The band was established in 2010. The leader of the quartet, Jan Malecha, is a guitarist and a composer, a graduate from Jazz Institute at Academy of Music in Katowice. The sidemen of the band are also students or graduates from the Academy. Their music, mainly composed by the leader, is energetic, definitely acoustic and having its own style. That's the result of the band's musical search and the use of tunes, sound and space to tell their own stories and express their feelings.
The band won the first prize during the National Young Jazz Musicians Festival “JAZZDA” in Świdnik.
Jan Malecha:
He was born in 1986. While being in secondary school, he started studying at School of Jazz and Popular Music in Wrocław. During the four years of studying, he was taught by Artur Lesicki. After completing the course, he started studies at Academy of Music in Katowice (Jazz Department).
He's interested in modern jazz: full of dissonances, using both space and the wide range of timbres and – what's important – definitely acoustic. His first inspirations were: John Zorn (especially Masada), John Scofield, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Adam Rogers, Ben Monder, Charles Gayle, Billy Harper, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter…
Apart from jazz, he was and still is inspired by rock, reggae and classical music.
Jarosław Bothur:
A student at Jazz Institute at Academy of Music in Katowice and a graduate from Jazz Department at the F. Chopin School of Music in Warsaw. He was chosen the best artist in categories “Saxophone” and “New Hope” in JAZZ TOP 2009 poll organised by JAZZ FORUM magazine. He cooperates with Janusz Muniak, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, Paweł Kaczmarczyk, Krzysztof Pacan and many other acknowledged Polish jazz musicians. He has also won many awards:
- the first prize at the Jazz Personality Contest at 46th “Jazz nad Odrą” festival, Wrocław 2010;
- Grand Prix and the title "New Hope of Jazz" at “Novum Jazz Festiwal”, Łomża 2009 (as soloist);
- Grand Prix at 2nd National Young Jazz Musicians Festival “ JAZZDA 2010” in Świdnik (with Jan Malecha Quintet);
- Grand Prix at 2007 “Nadzieje Warszawy” festival (with Bogna Kicińska Quintet);
- Grand Prix at “Jazz Standards Festiwal”, Siedlce 2006 (with Bednarska Five quintet).
Grzegorz Masłowski:
A student at Jazz Institute at Academy of Music in Katowice and a young yet acknowledged drummer. He led rhythm and drums workshops during Jazz Voicingers festival in Żory (2010). He cooperates with Janusz Muniak, Inner Spaces Quintet, The Transgress and others. He has also worked with Helmut Kagerer, Roberto Magris, Lasse Lindgren, Bronisław Suchanek, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, Maciej Adamczak, Adam Kowalewski, Piotr Wojtasik, Paweł Kaczmarczyk.
He has won many awards:
- Grand Prix at "Jazz Juniors", Kraków 2010 (ex aequo with Michał Wróblewski trio and Jarek Bothur quartet)
- individual award at "Krokus Jazz Festival", Jelenia Góra 2010;
- Grand Prix at 2nd National Young Jazz Musicians Festival “ JAZZDA 2010” in Świdnik (with Jan Malecha Quintet);
- Grand Prix at "Blues, Rock, Jazz Warsaw Festival 2009" (with The Transgress);
- Grand Prix at Miles Davis Jazz Improvisation Contest, Kielce 2004.
Michał Kapczuk:
A double bass and bass guitar player, born in 1984. He graduated from Jazz department at 2nd level School of Music in Warsaw, where he was a student of Zbigniew Wegehaupt. Currently, he is studying double bass in Jacek Niedziela's class at Academy of Music in Katowice. He cooperates with: Jan Malecha Quartet, Wierba and Schmidt Quintet, Michał Wierba Trio, Wojtek Myrczek Quartet, Joanna Duda Super Extra 3jo.
Individual awards: “Tarnów Jazz Contest 2008” , “Krokus Jazz Festival Jelenia Góra 2009”, “Jazz Nad Odrą 2010”.
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