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Darek Oleszkiewicz (born February 20, 1963), also known as Darek Oles, is a jazz bassist, composer, arranger, and educator.
Darek Oleszkiewicz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Darek Oles |
| Born | February 20, 1963 Wrocław, Poland |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, educator |
| Instrument | Double bass |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels | Cryptogramophone |
Oleszkiewicz was born in Wrocław, Poland, on February 20, 1963.[1] He lived in Kraków in the early 1980s, then moved to Los Angeles in 1987 or 1988[2][3] and attended California Institute of the Arts from 1989 on a full scholarship.[3] While studying at Cal Arts he was a protégé of Charlie Haden.[4] In the early 1990s and 2000s he built a reputation on the West Coast of the United States.[5] He co-founded the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet in 1993, with saxophonist Chuck Manning, guitarist Larry Koonse, and drummer Kevin Tullius.[2] They recorded for Naxos Records and Not Two Records.[2]
Oleszkiewicz's first album as sole leader was Like a Dream,[6] which consisted largely of his own compositions.[5] It included quartet and trio tracks, and duets with pianist Brad Mehldau.[6] He had earlier played on Mehldau's Largo.[7] Oleszkiewicz was featured prominently with Koonse on the 2006 album Storybook.[8]
In 2010 Oleszkiewicz was a co-leader with Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, and Alan Pasqua on the album Standards 2: Movie Music.[9] Oleszkiewicz was co-leader with Adam Czerwniński for the album Raindance.[10]
Oleszkiewicz is a faculty member at California Institute of the Arts,[11] and the University of Southern California,[1] He continues to record, including on trombonist Bob McChesney's Chez Sez in 2015,[12] and with other USC faculty members, including on Kait Dunton's Mountain Suite in the same year.[13] He was part of the Peter Erskine Trio that was nominated for the 2022 Best Jazz Instrumental Album Grammy Award for Live in Italy.[14][15]
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On his debut as leader, Oleszkiewicz's style was described as containing "the inevitable lineage to Scott LaFaro and Bill Evans, [...and] combines a certain economy of style that is reminiscent of Charlie Haden".[5] The woodiness of his tone was also compared with Haden's, with the addition of "a certain Gary Peacock-like edge to it".[5]
As a leader or co-leader
- Moods In Freedom, a solo bass project exploring open structure improvisation and composition
- Inspiration, a solo bass project exploring the music of Chopin, Bach and Beethoven
- The Promise, a solo bass tribute to John Coltrane
- Blues for Charlie, a solo bass tribute to Charlie Haden
- Expectation, with Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble (Kind of Blue)
- Like a Dream (Cryptogramophone) featuring Brad Mehldau
- Raindance (ACR 2006), co-led with Adam Czerwniński
- Pictures (ACR 2009), co-led with Adam Czerwniński
- Storybook (Jazz Compass), co-led with Larry Koonse
- Standards 2: Movie Music (Fuzzy Music), co-led with Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer and Alan Pasqua
- Live At Jazz Nad Odrą (L.A. Jazz Quartet Music), with Los Angeles Jazz Quartet
- Conversation Piece (Naxos Jazz), with Los Angeles Jazz Quartet
- Look to the East (Naxos Jazz), with Los Angeles Jazz Quartet
- Family Song (Not Two), with Los Angeles Jazz Quartet
- Astarte (GOWI), with Los Angeles Jazz Quartet
- Traveling Birds Quintet (Polonia), with Traveling Birds Quintet
- Return to the Nest (Polonia), with Traveling Birds Quintet
As sideman
With Peter Erskine and Alan Pasqua
- Live In Italy (2022)
With Peter Erskine, George Garzone and Alan Pasqua
- Three Nights In L.A. (2019)
With Kei Akagi
- Aqua Puzzle (2018)
With Bill Cunliffe
- Live at Bernies (2001)
With Kait Dunton
- Mountain Suite (2012)
With Yelena Eckemoff
- Flying Steps (2010)
With Peter Erskine
- The Interlochen Concert (2009)
With Terry Gibbs
- Wham (1999)
With Anna Maria Jopek
- Upojenie (2003)
- Barefoot (2002)
- Bosa (2000)
With Larry Koonse
- Storybook (2006)
With Charles Lloyd
- The Water Is Wide (1999)
With Bennie Maupin
- Penumbra (2003)
With Bob McChesney
- Chez Sez (2015)
With Brad Mehldau
- Largo (2002)
With Josh Nelson
- Let It Go (2007)
With Sara Niemietz
- Fountain & Vine (2015)
With Jack Nimitz
- Live at Capozzoli's (1997)
With Alan Pasqua
- My New Old Friend (2005)
- Northern Lights (2018)
With Bobby Shew
- Play the Music of Reed Kotler (2001)
With David Sills
- Big (2002)
With Kuba Stankiewicz and Peter Erskine
- Music Of Henryk Wars (2017)
- Music Of Bronislaw Kaper (2016)
- Music Of Victor Young (2015)
With Gavin Templeton
- Asterperious Special (2012)
With Ben Wendel
- Simple Song (2009)
With Mike Wofford
- Time Cafe (2001)
With Aga Zaryan
- Remembering Nina And Abbey (2013)
- A Book of Luminous Things (2011)
- Live At Palladium (2008)
- Picking Up The Pieces (2006)
- My Lullaby (2002)
Main source:[16]
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