My Content
Membership has its privileges! Sign up or sign in to gain full access to both All About Jazz and Jazz Near You. Learn more.
A singer born in Upper Silesia, Poland, to a family devoid of musical traditions. Finished one year of classical guitar at the secondary music school in Rybnik. Graduate of the Jazz Institute of the Academy of Music in Katowice, considered prestigious in Poland. Karnas has worked with top-line younger artists of Poland's jazz scene as well as its legends. In 1998, he was awarded first prize at the International Jazz Vocalists' Meeting in Zamość (Poland). The following year, his debut album Reinkarnasja (Nottwo 2000) was released and put Karnas on the road touring throughout the main clubs and festivals in Poland and Slovakia (International Jazz Pianists' Festival in Kalisz, Bratislava Jazz Days). Summer of 2004 saw the premiere of Grzegorz Karnas' self-produced solo project Sny-Dreams of a Ninth Floor (DeBies 2004) promotion of which took place with a series of over 30 club and festival concerts in Poland (Warsaw Summer Jazz Days), Slovakia and Czech Republic (Prague Jazz Open, Jazz Goes To Town in Hradec Kralove , International Jazz Festival in Kosice), Germany, Romania (Sibu Jazz Festival) and many others. A new album Ballads for the End of the World featuring brilliant silesian cello player Adam Oleś was released in april 2006. Promotions of both projects continue in 2007. Also in 2006 Karnas was awarded first prize at Young Jazz Singers Competition Brussels
Read moreviewlondon.co.uk
Grzegorz Karnas: energy, sense of humor, sensitivity, audacity; polish singer Grzegorz Karnas has it all ! (...) A singer and group who will likely make promoters take notice.“
culturejazz.net France
Karnas interprets standards with incredible inventiveness. He gleans each note from a melody, to subsequently bend and transform it, imbuing it with substance. It's been quite some time since such imagination has been seen in the jazz vocals genre.
Le Soir Belgium
“At ease and laid back interpreting, amazingly, most of his compositions in polish: a rare treat, appreciated by a delighted audience.”
jazz-letter.com France
Karnas scats with verve, has an excellent feel for phrasing, and raps intelligently, employing irony with sophistication. Besides that he has a characteristic, slightly raspy-sounding voice that intrigues the ear and focuses the attention of the listener. In addition to all that, there is a consistent repertoire and an excellent backing group
Start your music shopping from All About Jazz and you'll support us in the process. Learn how.