Grzegorz Jerzy Turnau (born 31 July 1967) is a
Polish composer, pianist, poet and singer. He has released eleven albums to date, including one (Cafe Sułtan) made up of his own versions of songs by
Jeremi Przybora and
Jerzy Wasowski
Jerzy Ryszard Wasowski (31 May 1913 – 29 September 1984) was a Polish acoustics engineer, radio announcer, composer, pianist, actor and director. He was the son of Józef Wasowski and the husband of Maria Wasowska and the father of Grzegorz Was ...
, and most have enjoyed considerable chart success.
His characteristic style consists of strong, clear lyrics and music composed in special keys and harmonies, using instruments such as the piano (played by himself), saxophone, violin and various horns. Influenced by such artists as
Marek Grechuta and
Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz
Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz (born 13 October 1942 in Nowy Targ) is a Polish composer and musician, known for his collaboration with Marek Grechuta and his compositions for stage and film.
Biography
Born in the town of Nowy Targ, he studied music and ...
, his music style falls within the broad genre of
sung poetry
Sung poetry is a broad and imprecise music genre widespread in European countries, such as Poland and the Baltic States, to describe songs consisting of a poem (most often a ballad) and music written specially for that text. The compositions usu ...
.
Biography
He was born on 31 July 1967 in
Kraków, Poland. At age seventeen he won First Prize (Grand Prix) at
The Student Song Festival
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
in Kraków in 1984. He went on to join the
Piwnica pod Baranami Cabaret, composing such hits as "Znów wędrujemy", and released his first album, ''Naprawdę nie dzieje się nic'' ("Really, nothing is happening") in 1991.
He did participate in the Aleksander Glondys's "
Ellington
Ellington may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
*Ellington, Cambridgeshire
* Ellington, Northumberland
*Ellington High and Low, a civil parish in North Yorkshire
**High Ellington
**Low Ellington
United States
*Ellington Airport (Texas), Hous ...
po krakowsku" ("Ellington
Kraków Way"), a concert based upon idea of notable composers of
Piwnica pod Baranami playing their interpretations of Duke's music. Other participants include Pawluśkiewicz, Zbigniew Raj and several other musicians.
Discography
Solo albums
Compilation albums
Cover albums
Collaborative albums
Live albums
References
External links
Official internet page of Grzegorz Turnau
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turnau, Grzegorz
1967 births
Living people
Musicians from Kraków
Polish composers
Sung poetry of Poland
Mystic Production artists
Recipients of the Silver Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis
Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland)
20th-century Polish male singers
21st-century Polish male singers
People educated at Bedford School