Mikołaj Miki Wielecki - band leader
Specializes in: congas, bongos, repique, cuica, cajón and other percussion instruments; Cuban and afrocuban music, Brazilian music, salsa, latin-jazz, flamenco.
Graduated elementary music school in percussion class. Then studied in Byhojskollen (Danmark) in F. Johansen class and during his visits to Cuba in 1999-2000, 2002 and 2007 his teachers included Macho Calderon (Aguiri-yo), E.Rico (Sierra Maestra) and J. Alfonso (Los Munequitos de Matanzas) and Rio de Janeiro, Brasil in 2011. Warsaw University’s Spanish and Portuguese Studies graduate with a thesis about rumba in Havana.
He began his musical career when he founded Pachanga percussion group. He gained stage experience playing in Słoma i Bębnoludy, Strumień (folk/world music), Easy Band All Stars (funky) and Los Payos (flamenco).
For years know he has been playing with Reinaldo Ceballo and Calle Sol, in Antonina Krzystoń’s band and in Noche de Boleros. He takes part in various musical projects (for example Zbigniew Namysłowski’s Big Band, Włodek Pawlik "Strings in the Earth") and is a session musician (for Blue Café, Kora Jackowska, Mikromusic, Natu Natalia Przybysz to name but a few). As a member of the above mentioned bands and a session musician he has recorded over 40 albums and film soundtracks.
Ania Patynek
Specializes in: percussion instruments, djembe; African music, percussions in ethnic music, folk, pop, rock, reggae and other genres. Sings.
She became a vital member of the Polish music scene between 1986 and 1999 when she played drums and sang in Jacek Kleyff’s Na Zdrowie Orchestra. During that period she was a member of the first percussion bands in Poland: Pachanga, Papa Drum, Uado Taraban, Wadada, Słoma I Bębnoludy, Pagota, Djembe Jet as well as a member of a folk group Strumień and of a meditation music band Asunta.
Since 1999 she has been playing with artists representing various music genres such as Drum Freaks, Danuta Błażejczyk, VooVoo, Włodek Kinior Kiniorski, Jose Torres, Justyna Steczkowska, Trebunie Tutki, Marek Biliński, Brygada Kryzys, Wszystkie Wschody Słońca, Krzysztof Kasa Kasowski, Maryla Rodowicz, Faber Blue, Calle Sol, Zbigniew Hołdys, Adam Sztaba (the first series of “Dancing with the stars”), Akt Theatre. Scene 96 Theatre, Janusz Józefowicz’s “Peter Pan” musical, Paco Sarr, Mamadou Diouf.
Since 2001 Ania has been playing with Budka Suflera, and in Konoba (West African music) founded in 2007 where she plays djembe and balaphone. In 2007 she recorded “Hey Unplugged” with Hey. Besides playing live, she teaches at workshops and is a session musician.
Hubert Zemler
Specializes in: drum set; Classical music, jazz.
His yearning for freedom and interest in using all the various timbres of percussion instruments surfaced during his studies in music school. He perfected his skills in Warsaw’s Music Academy and broadened his horizons by delving into the world of contemporary music. After graduating in 2005 he developed his art by working with numerous jazz musicians. The several years spent with the Cuban pianist Rei Ceballo helped him learn the secrets of Afro-Cuban rhythms.
Currently he is a member of Horny Trees alongside Paweł Szamburski (clarinet) and Maciej Trifonidis Bielawski (bass). Their sophomore album “Branches Of Dirty Delight” was released earlier this year. He is a member of Natalia Przybysz’s and DJ Envee’s (music producer) ensemble. He also plays in a jazz guitarist Marcin Olak’s trio – their album “Simple Joy” was released in the fall of 2008. His collaboration with Wojciech Staroniewicz resulted in the recording of “Alternations” together with Sławek Jaskułke, Michał Barański and Leszek Możdżer as a special guest.
Together with Piotr Zabrodzki he plays in CinqG, Blast Muzungu and a special project featuring the best Polish tuba player Zdzisław Piernik (the “Namanga” record). Recently he has been collaborating with Loco Star and Kapacitron. More about Hubert on www.myspace.com/hubertzemler
Wojtek Sobura
Specializes in: drum set; Jazz, hop hop, dancehall, reggae, pop/rock.
He graduated from Warsaw Music School of the 2nd degree majoring in Jazz in professor Kazimierz Jonkisz’s class. In 2004 he studied at Aero Folkehojskole in Denmark.
Currently he is a part of the alternative and avant-garde scene- he plays in Kapacitron together with Kamik Szuszkiewicz and has collaborated with artists such as: Marcin Masecki, Maciek Trifonidis Bielawski and Darek Makaruk. He is also a member of a psychocountry band Leyce alongside a collective of several well known musicians. He collaborates with numerous pop artists such as Ania Dąbrowska, Dustplastic, Café Fogg, Muzykoterapia, and Olga Quintet. He works as a sideman with Bogdan Kondracki and Dr. No.
More about Wojtek on www.myspace.com/sobura
Nikodem Bąkowski
Specializes in: bata, congas, timbales, percussion instruments; Afro-Cuban music, son, salsa.
