Soyka had been scheduled to perform that evening at the closing concert of the Top of the Top Festival in the Baltic resort of Sopot.
Known for his versatility, he was also a violinist, pianist, guitarist, composer, arranger and poet.
Equally at home in jazz, pop, blues and gospel, Soyka was celebrated for his charisma and improvisational talent.
Poland’s Ministry of Culture and National Heritage called his death "a profound loss for Polish musical culture."
It said in a statement that Soyka "combined jazz finesse with a sensitivity rooted in pop music; he was an artist who inspired others, a man of charisma and warmth."
Parliamentary Speaker Szymon Hołownia, a former television celebrity, recalled working with Soyka on an international project.
"A musical genius, an unforgettable artist, an unforgettable man," Hołownia wrote on social media.
Soyka made his debut at 23 with an appearance at the Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw, which led to collaborations with jazz greats Michał Urbaniak and Tomasz Stańko.
He became a regular at the Polish Song Festival in Opole, performing his own works as well as recitals of songs set to poetry by Nobel laureate Czesław Miłosz and Agnieszka Osiecka.
His discography spanned several dozen albums, including Soyka Sings Ellington (1981), Acoustic (1991), Tolerance (1992), and Soyka Sings Shakespeare’s Sonnets (2007).
He presented that last work as a gift to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1996 visit to Poland.
Soyka also composed a musical setting of The Roman Triptych by Pope John Paul II, which he performed for the pontiff at the Vatican.
In 2001, he released an album of religious music featuring Polish Lenten songs.
(mk/gs)