Music
Press
On the basis of resume alone, Polish born jazz pianist Bartosz Hadala seems primed for a brilliant future. He won scholarships to Berklee and Western Michigan University. While majoring in jazz studies at Western Michigan University, he played festivals everywhere from Cracow to Kalamazoo, won an “outstanding performance” award from Downbeat and was invited with his Group to the IAJE Conference in Toronto. He’s also studied with Fred Hersch, taken Master Classes with everyone from Russell Ferrante to John Abercrombie and has performed with numerous groups on the NYC club circuit. No doubt, he’ll be teaching an upcoming generation before long.
His impeccably played and produced, highly spirited and swinging four song demo should earn him the quick attention of major jazz labels. Hadala and his ultra rhythmic trio—Shawn Sommer on bass, Kevin Garcia on Drums—have an all-out blast from the hypnotic opening vamp of Dizzy Gillespie’s bebop anthem “A Night In Tunisia.” They ease effortlessly into a feisty, percussive jam that perfectly balances Hadala’s facility for engaging melodies with his colorful improvisations. The tune is non-stop energy for a few minutes, then simmers down for a plucky solo by Sommer; Hadala chimes in with staccato accents as Garcia goes from subtle high hat to an extreme rumble.
The elegant and wistful original “B Files” takes a gentler, more contemplative approach with a sparse arrangement that’s lighter on piano and bass and heavier on the drum flourishes. As the tune stretches over six minutes plus, Hadala displays a wide range of piano dynamics. He opens Herbie Hancock’s “Dolphin Dance” with a thoughtful solo intro before the trio comes in and the tune becomes a masterwork in easy swinging. Hadala’s increasingly funky piano skips, darts and rolls over a seductive rolling bassline, creating unexpected improvisational moments that sparkle. His second original “Another You” is manic from the get go, as if each member of the trio is challenging each other on who can be more speedy and frolicsome. As a composer, Hadala is keen on giving his unit expansive breaks which allow them to create interesting polyrhythmic segments that act as foundations for yet more clever piano improvs.
The performances on these four songs are as exhilarating as anything I’ve heard from new and legendary artists over the past few years. Over a scant and all too short 23 minutes, Bartosz Hadala and crew show that they have an incredible career ahead of them.
--Jonathan Widran
Jazziz Magazine, All Music Guide
- Jonathan Widran
Discography
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"Things You Have Given Me" Apria Records 2006
All previous productions were done independently, not available in music stores
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
My musical journey begun around the age of 6 when I discovered my father's vinyl collection of Dixieland music. From then on I used to spend a good amount of time listening to these records and then playing piano along with them (truly wonderful memories). It was probably back then too when I subconsciously predetermined my future as a musician.
I started my formal musical training at the age of 7 and continued it for the next 19 years. Already as a teenager I was a very active musician, constantly engaging myself into various musical projects available in my hometown (Stalowa Wola, Poland). Being only 15 years old I led my own piano trio, in 1993 I became the youngest finalist in the Mieczyslaw Kosz International Jazz Piano Competition (Kalisz, Poland), competing with pianist 10-15 years older. In 1995, after my audition in Paris (France) I was offered a scholarship to Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA). In 1996 I went to Odessa (Ukraine) to study classical music, but after 2 years I ultimately decided to begin formal jazz studies at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI). I graduated in 2003 and summed up my college experience by presenting Bartosz Hadala Group (jazz quintet) at the IAJE conference in Toronto (Canada).
For the past 4 years I have lived in New York City discovering new things about myself and telling the story of my life through the music I have constantly been composing. I am very proud of all the music that I have recently written, because it truly creates the sonic impression of the world I live in. Furthermore, I do believe that my compositions combined with great performer/entertainer skills I possess deliver unforgettable musical moments to any audience across the globe.
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