Przemysław Strączek – jazz guitarist, composer, producer, graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Music Academy in Katowice, two-time winner of the Marek Bliziński Jazz Guitarists’ Competition in Warsaw, one of the top finalists of the Thailand International Jazz Conference Solo Competition in Bangkok. For many years he has been ranked as one of the best Polish guitarists according to Jazz Forum readers – Jazz Top. In 2013 the artist received the Special Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for his artistic achievements. Since 2011, he has been co-creating international projects as the leader along with musicians from various continents and presenting contemporary trends in jazz and ethno- jazz music. His sixth author’s album Fig Tree received wide coverage among music journalists and critics both in Poland and abroad, receiving many positive reviews. Przemysław Strączek used to collaborate with or still plays his concerts with outstanding artists including Janusz Muniak, Xu Fengxia and Andy Sheppard. He also received the Silesian Voivodeship Marshal’s Award in the field of music for 2015. He has been touring many countries around the world, including Poland, England, Scotland, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, Thailand, China, Singapore and Malaysia presenting his music and performing at many international jazz festivals and in community centers. He frequently performed on radio (Poland, USA, Kanada, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Germany, and United Kingdom) and television shows (Poland, Nederlands, France), So far, Strączek performed in the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, England, Cape Verde, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States. International Tours 2007 – Czech Republic Przemek Strączek Trio 2011 – England, Przemysław Strączek Group 2014 – Scotland, England, Przemysław Strączek International Group 2015 – Singapore, Malaysia, Przemek Strączek & Asian Strings Collective 2017 – Italy, Przemek Strączek Trio 2018 – China, Przemek Strączek & Xu Fengxia Quartet (East Meets East) 2019 – Italy, Przemysław Strączek Quartet
Awards
1. III prize in Master Jazz Guitar Competition( Warsaw 2001, 2003)
2. II prize in Miles Davis Jazz Competition (Kielce, Poland 2002)
3. One of the Seven Finalists of Jazz Contest on Thailand International Jazz Conference (Bangkok, 2011)
3. Special Award of the Polish Minister of Culture for artistic achievements (2013)
4. The Silesian Voivodeship Marshal’s Award in the field of music for 2015
Gear
Lorraine, Moffa Guitar, AER apm, Fender Twin
Jazz Forum magazine 6/12 about Evans album
Two guitarists undertook the difficult task of interpreting maestro’s work. They raised the bar incredibly
high and simultaneously decided on an ascetic form of a guitar duo. To render an intimate language of
Evans into a guitar language seems to be a complicated task to perform, but so is the very conception
of
a duo. However, a private formula, the lightness with which young artists handled the works of a
classic, as
well as peculiar instrumentation contributed a little to freeing Evans from a magic spell: they were
able
to preserve a melancholy mood, and simultaneously infused plenty of freshness and youthful heart
into
this music …
Read more
Jazz Forum magazine 6/12 about Evans album
Two guitarists undertook the difficult task of interpreting maestro’s work. They raised the bar incredibly
high and simultaneously decided on an ascetic form of a guitar duo. To render an intimate language of
Evans into a guitar language seems to be a complicated task to perform, but so is the very conception
of
a duo. However, a private formula, the lightness with which young artists handled the works of a
classic, as
well as peculiar instrumentation contributed a little to freeing Evans from a magic spell: they were
able
to preserve a melancholy mood, and simultaneously infused plenty of freshness and youthful heart
into
this music …
They splendidly complement each other, creating a harmonizing duo: Strączek, playing gently and
softly, sets up a base for his overseas friend’s dynamic and confident play. The musicians do play
together, listen to each other attentively and respond instantly. They managed not to deprive those
beautiful compositions of its magic and ambience; and yet, at the same time they brought life and
confidence to them. Figuratively speaking, they were able to open thewindows in the room, open the
drapes and let the air and sunshine in a bit …
by Konrad Żywiecki
tr. Sławomir Apel
Bridge Music (Scotland)
If Przemyslaw Straczek wasn’t the name on everybody’s lips after this auspicious Glasgow debut, then
it’s probably down to the fact that few of those present, even now, can pronounce it. Alternatively, the
Polish guitarist did have competition as the star of his own show as the pianist he brought with him,
Michal Werba, proved to be quite a find and the drummer who stepped in just the night before, our
own Alyn Cosker, made a startling contribution in negotiating the music’s detailed accents, differing
contours and dynamic variety.
Straczek seems to find much inspiration in the Steely Dan and Crusaders albums that featured Larry
Carlton, although Pat Metheny’s optimistic, wide-screen fusion of world music influences and jazz
guitar history also suggested itself and he has no shortage of ideas of his own too. He writes tunes
with a sense of narrative, such as the dramatic Last Train and a later soul ballad that had something of
the hymn about it, and while they’re arranged in some detail, calling for navigation skills as much as
musical ones from Cosker and double bassist Francesco Angiuli who had considerable acreages of
manuscript paper on their music stands, he leaves plenty of space for self-expression.
by Rob Adams, The Herald, September 29, 2014.
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