Polish saxophonist Maciej Obara, a composer and pianist, burst onto international jazz scene in 2006 with “Message from Ohayo”, which won the Bielska Zadymka Jazz Contest. He toured Poland in 2008 with Antoine Roney, an American saxophonist. Manfred Eicher (ECM), also recommended Tomasz Stanko to him, which led to their collaboration on projects like “Terminal 7” at the National Theatre, “The Tomasz Stanko Special Project”, and “The New Balladyna Quartet”. The Maciej Obara trio released “I can Do It” in 2008 to rave reviews. While at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the next year, he founded MaMuGe 3 (drums and vocals) and recorded “Three”. He also invited US musicians Nasheet Waits, Mark Helias, and Ralph Alessi (trumpet) to join him in “Obara Special Quartet”, which led to “Four”, which was recorded at Systemstwo in New York. Obara and pianist Dominik Wania formed a band upon his return to Poland. This musical friendship began while they were performing with Tomasz Starko. Their recording, “Equilibrium”, enriches classical jazz trios’ raw sound and was premiered at the Jazztopad Festival, Wroclaw. Maciej Obara won a scholarship through the Mloda Polska Programme in 2011 and was nominated as the Fryderyk Jazz Musician of the year. He was selected to take part in the 12 Points Festival, Portugal with his Polish Quartet, and in a showcase at Budapest in 2012. Along with Maciej Garbowski from Poland, he was selected to take part in Take Five: Europe. This professional development program is run by Serious in the UK. They also produce the London Jazz Festival. Take Five: Europe brought together the best emerging jazz musicians from France and Holland, Norway and Poland. It included a week-long residential that focused on musical entrepreneurship and the business of music in Europe, as well as making contacts with other artists. Under the guidance of John Surman (baritone saxophonist, composer), musical development was also part of the programme. The 10-piece ensemble performed in France (Jazz sous les Pommiers Countances), Norway (North Sea Jazz Festival), Norway [Molde International Jazz Festival], the UK (London Jazz Festival) as well as Poland (Jazztopad). During this period Obara established another project with Dominik Wania, which includes the two Norwegian musicians he encountered at Take Five: Europe, Ole Morten Vagan (bass), Gard Nilssen (drums) and their recording “Komeda” has been released in November 2012. from http://www.maciejobara.com
