muzycy:
Michal Urbaniak: violin, lyricon
Zbigniew Namyslowski: alto sax & flute
Urszula Dudziak: voice & percussion
Kenny Kirkland: keyboard
Tony Bunn: electric bass
Lurenda Featherstone: drums

A major violinist from Poland, Michal Urbaniak has been versatile throughout his career, mastering several styles from bop and free to fusion and funk. He started on the violin when he was six and soon also learned the tenor and soprano saxophones. Urbaniak studied classical music at the Academy of Music in Warsaw while working with jazz groups. In 1965 he met the innovative singer Urszula Dudziak who became his wife. In 1973 he permanently moved to the United States. Urbaniak headed the group Fusion during 1973-77, collaborated with Larry Coryell during 1982-83, led Urbanator in the 1990s, and is still active today.

1977’s Urbaniak is a creative fusion set that introduced the world class Polish saxophonist Zbigniew Namyslowski, whose alto playing on this early date sometimes sounds a little like David Sanborn. Urbaniak, doubling on a wind synthesizer (the lyricon), teams up with Namyslowski, Urszula Dudziak (who adds otherworldly sounds to the date), keyboardist Kenny Kirkland (a few years before he began working with the Marsalis Brothers), electric bassist Tony Bunn, and drummer Lurenda Featherstone. The colorful music features a unique combination of sounds plus catchy grooves, excellent improvising and strong hints of Eastern European music.

A major violinist from Poland, Michal Urbaniak has been versatile throughout his career, mastering several styles from bop and free to fusion and funk. He started on the violin when he was six and soon also learned the tenor and soprano saxophones. Urbaniak studied classical music at the Academy of Music in Warsaw while working with jazz groups. In 1965 he met the innovative singer Urszula Dudziak who became his wife. In 1973 he permanently moved to the United States. Urbaniak headed the group Fusion during 1973-77, collaborated with Larry Coryell during 1982-83, led Urbanator in the 1990s, and is still active today.

1977’s Urbaniak is a creative fusion set that introduced the world class Polish saxophonist Zbigniew Namyslowski, whose alto playing on this early date sometimes sounds a little like David Sanborn. Urbaniak, doubling on a wind synthesizer (the lyricon), teams up with Namyslowski, Urszula Dudziak (who adds otherworldly sounds to the date), keyboardist Kenny Kirkland (a few years before he began working with the Marsalis Brothers), electric bassist Tony Bunn, and drummer Lurenda Featherstone. The colorful music features a unique combination of sounds plus catchy grooves, excellent improvising and strong hints of Eastern European music.