Kapela Maliszów / Poland
One of the greatest recent discoveries of the Polish music stage. A family band which captivates all listeners who have open minds and hearts. The group came to Krakow to present their new, much expected record.
They come from Męcina Mała in Beskid Niski. The band was set up by the multi-instrumentalist Jan Malisz and his children – Kacper and Zuzanna. They draw inspiration from traditional music of their region, i.e. dances and songs from the Gorlice area. They play music in a traditional, archaic way on the violins, the bass and the drums, but allow themselves for some freedom, joy and improvisation. It is more than conscientious re-creation of old tunes. They were a success, winning the 1st Prize and the audience’s award – Old Tradition at the All Mazurkas of the World Festival in Warsaw and the 1st Prize at the Festival of Folk Singers and Bands in Kazimierz. In 2014 they stood to the competition at the New Tradition Festival, arousing the audience’s enthusiasm and the Jury recognition. Kapela received the 2nd Prize, and Kacper Malisz a special award (Golden Fiddle) for the best instrumentalist. Also in 2104 the group won the 1st Prize at the Folk Santa Festival, and Jan Malisz the 3rd Prize in the multi-instrumentalist category at the Festival of Polish Highlanders’ Folklore in Żywiec.
In spring 2015 they recorded sixteenth musical pieces at the Polish radio studio. All musical pieces were on their great debut record Mazurki Niepojęte (Incomprehensible Mazurkas). The recording fully shows the band’s excellence and originality. Traditional themes and author’s compositions blend together to create an organic, ravishing and inextricable whole. In the years that followed the artists gave concerts in Poland and abroad with great success, including the prestigious Womad Festival and the exotic Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia.
Their second record was made in spring 2017, also at the Polish Radio studio. It seems a step forward in the building of their own musical aesthetics and a step inside to discover their own sensitivity. It is sophisticated, showing the artists’ virtuosity, highly spiritual, and at some times even meditative. No doubt it will be a phonographic hit. It needs to be added that Kapela also builds instruments, including violins, basses, hurdy-gurdy, keyed fiddle, pipes and many other instruments are created in Jan’s workshop.
The concerts took place in 2017.