Dorota Piotrowska

A jazz drummer, Dorota Piotrowska is one of the most distinctive Polish artists of her generation, active at the intersection of the European and New York jazz scenes. Since 2018, she has been based permanently in Poland, following eight years immersed in the jazz community of New York City. Her ensemble, Sound Circle feat. Greg Osby is an international collective of musicians in which neo-bop meets Latin, Nordic and Arabic influences, while inspirations drawn from dance and literature permeate the language of improvisation.

After studying classical piano from the age of seven to thirteen, Dorota discovered the freedom of the drums when a high school friend invited her to his band's jam session. She recalls sitting in a corner when the friend  handed her a pair of drum sticks and jokingly demanded she play. "I thought he was nuts but when I sat down at the drums, I discovered something new." - she said. "I found my voice within. It was natural and I had something to say that was different than when I played piano." - she continued. "I was converted."

"When I think of the new generation of drummers coming up I have to include this young lady in that group. Since I first met Dorota, her playing has grown so much. She is becoming a force on the jazz scene in New York and earning the respect of the elder drummers. Fusing Tony, Elvin and herself she is refreshing in her approach. I know she will continue her growth here in New York."​ --Greg Hutchinson

The experience became the discovery of her “inner voice” and defined the direction of her artistic path. Alongside her musical development, she graduated from University of Wrocław, earning a Bachelor’s degree in French Philology in 2006. As she often notes, this education shaped her capacity for narrative thinking and storytelling through music.

While still a student, she performed with the Cuban ensemble Omni Con Ire, combining stage work with academic study. After graduation, she chose to devote herself fully to jazz and enrolled at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she encountered the artistry of Ralph Peterson. Inspired by his personality and his deep grounding in the jazz tradition, she continued her studies in Groningen under his direct mentorship. Peterson became a pivotal artistic and personal guide. A subsequent stay in New York City led to her acceptance into an exchange program at Long Island University, followed by further studies at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, from which she graduated in 2012 with a specialization in jazz drums.

At the same time, Piotrowska cultivated broader international and civic interests. In 2015, she completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. She interned at the United Nations Secretariat, working on peacekeeping missions in West Africa, and currently combines her artistic career with efforts to improve global air quality through Air Quality Asia. In 2016, she founded the original educational program New York Jazz Masters in Poland, serving as Artistic Director of the international workshops, which were held three times with support from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

During her years abroad, Piotrowska gained extensive stage experience. She performed with trumpeter Saskia Laroo and studied with Nasheet Waits, whose support played a key role in her decision to pursue a career in the United States. Since arriving in New York City in 2010, she has appeared at Carnegie Hall with composer Bob Chilcott and at Avery Fisher Hall alongside Will Todd under the direction of Elena Sharkova. She has collaborated with leading figures of the New York jazz scene, including Jeremy Pelt, Lonnie Plaxico, Sam Newsome, Steve Carrington, Mike Rodriguez, Benito Gonzalez and the Curtis Brothers. She has also performed at legendary jazz clubs including Smalls Jazz Club, Iridium, Zinc Bar, and Lenox Lounge.

In 2015, she began collaborating with Polish soul icon Ewa Uryga. In 2019, together with Zaccai Curtis and Luques Curtis, she recorded a concert later released as the album Mahalia Jackson in Memoriam. In 2024, the album Between Voice and Bass was released, recorded with Ewa Uryga and bassist Paweł Pańta. After returning to Poland, she also collaborated with Danish vocalist Cæcilie Norby and the project European Sisters in Jazz, which resulted in the album Sisters in Jazz, produced by Siggi Loch and recorded by an international female ensemble.

Dorota Piotrowska’s music is a direct reflection of her life experience. Having grown up partly in the countryside, she absorbed folk music, French chanson, and diverse cultural traditions. Although she comes from a family of doctors, she chose the path of an artist, believing—as she often says—that music also has the power to heal. Studies and collaborations with master drummers such as Kenny Washington, Ralph Peterson, Gregory Hutchinson, and Nasheet Waits have enabled her to develop a personal artistic language in which technical precision meets narrative, emotion, and a profound sense of purpose.