|
|
born in Warsaw in 1947, studied composition and sound
engineering with Tadeusz Baird, Andrzej Dobrowolski, and Włodzimierz Kotoński
at the Music Academy in Warsaw (1965–74). He also studied computer
music with Lejaren Hiller and programming at the Institute of Mathematics of
the Polish Academy of Sciences (1973–74). He took part in the Summer
Courses of New Music in Darmstadt (1974, 1976).
Since 1973 he has collaborated with the Polish Radio Experimental Studio. In
1978 he worked for the Center for the Creative and Performing Arts in
Buffalo.
He has also pursued a career as a performer in improvised music ensembles.
He is the co-founder of creative groups, including the kew Composers’
Group (1973–75, with Wojciech Michniewski and Elżbieta Sikora),
‘Cytula Tyfun da Bamba Orkiester’ (1981), the Independent
Electroacoustic Music Studio (1982–84), ‘Light from Poland’
(1985–87), interdisciplinary group ‘Freight Train’ (since
1986), the ch&k Studio (since 1989, with Marek Chołoniewski), the
European Improvisation Orchestra (1996–98), the ch&k&k Group (since
1999, with Marek Chołoniew-ski and Włodzimierz Kiniorski).
His honours include the Solidarity Prize (1985), the Cyprian Kamil Norwid
Award (2003) and the Award of the Polish Composers’ Union (2003). He
also received the Award of the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts
in New York (1998). As a journalist and critic, he contributed to the
‘Tygodnik Literacki’ periodical (1990-91) and freelanced for
Polish Television (1992–94).
He served as vice-chairman of the Polish Section of the iscm
(1989–92). He was the director of the ‘Warsaw Autumn’
Festival (1995–98), deputy president (1995–99) and president
(1999–2003) of the Polish Composers’ Union. In 2000 he was
elected vice-president of the Polish Music Council and in 2003 a member of
the Supervisory Board of Polish Television and of the Programming Council of
the ‘Zachęta’ National Arts Gallery. He has lectured at the
Music Academy in Łódź since 2001.
In addition to music for traditional, acoustic and electronic instruments,
as well as computers, he has created performances and built sound
installations (The Legs, 1993; Passage, 1994; Radio Sculpture, 1994; To
Touch the Serpent from Inside, 2003).
Since 1992 – with ‘Freight Train’ (Piotr Bikont –
reciter, Tomasz Stańko – trumpet, Wło-dzimierz Kiniorski –
saxophones, Marek Chołoniewski – computers, Krzysztof Knittel –
synthesizer, sampler) – he has performed live music to silent film
shows: Schatten (dir. Arthur Robinson, 1923), Orlaks Hände (dir. Robert
Wiene, 1924), Faust (dir. Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, 1926), Aelita (dir.
Jakov Protazanov, 1924), Eden (dir. Andrzej Czeczot, 2000).
Jacek Kochan is a composer, arranger, producer and drummer. His musical
adventure began in the 1970s. At the start of the 1980s he moved to New
York, where he performed and recorded with various jazz, funk and r&b
bands. He also took up musical studies with Jaco Pastorius, Mike Clark and
Robbie Gonzales. In the mid-80s he settled in Montreal, taking an active
part in the city’s musical life as both leader and sideman. He also
further expanded his musical lexicon to include choral and orchestral pieces
written and recorded for such ensembles as Tudor Singers and Repercussion.
He developed an interest in ethnic music, and performed modern as well as
improvised and free music. He appeared in jazz clubs and festivals with such
musicians as Michel Donato, Karen Young, Andrew Leroux, Yannick Rieu, Oliver
Jones, Jean-Pierre Zanella, Michel Cusson, Helmut Lipsky, Lazaro Saucedo,
Geoff Lapp, and Johnny Scott.
Having moved to Toronto in 1990, he played as both leader and sideman with
various groups and artists such as John Abercombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Pat
Labarera, Kenny Wheeler, Don Thompson, Mike Murley, Neil Swainson, Reggie
Schwager, Lorne Lofsky, Bernie Senensky, John MacLeod, Dave Restivo and
Brian Dickinson.
In 1995 he returned to Europe where he has realized joint projects with Dave
Liebman, Gary Thomas, Marc Copland, Joey Calderazzo, Palle Mikkelborg, Eddie
Henderson, Dave Tronzo, Eivind Aarset, Dave Fiuczynski, Briggan Krauss,
Cuong Vu, Eric Vloeimans, Assif Tsahar, Bo Stief, Lars Danielsson, Michel
Benita, Furio DiCastri, Jakob Dinesen, Klaus Dickbauer, Skerik, Eddie
Schuler, Tomasz Stańko, Zbigniew Namysłowski and Leszek Możdżer.
His discography includes 12 solo cds. He also made numerous recordings as a
sideman.
|
