining the formations of the outstanding young saxophonist Grzech Piotrowski (SIN, Alchemik). At the end of the year, Paweł Kaczmarczyk was invited by the formation of the legendary musicians Monty Waters (Miles Davis) – Kazimierz Jonkisz Energy (Monty Waters – alto saxophone, Kazimierz Jonkisz - percussion, Borys Janczarski – tenor saxophone, Wojciech Pulcyn – double bass) to participate in a series of concerts in the most prestigious Polish jazz clubs and concert halls.

In 2006, Paweł Kaczmarczyk together with his band participated at several great jazz festivals, such as: Sopot Jazz Festival, Warsaw Summer Jazz Days (support before the Kronos Quartet’s appearance and before the Medeski, Martin & Wood’s concert). In January 2006 he was voted for the second time by the readers of the Jazz Forum magazine ”The Hope of Polish Jazz 2005”. In May, during a great gala in the Grand Theatre in Łódź, Paweł was awarded the "Jazz Oscar" statue - "Grand Prix Jazz Melomani" in category "The New Hope of Polish Jazz 2005", and his band the Kaczmarczyk/Barański/Dobrowolski Trio was given the "Jazz Oscar" in category "Jazz Album of the Year 2005" from TVP2. In the same year, the pianist (as a student of Music Academy ”K. Szymanowski” in Katowice) was granted a scholarship of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, for his overall achievements. In November, the trio including Paweł Kaczmarczyk - piano, Łukasz Borowiecki – double bass, Krzysztof Gradziuk – percussion; unanimously won the 1st place in the International Jazz Competition "Junior Jazz" in Usti Nad Labem (Czech Republic), and the pianist was awarded the prize for the "Best Arranger". In the same year, the young pianist was invited by Artur Rojek (Myslowitz) to participate in the project of Iskierka Foundation entitled "Musical Travels to the Wonderland". The artists, together with Children’s Oncological Orchestra registered the project and presented the album in the Philharmonic Halls of Katowice and Łódź.

In 2007, Paweł Kaczmarczyk published his second author album - "AUDIOFEELING" (ARMS), featuring: Michał Barański - double bass, Paweł Dobrowolski - percussion, Radek Nowicki - saxophones, Tomasz Grzegorski - tenor saxophone, Grzech Piotrowski - tenor saxophone and electronic music. The premiere of the album took place during the Lotos Jazz Festival – Bielsko-Biała Jazz Blizzard, at which the quartet of the pianist played as a support before Charlie Haden Quartet West’s concert and Nils Petter Molvær Trio. The album had very positive reviews, and Paweł appeared on the cover of the autumn edition of the Jazz Forum magazine. In January Paweł for the third time was voted by the readers of the Jazz Forum magazine ”The Hope of Polish Jazz 2006”. In the same year he performed, among the other, at Jazzy Colors Festival (Paris - France) and at the International Piano Jazz Festival (Prague – Czech Republic). Meanwhile, the prestigious concerts with Janusz Muniak gave Paweł the opportunity to perform on the scene together with the giants of the world jazz. In July, there was a concert with Janusz Muniak Special Quintet (Janusz Muniak - tenor saxophone, Helmut Kagerer - guitar, Bronisław Suchanek - double bass, Janusz M. Stefański - percussion) during Summer Jazz Festival in Piwnica Pod Baranami, and in August there was a concert with Janusz Muniak Quartet feat. Isham Rusty Jones (USA) at the Artus Jazz Festival in Toruń. At the end of the year, Paweł Kaczmarczyk substituted in the Muniak’s band the piano giant Hank Jones, absent because of illness, at the famous European festival Leverkusener Jazztage (Leverkusen - Germany), where the same evening, together with the formation from Poland, performed WDR Big-Band feat. Roy Hargrove. The concert was registered and shown by the German TV WDR.

