Cezary Konrad
a drummer, composer, arranger, a graduate of the Academy of Music by the name of Fr. Chopin in Warsaw, Poland in a Professor’s Stanisław Skoczyński drummer class. The best Polish drummer continuously since 1992 year – who held the first place in the Jazz Top rating “The best drummer category” according to the polish, leading monthly jazz magazine called “Jazz Forum”.
At the end of his „classical studies” – he devoted himself to jazz music, and he started to gain his first meaningful successes as a co-founder of the Central Heating Trio (1989, with a pianist Filip Wojciechowski), with whom Cezary held First prize on the Jazz Juniors Festival 1990 year in Cracow (Poland) and First Prize on the “Jazz Seashore Autumn – the Key to the Career” in Gorzow (Poland), 1991. In 1990 the above-mentioned Trio was also the finalist of the following international jazz competitions: “IX European Jazz Competition” in Leverkusen (Germany) and “The Europe Jazz Contest” in Hoeliard (Belgium).
In 1995 year Cezary Konrad recording his first co-author CD with guitarist woman from Germany: Susan Weinert – „Meeting in Krakow” – published in 1996. In 1995 he established his first group: Cezary Konrad Quartet, with whom in 1999 he was recording his first author CD – „One mirror… many reflections” – published in 2000. The music of this CD referring to the achievements of Allan Holdsworth style and the bands Tribal Tech as well as Yellow Jackets. Those CD was recorded with the band consists of: Darek Krupa (guitars), Piotr Żaczek (electric bass, fretless bass), Marek Podkowa (tenor sax, EWI), Leszek Możdżer (acoustic and electric piano), Zbigniew Jakubek (keyboards).
After a long co-operation with the polish famous female vocalist – Anna Maria Jopek lasting up to 1998, in 2005 there becomes a new artist musical project: Cezary Konrad‘ the NEW BAND, which the first band consists of: Krzysztof Herdzin (electric piano), Paweł Pańta (electric bass, contrabass), Marek Podkowa (saxophones). In last year Cezary Konrad (CK) was collaborated with the following bands: Włodek Pawlik Trio (in consist of: Włodek Pawlik, Paweł Pańta, CK), Krzysztof Herdzin Trio (Krzysztof Herdzin, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, CK), and since March 2007 he was co-created Andrzej Kurylewicz Trio (A. Kurylewicz, Paweł Pańta, CK).
Besides the above-mentioned musicians – Cezary Konrad was performed and recorded with many excellent Persons of the polish jazz, among others: Leszek Możdżer, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Tomasz Stańko and with foreign famous Musicians, i.e.: Karrin Allyson, Randy Brecker, Deborah Brown, Mino Cinelu, Joe de Franco, Volker Greve, Gary Guthman, Paul Imm, Didier Lockwood, Pat Metheny, Nippy Noya, Susan Weinert.
Since 2006 Cezary Konrad performs also solo concerts, which during he presents his audiences “magic world” of drummer kits in different configuration sets – to manner spectacular unusually. The solo concerts project it is explained from many years experiences of Cezary as a staff member and lecturer at numerous music workshops in Poland and Europe as well.
Among many awards and honourable mentions of Cezary Konrad – they deserve note: Mateusz Award by the name of Mateusz Święcicki conceded by the Polish Radio (3rd Channel) and Grant a Scholarship by the name of Christopher Komeda conceded by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and last time Honorable Mentions for the Best Drums Musician 2006 until 2009 in the category “Drummer of Jazz / Latin / Funk” in the readers’ rating of the Polish, leading drums magazine called “Top Drummer”.
Cezary Konrad has taken part in the recording of more then 100 albums. He collaborated with The Warsaw Percussion Group and the Polish Radio and TV Orchestra.