After graduating from elementary music school he started to learn to play the percussion instruments. He studied among others in Cuba, where he was taught by such percussion greats as: congas – Jesus Alfonso (Los Munequitos de Matanzas), Macho Calderon (Aguiri-Yo), Duniesky Barreto Pozo (Bamboleo, Buena Vista Social Club), Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzanas; timbales – Ramses Rodriguez Baralt (Chucho Valdes, Omara Portuondo, Pablo Milanes, Ibrahim Ferrer), bata – Carlos Miguel Perez, Osmel Torreo.
On numerous occasions he has collaborated with Rey Ceballo y Calle Sol, Jose Torres y Salsa Tropical, Son de Cuba, Trio Son de Cuba, Noche de Boleros, DAAB, Milagros Abreu Machado, Gadająca Tykwa, Ania “Anya” Kostrzewska. As an co-arranger and performer he takes part in avant-garde and club music projects. He played onstage and in the clubs all over Poland and participated in many recording sessions.
He also teaches at Krzysztof Komeda’s first and second degree School of Popular Music and Jazz as well as at Ethnic Percussion School Strefa Rytmu. He is a cofounder if the Caribeean Dance School SHO which specializes in traditional music and dances from Cuba, Brazil and Africa.
Jakub Pogorzelski
Specializes in: djembe, dundun, percussion instruments; West African (Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal) music.
His first teacher was Ladji Diawara (Mali). Later during his travels through Africa in 2002, 2004, 2008 he studied among others with the soloists of the Ballet National de Mali, Ballet Du District de Bamako, in the Ballet Sourakhata in Guinea and was taught by the famous master Fadouba Oulara.
He was the founder and the leader of the bands Pagota, Djembe Jet and Heban which performed traditional African Music.
Currently he develops his fascination with traditional music with the West African Project where he works with African musicians. In 2006 it was the harpist and singer Adam Kamissoko and in 2008/2009 the drummer Mohamed Gaspard Conde. Although he specializes in African music, he is very open minded and always eager to broaden his musical horizons. He is a member of the rhythmic section in Gadająca Tykwa, and often combines African traditions with Polish and Slavic music in a Polish folk band Kwartet Jorgi and with jazz in Wojtek Staroniewicz’s African Sound and Visual Project.
He is an unquestionable djembe virtuoso and an expert on African music, as well as a acclaimed session musician. In 2007 he founded Strefa Rytmu Ethnic Percussion School. Since then he has run numerous workshops and courses on African percussion music.
Miłosz Pękala
Specializes in: vibraphone, percussion instruments; Classical music, contemporary music, folk, Brazilian music.
He graduated from F. Chopin Warsaw Music Academy. He won numerous music contests in Poland and abroad. His teachers include Gert Mortensen from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen, Ricardo Flores (USA), Nippi Noyi (The Netherlands) and John Beck (USA).
He has collaborated with a Brazilian music band Girassol as well as with Heban, Ratatam and Wadada to name but a few. In 2002 together with Magda Kordylasińska he formed a percussion duo Hob Beats, and performed in Germany, Israel and Brazil. In 2008 they released the “Returning Sounds” LP, in 2007 won the European Broadcasting Union Award at the Svetozar Stracina Festival in Bratislava and in 2009 were the finalists of the prestigious IPC duet contest in Luxemburg.
Alongside Magda Kordylasińska he also formed Kwadrofonik quartet. They won the Grand Prix, the Warsaw City President and the Audience Award at the Nowa Tradycja festival in 2006. Their debut album “Folklove” won the Folk Phonogram Of The Year award in 2009. Since 2008 he has also been a member of Mitch&Mitch group.
Bogusz Wekka
Specializes in: congas, percussion instruments; Popular music of all kinds.
Graduated from the first and second degree music school in Bydgoszcz (professor Mirosław Żyta). He started his studies there, but graduated from the Classical Department in Katowice (professor Stanisław Proksa).
He has been performing live since 1997, and has played with artists such as: Anna Serafińska, Bernard Maseli, Grzegorz Karnas, Arkadiusz Skolik, Anna Szarmach, Dorota Miśkiewicz. For several years he has also been a steady member of Ryszard Rynkowski’s band. He also takes part in the Buffo and Roma theatres’ musical projects. Rhythm has become an inseparable part of his life.
Discography: Ania Serafińska - "Melodies" (1999), The Globetrotters - "The Globetrotters" (2000), Wojtek Mrozek - "Rakija" (2001), "Tańce Świata" (2002), Jarek Weber - "Jarek Weber"(2002), Arek Skolik - "Mirror Gambit" (2002), Grupa Furmana - "Koncert w Stalarni" (2003), Bajm - "Myśli i słowa" (2003), Grzegorz Karnas - "Sny" (2004), "Ballady na koniec świata" (2005), Szymon Makohin - "Little ghetto boy" (2006), Alamut - "Ogrody Alamut" (2007). Currently he has been taking part in Jurek Małek’s and Paweł Kaczmarczyk’s recording sessions.
