Leszek Możdżer (Polish pronunciation: [ˈlɛʂɛk ˈmɔʐd͡ʐɛr] born Lesław Henryk Możdżer, 23 March 1971, Gdańsk) is a Polish jazz pianist, music producer and film score composer.

Leszek Możdżer
Leszek Możdżer, 2023
Leszek Możdżer, 2023
Background information
Birth nameLesław Możdżer
Born (1971-03-23) March 23, 1971 (age 53)
Gdańsk, Poland
GenresJazz, Yass
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Piano
LabelsOutside Music
Websitemozdzer.com
Leszek Możdżer in 2011

Life and career edit

Możdżer was born on 23 March 1971 in Gdańsk. He began to play the piano at his parents' suggestion when he was five. In 1996, he received his diploma from the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk. He studied in the piano class under Andrzej Artykiewicz. He began his artistic career in clarinettist Emil Kowalewski's band and subsequently with the Miłość music band. The artist has collaborated with film score composers Jan A.P. Kaczmarek and Zbigniew Preisner. He formed a jazz trio together with double-bassist Lars Danielsson and drummer Zohar Fresco. Other prominent artists he has collaborated with include Marcus Miller, David Gilmour, Lester Bowie, Archie Shepp, Arthur Blythe, Tomasz Stańko, Pat Metheny, Janusz Muniak, Phil Manzanera, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Michał Urbaniak, L.U.C, Anna Maria Jopek, Behemoth, Myslovitz, Iva Bittová, Cæcilie Norby, David Friesen.[1][2]

 
Możdżer in 2006

In 1994, he claimed 1st place at the International Jazz Improvisation Contest in Katowice. In 1998, he received the Jazzman of the Year Fryderyk Award. In 1999, he became the laureate of the Gdansk Mayor Award for his outstanding artistic achievements. In 2001, he was awarded the Ad Astra Award bestowed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to "an outstanding young musician". In 2004, he received the Paszport Polityki Award in the entertainment category. In 2011, he won another Fryderyk Award for best original soundtrack for his album Kaczmarek by Możdżer, a collection of contemporary film music. In 2013, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.[1]

In 2010, he performed a special music show at the Węglowy Targ in Gdańsk as part of the Solidarity of Arts 2010 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Solidarity movement as well as the 200th anniversary of Frédéric Chopin's birth.

In 2012, he served as a member of jury at the Montreux Jazz Piano Competition.[3]

In 2017, his opera Immanuel Kant based on the works of Thomas Bernhard premiered at the Wrocław Opera.[4]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
POL
[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
Chopin - impresje
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Polonia Records
  • Formats: CD
Talk to Jesus
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: GOWI Records
  • Formats: CD
Chopin Demain-Impressions
  • Released: December 30, 1999
  • Label: Opus 111
  • Formats: CD
Solo in Ukraine
  • Released: December 30, 2003
  • Label: GOWI Records
  • Formats: CD
Teatrowi Logos na XV-lecie
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Teatr Logos
  • Formats: CD
Piano
  • Released: June 16, 2004[17]
  • Label: ARMS Records
  • Formats: CD
7
Piano Live
  • Released: December 19, 2004[19]
  • Label: ARMS Records
  • Formats: CD
36
Missa Gratiatoria
  • Released: March 16, 2009[20]
  • Label: Alternator
  • Formats: CD
Bernstein & Gershwin
  • Released: March 19, 2010
  • Label: Polskie Radio
  • Formats: CD
33
Impressions on Chopin
  • Released: July 30, 2010[21]
  • Label: Universal Music Poland
  • Formats: CD, digital download[22]
8
Kaczmarek by Możdżer
  • Released: March 29, 2010[23]
  • Label: Universal Music Poland
  • Formats: CD
16
Komeda
  • Released: June 27, 2011[24]
  • Label: ACT
  • Formats: CD, digital download[25]
1
  • POL: 2× Platinum[18]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Collaborative albums edit

