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Waclaw Zimpel

Wacław Zimpel - Polish clarinetist and composer. He is recognized both in his homeland and internationally. Since the very beginnings of his musical career, his recordings and performances were a subject of many positive reviews in the press and he has been a recipient of numerous awards. The numerous, varied projects he has lead often appeal to the musical traditions of India, Japan, or Morocco, proving that he excels the most when facing a genuine challenge.

Zimpel is a thoroughly educated musician. He studied classical clarinet at the Akademia Muzyczna w Poznaniu (Music Academy of Poznań) and at the Hochschule fur Music und Theater, Hannover. His talent was quickly spotted by Mikołaj Trzaska and Ken Vandermark. The collaboration with these musicians brought Zimpel to the attention of a wider public – and the reactions were outright enthusiastic. Since 2008 he is one of the members of the Ircha Clarinet Quartet (with Mikołaj Trzaska, Michał Górczyński and Paweł Szamburski). In 2009 he joined the international ensemble Resonance, which is led by Ken Vandermark – an exceptional musician from Chicago.

Independence was Zimpel's obsession since the very beginnings of his musical career. His own projects showcased first and foremost his talents as a composer, with the exceptional instrumental skills providing a strong background. His first international ensemble was Undivided, which besides Zimpel, Klaus Kugel, and Mark Tokar included legendary players Bobby Few and Perry Robinson. The band was very well received – especially on their first album, “The Passion”, where it took the challenge of translating a musical theme of a Christian Passion into free jazz.

Zimpel's next project was Hera, which consisted of polish musicians from Poznań and Warsaw: Paweł Szpura, Paweł Postaremczak, and Ksawery Wójciński. The ensemble aimed to research the roots of improvisation: the liturgical music, the traditions of India, the African trance. It was a huge success, becoming Zimpel's most recognizable ensemble and gaining a large and loyal following in the process. Zimpel continued Hera's experiments during his travels to southern India, where he studied the complex rhythmic / melodic traditions of the region with local musicians. Merging their vision with his European roots became the defining point of his next band, called Saagara. This ensemble relies on a powerful rhythm crafted by the instruments of southern India such as ghatam, khanjira, or thavil (a drum hitherto used mostly during the Hindu rituals). Complemented by Zimpel's compositions and improvisations, this music provides an exceptionally universal statement.

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Interview

Waclaw Zimpel: How The Music Of The World Influences Me

Read "Waclaw Zimpel: How The Music Of The World Influences Me" reviewed by Nick Davies


Waclaw Zimpel is a Polish clarinetist and composer who is recognised both nationally and internationally. His compositions have received many positive reviews in the press ("The Polish composer and clarinetist Waclaw Zimpel is a musical chameleon" --Stephen Heyman, New York Times) and he has been the recipient of numerous awards such as City of Poznań Artist Prize. Waclaw Zimpel is always pushing the boundaries of his musicality and this has led him to explore the music of India, Japan and ...

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he Polish composer and clarinetist Waclaw Zimpel is a musical chameleon. - Stephen Heyman, New York Times

Zimpel's name goes straight into the list of European jazzmen that gave new life to clarinet and bass clarinet, continuing Dolphy's example: Surman, Sclavis, Trovesi, and the like. - Francesco Martinelli

Polish composer/clarinetist Wacław Zimpel is one of the most promising musicians from the European continent. - Eyal Hareuveni, All About Jazz

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Seven Lines

Unknown label
2013

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Moves Between Clouds...

CEA Music Company
2012

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Passion

CEA Music Company
2011

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