Grazyna Auguscik - The Light (2005)

Singer, composer, arranger, and producer Grazyna Auguscik has won the praise and admiration of music critics, jazz enthusiasts and even non-jazz audiences with a singular voice that speaks a universal language. Drawing on influences as diverse as Polish folk music, Bud Powell, Keith Jarrett and Chopin, Grazyna's elusive style challenges traditional definitions of a jazz singer without pretense or sentimentality. Her unorthodox approach to rewriting classic works is at once a tribute to it's authors as well as an adventure into uncharted territory. Grazyna is one of the most intriguing contemporary vocalists on today's World jazz scene. Her professional music career She began in Europe, completed her studies in 1992 at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, and has since become a prolific collaborator with such jazz notables as Michael and Randy Brecker, Jim Hall, Bobby Enriquez, John Medeski, Paul Wertico, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Robert Irving III, Michal Urbaniak, Terry Callier, Patricia Barber, Leni Stern, Eric Hochberg, John McLean, David Onderdonk, Ernie Adams, Ron Perrillo, Jarek Bester and many others. Amidst her active schedule of performances in the U.S., Europe and Asia, Grazyna has managed to record, produce and distribute seven albums, four under her own record label, GMA Records, and appearing on as many projects as a guest. Her album 'Pastels' was one of the best in 1998, chosen by National Public Radio listeners. New Millennium brings her three new albums, and idea for the first World Music Festival in Poland. 'Fragile' in collaboration with one of the best Brazilian singer and guitarist Paulinho Garcia was TOP 20 JAZZ ALBUMS of the year 2000 on WBEZ CHICAGO 91.5 FM National Public Radio. Her latest 'River' 2002 release placed her as one of the hottest young jazz talents in the country. In Year 2003 Grazyna is receiving 2002 Twirlie Nomination for Top 15 FEMALE VOCALISTS and she is nominated by 22nd Annual Chicago Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist of 2002. In month of February 2003 and 2004 She was awarded as Best Jazz Vocal of 2002 and 2003 by a prestigious European 'Jazz Forum Magazine'. Also 2002 Fujitsu Concord Jazz Festival awarded her as TOP VOCAL, and the album 'Hamage' Three for Brazil recorded for Pony Canyon Records in Japan was on TOP 20 JAZZ ALBUMS in Asia. 2003 freshly released 'Past Forward' by Grazyna Auguscik though it once again resists easy classification because of it's musical eclecticism, is jazz in all it's contemporary potential, pulsating, exhilarating, eastern musical origins leading to the past, uncanny impression of wholeness, featuring remarkably talented accordion player Jarek Bester, with her alto - warm and hypnotic simply brilliant, it is another from 'Graz' must-hear experience. After two very successful tours in Europe this year her 2004 appearance at one of Japan's largest jazz festivals, Jazz Elite, with Three for Brazil was one of the highlights next to Jim Hall Trio. Her next release 'The Light' as of the beginning of 2005 is already highly acclaimed.