We know the results of the 2021 Jazz Personality Contest: After listening to the eight finalists, the Contest Jury – Darek Oleszkiewicz, Piotr Wojtasik, Viktor Tòth and Alan Pasqua – awarded the Grand Prix and special prizes.
The Grand Prix of the 57th Jazz on the Odra Festival and a cash prize of 25,000 PLN sponsored by the Mayor of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk went to the Grzegorz Ziółek Kwartet – Grzegorz Ziółek (piano), Piotr Narajowski (double bass), Marcin Elszkowski (trumpet), Miłosz Berdzik (drums).
The band also received a special award and an advertising and promotional session in the paper and online edition of the Jazz Forum magazine worth 3000 PLN.
photo credit: BTW photographers
The 15,000 PLN prize sponsored by the ZAiKS Polish Society of Authors and Composers was awarded to the Irka Zapolska Quartet– Irena Zapolska (vocals), Dominik Kisiel (piano), Filip Arasimowicz (double bass), Maksymilian Kreft (drums).
The 10,000 PLN prize sponsored by the STOART Association of Artists and Performers, went to the Adam Bławicki Septet – Adam Bławicki (tenor saxophone), Jan Kantner (alto saxophone), Piotr Szlempo (trumpet), Filip Miguła (piano), Jan Chojnacki (trumpet), Ion Virlan (double bass), Tymoteusz Papior (drums).
The special prize – the ORIS ARTELIER DATE watch, sponsored by the exclusive distributor of ORIS in Poland – Janeba Time sp. z o.o. – went to Marcin Elszkowski (trumpet).
Another special prize – the ORIS ARTELIER DATE DIAMONDS watch, sponsored by the exclusive distributor of ORIS in Poland – Janeba Time sp. z o.o. – went to Irena Zapolska (vocals).
The Grzegorz Ziółek Kwartet was formed on the initiative of pianist and composer Grzegorz Ziółek, who invited representatives of the young generation of musicians from all over Poland – trumpeter Marcin Elszkowski, double bass player Piotr Narajowski and drummer Miłosz Berdzik – to play with him. In 2020, the band won the Jazz Juniors Grand Prix, and managed to get the first place at the Blue Note Poznań Competition. Each of the artists has numerous achievements, both solo and in bands, along with concerts at the most prestigious jazz festivals in Poland and abroad, including Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, Jazz on the Odra, Umbria Jazz, and the Copenhagen Jazz Days. The band members also studied at graduated from various universities, such as the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, the Academy of Music in Kraków and Berklee College of Music.
