Małgorzata Babiarz, professionally known as Megitza, (born November 27, 1984 in

Zakopane Zakopane ( Podhale Goral: ''Zokopane'') is a town in the extreme south of Poland, in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998, it was part of Nowy Sącz Voivodeship; since 1999, it has been par ...

) is a

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

singer, double bass player, and composer. She combines Polish and Eastern European folk music,

Romani music Romani music (often referred to as gypsy or gipsy music, which is sometimes considered a derogatory term) is the music of the Romani people who have their origins in northern India but today live mostly in Europe. Historically nomadic, though n ...

and

gypsy jazz Gypsy jazz (also known as gypsy swing, jazz manouche or hot club-style jazz) is a style of small-group jazz originating from the Romani guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt (1910–53), in conjunction with the French swing violinist Stéphane Gr ...

with world music,

Latin music Latin music (Portuguese language, Portuguese and es, música latina) is a term used by the music industry as a catch-all category for various styles of music from Ibero-America (including Music of Spain, Spain and Portuguese music, Portugal) ...

, pop,

worldbeat Worldbeat is a music genre that blends pop music or rock music with world music or traditional music. Worldbeat is similar to other cross-pollination labels of contemporary and roots genres, and which suggest a rhythmic, harmonic or textural con ...

Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana (music), a genre or style of American music *Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1992 TV series), a documentary series presented by J ...

and

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

. In 2001, Megitza emigrated to Chicago, where she appeared in charity concerts and events such as

Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (GOCC, Polish language, Polish ''Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy'', WOŚP) is the biggest, non-governmental, non-profit, Charitable organization, charity organization in Poland raising money for pedia ...

and where she promoted Polish culture. She began her professional career in 2008, when she formed the ''Megitza Quartet'' and released her debut album, ''Boleritza''. She has since performed at the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival at the

Jay Pritzker Pavilion Jay Pritzker Pavilion, also known as Pritzker Pavilion or Pritzker Music Pavilion, is a bandshell in Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located on the south side of Randolph Str ...

, the 13th All Souls Jazz festival at the

Chopin Theatre Chopin Theatre Productions is a 501(c)(3) not for profit art presenter and producer at the historic Chopin Theater building in Chicago. Built in 1918, in what is now Wicker Park, the theater is located across the Polish Triangle. Chopin Theatr ...

, the

Chicago World Music Festival The World Music Festival Chicago is an annual musical event held in Chicago, Illinois, since 1999. It is organized by the City of Chicago. The festival takes place in September, usually runs 5–10 days, and has featured musicians from over 75 ...

, and the

Old Town School of Folk Music The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists. Founded by Folk musicians Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke, and Dawn Greening, the School opened in the ...

in Chicago. The ''

Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has the second largest circulation among Chicago newspapers, after the ''Chicago T ...

'' has noted the quartet's "energetic" performances. According to the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'' she and the group are primarily influenced by Eastern European folk, gypsy, Polish, and Greek music. Songs include "Boleritza", "Mamo te Mera", "Cisza", "17_14", and "What I Desire".

Biography

Megitza was born on November 27, 1984 in

, Poland. In 2001, she migrated to Chicago, where she has continued the cultivation of her Polish heritage, but also experimented with world music and gypsy music of Eastern Europe and

. In 2003, Megitza was appointed the queen of the

Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America The Polish Highlanders Alliance of America ( pl. ''Związek Podhalan w Ameryce Północnej'') was founded in 1929 in Chicago as an organization that unites all other Góral organizations in the United States. Most of Chicago's Góral community is ...

. She organized a charity event, and proceeds were donated to orphanages in Poland. As a musician, Megitza has participated in charity concerts and events such as

. In 2004, Megitza received the highest score (126) at the Polish National

intelligence quotient An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from a set of standardized tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence. The abbreviation "IQ" was coined by the psychologist William Stern for the German term ''Intelligenzqu ...

(IQ) contest in Chicago. She promotes the culture of Poland and Podhale in Chicago and the United States. Megitza is a

self-taught Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) or self-education (also self-learning and self-teaching) is education without the guidance of masters (such as teachers and professors) or institutions (such as schools). Generally, autodidacts are individua ...

vocalist and bass player. She began her career in 2008, when she formed the Megitza Quartet. The band is currently composed of Megitza on vocals and upright bass,

Andreas Kapsalis The Andreas Kapsalis Trio is an American acoustic ensemble formed by acoustic guitarist Andreas Kapsalis, drummer/percussionist James Gallagher and multi-instrumentalist Darren Garvey. Discography *''The Andreas Kapsalis Trio'' (2004) *''Original ...

on acoustic guitar, Marek Lichota on

bayan (accordion) The bayan ( rus, бая́н, p=bɐˈjan) is a type of chromatic button accordion developed in the Russian Empire in the early 20th century and named after the 11th-century bard Boyan. Characteristics The bayan differs from western chromati ...

, and Jamie Gallagher on drums and percussion. The ''Megitza Quartet'' is known for its high energy stage presence, and the quartet has been compared to artists such as Gypsy Kings,

Ewa Demarczyk Ewa Maria Demarczyk (16 January 1941 – 14 August 2020) was a Polish singer, generally associated with the sung poetry genre and the Piwnica pod Baranami cabaret. Demarczyk was recognized as one of the most talented and charismatic singers in t ...

Goran Bregović Goran Bregović (born 22 March 1950) is a recording artist from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers of the Slavic-speaking countries in the Balkans, and is one of the few former Yugo ...