More on Bogusz at www.myspace.com/kongobongo79
Magda Kordylasińska
Specializes in: classical percussion, mallet instruments; Classical, contemporary and avant-garde music.
Comes from Szczecin. Began learning to play drums at 18 in Dariusz Szczyglo’s percussion class in Szczecin. In 2006 she graduated from F. Chopin Warsaw Music Academy with honors . She also studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen in Gert Mortensen’s percussion class.
She specializes in playing marimba and as a soloist she has worked with Sinfonia Baltica Orchestra, The Royal String Quartet, Polish Radio Orchestra, Szczecin Philharmonic and Warminsko-Mazurska Philharmonic, She has collaborated with acclaimed soloists (Marta Klimasara, John Beck, Emmanuel Sejourne, Steven Schick) and orchestra’s (The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Polish Radio Orchestra).
Since 2002 she has been working with Milosz Pekala. Together they form a percussion duo Hob Beats. Both as soloist and band member she has taken part in numerous prestigious festivals and concerts all over the world – Germany, Israel, Brazil – to name just a few.
She is also a cofounder of Kwadrofonik quartet which won the Grand Prix, the Warsaw City President and the Audience Award at the Nowa Tradycja festival in 2006 as well as the special award at the Svetozar Stracina Festival in Bratislava. Their debut album “Folklove” won the Folk Phonogram Of The Year award in 2009.
Jurek Markuszewski
Specializes in: drum set; Pop, funk, soul, jazz, rock.
He began playing drums when he was 10. A year later he started taking regular drum classes at a private music school. Currently he studies at Bednarska in professor’s Kazimierz Jonkisz’s jazz class.
He has collaborated with artists such as Paulina Przybysz - Pinnawela, Hanna Banaszak, Dorota Miśkiewicz, Anna Karwan, Stan Borys, Alicja Majewska, Włodzimierz Korcz, Kasia Zielińska, Marcin Przybylski, Magda Turowska, and bands such as Mili Morena Y Su Clave, Calle Sol, Motema Africa, Mousetrap, PareSłów, Kowalski, Teatr Współczesny...
He works with numerous artists and music recording studios.
More on Jurek at www.myspace.com/jurekmarkuszewski
Rafael Reif de Paula
Specializes in: pandeiro, tamborim, triangulo and others Brazilian percussion instruments. Also plays the drum set.
In the years of 2000-2001 he participated in almost all rehearsals of Escola
de Samba Imperio Serrano and played in their drums section at the official
Rio de Janeiro Carnaval parade in February 2001. Ever since then he has
participated in various samba workshops.
In 2003 Rafael graduated in Music Licentiateship at UNIRIO, the University
of the State of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. He has studied Brazilian
percussion with professor Rodolfo Cardoso. He has recently translated into
English Oscar Bolao's upcoming book on Samba and Brazilian Rhythms for the
Drum Set.
Maxime Piazza
Specjalizacje: djembe, dundun, dundun kassonke, balafon; muzyka Afryki Zachodniej
Muzyką perkusyjną zaczął zajmować się w 1997 roku, interesuje się głównie muzyką Afryki Zachodniej. Swoją pierwszą podróż do Afryki odbył w 2000 roku, gdzie pracował z Baletem Narodowym Mali, od tego czasu regularnie co roku podróżuje – rozwija swój styl i rozszerza wiedzę na Czarnym Kontynencie (głównie Mali, Gwinea, Senegal). Interesuje się muzyką tradycyjną, uczestnicząc ze swoimi mistrzami w ceremoniach, które regulują życie w Afryce. Zajmuje się też muzyką bardziej nowoczesną, współpracując z baletami afrykańskimi (Ballet National du Mali, Ballet District de Bamako, Ballet Gbassikolo, Ballet Surakhata, Petit Sorciers…). Przemierzył Mali oraz Gwineę, odkrywając różnice w stylach, odwiedził też wioski Koumana (Hammanah) oraz Faranah. W tym samym czasie w Europie tworzył własną formację, podążając za radami mistrzów, z którymi zetknął się w trakcie licznych warsztatów (Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate, Fadouba Oulare, Yelemba i inni). Jednocześnie od 2002 roku zajmuje się nauczeniem gry na instrumentach perkusyjnych, zarówno na regularnych kursach jak i warsztatach w szkołach muzycznych we Francji, w Polsce, w Dubaju. We wrześniu 2006 wyjechał na rok do Mali i Gwinei, by razem z tancerką Wiolettą Wojciechowską rozwinąć wiedzę o połączeniu tańca i perkusji. Uczestniczy w licznych projektach muzycznych, jak Groupe Zoreol’ (muzyka z wysp Reunion oraz Oceanu Indyjskiego); grupy zajmujące się muzyką afrykańską – ANGATA, Kalenden Nyouma; grupy zajmujące się muzyką soul – Soul Influence oraz reggae – Ras’ Creol. Razem z tymi zespołami przemierzył Francję dając koncerty. Współpracuje z Wiolettą Wojciechowską oraz Dorothee Garcia podczas kursów tańca afrykańskiego. W Polsce prowadzi zespół Konoba.
