Urbaniak, who was also a composer and arranger, died on Saturday at the age of 82.
Celebrated for his virtuosity, Urbaniak shaped generations of musicians across continents. From performing with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock to recording with Polish rappers and mentoring young talent, his influence spanned decades and styles.
“He lived exactly how he dreamed and never took prisoners—on stage or in life,” said music journalist Hirek Wrona, a longtime friend. “He was a genius composer, violinist, saxophonist—and a great guy.”
Urbaniak’s career began in postwar Poland, but his ambitions quickly reached beyond borders. After playing with Komeda, Namysłowski, and Stańko, he joined The Wreckers—the first Polish jazz band to perform in the U.S. behind the Iron Curtain. From there, he would go on to share stages and studios with giants like Quincy Jones, Billy Cobham, and Stephane Grappelli.
But his work was never static. Urbaniak was an early adopter of electronic violins and synthesizers. In the 1990s, he shocked the Polish music scene by collaborating with hip-hop artists like Liroy and O.S.T.R., declaring: “Rap is jazz. Jazz is rap.”
His group Urbanator blended jazz improvisation with urban groove, introducing younger audiences to jazz through funk and beat-driven rhythms. At home, he launched Urbanator Days, a workshop series for young musicians that combined education with jam sessions—often featuring global stars.
“Michał’s sound is woven into every decade of Polish jazz,” said Dionizy Piątkowski, founder of the Era Jazzu festival. “He was more than an artist—he was a constant presence, a cultural force.”
Urbaniak’s global success included a Grand Prix at the Montreux Jazz Festival, performances at Carnegie Hall, and a place in Down Beat magazine’s jazz poll in five categories. But he remained deeply rooted in Poland, often returning for concerts, collaborations, and charity work, including with the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.
He was also a mentor—not just through teaching, but by creating space for emerging talent. “His legacy is not just in the music he made,” said vocalist Anna Gadt, “but in the doors he opened and the artists he inspired.”
That legacy includes dozens of albums, iconic film scores, and a generation of musicians shaped by his vision. He leaves behind an archive of sound that defies easy categorization—much like the artist himself.
“Michał Urbaniak showed the world what Polish jazz could be,” said Roch Siciński of Polish Radio. “What he dreamed as a boy in Łódź, he made real. And in doing so, he changed the sound of modern jazz.”
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Source: Polskie Radio
Click on the audio player above to hear a report by Marcin Matuszewski.