He started his musical career at a young age on piano but at the age of 10 he switched to the trumpet. In 2002 he graduated from Music Academy in Katowice under world famous trumpeter Professor Piotr Wojtasik . Majewski’s thesis focused on the output of Don Cherry – a godfather of avant-garde-jazz trumpet.
Robotobibok
During his studies he co-founded Robotobibok (a portmanteau of the Polish words for robot and slacker), a band which explored the boundaries of rock, jazz, electronic and drum’n'bass. Its popularity in late 1990s and early 2000s was considerable in Poland as well as in other European countries. In 2002 they toured the United States and Europe, visiting London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin, and Zagreb. During the nine years of Robotobibok’s existence they released three albums: Jogging (2000), Instytut Las (Institute Forest, 2003) and Nawyki Przyrody (Nature’s Habits 2004). An independent recording company - OM Vytvornia - founded by Robotobibok’s members, published all of them.
Mikrokolektyw
Together with Robotobibok’s drummer Kuba Suchar, Artur Majewski founded a duet – Mikrokolektyw (Microcollective). It is regarded as one of the most important combos in Polish improvised music. Its value can be proved by enthusiastic reviews and the fact that they are the only Polish band that publishes its albums in the world-famous recording label Delmark Records run by Ken Vandermark.
Other collaborations
Majewski is also a member of Foton Quartet, alongside Gererd Lebik, Wojtek Romanowski and Kuba Cywiński. So far, they have released one album, Zomo Hall, published by celebrated NOT Two Records. He cooperates with the Szczecin band Kristen, as well, and tours in a duet with bass player Rafał Mazur. With him, Anna Kaluza and Kuba Suchar, he recorded the album entitled Tone Hunting, which was published by Portuguese improvised music label Clean Feed Records.
Years into his career, thanks to his unprecedented artistic abilities and his own original musical language, Artur Majewski has become one of the most interesting improvisers in Europe and has started to draw more and more attention from American improvisers. He cooperates regularly with Rob Mazurek in his famous Exploding Star Orchestra and with Joshua Abrahms and his Chicago-based Natural Information Society.
Author: jazzarium.pl, December 2013, translated with edits: W.O. March 2014
Discography
Robotobibok:
Jogging (Vytvornia OM, 2000)
Instytut Las (Vytvornia OM, 2003)
Nawyki Przyrody (Vytvornia OM, 2004)
Mikrokolektyw:
Live At Stanica / with Alzheimer Trio (Vytvornia OM 2010)
Revisit (Delmark, 2010),
Dew Point (DVD, Delmark, 2010)
Absent Minded (Delmark, 2013)
Foton Quartet:
Zomo Hall (NOT Two, 2013)
With Rafał Mazur, Anna Kaluza and Kuba Suchar:
Tone Hunting