Maciek was born and grew up in Kraków, Poland, during communist times. Aged 11 he began playing guitar. His talent was obvious and classical guitar lessons followed. This training and discipline led him, during his teenage years, to play with several known Polish pop and jazz bands including touring with (the then famous) Jacek Lech. Desperate to escape the greyness of communism and further develop his musical ambitions Maciek emigrated to London, UK in 1975. Mixing with musicians of all genres, introduced him to styles that were both old and new, which influenced and developed his personal guitar style over time. These included bands such as the Warm Jets, Electric Eels, Eastern Alliance and other London punk and new wave bands, whom he played, toured and recorded with throughout the late seventies and eighties. From the mid 1980s he worked as an in-demand session guitarist as well as a composer for some very well known TV commercials and TV music. It was in 1986 that he started a songwriting and production collaboration with jazz singer Carol Grimes that was to result in four successful albums. All of which were toured regularly and played to audiences in the UK and Europe. For many years Maciek also played with ‘John Bennett Band’, an 18-piece modern jazz ensemble and recorded an album. During this time Maciek played many famous London venues as Ronnie Scotts, Jazz Cafe, the Vortex and Pizza On The Park etc. In the early 00s, Maciek with his friends, Winston Marche – drums, Gareth Morgan – bass and Andrew Blake – woodwind, formed the quartet Gdansky Bandsky – which performed in jazz venues around London. In 1996 he completed a Master’s degree in digital art, and went on to run arts and media facilities at a London University. Alongside his playing he also gave guitar master classes to music students and worked with several organisations supporting young musicians. Always wanting to test new musical ideas and genres Maciek participated in choral events for CME (Choral Music Experience Institute) and performed at the Royal Festival Hall, London. In 2014 Maciek moved to New Zealand where he lives with his wife. Maciek can be seen performing live in Hamilton and around Aotearoa with numerous Kiwi artists. His guitar playing was characterised by Waikato Times, 23rd Feb 2015, Sam Edwards as: “…delivering a virtuoso and musically informed lesson in guitar”. Maciek plays an active role in Hamilton’s music scene by working on the committees of Hamilton Jazz Society and Hamilton Blues Society NZ. He also teaches guitar to aspiring young guitarists, as well as giving masterclasses to advanced musicians in need of inspiration. Maciek also composes, produces and records his own and other artist’s music. In 2018-19 he produced three albums for a prolific Kiwi gospel artist Nicky Moran. Inspired by living in the Southern Hemisphere, Maciek teamed up with a virtuoso Uruguayan bass player Carlos Pla to form ‘Banda de la Casa’. They played many critically acclaimed gigs in and around Hamilton area as well as festivals around New Zealand. In 2016 Maciek co-formed a nu-blues band ‘Out of the Blues’ featuring a brilliant harmonica player Haggis Maguiness, bassist Carlos Pla and young drummer Andrew Hewatt. Since June 2018 he’s been working on his first solo album inspired by the great rivers he lived by, as well as the natural beauty of Aotearoa New Zealand. The initial recordings took place in the Porch Recording Studio in Hamilton and featured an international cast of Aotearoa-resident musicians. Throughout the rest of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 more transatlantic and local recording took place featuring British, Polish and Maōri musicians. The album AWA was released in December 2019. from www.maciekmusic.com
