| Leszek Możdżer | |
| Background: | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Birth Name: | Lesław Możdżer |
| Birth Date: | 23 March 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Gdańsk, Poland |
| Instrument: | Piano |
| Genre: | Jazz, Yass |
| Occupation: | Musician, composer |
| Label: | Outside Music |
| Website: | mozdzer.com |
Leszek Możdżer (Polish pronunciation: born Lesław Henryk Możdżer, 23 March 1971, Gdańsk) is a Polish jazz pianist, music producer and film score composer.
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]
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]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POL [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Chopin - impresje |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Talk to Jesus |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Chopin Demain-Impressions |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Solo in Ukraine |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Teatrowi Logos na XV-lecie |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Piano |
| 7 |
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| Piano Live |
| 36 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Missa Gratiatoria |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bernstein & Gershwin |
| 33 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Impressions on Chopin | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kaczmarek by Możdżer |
| 16 |
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| Komeda | 1 |
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| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POL | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Anniversary Concert For Hestia with Adam Pierończyk |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Facing the Wind with David Friesen |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Live in Sofia with Adam Pierończyk |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 10 Łatwych utworów na fortepian with Zbigniew Preisner |
| — |
| |||||||||||||||||
| Birthday Live with Olo Walicki, Cezary Konrad and Andrzej Olejniczak |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Makowicz vs. Możdżer at the Carnegie Hall with Adam Makowicz |
| 10 |
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| Metalla Pretiosa with Olo Walicki and Maurice de Martin & The Gdansk Philharmonic Brass |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Seven Pieces for Improvising Piano and Strings with Aukso Orchestra |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tulipany Daniel Bloom featuring Leszek Możdżer Trio |
| 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Live in Warsaw with Adam Klocek |
| 49 | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Time with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco |
| 2 |
| |||||||||||||||||
| Wrocław 2004 with Adam Makowicz |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Between us and the light with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco |
| 7 |
| |||||||||||||||||
| Pasodoble with Lars Danielsson | 17 |
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| Melisa with Przemek Dyakowski and Sławek Jaskułke |
| — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Live with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco |
| 35 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tarantella with Lars Danielsson |
| 48 | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Last Set Live At The A-Trane with Walter Norris |
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| Polska with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco | 2 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Earth Particles with Holland Baroque | --- |
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| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||||||||