Adam Makowicz Biography - jazz legend, master of improvisation, piano virtuoso, humanitarian.

Photo: Adam Orzechowski

European "Jazz Forum" magazine voted Adam a "Number One Jazz Pianist" six years in the row. Decorated with the Officer's Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland and many other important and respected acknowledgements, Adam recorded several dozens of albums and performed in the world's best concert venues.

Adam Makowicz was born in 1940 to Polish parents in Czech Silesia. From the age of six he was raised in Poland. "I studied classical music at the Chopin Conservatory of Music in Krakow, but dropped out because of my involvement in jazz," he recalled. "In the mid-fifties I discovered Willis Conover's broadcast  of the "Music USA Jazz Hour" which was emitted every night by the Voice of America. It changed my life forever. I chose a new life of freedom and improvisation- considered by authorities to be 'decadent'- over the career of a classical pianist my parents and teachers envisioned for me." As a result, Adam was forced to leave his home and school, and spent two years of homeless, hand-to-mouth living until he discovered a small jazz club hidden in a cellar where he could play and sleep in exchange for doing chores.

After many years of hardship, Adam launched his professional career in 1964. A series of acclaimed performances and recordings enhanced his reputation in both Europe and the United States. In 1977 the legendary record producer John Hammond invited Adam to New York City for a 10-weeks engagement and to record for CBS Columbia a solo album called "Adam". By that time Adam had already performed worldwide and recorded 26 albums."John Hammond played a very significant role in my life, launching my career in the United States ," Adam remembers. "He gave me important public exposure by arranging a six-week engagement at the Cookery in Greenwich Village and an appearance at Carnegie Hall with Earl Hines, George Shearing, and Teddy Wilson during a Newport Jazz Festival tribute to Errol Garner, who had died six months earlier. "Imagine playing for the first time with these giants of jazz in the most famous concert hall in the world — I was scared to death! But I could not disappoint John, and I received a standing ovation from more than 2,000 people."

In 1978 Adam has settled in New York City and Manhattan,to this day, is this special place he calls home.  When in December 1981 Polish communist regime imposed martial law to crush the Solidarity Movement, Adam, together with other Polish artists living in the US at the time, took part in the historically important TV show "Let Poland be Poland".This event was initiated by the former President Ronald Reagan and was widely broadcasted all over the world. As a result, he was banned from Poland until it gained its freedom in 1989. Adam,who became an American citizen in 1986, has performed worldwide; with groups, orchestras and solo, sharing stages with many jazz greats. In addition to jazz classics  Makowicz often includes the classical music in his repertoire. Especially the music of Frederic Chopin, whom, as Adam says, he "absorbed" in his youth and whose music he interprets in his own unique jazz fashion. Several CD's with jazz interpretations of Chopin's compositions are the only such releases in the United States. 

Writing in the Toronto Star,Geoff Chapman summarized Adam's considerable musical appeal: "A rare artist who grips and holds attention, Makowicz handles the classics of the American songbook with an aplomb equal to the way he deals with the devastatingly complex structures of his own compositions. A gifted improviser with splendid technical prowess, the pianist can also offer warmth and affection in melodic lines, the balance of fine taste, pungent swing and a jubilant approach inevitably generating audience cheer."

Each Fall for the past several years, Adam has performed in the city of Ustron a sold out recital with the sole purpose of rising funds destined to help the financing of therapies and professional assistance to children and young adults afflicted with brain injuries.  

Recently Adam Makowicz joined the illustrious group of 400 most influential polish emigrants in the 400 years history of the USA.

On October 12th, 2009 in Warsaw, Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage honored Adam's contribution to the Arts with the Golden Medal "Gloria Artis" - a very distinguished and highest possible recognition an artist can receive

"Music is the universal language of mankind".

Krzysztof Jablonski - Biography

Krzysztof Jablonski was born in 1965 in Wroclaw, Poland. He started piano lessons at age six with Professor Janina Butor. Under her guidance he he won many prizes at piano competitions in Poland and performed his first concert with an orchestra at the age of 12.

As the youngest competitor at age 15, he placed fifth at the Milan Piano Competition, "Premio Dino Ciani." Chairman of the Jury Nikita Magaloff then invited Mr. Jablonski to attend his Master Classes in Geneva, Switzerland. Between 1983 and 1986 he studied under the guidance of Professor Andrzej Jasinski at the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. He graduated with honors in 1987, and in 1996 he earned his Ph.D.

Mr. Jablonski won third prize at The F. Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1985. Between 1988 and 1992 he has won numerous top prizes at piano competitions in: Palm Beach (Florida, USA), Monza (Italy), Dublin (Ireland), Gold Medal at The A. Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv (Israel), the "Jorge Bolet" Prize at the Walter Naumburg Foundation International Piano Competition in New York, and Second Prize at The Esther Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary, Canada.

At age 20, Mr. Jablonski began performing on stages in Europe, North and South America, Mexico, Israel, South Korea, and Japan. He has performed in many prestigious concert halls, including appearances on the Master Concert Series at Berliner Philharmonie. Mr. Jablonski has also performed with prominent chamber music ensembles. He also founded "Chopin Duo" (Tomasz Strahl - Cello, Krzysztof Jablonski - Piano) in 1999. Since 2004 he is a Member of "The Warsaw Piano Quintet" (Kwintet Warszawski) which was first founded by Wladyslaw Szpilman in 1962.

From 1999 to 2006 Mr. Jablonski was closely collaborating with Grand Theatre - National Opera in Warsaw, Poland, performing regularly the music for a ballet entitled "Fortepianissimo", which was developed around the music of Chopin. Between 2002 and 2006 he was also frequently performing the original piano version of the C. Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande lyrique drama (opera).

In September, 2005 - Jablonski performed at the National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw with Orchestra of the 18th Century (Baroque Orchestra) conducted by Frans Brüggen on historical piano (Erard, built in 1849), during special series of concerts presenting Chopin's pieces performed in an original sound with the use of the instruments of that time for the first time in Poland. Concerts with the Berner Symphonie-Orchester, the Jenaer Philharmonie, the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, and performance of the Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Festival Orchestra of the Grand Teton Music Festival and Scriabin's "Promethee" with the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Warsaw, Poland under the baton of Andrey Boreyko are among most important events in Jablonski's calendar of 2006/2007 concert season.

Mr. Jablonski has made many live recordings for radio and television in many countries. He has recorded many compact discs in Germany, Japan, and Poland. Jablonski recorded three CDs (Etudes, Preludes and Impromptus and Works for Piano and Orchestra) in conjunction with The National Edition of F. Chopin's Works project, directed by Prof. J. Ekier.

Since 1994, Mr. Jablonski taught piano, initially at the Music Academy in Wroclaw, Poland, and later, at the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. He is a Professor of the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland since 2004. In addition to academic responsibilities, he presents Master Classes and adjudicates at international piano competitions. Jablonski was Jury Member of The XV International F. Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2005, International F. Chopin Piano Competition in ASIA, and The Seventh National Chopin Piano Competition of the United States.