Internationaler Jazz-Workshop Chodziez

Rafal Sarnecki

Rafal Sarnecki is a jazz guitarist, composer and arranger born in 1982 in Warsaw, Poland. He started to gain recognition in Poland after his success at the "International Jazz Guitar Competition - Guitar City 2002" in Warsaw where he received the 1st award. In 2005 he moved to New York where he received a high scholarship at the prestigious Jazz and Contemporary Music program at the New School University in Manhattan. In 2008 he finished his undergraduate degree from The New School with Academic Honors. In 2010 he received his MA degree in jazz performance from the Aaron Copland School of Music also in New York. Rafal has performed in 8 European countries and toured the West and the East coast of the US. He has studied with some of the greatest musicians on the NY jazz scene such as: Paul Bollenback, Buster Williams, Reggie Workman and Peter Bernstein. In January 2008, Rafal recorded his first CD, "Songs From a New Place". The CD includes Rafal's original compositions, and was released in October 2008. In February 2009 it was nominated to the FRYDERYK 2009 music award, which is a Polish version of the American Grammy award. In January 2010 Rafal recorded his second album as a band leader entitled "The Madman Rambles Again". The album was released in February 2011 by the Fresh Sound New Talent label. The list of artists who recorded for this prestigious label includes such musicians as Brad Mehldau or Kurt Rosenwinkel.

Homepage: www.rafalsarnecki.com