Although these prestigious festivals do not take place in the halls of the capital, but in Gliwice, Silesia, Jazz lovers know them very well. Meanwhile, PalmJazz and the Philharmonic project attract top musicians from all over the world every year. All thanks to the charisma and personal contacts of the Polish pianist, composer, organizer of these projects and the good spirit of Polish jazz, Krzysztof Kobyliński – a musician who himself performs with the celebrities of the Polish and world music scene who love to play his pieces. This is why the Jury awarded this artist with the title of Leader by Vocation.
Would you believe that whoever heard that we were going to you with a Leader nomination, immediately asked: Why so late ?
Well, I have been successfully working in business for years, I start music bands, organize festivals, read 50 kilos of books on management, but I do not feel like a leader. It seems to me that I am more of a creator, an inventor. First you have to imagine something, and then manage everything in a way that the project succeeds. That is the whole secret. Unfortunately, each success has its follow-up, i.e. exploitation of the idea. And that interests me less. I am always more fascinated by the process of creation itself, in every field, than by the management of achievements.
But you still lead many teams?
It is hardly surprising here, because they mainly play my music. I want to use every note because I came back to the music after a long break due to business activities. It required hard work, but for 12 years I have been dealing mainly with what I love, which is music. I put a lot of energy, emotions and time to it.
The pandemic may have thwarted many of your plans. Was it difficult for an active musician to accept a long break?
My first reaction may seem surprising. I play 35 concerts a year. Mainly abroad. I didn’t want more, but neither did I want less. That means around 80 days away from home every year. As we also organize around 40 concerts here, and I also have a festival in Slovakia, it takes a lot of my time in total. So when the first lockdown was introduced, I thought that it would be time to rest. I knew that I would finally be able to sleep well, find time to exercise, work on strictly musical ideas. I think really busy artists felt the same way. But when the industry freezing had lasted for several months, I felt tired of it. Because yes, rest, putting everything in order, but not that long. It was completely not for me anymore.
We are talking about the period when you are already a recognized artist. What were your beginnings? When did you get interested in music?
When I was four, my mother took me to the music classes. Then there was a 1st degree music school, but I did not graduate from it. Today I can say that at that time I was discouraged by teachers who could not ingrain the passion in me or show the beauty of music. I left but came back. At home, I played a lot by ear, pretty much everything I wanted. Then I played at school celebrations. Finally, I went to the Technical University, to the then-elite IT faculty. I specialized in control systems, which later paid off in my life. But going back to music, it was during my studies that I had a chance to play at a jazz piano festival, where I became a laureate. And that’s how the real adventure began.
So you started your music career professionally after the IT studies?
Back then, there were times when you had to work off your studies. But then I started my first rock and jazz band. We played together for two years. The band broke up, and I took up electronic music, while also working in the then popular band Kapitan Nemo in the 1980s. I was collecting contacts because I didn’t earn much on that. I made a living teaching math. Unfortunately, the mistakes of my youth caused me to lose money, even instruments. In such a situation you had to do something to get back on your feet. It was the year 1990, a time of changes. I decided to take up trade.
It is a rather huge change…
But spot on. The decision allowed me to become a wealthy man in a short time. We founded the largest toy company in Poland at the time. It was developing at an amazing pace. Suddenly I had a lot of time to myself again and then I remembered about the music. I started buying keyboards, but as a real businessman should, I set up a studio first. Thanks to this, in 2004 I recorded my first CD with electronic music. And then I turned to jazz again.
So you maintained your technique and skills from years ago?
I wish, but, unfortunately, it is not possible. Practicing is one thing, but it was only when I started to develop again, I was able to play with a foreign squad that I made a huge leap forward. It was 2008. Then came the proposition to organize a festival and this is how the first PalmJazz in 2010 was created. Meanwhile, earlier we had bought a town house in Gliwice for a bargain price; we didn’t have a precised idea what to do with it, but we took down the partition walls in the attic. It turned out that the room has outstanding acoustics. It became a concert hall for 220 people, with the best console in the world and a great Steinway piano. We opened it in 2013.
And you started inviting musicians from all over the world?
First, my band was formed. KK Pearls, as we are called, is an excellent international band. The singer is the Israeli opera singer Reut Rivka, who can find herself in any repertoire. I have visited many interesting places while on tour. Half the world, you could say. Stanisław Soyka plays with us, and the line-up is expanded and supported by the orchestra on special occasions.
You have achieved a lot in music, you have played with many celebrities. Many outstanding artists have performed your works. Is there anything else you dream about in this area?
You can always play better, compose beautiful songs that will be heard more and more often. However, every musician will always look for his own way. I’m not even talking about finding a new way in the network of those long-discovered, but something that has not yet been invented yet. It’s difficult, unfortunately; like looking for gold in a stream that everyone has already combed, washing every handful of sand repeatedly. It has to be replaced with another one, but in the area known for placer gold. In order to find it, you need knowledge, patience and persistence. Although I have it all, I am still looking. But only those who are looking have a chance to really find.
This is what we wish you and thank you for the interview.
Piotr Góralczyk
Magdalena Suruło
