Recital by Józef Skrzek in Gliwice
As part of the Scientific and Cultural University of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Józef Skrzek’s recital “Viator” will take place in the Caro villa – the seat of the Museum in Gliwice, on September 26th at 16.00. Admission to the event is free.
Józef Skrzek, a Polish multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer, began his musical career in 1969. In early 1970, he became a regular member of Breakout, which he supported by playing piano, bass guitar and singing. In 1971 he founded the Silesian Blues Band with Apostolis Anthimos (guitar) and Jerzy Piotrowski (drums). In 1972–1973, the three musicians collaborated with Czesław Niemen, Helmut Nadolski and Andrzej Przybielski under the name Grupa Niemen, recording subsequent albums. In 1974, he revived the Silesian Blues Band, which was renamed SBB. In 1980, the group broke up and Skrzek began his solo career. For the following years he was involved in the creation of theatre and church music, but from time to time he would connect with musicians forming bands for a short time or reactivating SBB and perform occasionally at various festivals. He often collaborates with director Lech Majewski, with whom he created musical works for his films. In 2005, he was awarded the Wojciech Korfanty Award, and in 2008 – A Janosch Brick, an award granted by the readers of the Katowice edition of Gazeta Wyborcza for making Upper Silesia famous. In 2012, Bydgoszcz hosted the premiere of the first Polish avant-garde oratory "Terrarium" by Józef Skrzek and Jarosław Pijarowski, based on the principles of the Theatre of Creation. In 2013, he was awarded the “Fryderyk” Gold Prize for his lifetime artistic achievements. In 2017, together with J. Pijarowski, they won the Tadeusz Miciński Expressionist PHOENIX Award for artistic expression and formal innovation in musical works. On October 16th, 2017, he received the gold medal “Merit to Culture Gloria Artis” from the Vice-Minister of Culture Jarosław Sellin. On 12th December 2018, President Andrzej Duda awarded him the Medal of Centenary of Regained Independence. In 2019 he received the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity.
