Marcin Oleś – double bassist, composer, author of film and theatrical music, born in 1973 in Sosnowiec. Along with his brother, Bartłomiej, he forms Oles Brothers and plays music which remains beyond any firm stylistic frames.
Double bassist, composer, author of film and theatrical music
He is known as an improviser and instrumentalist skilled at numerous techniques and traditions of improvisation. He was the first Pole ever to have recorded for Hat Hut Records (album Alchemia with Bartłomiej Oleś and clarinet virtuoso Theo Jorgensmann). Over the years Oleś has built a rich discography, and his invitations to common concerts and recording have been willingly accepted by the greatest jazzmen of the world, like David Murray, Matthew Shipp, Kenny Werner, Ken Vandermark and Erik Friedlander. Although mainly devoted to jazz, Oleś also plays ethno, improvises with musicians from the Middle East, performs classical music with Korean artists and experiments with Sephardic music. He composes music for films and theatre performances. He learnt the double bass from Francis Rabbath, one of the greatest living virtuosos of that instrument. In 2015, he initiated the Lost Languages project, aiming to preserve the memory of languages at risk of dying out.
A Foreigner's Guide to Polish Jazz
He collaborated with such artists as Bartłomiej Oleś, David Murray, Theo Jörgensmann, Rob Brown, Christopher Dell, Jorgos Skolias, Albrecht Maurer, Frank Gratkowski, Julien Petit, Manuel Hermia, Sameer Makhoul, Omri Mor, Gabor Subic, Istvan Grencso, Ken Vandermark, Erik Friedlander, Kenny Werner, Matthew Shipp, Chris Speed, Simon Nabatov, Jean-Luc Cappozzo, Anthony Coleman, Rudi Mahall, Hamid Drake, William Parker, Michael Rabinowitz, David Rempis, Mircea Tiberian, Emmanuelle Somer, Andrzej Przybielski, Adam Pierończyk, Mikołaj Trzaska, Wolfgang Reisinger, Herb Robertson, Radek Krzyżowski, Piotr Orzechowski, Antoni Gralak, Tomasz Stańko, Marek Jakubowicz.
Oleś has performed at festivals such as Almaty Jazz, Jazz Brugge, Kerava Jazz, Montreux Jazz Festival, Jazz DOR Strasbourg, EuroMed, Jazzy Colors Paris, Jazz en Nord Lille, Mediawave, New Sound in Kiev, Europa Jazz Fest Graz, Modern Jazz Fest Rudersdorf, Lüneburger Jazznights, Jazz Meets World, Pepsi Siget Festival, Jeunesses Musicales, Jazz no Borders, Albaimpro, Era Jazzu and gave concerts in France, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Belgium, Italy, the UK, Portugal, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Mexico, Kazakhstan.
Awards and distinctions
- Polish Jazz Musician of the Year 2016 (with Bartłomiej Oleś), Radio Jazz
- Nomination for Folk Album of the Year 2016: Maggid, Polish Radio
- Folk Album of the Year 2013: Sefardix, Polish Radio
- Album of the Year 2007: Alchemia, All About Jazz portal, New York
- Album of the Year 2006: Shadows, Radio Krakow, Poland
- Album of the Year 2005: Directions, Diapazon, Poland
- Album of the Year 2003, Ornette on Bass, Diapazon, Poland
- Album of the Year 2002: Mikro Muzik, Diapazon, Poland
- Album of the Year 2002: Contemporary Quartet, Audio-Video Magazine
- 2nd prize at Jazz Juniors 1999 (with Custom Trio)
- Best Double Bassist 1999, Jazz nad Odrą Festival
Discography:
- Oles Brothers & Antoni Gralak - Primitivo (For Tune, 2016)
- Marcin & Bartłomiej Oles Duo - One step from the past (Fenommedia, 2016)
- Oles Brothers & Jorgos Skolias - Maggid (Fenommedia, 2016)
- Marcin Oles - bassoNOVA (2014)
- Oles Brothers & Christopher Dell - Komeda AHEAD (For Tune, 2014)
- Oles DUO - Spirit of Nadir (2014)
- Oles Brothers & Jorgos Skolias - Sefardix (For Tune, 2013)
- Oles Brothers & Theo Jörgensmann - Transgression (711 hatOLOGY)
- Oles Brothers & Andrzej Przybielski - De Profundis (Fenommedia, 2012)
- Marek Jakubowicz - Feelings (Multikulti Projekt, 2012)
- Second Quartet - Fragment & Moments (limited edition, 2011)
- Oles Brothers - Other voices other scenes (Fenommedia, 2010)
- Oleś Brothers w/ Rob Brown - Live at SJC (Fenommedia, 2009)
- Marcin & Bartłomiej Brat Oles - DUO (Fenommedia, 2008)
- Herb Robertson feat Oles Brothers - Live in Alchemia (NotTwo, 2007)
- Theo Jörgensmann & Oles Brothers - Alchemia (HatHut, 2007)
- Theo Jörgensmann, Oles Brothers - Live in Poznan 2006 (Fenommedia, 2007)
- Bartłomiej Brat Oles - Shadows (Fenommedia, 2006)
- Marcin Oles - Walk Songs (Fenommedia, 2006)
- Chamber Quintet - with Friedlander, Rabinowitz, Somer (Fenommedia, 2005)
- Oles Brothers + Theo Jörgensmann – Directions (Fenommedia, 2005)
- Oles / Trzaska / Oles + Jean-Luc Cappozzo – Suite for trio+ (Fenommedia, 2005)
- Ken Vandermark feat Oles Brothers – Ideas (Not Two, 2005)
- Andrzej Przybielski feat Oles Brothers – Abstract (Not Two, 2005)
- Mikołaj Trzaska - Danziger Straßenmusik (Kilogram Records, 2004
- David Murray feat. Oles Brothers – Circles – live in Cracow (Not Two, 2003)
- Oles Brothers + Theo Jörgensmann – Miniatures (Not Two, 2003)
- Oles / Trzaska / Oles – la SKETCH up (Kilogram Records, 2003)
- Marcin Oles – Ornette on Bass [bass solo] (Not Two, 2003)
- Oles / Mahall / Tiberian / Oles – Contemporary Quartet (Not Two, 2002)
- Oles / Trzaska / Oles – Mikro Muzik (Kilogram Records, 2002)
- Custom Trio – Back Point (Not Two, 2002)
- Andrzej Przybielski & Custom Trio - Live (Polonia Records, 2001)
- Oles / Pieronczyk / Oles – Gray Days (Not Two, 2001)
- Custom Trio & Andrzej Przybielski – Free Bop (Polonia, 2000)
- Custom Trio – Mr. Nobody (WM Accord, 1999)
Jazzman with a Camera: 10 Most Important Movies of Witold Sobociński
double bass
jazz
contemporary polish jazz
