My Passion and My World
The Beginnings
I was born, like everyone else – some time ago.
It was the beginning of spring. I remember some strange room filled with alien figures gazing at me, and I shouted at the top of my lungs:
"Here I am!"
Now, a bit more seriously.
For many years, I have been actively performing, recording, and teaching drums and percussion – I'm practically interested in all music genres.
Like many of my colleagues, I started by jamming in a school rock band. I was doing quite well (or at least that's what I was told;–)), and the most important thing was that I felt good about it, and it gave me a lot of joy.
But I quickly realized I wanted something more – this thought motivated me to start to study drums and percussion.
I graduated from the Music High School in Bydgoszcz, Poland under Prof. Janusz Mikołajczak, and then from the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland where guided by Prof. Stanisław Proksa I studied jazz and popular music.
That’s how I fell into the musical abyss, and there was no turning back from there.
All My Jazz
My name is usually associated with jazz, but I'm also interested in other genres – funk, fusion, World Music, and classical music.
For years, I've been gladly accepting invitations from artists who delve into various styles, requiring me to be a versatile musician.
Performing
Since graduating, I've been collaborating with Jan "Ptaszyn" Wróblewski, who forever became my true musical mentor.
Apart from "Ptaszyn" I've played with practically all of the most famous Polish musicians and vocalists – Ewa Bem, Dorota Miśkiewicz, Hanna Banaszak, Krystyna Stańko, Lora Szafran, Anna Maria Jopek, Andrzej Dąbrowski, Piotr Wojtasik, Andrzej Łukasik, Mieczysław Szcześniak, Kuba Stankiewicz, Leszek Możdżer, Tomasz Stańko, Jacek Niedziela–Meira Wojciech Niedziela, Piotr Baron, Darek Oleszkiewicz, Adam Pierończyk, Leszek Żądło, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Tomasz Szukalski, Wojciech Majewski, Robert Majewski, Henryk Miśkiewicz, Karol Szymanowski, Grzegorz Nagórski, Janusz Muniak, Wiesław Pieregorółka, Leszek Kułakowski, Krzysztof Herdzin, Michał Kulenty, Joachim Mencel, and many others.
I've also had the pleasure of performing with international artists, such as Mike Mainieri, Gary Guthman, Vadim Brodski, Garisson Fewell, Pete Lockett, Ed Schuller, John Gross, Rick Margitza, Nicolas Simion, Matus Jakabcic, Ed Schuller, Brandon Furman, and Paul Imm.
Recording
I've taken part in recording dozens of albums.
My name can be found on albums by such acclaimed musicians as Jan "Ptaszyn" Wróblewski, Wojciech Niedziela, Jacek Niedziela–Meira, Krzysztof Herdzin, Funky Groove, Piotr Wojtasik, Wojciech Majewski, Adam Wendt, Krzysia Górniak, The Other Sound band, Paweł Tomaszewski and many others.
The complete list of recordings is available in the "Discography" section.
Educating
I have extensive teaching experience – I taught at the Artistic Department of the University of Zielona Góra, Poland and at the Feliks Nowowiejski State Music Schools Complex in Szczecin, Poland.
I enthusiastically give lectures and conduct courses (often called "drum clinics") at regular and occasional music workshops.
I've led drum classes at the Czech Jazz Workshop in Prague, Czech Republic and in Leichlingen, Germany.
I've also been a lecturer at workshops in Poland – in Puławy, Pułtusk, Leszno, and at many one-time drumming courses and other drumming events.
And I provide private lessons in Warsaw and record educational videos on YouTube.
See more in the ”Academy” section.
Currently
Apart from regular performances with Jan "Ptaszyn" Wróblewski, I play with Adam Wendt (Power Set and Adam Wendt & Friends), Wiesław Pieregorółka's Big Collective Band, Andrzej Łukasik, Andrzej Dąbrowski, Janusz Szrom, Krzysia Górniak, and The Other Sound band.
I also collaborate with theatres in Warsaw: The Polonia, The Och Teatr, The Syrena, and The Mazovian Music Theatre.
I feel fantastic that a lot is happening in my life – it allows me to meet new people and explore new areas of music. I love challenges!
Feel free to visit my website regularly and check for updates, new gigs and the regularly updated discography.
See or hear me play soon!
© 2024 Marcin Jahr • All rights reserved
Designed and developed by Ridge Media