Janusz Józef Muniak (3 June 1941 – 31 January 2016)[1] was a Polish jazz musician, saxophonist, flutist, arranger, and composer. He was one of the pioneers of free jazz in Europe, although later in life tended towards the mainstream.
After 1976, he was the leader of several ensembles,[2] and since 1991 he has been running the Jazz Club "U Muniaka" at Florianska 3 in Krakow, which, under his artistic management, became an important incubator of new talents.
In the poll of Jazz Top 2011 of the monthly Jazz Forum, Janusz Muniak was voted the best saxophonist in Poland.[3]
2015: Contemplation (Inspiration) – with Joachim Mencel, Willem Von Hombrecht, Harry Tanschek
Sideman
1964: Various artists Jazz Jamboree 1964, vol. 2 (two tracks only with the Andrzej Trzaskowski Quintet; Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1969: Jazz Studio Orchestra of Polish Radio (Polish Jazz vol. 19, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1970: Krzysztof Sadowski Krzysztof Sadowski and His Hammond Organ (Polish Jazz vol. 21, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1970/1999/2004: Tomasz Stańko Music for K (Polish Jazz vol. 22, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1971: Piotr Figiel Piotr (Pronit)
1971/1987/1993: Dżamble Wołanie o słońce nad światem (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1972: Tomasz Stańko Jazzmessage from Poland (JG Records)
1973: All Stars After Hours Night Jam Session In Warsaw 1973 (Polish Jazz vol 37, Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1973: Polish Radio Jazz Band Koncert podwójny na pięciu solistów i orkiestrę (PolJazz)
1973: Tomasz Stańko Purple Sun (Calig)
1973: Tomasz Stańko W Pałacu Prymasowskim (released 1983, Pronit)
1975: Stowarzyszenie Popierania Prawdziwej Twórczości Chałturnik, Andrzej Rosiewicz SPPT Chałturnik, Andrzej Rosiewicz (co-led album, PolJazz)
1976: SPPT Chałturnik Kto tak pięknie gra (Polskie Nagrania Muza)
1982: Grand Standard Orchestra Grand Standard Orchestra (conducted by Jan "Ptaszyn" Wróblewski; PolJazz)
1995: Andrzej Dąbrowski A Time For Love (Polonia)
1998: Krzysztof Komeda Vol. 4 - Moja Ballada (three tracks only, recorded 1966–1967, PolJazz; previously reissued as Muzyka Krzysztofa Komedy 4 in 1989)
2003: Piotr Lemańczyk Follow the Soul (Two tracks only; Allegro)
Compilations and collections
1967/2000: Novi Singers Torpedo / Rien Ne Va Plus (JVR)
1999: Novi Singers Vocal Jazz From Poland 1965-75 (Jazzanova Compost Records (JCR))
1999: Various artists Polish Jazz: Modern Jazz From Poland 1963-75 (Jazzanova Compost Records (JCR))
2002: Various artists Antologia jazzu (6CD box-set, two tracks only; Polskie Radio)
2015: Various artists The Best of Cracow Jazz – Traditional (Kurant)