2008 was a breakthrough year in Paweł’s career. At the beginning of the year he took part at the concert dedicated to legendary passed away pianist Sławomir Kulpowicz. During this concert he played with two bands: Zbigniew Namysłowski Special Quintet (Zbigniew Namysłowski - alto saxophone, Jacek Namysłowski - trombone, Paweł Jarzębski - double bass, Janusz M. Stefański - percussion) and Kazimierz Jonkisz Energy (Kazimierz Jonkisz - percussion, Wojciech Pulcyn - double bass, Borys Janczarski - tenor saxophone, Tomasz Grzegorski - tenor saxophone, Piotr Baron - tenor saxophone, Henryk Miśkiewicz - alto saxophone), where he had an opportunity to play with all the celebrities of the Polish jazz. This concert was undoubtedly the greatest event of the year. In the summer, Paweł Kaczmarczyk participated in a great concert "Saxophone Summit" in Kraków Philharmonic Hall, where he performed with Janusz Muniak Quartet feat. Lee Konitz (USA). At the final of the concert all the artists performing that evening played together a well- known standard of jazz music entitled "Cherokee". At the scene, there were present together: Paweł Kaczmarczyk - piano, Branford Marsalis - tenor saxophone, Janusz Muniak – tenor saxophone, Greg Osby – alto saxophone, Adam Pierończyk – tenor saxophone, Lee Konitz – alto saxophone, Eric Revis – double bass, Jeff "Tain" Watts - percussion.

One week later, Paweł presented, within a special concert of the "Summer Jazz Festival in Piwnica Pod Baranami", two new projects in the concert studio of Radio Kraków. The first one was a piano duet with legendary Wojciech Groborz, and the second was the concert of Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band with guest participation of the outstanding bassist Bronisław Suchanek. At the same time Paweł played also with another giant of European jazz double bass - Roman "Gucio" Dyląg, supporting the rhythm section of Janusz Muniak’s band during a concert in his club. In September, a prominent young guitarist Rafał Sarnecki, published an album entitled "Songs From A New Place" (ARMS), in which along with the leader, featured: Paweł Kaczmarczyk - piano, Wojciech Pulcyn - double bass, Łukasz Żyta - percussion. In autumn, Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band started a tour, during which he played among other places at the “Jazz Goes To Town" festival (Hradec Kralove – Czech Republic) and at the Jazz Institut Darmstadt (Germany).

An exceptional concert was however the one during the "Jazz-Meeting Berlin" festival, where after a very satisfying performance of the Audiofeeling Band, the director of German recording studio ACT, Siegfried Loch, proposed to the pianist a collaboration. The hitherto achievements of Paweł Kaczmarczyk are summed up by the results of the plebiscite of the Jazz Forum magazine: Paweł Kaczmarczyk with his band has a high position in the ranking in category "Acoustic Band" (the 3rd place, after Tomasz Stańko Quartet and Simple Acoustic Trio). He was awarded also in the categories of the "Musician of the Year", "Composer", "Pianist" (the 2nd place, after Leszek Możdżer). His album "Audiofeeling" was voted the "Jazz Album of the Year 2007", and the pianist himself for the 4th time in a row won a title of "The New Hope of 2007". He seated in jury during the 32nd International Competition of the Young and the Debuting Jazz Bands JAZZ JUNIORS.

In 2009, the third author’s album of the artists was published - "Complexity In Simplicity". It was registered in the German recording studio ACT Music. Paweł Kaczmarczyk was then the third Polish musician (after Tomasz Stańko and Marcin Wasilewski - ECM) who registered for such a prestigious recording studio as the leader of his band. Twelve outstanding musicians participated in the recording: Radek Nowicki - tenor and soprano saxophones, Tomasz Grzegorski – tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Grzech Piotrowski – soprano saxophone, Łukasz Poprawski – alto saxophone, Jerzy Małek - trumpet, Rafał Sarnecki - guitar, Wojciech Pulcyn - double bass, Michał Barański - double bass, Paweł Dobrowolski - percussion, Łukasz Żyta – percussion and Bogusz Wekka – percussion instruments. In the same year, Paweł Kaczmarczyk for the second time appeared on the cover of the September edition of the Jazz Forum magazine.

2009 was also a year full of intense concerts’ activity. Audiofeeling Band performed in famous German jazz clubs (Unterfahrt - Munich, A-Trane - Berlin) and at prestigious European festivals (such as 12 Points Jazz Festival – Dublin; Lamantin Jazz Festival - Szombathely, Hungary; Jazznica – Banska Szczawnica, Slovakia) and concert halls (Philharmonic Hall in Minsk - Belarus). In May the premiere concert of Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band ethno sextet project was presented (Radek Nowicki - saxophone, Hovik Hovanisian (Armenia) - duduk, Jose Manuel Alban Juarez (Peru/Poland) – folk percussion instruments, Wojciech Pulcyn - double bass, oud; Paweł Dobrowolski - percussion) within Festival of Traditional and Avant-garde Music KODY in Lublin (Phiharmonic Hall).

