Bio
Adam Bałdych
“...Baldych gives his violin a voice and emotional power that have been too rarely heard in recent decades and offers a fresh take on the instrument for the contemporary scene” - Allaboutjazz.com (USA)
ADAM BAŁDYCH
Violinist and composer. A graduate of the Academy of Music in Katowice, tutored by Henryk Gembalski. Since 2012 he has been associated with the prestigious ACT music publisher seated in Munich. In 2023 he run own independent label - Imaginary Music.
First called A Child Prodigy evolved to being named Innovator of Jazz Violin (Fono Forum/DE)
He started his career at the age of 14. He was promptly recognised as an innovator combining the achievements of classical music and the contemporary language of the violin with an improviser’s talent. In a short time, he created his own style, which became an inspiration for a new generation of improvising violinists.
Bałdych has composed and recorded 10 author’s albums: 2012 “Imaginary Room”, 2014 “The New Tradition”, 2015 “Bridges”, 2017 “Brothers”, 2019 “Sacrum Profanum”, 2020 “Clouds”, 2021 „Poetry”, 2022 „Legend” and last: 2024 Passacaglia recorded with pianist Leszek Możdżer.
He is winning a number of prizes including ECHO JAZZ 2013 (Best Instrumentalist / International) – the most important German music award bestowed on artists by the German music industry. Bałdych is also BMW Jazz Award winner (special award from public and second price 2019), FRYDERYK (Polish Grammy) 4 times nominee („Imaginary Room”, „The new Tradition”, „Brothers”, „Sacrum Profanum”) and was the youngest Artist to receive GOLD CROSS OF MERIT by President of Poland and MEDAL OF MERIT for his cultural achievements and successes.
Adam consistently creates his musical world, inviting acclaimed artists for cooperation, like: Paolo Fresu, Vincent Courtois, Helge Lien, Tore Brunborg, Yaron Herman, Joachim Kuhn, Lars Danielsson, Aaron Parks, Jacob Karlzon, Billy Cobham.
Considered one of the most inventive violinist today, who „must be commended for developing a completely new vocabulary for the jazz violin” (The Guardian/UK) and „has, without doubt, the greatest technique of any jazz violinist alive today” (FAZ/ Germany).
Bałdych goes uncompromisingly on his own way, permanently showing new musical areas that he has discovered for himself. His music derives from the rich source of classical music techniques and sounds, but in its nature it is unpredictable, free and deeply rooted in the jazz idiom
“Jazz violin redefined“ - The Guardian (GB)
Bałdych consciously refers in his music to Polish tradition and blurs the borders between classical and jazz music. „A wonderful expedition” (Stereo), where "Never has silence sounded more beautiful.” (Kulturzeitschrift).
His fast-growing career allowed him to present his music at many prestigious festivals around the world (London Jazz Festival, Jarasum Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival) presenting his music in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Holland, Indonesia, USA, South Korea, China, Japan, Canada, Czech Rep, Russia, Belarus, Azerbejan, Turkey, Iceland and many other countries.
“Probably the greatest violinist in jazz today.”
- Jazzwise, Stuart Nicholson
Bałdych after Zbigniew Seifert & Michał Urbaniak continues the great tradition of Polish jazz violinist. - (Mannheimer Morgen),
„Listening to Adam’s playing, I’m happy about future of jazz violin” concludes Jean Luc Ponty.
Adam Bałdych more and more often turns to classical composition, writing for renowned orchestras. In 2015, commissioned by the Baltic Neopolis Orchestra from Szczecin, he created the composition Mozaika-Impresje, and in 2016, for the New Music Orchestra, he wrote the piece Antiphon to the texts found in the Qumran caves. In 2019, commissioned by the orchestra, AUKSO prepared the Early Birds Symphony for the auksodrone festival. In 2021, a new composition "Concerto Galante", commissioned by the Stuttgarter Kamerorchester, had its premiere in Stuttgart.
Adam Bałdych is valued for his creativity in the field of jazz and contemporary music performance, creative combination of both of these fields and for the great expressiveness of his musical interpretations.
“...Baldych gives his violin a voice and emotional power that have been too rarely heard in recent decades and offers a fresh take on the instrument for the contemporary scene” - Allaboutjazz.com (USA)