Joachim Mencel is one of the most distinctive and versatile figures on the Polish jazz scene, widely referred to as the “romantic of Polish jazz piano.” He is a globally unique pioneer in performing contemporary jazz on the hurdy-gurdy.
International Profile and Collaborations with Stars
The artist regularly tours worldwide, performing in Europe, America, Africa, and Asia. Throughout his rich career, he has shared the stage with icons of world music. He has performed in the bands of Janusz Muniak, Andrzej Cudzich, and the violin virtuoso Nigel Kennedy. Over the years, he has established a steady, regular collaboration with American clarinetist Brad Terry, resulting in joint albums such as All About Spring, Colorado, and Live in Fort Andross. He has also played alongside legends like Lee Konitz, Dino Saluzzi, Richard Galliano, Zbigniew Namysłowski, and Jarosław Śmietana.
A major international success for the artist is his project Brooklyn Eye. The album was recorded in New York and released by the renowned American label Origin Records. For the recording, Mencel invited prominent stars of American jazz—Steve Cardenas, Scott Colley, and Rudy Royston—with whom he embarked on an enthusiastically received US concert tour in 2022.
Unique Sound and Composition Mastery
Joachim Mencel’s concerts guarantee jazz of the highest caliber, capable of intriguing both critics and broad audiences alike. The combination of virtuosic piano playing with the mesmerizing, ethnic sound of the hurdy-gurdy creates a truly unique spectacle.
Mencel is also a brilliant composer and vocal arranger behind many hits and albums for major stars of Polish popular music. He wrote and arranged all the tracks for Ewa Bem’s cult album Kakadu. He has also collaborated with Anna Maria Jopek, Mieczysław Szcześniak, as well as the bands New Life’m and El Greco. He is the author of large-scale musical forms, including the jazz cantata Love Explained Everything to Me, as well as film and theater scores.
Recognition and Academic Activity
For his outstanding contributions to Polish culture and art, he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit and the Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis. He passes on his vast knowledge and stage experience to younger generations of musicians as a Professor at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków.
Current Concert Portfolio (Formats and Projects):
- ETNO MACHINA (Solo) – An original, premiere solo recital where the artist redefines the sonic possibilities of the hurdy-gurdy. Documented on an excellent album of the same title, this project is a mesmerizing fusion of roots music and modern improvisation.
- ECHOFORMY – An innovative, artistically profound project that merges Polish romantic heritage with contemporary jazz. The starting point features texts by Adam Mickiewicz (from The Books of the Polish Nation and the Polish Pilgrimage) arranged for a jazz septet, featuring vocalist Basia Pospieszalska among others.
- IBRAHIM TRIO (Oriental Ethno-Jazz) – A unique dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures co-created by three masters: Wassim Ibrahim (oud, vocals), Joachim Mencel (hurdy-gurdy, piano), and Szymon Madeja (drums). The repertoire, available on the album Live at Manggha, combines rich Middle Eastern melodies with European jazz sensibility.
- Joachim Mencel Quintet – Artisena – A highly energetic, flagship ensemble project performing the leader’s original compositions, heavily inspired by Polish folk dances (released by the For Tune label).
- Leszek Żądło & Joachim Mencel Duet: COSMIC SILENCE – A masterful, intimate dialogue between the piano/hurdy-gurdy and the saxophone of the outstanding Leszek Żądło.