It is particularly worth mentioning that Audiofeeling Band performed at one of the greatest European festivals – London Jazz Festival, and registered the concert in BBC Radio, where apart from Paweł’s band, performed world-class vocalists Sheila Jordan and Kurt Elling. In April, Paweł Kaczmarczyk participated, as Janusz Muniak’s quartet musician, in Gulf Jazz Nights in Kuwait and United Arab Emirates (Dubai). In autumn, Paweł Kaczmarczyk appeared as a soloist in the project "Tribute To Komeda". The pianist performed the compositions of the great composer with symphonic orchestra Simfonia Baltica directed by Krzesimir Dębski. The concert was held during Jazz All Saints’ Day in the Philharmonic Hall in Słupsk. At the same time an outstanding European flautist Krzysztof Popek invited Paweł on a tour of his quintet, in which together with the leader, featured Piotr Wojtasik on trumpet and rhythm section of Archie Shepp's quartet - Wayne Dockery on double bass and Steve McCraven on percussion.

Paweł participated also in recording of the album of Krakowian quintet New Bone (Tomasz Kudyk - trumpet, Marcin Ślusarczyk – alto saxophone, Maciej Adamczak – double bass, Arek Skolik - percussion) entitled "It's Not Easy". Another album published at the same period was "Emotronica" of Grzech Piotrowski, in which the pianist performed as a sideman. In the meanwhile, the aforementioned album of Rafał Sarnecki "Songs From A New Place", was nominated to "Fryderyk 2008" – the prize of phonographic industry, in the category “Phonographic Debut of the Year". Moreover, a summer jam session in “U Muniaka” Jazz Club is worth mentioning. Paweł had there an opportunity to perform with a great North American saxophonist - Joe Lovano.

In 2010 Paweł Kaczmarczyk performed at several prestigious German concert halls (such as Jazz Club Minden, Alte Feuerwache Mannheim, Domicil - Dortmund) and at JazzFest Brno (Czech Republic), Polen Allergie Jazz Festival (Nuremberg - Germany), Green Hour Jazz Festival (Bucharest - Romania). It is also worth mentioning the concert of Audiofeeling Band (Lucas R. Pino - saxophones, Rafał Sarnecki - guitar, Maciej Adamczak – double bass, Dawid Fortuna - percussion) during All Souls Jazz - Krakowskie Zaduszki Jazzowe in Chicago. The musicians played at the famous Chopin Theatre. The next day, an enthusiastic review of the concert was published in Chicago Tribune, by one of the most influential critics in the USA - Howard Reich. At the same time, Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band with guest stars (Piotr Wojtasik - trumpet, Piotr Baron - saxophones, Grzegorz Nagórski - trombone) played several concerts in Russia (the Philharmonic Hall in Jekaterinburg, Obnińsk). In September, Paweł Kaczmarczyk participated in the project "Jaskułke - Chopin for 5 Grand Pianos” (Sławek Jaskułke, Katarzyna Borek, Joanna Duda, Piotr Wyleżoł). The premiere of the project was held during the Expo 2010 in Shanghai (China). Together with Krzysztof Popek Quintet band – featuring legendary percussionist John Betsch – he seated in the jury and played a concert at the Novum Jazz Festiwal in Łomża.

In the annual plebiscite of the Jazz Forum readers - JAZZ TOP 2009 - Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band was awarded the Album of the Year title with the „Complexity In Simplicity” record. An even greater sensation was his victory as the best pianist – after over a dozen years of constant prominence of Leszek Możdżer in this category! Paweł Kaczmarczyk got the second place in categories „Musician of the Year” and „Composer” (in both cases the winner was Tomasz Stańko), and his band got the second place in the rating as an „Acustic Band” (after Marcin Wasilewski Trio). It is worth mentioning that Paweł Kaczmarczyk was chosen a laureate of Kulturalne Odloty Gazety Wyborczej prize in the “Artist of 2009” category and Grand Prix Jazz Melomani – Jazz Oscars 2009 also as the “Artist of 2009”, and the “Complexity in Simplicity" was chosen the „Album of 2009”. The pianist was also nominated to the prestigious “Fryderyk 2010” award, as the „Jazz Musician of the Year”. Moreover, a new record with the artist in a role of a sideman was issued in 2009: Leszek Hefi Wiśniowski feat. Krzesimir Dębski "Kinetyka".

