Janusz Muniak

Janusz JÃÂ³zef Muniak (3 June 1941 – 31 January 2016) was a Polish jazz musician, saxophonist, flutist, arranger, and composer. He was one of the pioneers of free jazz in Europe, although later in life tended towards the mainstream style.

He debuted in Lublin in 1960. From the 60s to the 90s, he worked with, among others, Ronnie Burrage, George Cables, James Cammack, Don Cherry, Ted Curson, Art Farmer, Eddie Gladden, Dexter Gordon, Eddie Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Jones, Rusty Jones, Nigel Kennedy, Branislav Lala KovaÃÂev, Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Lyle Mays, Pat Metheny, Hank Mobley, Takeo Moriyama, Joe Newman, Sal Nistico, Jasper van 't Hof, AladÃÂ¡r Pege, Rufus Reid, Akira Sakata, Archie Shepp, Charlie Ventura, YÃÂsuke Yamashita and Polish musicians such as Vladyslav Sendecki, Tomasz StaÃÂko, Zbigniew NamysÃÂowski, Zbigniew Seifert, Adam Makowicz, Wojciech Karolak, Krzysztof Komeda, Andrzej Kurylewicz, Andrzej Trzaskowski, Jan Ptaszyn WrÃÂ³blewski, Jarek ÃÂmietana, Jan Jarczyk, WÃÂodek Pawlik, Leszek MoÃÂ¼dÃÂ¼er and MichaÃÂ Urbaniak. He was one of the first jazz musiciansd who performed who cooperated with rock musicians like DÃÂ¼amble and CzesÃÂaw Niemen.

After 1976, he was the leader of several ensembles, and since 1991 he has been running the Jazz Club "U Muniaka" at Florianska 3 in Krakow, which, under his artistic management, became an important incubator of new talents.

In the poll of Jazz Top 2011 of the monthly Jazz Forum, Janusz Muniak was voted the best saxophonist in Poland.

He is buried at Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow.

Orders and decorations

1962 ZÃÂoty Helikon awarded by Krakow Jazz Club
2015: ZÃÂoty Fryderyk for outstanding artistic achievement awarded by Phonographic Academy
2016: Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta awarded posthumously for outstanding achievements in promoting jazz music in Poland.

Discography

As leader

1965: Andrzej Trzaskowski Quintet (CD reissue: Polish Jazz vol. 4, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1966/2004: Seant (CD reissue: Polish Jazz vol. 11, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1978: Question Mark (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1983: Placebo (PolJazz)
1986: Crazy Girl (PolJazz)
1994: You Know These Songs? (GOWI Records)
1995: Not So Fast (GOWI Records)
1997: One And Four (GOWI Records)
1998: Spotkanie (Cracovia Music) Ã¢ÂÂ with Wojciech Karolak and Kazimierz Jonkisz
2000: Just Friends (Not Two Records)
2002: Annie (Not Two Records)
2015: Contemplation (Inspiration) Ã¢ÂÂ with Joachim Mencel, Willem Von Hombrecht, Harry Tanschek

Sideman

1964: Various artists Jazz Jamboree 1964, vol. 2 (two tracks only with the Andrzej Trzaskowski Quintet; Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1969: Jazz Studio Orchestra of Polish Radio (Polish Jazz vol. 19, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1970: Krzysztof Sadowski Krzysztof Sadowski and His Hammond Organ (Polish Jazz vol. 21, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1970/1999/2004: Tomasz StaÃÂko Music for K (Polish Jazz vol. 22, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1971: Piotr Figiel Piotr (Pronit)
1971/1987/1993: DÃÂ¼amble WoÃÂanie o sÃÂoÃÂce nad ÃÂwiatem (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1972: Tomasz StaÃÂko Jazzmessage from Poland (JG Records)
1973: All Stars After Hours Night Jam Session In Warsaw 1973 (Polish Jazz vol 37, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1973: Polish Radio Jazz Band Koncert podwÃÂ³jny na piÃÂciu solistÃÂ³w i orkiestrÃÂ (PolJazz)
1973: Tomasz StaÃÂko Purple Sun (Calig)
1973: Tomasz StaÃÂko W PaÃÂacu Prymasowskim (released 1983, Pronit)
1975: Stowarzyszenie Popierania Prawdziwej TwÃÂ³rczoÃÂci ChaÃÂturnik, Andrzej Rosiewicz SPPT ChaÃÂturnik, Andrzej Rosiewicz (co-led album, PolJazz)
1976: SPPT ChaÃÂturnik Kto tak piÃÂknie gra (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1982: Grand Standard Orchestra Grand Standard Orchestra (conducted by Jan "Ptaszyn" WrÃÂ³blewski; PolJazz)
1995: Andrzej DÃÂbrowski A Time For Love (Polonia)
1998: Krzysztof Komeda Vol. 4 - Moja Ballada (three tracks only, recorded 1966Ã¢ÂÂ1967, PolJazz; previously reissued as Muzyka Krzysztofa Komedy 4 in 1989)
2003: Piotr LemaÃÂczyk Follow the Soul (Two tracks only; Allegro)

Compilations and collections