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Janek Gwizdala

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Janek Gwizdala (Born November 19th, 1978) is an Electric Bass player and record producer. Having quit the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1998 after only a year, he moved to Boston in the US to attend Berklee College of Music. This was also a short lived stay in the school system as he quit 3 semesters later and moved to New York City in 2000. Quickly establishing himself on the scene, Janek has worked with some of the most respected members of the international music community including: Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Marcus MIller, Hiram Bullock, Airto, Randy Brecker, Paul Shaffer, Mark Turner, Bob Mintzer, Bob James, and many many more. [1]

Early Years

Taken under the watchful eye of UK session great Laurence Cottle at 16 years old, Janek began to develop his years of classical guitar training into a unique approach to the bass guitar. Taking all the things long time classical guitar tutor Peter Woodings had embedded into his routine, he embarked on taking the role of the bass to new possibilities. Continuing studying at local his local music school (Merton Music Foundation) in south London, Janek would attend every single gig Laurence would play, record everything on a small tape machine, and then spend all night transcribing what he had just heard at the show. Never taking formal lessons, but being mentored by Cottle and London bass mainstay Geoff Gascoyne. Janek attained a place at the Royal Academy of Music in London, but only attended for one year before leaving the UK for good for the US. After three short semesters at Berklee in Boston, he moved to New York City.

Production and Touring

Having moved to New York CIty just a year before the tragedies of september 11th 2001, Janek was barely adjusted to the scene there before it started to collapse in a big way. Following the aftermath of this event many clubs closed, and many gigs were cancelled, making the scene a very different climate from before. Realizing that being just a bass player wasn't enough to get by, Janek purchased a computer and began to study music production and engineering. And just a few months later received his first break when he was asked to produce some tracks for an upcoming release of Multi platinum selling guitarist Ronny Jordan. [2] this led to many other productions including work with Sony Recording artist Mike Phillips for his 2005 release Uncommon Denominator. [3]. This also resulted in 3 years of touring with a large portion of that as musical director. Other production credits around the time include John Mayer sideman Bob Reynold's 2006 release on fresh sound new talent "Can't Wait for Perfect?, [4] ESC records "Mysterious Voyages: A Tribute to Weather Report" featuring Scott Kinsey, [5], and Marcus Miller's 2007 release "Free". [6] Touring credits around this time included working with ATO recording artist JEM from 2003-2008, playing both guitar and bass on tours that included stints with The Dave Matthews Band, The Black Eyed Peas, and Maroon 5, as well as headline tours in the US, Europe, and Russia. Janek was a member of Jojo Mayer's NERVE for the 2007 Asia/Europe summer tour, the Mike Stern Band for various shows in the US and Mexico from 2006-2008, Takanori Niida Trio Japan Tour 2008, and Andy Milne's Dapp Theory 2004-2006. Janek is Currently a member of Australian pop sensation Delta Goodrem's US band along with New York Dolls drummer Brian Delaney, and New York session guitarist Rob Bailey, all under the musical direction of Australian guitarist/pianist Rich Sanford. Janek performed on the David Letterman show with Delta Goodrem on September 24th 2008 which was brought to massive media attention due to Republican Presidential nominee Sen. John Mccain canceling as a guest at the last minute, and drawing controversial verbal scolding from Letterman for the following weeks.[7]

Band Leader and Composer

In the fall of 2004 Janek embarked on his first project as a leader and put together a team of musicians and engineers to record an album at New York's Manhattan Center Studios. Record live in one take in front of a studio audience, the music was all written and composed by the band leader, and featured mark Turner, Jojo Mayer, Gregoire Maret, Tim Miller, Elliot Mason, John Ellis, and Gretchen Parlato. It was rehearsed, recorded, mixed, and mastered in just 5 days, and was released just a few weeks later. [8] Although not many shows were played in support of this album it received critical acclaim all over the world including being JazzFm's album of the month, [9] and a brief stint in Venezuela with band members including Randy Brecker, Gary Husband, Tim Miller and Elliot Mason. The follow up to Mystery to me was another live setting, but this time in New York's legendary 55bar in Grenwich Village. Recorded live to two track over two nights in Nov. of 2007, the album features a stella cast of New York's finest young players including: Elliot Mason - Trombone, Brad Mason - Trumpet, Justin Vasquez - Alto, Tim MIller - Guitar, Oli Rockberger - keys, and Tobias Ralph - Drums. The album has also garnered some positive reviews, [10] and there have been far more performances in support of this album.


Equipment

Janek has endorsed FBA (Fender Bass Amplification) since 2004, as well as Fodera Basses since 2005. Janek is also a frequent user of Fender P-Basses, Fender Strings, and Fender FLight Cases.

Current Band

Janek's current lineup features Sean Rickman on Drums, and Oli Rockberger on Keys and vocals, with plans for a new album in the not too distant future.


Discography

Artist Album Role Year
Jose Neto Seventh Wave Bass 2000
Ronny Jordan At Last Producer,Bass, Guitar, Arranger 2003
Adam Freeland Now And Them Bass 2003
Kelly Buchanan Bastard Daughter Bass 2005
Jem KCRW Morning becomes eclectic Vol. 3 Guitar 2005
Tama Waipara Obliqsound Selection, Vol 2 Bass 2005
Janek Gwizdala Mystery to Me Producer,Bass, Arranger 2005
Mike Phillips Uncommon Denominator Producer,Bass, Guitar, drums, keyboards, Programming 2005
Bob Reynolds Can't Wait for Perfect Producer, Mixing 2006
Patrick Cornelius Lucid Dream Producer, Arranger 2006
Various Artists PopJazz Bass, Producer 2006
Carl Brister Focus Producer,Bass, Guitar, Arranger 2007
Marcus Miller Free Engineer 2007
Marko Djordjevic Where I come from Producer,Trumpet, Arranger 2007
Marko Djordjevic Where I come from - Instructional DVD Bass 2007
Tyrone Birkett In the Fullness of Time Bass 2007
Various Artists World Culture Music Bass, Producer 2008
Nick Vayenas Synesthesia Producer,Bass 2008
Takanori Niida Live at the Mega Sone in Obihiro, Japan Bass 2008
Janek Gwizdala Live at the 55bar Producer,Bass, Arranger 2008
Jem Down To Earth Bass, Piano 2008
Justin Vasquez Triptych Producer 2008

Official Website

Myspace Page

Allmusic Guide Discography

Last.fm page

Janek Gwizdala Podcast

  1. ^ www.myspace.com/janekgwizdalaproject
  2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0zfyxqealdse~T2
  3. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:anftxqwsldfe~T2
  4. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hzfexqtdldae~T2
  5. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfpxqwsldde~T2
  6. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hnfpxze5ldhe~T2
  7. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZb6r_5b6gI
  8. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:axftxq9dldae~T0
  9. ^ http://cdbaby.com/cd/gwizdala
  10. ^ http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=28687
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