Michał Urbaniak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michał Urbaniak
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Michal Urbaniak in 2019
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| Background information | |
| Born | 22 January 1943 Warsaw, General Government (now Poland) |
| Died | 20 December 2025 (aged 82) |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, funk, hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Violin, lyricon, saxophone |
| Labels | Ubx |
Michał Urbaniak (born January 22, 1943, died December 20, 2025) was a super talented Polish jazz musician. He was famous for playing the violin, a special electric wind instrument called the lyricon, and the saxophone. His music was a cool mix of different styles, like traditional folk music, energetic rhythm and blues, modern hip hop, and grand symphonic music. He created a unique sound that many people loved.
Contents
Life and Music Journey
Early Years and First Bands
Michał Urbaniak was born in Warsaw, Poland, on January 22, 1943. He began learning music in high school in Łódź, Poland. Later, in 1961, he continued his violin studies in Warsaw. He also taught himself to play the alto saxophone.
His first performances were with a Dixieland band. Then, he joined Zbigniew Namysłowski and the Jazz Rockers. They played at the Jazz Jamboree festival in 1961. Soon after, Michał was invited to join Andrzej Trzaskowski's band, the Wreckers. In 1962, they went on a tour across the United States. They performed in many famous cities like Newport, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Exploring New Sounds
After his U.S. tour, Michał returned to Poland. He played with Krzysztof Komeda's quintet from 1962 to 1964. They traveled to Scandinavia, where Michał stayed until 1969. There, he formed a new band with Urszula Dudziak and Wojciech Karolak. This group became very successful and was the start of his "Michał Urbaniak Fusion" sound.
When he came back to Poland, Michał focused on the violin again. He had mostly played the saxophone in Scandinavia. He created the Michał Urbaniak Group. This group included talented musicians like Urszula Dudziak (vocals), Adam Makowicz (piano), Pawel Jarzebski (bass), and Czeslaw Bartkowski (drums). They recorded their first international albums, Parathyphus B and Instinct. They also played at many festivals, including Jazz Jamboree.
Moving to America and Innovation
In 1971, Michał won a "Grand Prix" award at the Montreux Jazz Festival for being the best soloist. He also received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After many successful concerts in Europe and the United States, he moved to America with Urszula Dudziak in September 1973. He later became a U.S. citizen.
Even with the scholarship, he didn't study at Berklee. Instead, he signed a contract with Columbia Records. They released his album Super Constellation under the name Fusion. For his tours, he often invited other Polish musicians. In 1974, he officially formed the band Fusion. He blended Polish folk music melodies and rhythms into his funky, New York-style jazz. His band recorded another album called Atma.
Michał Urbaniak was always trying new things in music. He created projects like Urbanator, which was one of the first bands to mix rap and hip hop with jazz. Another project was Urbanizer, which featured his band and an R&B vocal group. His UrbSymphony project was very special. In 1995, UrbSymphony performed a concert with a rapper and a large 60-piece symphony orchestra.
Unique Instruments and Collaborations
From the 1970s, Michał used a special five-string violin made just for him. He also played a violin synthesizer he called his "talking" violin. Besides these, he played soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones, and the lyricon. The lyricon is an electric instrument that sounds like a saxophone. His unique blend of jazz with a touch of Polish folklore became very popular with American jazz musicians.
He performed in famous clubs like the Village Vanguard and Village Gate. He also played in big concert halls such as Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Michał Urbaniak played with many legendary jazz artists. These included Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, George Benson, and Wayne Shorter. In 1985, he even played on Miles Davis's famous album, Tutu.
In 2012, Michał also appeared in a Polish film called My Father's Bike.
Michał Urbaniak passed away on December 20, 2025, at the age of 82. He left behind a wonderful legacy of music.
Musical Works and Collaborations
Michał Urbaniak created many albums throughout his career. He was known for his innovative sound and for bringing together different music styles. Some of his notable albums as a leader included Super Constellation, Atma, and Urbanator.
He also collaborated with many other famous musicians, lending his unique talent to their projects. He played with jazz legends like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea. His work with these artists helped shape the sound of jazz for many years.
See also
In Spanish: Michał Urbaniak para niños
