Krzysztof Pacan started performing at the age of 16, playing double bass with the greatest artists of Polish jazz stage: Janusz Muniak, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Michał Urbaniak.
He has also cooperated with Urszula Dudziak, Mika Urbaniak, Aga Zaryan, Sławek Jaskułke, Jacek Kochan, Joachim Mencel, Andrzej Smolik, Tomasz Stańko, Dorota Miśkiewicz, Jerzy Małek, Dj Krim, Piotr Wyleżoł and the band June.
He has performed throughout Poland („Gdynia Summer Jazz Days”, „Jazz na Starówce”, „Orange Warsaw Festival”, „Jazz Jamboree”, „Haineken Open`er Fesival”, ”Coke Live Festival” , „Jazzowa Jesień w Bielsku Białej”, „Męskie Granie”) and in various places abroad (the USA, Canada, China, Turkey, Ukraine, the Republic of South Africa, Israel, France, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia).
He graduated from the Academy of Music in Katowice and in 2001, together with Jan Smoczyński Trio, he was awarded first prize during the Jazz Juniors Festival.
Discography:
- Arek Skolik Checkmate Quintet – Mirror Gambit (2002)
- Joachim Mencel Trio – Interludium (2004)
- Zbigniew Namysłowski Quintet – Standards (2004)
- The Best Of Polish Jazz – Joachim Mencel – Ta Góra (2005)
- Sławek Jaskułke 3yo – Sugar Free (2004)
- June – That`s What I like (2008)
- Jerzy Małek – Bob Beat (2009)
- Dorota Miśkiewicz – Caminho (2008)
- Maryla Rodowicz – Jest Cudnie (2008)
- Mr.Krime feat. Aga Zaryan – Astigmatic Inspired By Chopin (2008)
- Smolik – Męskie Granie live cd &dvd making of (2010)
- Smolik – Smolik 4 (2010)
- Urszula Dudziak – Warszawski Festiwal Skrzyżowanie Kultur promo cd (2011)
- Krzysztof Pacan – Facing The Challange (2011)
- Lullapop – Sitting On The Pier (2011)
- Marcelina – Marcelina (2011)
Jan Smoczyński – pianist, composer, arranger, music producer, sound engineer. He attended the Karol Szymanowski Music Secondary School in Warsaw. For one year he was Andrzej Jagodziński's apprentice in the Jazz College in Warsaw. In 2004 he got his MA degree at Jazz Department of the Academy of Music in Cracow (he was in Wojciech Niedziela's class). For many years, together with his younger brother (a violinist), he has been a member of Mateusz Smoczyński Quintet. They have recorded two albums: 'Inspirations' and 'Expression' (released last year). He also works in Michał Urbaniak's band, Urszula Dudziak's band (as music director), Aga Zayran Quintet, Jerzy Małek Quintet (albums: 'Gift' and 'Spirit of the Time') and – the most important – his own Trio (with Krzysztof Pacan on double bass and Sebastian Frankiewicz on drums) and his new project Smoke & The Smokes (J. Smoczyński, Łukasz Poprawski, Konrad Zemler, Robert Kubiszyn).
He is one of the founders of June, a band which released their first album in 2008 and was nominated for 2009 Fryderyk Music Award. He won the first place (with his Trio) and an individual award during 2001 Jazz Juniors contest, the second place and an individual award during the 2000 Jazz Standards Festival in Siedlce and the first place (with J. Namysłowski Quintet) during Young Jazz Bands Contest in Gdynia. He has taken part in many music events, among others, Gdynia Summer Jazz Days, the Jazz Pianist Festival in Kaliszu; Jazz Na Starówce, Letni Festiwal Jazzowy Pod Baranami, Krakowskie Zaduszki Jazzowe, the Sopot Molo Jazz Festival; Zaduszki Jazzowe in Siedlce; the Jazz Forum Festival in Tygmont; the Polish Jamboree in Tygmont; Bracki Jazz Festival in Cieszyn; Jazz Festival in Radom. Jazz Camping Kalatówki. He has performed in the USA (Chicago, N.Y.), Canada, Japan, Israel, France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Sebastian Frankiewicz – a drummer of the young generation, who graduated from Jazz Department of the Academy of Music in Katowice. During the first year of his studies he started performing with Jerzy Małek Quintet. The band soon won the Jazz Juniors Festival, where Sebastian was also awarded individual prize. Together with Epsylon band he has won first prize during the Jazz nad Odrą Festival, the Jazz Standards Festival in Siedlce and jazz contest in Jelenia Góra, and with Dominik Bukowski's Blue Mind – during Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa. Since 2002, he has worked with Michał Urbaniak. They have performed, among others, in the USA and Canada.
He has also cooperated with Janusz Muniaki, Tomasz Szukalski, Artur Dutkiewicz, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Wojciech Karolak, Marek Bałata, Andrzej Olejniczak, Urszula Dudziak, Lora Szafran, Zbigniew Wegehaupt and Janusz Skowron. He has recorded albums with: Janusza Muniak sextet, Jerzy Małek Quintet ('By Five' and 'Gift'), Blue Mind Quartet, Grzegorz Karnas ('Sny'), Zbigniew Wegehaupt Quartet ('Wege').
Radek Nowicki – tenor and soprano saxophonist, a graduate from Jazz department of the Karol Szymanowski Academy in Katowice. He was a finalist of the 13th Monte Carlo Jazz Soloist Competition and was awarded 'Kultursalon Horbiger' prize in Vienna. In 2003 he won the third place and received individual prize during the International Jazz Contest in Szczecin.
He has taken part in various projects and has performed with many artists, among others, Makoto Ozone, Gil Goldstain, Zbigniew Namyslowski Big Band, Tomasz Stanko & Andrzej Smolik PEYOTL, Janusz Skowron, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, Aga Zaryan, Michał Tokaj, Grzegorz Karnas, Jerzy Małek, Paweł Kaczmarczyk, Rei Ceballo. He has performed in nearly all European countries and also in Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Azerbaijan, He has taken part in the London Jazz Festival, the Bordeux Jazz Festival, the Sibiu Jazz Festival, the Hradec Kralowe Jazz Festival and many others.
In 2007 Jazz Forum Records released his album 'Live' recorded together with Michał Tokaj, Michał Miskiewicz and Michał Jaros.
Krzysztof Pacan - Facing The Challenge:
Krzysztof Pacan – bass guitar
Radek Nowicki – saxophone
Jan Smoczyński – Fender Rhodes Piano
Sebastian Frankiewicz – drums
Free entrance.