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
POL
[5]
Anniversary Concert For Hestia
with Adam Pierończyk
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Hestia
  • Formats: CD
Facing the Wind
with David Friesen
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Power Bros
  • Formats: CD
Live in Sofia
with Adam Pierończyk
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Not Two
  • Formats: CD
10 Łatwych utworów na fortepian
with Zbigniew Preisner
  • Released: September 25, 1999
  • Label: Pomaton EMI
  • Formats: CD, digital download[26]
Birthday Live with Olo Walicki,
Cezary Konrad and Andrzej Olejniczak
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Blue Note Poznań Jazz Club
  • Formats: CD
Makowicz vs. Możdżer at the Carnegie Hall
with Adam Makowicz
  • Released: November 21, 2004[28]
  • Label: Pomaton EMI
  • Formats: CD
10
Metalla Pretiosa with Olo Walicki and
Maurice de Martin & The Gdansk Philharmonic Brass
  • Released: November 28, 2004
  • Label: Olo Walicki Production
  • Formats: CD
Seven Pieces for Improvising Piano and Strings
with Aukso Orchestra
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Lemon Music
  • Formats: CD
Tulipany Daniel Bloom
featuring Leszek Możdżer Trio
  • Released: March 7, 2005
  • Label: Warner Music Poland
  • Formats: CD, digital download[29]
18
Live in Warsaw
with Adam Klocek
  • Released: June 27, 2005
  • Label: Universal Music Poland
  • Formats: CD, digital download[30]
49
The Time
with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco
  • Released: October 26, 2005[31]
  • Label: Outside Music
  • Formats: CD
2
Wrocław 2004
with Adam Makowicz
  • Released: December 9, 2005
  • Label: EMI Music Poland
  • Formats: CD
Between us and the light
with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco
  • Released: November 20, 2006[33]
  • Label: Outside Music
  • Formats: CD
7
  • POL: 2× Platinum[18]
Pasodoble
with Lars Danielsson
  • Released: April 27, 2007[34]
  • Label: ACT
  • Formats: CD, digital download[35]
17
Melisa
with Przemek Dyakowski and Sławek Jaskułke
  • Released: May 21, 2007[36]
  • Label: Fonografika
  • Formats: CD
Live
with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco
  • Released: November 28, 2007[37]
  • Label: Outside Music
  • Formats: CD
35
Tarantella
with Lars Danielsson
  • Released: February 23, 2009
  • Label: ACT
  • Formats: CD
48
The Last Set Live At The A-Trane
with Walter Norris
  • Released: October 16, 2012[38]
  • Label: ACT
  • Formats: CD
Polska
with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco
  • Released: October 25, 2013[39]
  • Label: Outside Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download[40]
2
  • POL: 2× Platinum[18]
Earth Particles
with Holland Baroque
  • Released: 2018-05-11[41]
  • Label: Holland Baroque
  • Formats: CD, vinyl[42]
---
  • NL: Gold
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Leszek Możdżer". Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Leszek Możdżer" (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  3. ^ "Możdżer w jury Montreux Jazz Piano Competition 2012" (in Polish). 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  4. ^ "Leszek Możdżer o swojej pierwszej operze "Immanuel Kant": Upadek rządów jest tuż-tuż" (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  5. ^ a b "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  6. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  7. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  8. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  9. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  10. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  11. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  12. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  13. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  14. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  15. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  16. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  17. ^ "Piano - Lesław Możdżer - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  19. ^ "Piano - Live - Lesław Możdżer - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  20. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - Missa Gratiatoria - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  21. ^ "Impressions on Chopin - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  22. ^ "Impressions On Chopin by Leszek Mozdzer on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  23. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - Kaczmarek by Możdżer - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  24. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - Komeda - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  25. ^ "Komeda by Leszek Mozdzer on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  26. ^ "10 Easy Pieces for Piano (Polish Version, 10 Latwych Utworow Na Fortepian) by Leszek Mozdzer on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  27. ^ "Bestseller charts and awards :: Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry". Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  28. ^ "Makowicz vs. Możdżer at the Carnegie Hall - Lesław Możdżer - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  29. ^ "Tulipany (feat. Mozdzer) [Original Soundtrack] by Daniel Bloom on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. 7 March 2005. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  30. ^ "Bach, Piazzola & Others: Works for Cello & Piano by Leszek Mozdzer & Adam Klocek on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  31. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - The Time - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  32. ^ "Bestseller charts and awards :: Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry". Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  33. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - Between Us And The Light - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  34. ^ "Pasodoble - Lesław Możdżer - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  35. ^ "Pasodoble by Lars Danielsson & Leszek Mozdzer on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  36. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - Melisa - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  37. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - Live CD&DVD - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  38. ^ "Walter Norris & Leszek Możdżer - The Last Set - Live At The A-Trane (CD, Album) at Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  39. ^ "Leszek Możdżer - Polska - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  40. ^ "Polska by Leszek Mozdzer, Lars Danielsson & Zohar Fresco on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  41. ^ "Holland Baroque Leszek Mozdzer - Earth Particles (CD), Holland Baroque Leszek Mozdzer... | bol.com". www.bol.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  42. ^ "Balance". Holland Baroque (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-03-14.

External links edit