# Leszek Możdżer

Leszek Możdżer (Polish pronunciation: born Lesław Henryk Możdżer, 23 March 1971, Gdańsk) is a Polish jazz pianist, music producer and film score composer.

## Life and career

Możdżer was born on 23 March 1971 in Gdańsk. He began to play the piano at his parents' suggestion when he was five. In 1996, he received his diploma from the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk. He studied in the piano class under Andrzej Artykiewicz. He began his artistic career in clarinettist Emil Kowalewski's band and subsequently with the Miłość music band. The artist has collaborated with film score composers Jan A.P. Kaczmarek and Zbigniew Preisner. He formed a jazz trio together with double-bassist Lars Danielsson and drummer Zohar Fresco. Other prominent artists he has collaborated with include Marcus Miller, David Gilmour, Lester Bowie, Archie Shepp, Arthur Blythe, Tomasz Stańko, Pat Metheny, Janusz Muniak, Phil Manzanera, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Michał Urbaniak, L.U.C, Anna Maria Jopek, Behemoth, Myslovitz, Iva Bittová, Cæcilie Norby, David Friesen.
In 1994, he claimed 1st place at the International Jazz Improvisation Contest in Katowice. In 1998, he received the Jazzman of the Year Fryderyk Award. In 1999, he became the laureate of the Gdansk Mayor Award for his outstanding artistic achievements. In 2001, he was awarded the Ad Astra Award bestowed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage to "an outstanding young musician". In 2004, he received the Paszport Polityki Award in the entertainment category. In 2011, he won another Fryderyk Award for best original soundtrack for his album Kaczmarek by Możdżer, a collection of contemporary film music. In 2013, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
In 2010, he performed a special music show at the Węglowy Targ in Gdańsk as part of the Solidarity of Arts 2010 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Solidarity movement as well as the 200th anniversary of Frédéric Chopin's birth.
In 2012, he served as a member of jury at the Montreux Jazz Piano Competition.
In 2017, his opera Immanuel Kant based on the works of Thomas Bernhard premiered at the Wrocław Opera.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | POL | Certifications |
| Chopin - impresje | Released: 1994 Label: Polonia Records Formats: CD | — | |
| Talk to Jesus | Released: 1996 Label: GOWI Records Formats: CD | — | |
| Chopin Demain-Impressions | Released: 30 December 1999 Label: Opus 111 Formats: CD | — | |
| Solo in Ukraine | Released: 30 December 2003 Label: GOWI Records Formats: CD | — | |
| Teatrowi Logos na XV-lecie | Released: 2003 Label: Teatr Logos Formats: CD | — | |
| Piano | Released: 16 June 2004 Label: ARMS Records Formats: CD | 7 | POL: Platinum |
| Piano Live | Released: 19 December 2004 Label: ARMS Records Formats: CD | 36 | |
| Missa Gratiatoria | Released: 16 March 2009 Label: Alternator Formats: CD | — | |
| Bernstein & Gershwin | Released: 19 March 2010 Label: Polskie Radio Formats: CD | 33 | |
| Impressions on Chopin | Released: 30 July 2010 Label: Universal Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download | 8 | |
| Kaczmarek by Możdżer | Released: 29 March 2010 Label: Universal Music Poland Formats: CD | 16 | POL: Platinum |
| Komeda | Released: 27 June 2011 Label: ACT Formats: CD, digital download | 1 | POL: 2× Platinum |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||

### Collaborative albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | POL | Certifications |
| Anniversary Concert For Hestia with Adam Pierończyk | Released: 1996 Label: Hestia Formats: CD | — | |
| Facing the Wind with David Friesen | Released: 1996 Label: Power Bros Formats: CD | — | |
| Live in Sofia with Adam Pierończyk | Released: 1998 Label: Not Two Formats: CD | — | |
| 10 Łatwych utworów na fortepian with Zbigniew Preisner | Released: 25 September 1999 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, digital download | — | POL: Gold |
| Birthday Live with Olo Walicki, Cezary Konrad and Andrzej Olejniczak | Released: 2001 Label: Blue Note Poznań Jazz Club Formats: CD | — | |
| Makowicz vs. Możdżer at the Carnegie Hall with Adam Makowicz | Released: 21 November 2004 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD | 10 | POL: Platinum |
| Metalla Pretiosa with Olo Walicki and Maurice de Martin & The Gdansk Philharmonic Brass | Released: 28 November 2004 Label: Olo Walicki Production Formats: CD | — | |
| Seven Pieces for Improvising Piano and Strings with Aukso Orchestra | Released: 2004 Label: Lemon Music Formats: CD | — | |
| Tulipany Daniel Bloom featuring Leszek Możdżer Trio | Released: 7 March 2005 Label: Warner Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download | 18 | |
| Live in Warsaw with Adam Klocek | Released: 27 June 2005 Label: Universal Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download | 49 | |
| The Time with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco | Released: 26 October 2005 Label: Outside Music Formats: CD | 2 | POL: Diamond |
| Wrocław 2004 with Adam Makowicz | Released: 9 December 2005 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD | — | |
| Between us and the light with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco | Released: 20 November 2006 Label: Outside Music Formats: CD | 7 | POL: 2× Platinum |
| Pasodoble with Lars Danielsson | Released: 27 April 2007 Label: ACT Formats: CD, digital download | 17 | POL: Platinum |
| Melisa with Przemek Dyakowski and Sławek Jaskułke | Released: 21 May 2007 Label: Fonografika Formats: CD | — | |
| Live with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco | Released: 28 November 2007 Label: Outside Music Formats: CD | 35 | |
| Tarantella with Lars Danielsson | Released: 23 February 2009 Label: ACT Formats: CD | 48 | |
| The Last Set Live At The A-Trane with Walter Norris | Released: 16 October 2012 Label: ACT Formats: CD | | |
| Polska with Lars Danielsson and Zohar Fresco | Released: 25 October 2013 Label: Outside Music Formats: CD, digital download | 2 | POL: 2× Platinum |
| Earth Particles with Holland Baroque | Released: 11 May 2018 Label: Holland Baroque Formats: CD, vinyl | --- | NL: Gold |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||