, Kayah and Lura. In 2008, Megitza released her debut album, ''Boleritza''. The album includes traditional and original compositions.

Roby Lakatos Roby Lakatos (born 1965) is a violinist from Hungary who combines jazz, classical, and Hungarian Romani music Romani music (often referred to as gypsy or gipsy music, which is sometimes considered a derogatory term) is the music of the Roman ...

is a guest violinist on Boleritza, on two tracks: "Mamo Temera" and "17_14". Her original compositions are primarily influenced by

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

of Polish highlanders (

gorals The Gorals ( pl, Górale; Goral dialect: ''Górole''; sk, Gorali; Cieszyn Silesia dialect, Cieszyn Silesian: ''Gorole''), also known as the Highlanders (in Poland as the Polish Highlanders) are an indigenous ethnographic or ethnic group primar ...

Podhale Podhale (literally "below the mountain pastures") is Poland's southernmost region, sometimes referred to as the "Polish Highlands". The Podhale is located in the foothills of the Tatra range of the Carpathian mountains. It is the most famous ...

Balkan folk Balkan folk music is the traditional folk music within Balkan region. It's also known as narodna muzika ( Bulgarian, Macedonian, sr-cyr, народна музика), also folk muzika (фолк музика) means folk music in the South Slavic la ...

and World music. The ''

'' notes Eastern European folk and "gypsy, Greek, and Polish influences". Notable songs include "Boleritza", "Mamo te Mera", "Cisza" and "17_14".

Performances and reception

Megitza is regarded as an influential artist representing Poles abroad. She has made hundreds of concerts and appearances at major festivals in America, especially in Chicago, including the

in August 2009, the

Lotus World Music and Arts Festival Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

in September 2009, the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival at the

in March 2010, at the lakefront in Dawes Park in July 2010, the

(an event presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture (COTC) ), in September 2011, the Chicago Folk and Roots Festival in July 2011, the Chicago Summer Dance Festival, and

Taste of Chicago The Taste of Chicago (also known locally as The Taste) is the world's largest food festival, held for five days in July in Chicago, Illinois in Grant Park. The event is also the largest festival in Chicago. Non-food-related events include live m ...

, all in her adopted city. They also performed at the All Souls Jazz festival held at the

of Chicago in November 2010, an event which

Howard Reich Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...

of the ''Chicago Tribune'' said "Chicago's All Souls fest looks, feels and sounds like no other jazz soiree in this city". In July 2009 they performed the Slovak Roma wedding song " Mamko Moja" live on ABC7's " Chicagoing" with Bill Campbell. ''Time Out'' Chicago described her as a "fiery" singer and the band's music as "energetic Roma folk" when they performed at "Women's Global Voices" with the likes of Ugochi and The Afro Soul Ensemble in March 2012, a concert presented by Sound Culture honoring

Women's History Month Women's History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with ...

." The ''

'' has also noted the "energetic" performances of the quartet. The Sound Culture Center for Global Arts described Megitza as "a true concert revelation – an unusual voice, charisma and beauty", describing her music as "dynamic, vibrant, full of energy, uniting listeners of all ages." ''Jazz Chicago'' said of the 2008 album, "Throughout, Babariaz's strong vocals engage the senses, while Lichota's romantic accordion is a treat as well. The blend of traditional folk music and originals are played and sung very well and make for an intriguing visit to the Old World." Although Megitza mainly performs in the United States, in July 2012 she performed at the

Jazz Fest Wien Jazz Fest Wien or Vienna Jazz Festival is a jazz festival in Vienna, held annually at the end of June and beginning of July since 1991. An international festival, in 2007 it was attended by some 60,000 spectators. It is now considered one of the w ...

in Vienna, Austria, and the

Montreux Jazz Festival The Montreux Jazz Festival (formerly Festival de Jazz Montreux and Festival International de Jazz Montreux) is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. It is the second-largest annual ...

Montreux Montreux (, , ; frp, Montrolx) is a Swiss municipality and town on the shoreline of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps. It belongs to the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, and has a population of approximat ...

, Switzerland, before performing extensively in Poland. In Poland, the Megitza Quartet reached the finals of the fifth edition of ''

Must Be the Music ''Must Be the Music'' is a British television musical talent competition contested by aspiring singers and musicians drawn from public auditions. The show is a music competition and reality show that was broadcast in the United Kingdom and Irela ...

'', and in 2015 the Megitza Trio entered the eighth season of ''

Mam talent! ''Mam talent!'' () is the Polish version of the ''Got Talent'' series. The aim of the program is to choose the most talented person from people showing their talents. The winner of the show in the first series got €100,000, in the second and ...

'', the Polish version of ''

Got Talent ''Got Talent'' is a British talent show TV format conceived and owned by Simon Cowell's SYCOtv company. It has spawned spin-offs in over 69 countries, in what is now referred to as the 'Got Talent' format, similar to that described by Fremantle ...

'', earning a "golden key" to advance directly to the semi-finals.

Discography

Studio albums

Music videos

References

External links

Megitza's Official Website

Megitza Quartet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Megitza Polish folk musicians People from Zakopane 1984 births Living people Polish emigrants to the United States Gypsy jazz musicians World music singers Polish double-bassists Polish bass guitarists Polish folk singers Polish jazz singers Polish pop singers English-language singers from Poland Polish lyricists Women bass guitarists Women double-bassists Guitarists from Chicago 21st-century Polish singers 21st-century Polish women singers 21st-century double-bassists 21st-century bass guitarists