Masecki / Chopin / Nocturnes (Poland)

Masecki is one of Poland’s most prolific and idiosyncratic musicians. Winner of many awards he performs extensively on all keyboard instruments, composes for film and theatre, produces festivals, conducts orchestras, records and curates musical events. His projects span a wide range of styles and his virtuosic fusion of different genres as well as the blurring of the line between high art and entertainment have become his hallmarks.

Currently he co-leads the Jazz Band Młynarski-Masecki, a large ensemble devoted to polish jazz from the 20s and 30s in his own arrangments. Parallel he runs a jazz trio with drummer Jerzy Rogeiwicz and bassist Piotr Domagalski. He also performs a modern version of ragtime in duo with Rogiewicz. As a classical musician he works solo, with chamber groups and with orchestras as soloist and/or conductor. He hosts a variety of concert cycles where he narrates the history of classical music in an informal and refreshing style.

As film scorer he has worked on Paweł Pawlikowski’s “Cold War” (Best Director at Cannes 2019), Darek Gajewski’s “Strange Heaven” and Michał Marczak’s “Fuck For Forrest”.

He works regularly with the Polish National Radio, Teatr Studio, Bar Studio and Capella Cracoviensis. He lives in Berlin and Warsaw.

He brings Chopin’s Nocturnes to Christmas jazz, interpreting them freely – namely, he learned them by hearing. It allows for free self-expression and text processing, which is rarely found in the “academically real world” of classical music. By giving up the note text, the pianist’s interpretation comes closer to jazz and traditional folk music.

We thank: Embassy of the Republic of Poland and Adam Mickiewicz Institute