In September, Paweł Kaczmarczyk launched a new project: DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC. It is a cyclical event aimed to present the work of outstanding composers and instrumentalists of the world jazz scene. The rhythm section in the project is performed by the musicians of the Audiofeeling Band, whereas the guests are thematically related to the work of the artist being presented. In 2010, Paweł carried out the following projects:

Directions In Music: FREDDIE HUBBARD (Jerzy Małek, Piotr Schmidt) Directions In Music: HANK MOBLEY (Tomasz Grzegorski) Directions In Music: GARBAREK / JARRETT (Grzech Piotrowski) Directions In Music: RAY CHARLES (Jorgos Skolias)

In 2011 Paweł continues the DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC project, successfully presenting the creations of other great representatives of this kind of music:

Directions In Music: MICHAEL BRECKER (Szymon Kamykowski) Directions In Music: THELONIOUS MONK (Karol White) Directions In Music: DEXTER GORDON (Piotr Baron) Directions In Music: ELVIN JONES (Kazimierz Jonkisz) Directions In Music: WOODY SHAW (Piotr Schmidt)

In 2011, Rafał Sarnecki published the album "The Madman Rambles Again", recorded for a famous Spanish recording studio Fresh Sound, with participation of the pianist as a sideman.

The Audiofeeling Band keeps on giving concerts in prestigious European clubs (Jazz Dock - Prague, Czech Republic; Porgy & Bess - Vienna, Austria) and is often invited at important festivals. In May 2011, the pianist performed during the Polish Culture Week in Belfast (Ireland), where he played at the opening concert in the Lyric Theatre. The Paweł Kaczmarczyk Audiofeeling Band ethno sextet was reactivated, and accepted the invitation for Enter Music Festival, whose art director is famous Leszek Możdżer. The band’s performance turned out to be the greatest part of the first evening of the 2-days’ event, and it had a lot of positive reviews. In September 2011, the band was a guest at the JazzForum Budapest (Hungary), where they played the opening concert of the festival in the Palace Of Arts. Another concert worth mentioning is the performance with German jazz saxophone veteran, Emil Mangelsdorff, in Centrum Manggha in Kraków. The band featured such outstanding musicians as bassist Vitold Rek (Witold Szczurek) and percussionist Janusz M. Stefański. Still in 2011, the artist had an opportunity to perform together with Natalia Niemen and Piotr Baron’s quintet.

Awards

The young pianist has collected numerous music awards, including: 2002 - 1st place at the 26th "Jazz Juniors" International Competition for Young and Debuting Jazz Groups (with Kaczmarczyk/Jaros/Dobrowolski Trio) 2002 - the title of Best Instrumentalist at Poland's Jazz Juniors competition 2004 - Grand Prix at the 40th "Jazz on the Oder" Jazz Festival in Wroclaw (with KBD Trio) 2004 - several medals at the "Kultursalen Horbiger" competition in Vienna (with Kaczmarczyk/Nowicki/Traczyk/Dobrowolski Quartet) 2004 - "Key to a Career" prize at the "Pomeranian Jazz Autumn" festival 2006 - 1st place at the "JUNIOR JAZZ 2006" International Competition for Jazz Groups in Usti nad Labem (Czech Republic) Album of The Year (2007) in Jazz Forum Magazine's "Jazz Top" readers' poll (for “Audiofeeling”) Fryderyk (Nomination) (2008) (for “The Songs From A New Place” by Rafal Sarnecki) Pianist of The Year (2009) in Jazz Forum Magazine's "Jazz Top" readers' poll Album of The Year (2009) in Jazz Forum Magazine's "Jazz Top" readers' poll (for “Complexity in Simplicity”) "Melomani" Jazz Society's Jazz Oscars Grand Prix in the Artist of The Year 2009 category "Melomani" Jazz Society's Jazz Oscars Grand Prix in the Album of The Year 2009 category (for “Complexity in Simplicity”) Fryderyk (Nomination) - the Jazz Musician of the Year 2009