Janusz Mackiewicz

Janusz "Macek" Mackiewicz is one of the most acclaimed double bass and bass guitar players in Poland, who since the 80s has been the core of Tricity rhythm sections. He was born in 1957 in Gdańsk. He took his first musical steps as a teenager, playing bass guitar in a rock band operating at the local community centre in Przymorze. In 1977, he began his studies at the State Primary Music School in Gdańsk in the double bass class under Professor Stanisław Zubel. At the same time he was interested in jazz music and often attended concerts. He debuted as a double bassist in Jerzy Partyka's jazz big band. In 1981 he perfected his skills in the New Coast band, in which he played with, among others: Maciej Sikała, Grzegorz Nagórski, Adam Czerwiński, Cezary Paciorek. In 1981 and 82, he participated in jazz workshops in Chodzież, where he took lessons with Bronisław Suchanek and Zbyszek Wegehaupt. In 1984, while still a student of the State Secondary Music School, he began a six-year career in the orchestra of the Musical Theatre in Gdynia. At the same time he participated in many recording sessions for Radio Gdańsk. At the beginning of the 90s, like many Polish jazzmen, he went for a three-month contract abroad, where he accompanied American artists.

After his return he started cooperating with Przemek Dyakowski, running one of the best jazz clubs in Poland "Sax Club". At annual jazz festivals GSJD organised jam sessions where he played with many stars of the American jazz scene. At the same time, he began a multi-year collaboration with the jazz clarinetist Emil Kowalski. In 1992 he recorded sound material for Janusz Poplawski's very popular Szkoła na Bas. At the same time, he became a regular contributor to the magazine Gitara i Bas, for which he wrote articles on young bands and music equipment. In the 90s he also toured with Piotr Baron, Wojciech Karolak, Tomasz Szukalski, Janusz Muniak, Krystyna Prońko, Jan Ptaszyn Wróblewski, Jarek Śmietana and Leszek Możdżer. He has performed at many famous jazz festivals such as: Sopot Molo Jazz Festival, Jazz Nad Odrą, Bielska Zadymka, Gdynia Summer Jazz Days, Komeda Jazz Festival, Złota Tarka. On the website www.mayones.pl he runs online bass workshops.

In 2003 he founded his own band, with which he recorded his first auteur album with Christmas carols W Dzień Bożego. In January 2008 his second author album Frogsville was released. In February 2009 the album Melisa by Przemek Dyakowski, in the recording of which he participated, gained the status of a Gold Record. At the end of 2008, together with leading Tri-City musicians, he founded the Association of Jazz Musicians, of which he became president. In 2009, he released another auteur album Układ Scalony. In 2011 he founded the band Elec-Tri-City with which he recorded and released in 2013 his next author album Elec-Tri-City.

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