Mietek Jurecki - famous Polish Alembician

[basstard]

One of the best bassists in Poland, previously with Budka Suflera (a very well-known pop-rock band), currently with Vintage (a very good rock band I used to play with for some time in 2002 and 2003)... A great musician and a very nice guy!  This is him and his main bass - a blue Essence 5:  

 

 

[jacko]

Interesting hairstyle ;-) That's a nice blue, any links to his work Jarek?  I heard and saw Wojtek pilichowski at the Uk bass day 2 years ago and his playing really amazed me but a couple of polish bassists i met at last years Stanley Clarke gig seemed to think that, as far as Polish players go, he was nothing special. (if that's the case I'd really like to hear some of your 'special' bassists).
 
graeme

[bracheen]

http://www.jurecki.art.pl/

[jacko]

Thanks for the link sam. There are some nice tunes on there (luckily MP3 translates into polish really easily.).
I notice on one track - Nasze miasta, he plays in a bass trio with pilichowski and Krzysztof ?ciera?ski. I wonder if they ever brought out an album.
 
Graeme

[basstard]

Mietek's haircut is pretty famous, lol! I'll have to find some links Graeme, I'm afraid that I won't find anything particularly flashy - just solid rock grooves. He's also a great fretless player - but he doesn't have a fretless Alembic, he uses a 6-string custom-made for him by a Polish luthier Wieslaw Dlugosz.
 
As for Wojtek Pilichowski - well - most Polish bassists seem to have a kind of Pilichowski syndrome and diminish his playing whenever they can. He's often accused pf being a speed freak, relying on 2 slapping patterns and so on. But that's all rubbish. Don't listen to them, Wojtek is phenomenal. In his solo work he indeed plays loads of lightning fast slap solos, with triplets and all that stuff (I learned to slap listening to him and watching his hands on videos, gigs, workshops and his DVD schools) but he can also lie down a very solid, deep-in-the-pocket groove - which is what he usually does as a sideman. He's the most popular (and the busiest) bassist in Poland and many simply envy him. BTW, Pilichowski also has one Alembic - a Standard Point MK Deluxe - but he doesn't use it live because he finds it a bit uncomfortable for him, and he has an endorsment deal with Mayones anyway.
 
Jurecki and Pilichowski aren't the only Alembic players in Poland - a funky groovemeister Piotr Zaczek does wonderful things with his Rogue 6 (couldn't find any pics of him playing it though but I have a picture of me jamming with him somewhere - he played a Jerzy Drozd 6 then), and the late Andrzej Nowicki used an Epic 4 with one of the most famous Poilish rock bands Perfect.
 
OK, here are some YouTube links I've just found:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxZeLhSlC6Q&feature=related (here you can hear and see Mietek slapping which he doesn't do often!)
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_htgya0pu0&feature=related (Vintage's video for the song Jak Motyl (Like a Butterfly) - you can hear Mietek play very simple line on his Alembic - but very often most simple means the best!)

[jacko]

I'll have a look at the youtube links tonight. (banned at work). When i met Wojtek, I was so blown away by his playing i bought his TRII album. we couldn't understand why the guys at the stanley clarke gig were trying to belittle him - sour grapes I guess.
here's a picture to redress the balance ;-)
 
 
Graeme

[basstard]

Sour grapes indeed, Graeme! Wojtek (playing his signature Mayones bass at the photo) is a wonderful musician and a really nice guy - very funny and friendly!

[white_cloud]

I first heard of Wojtek through his connection with Mayones basses (really nice and also reasonably priced!) and I have to say I think he is a tremendous talent! I love his playing.
 
There always seems to be a lot of one-upmanship amongst players - and it is usually due to jealousy!
 
For example check out some of the nasty messages posted against Jeff Berlin on his youtube clips. Very personal stuff about his weight etc. Its easy to be big and tough sitting at a keyboard thousands of miles away from your target! Some people seriously need to get a life.
 
John.

[basstard]

John - the posts against Jeff Berlin can actually be caused by him being known to be really opinionated and sometimes - at least in the past - having a strong tendency to state his opinions in a manner that could be rather hard to accept for many. But apart from that, I agree.
 
As for Mayones basses - I used to have one myself, it was pretty good. Currently, my main bass is a Nexus (also Polish :-)), I also have a Polish-made Malinek fretless... But Alembic is still my ultimate goal, gear-wise!
 
But let's go back to the main subject. Have you checked the YouTube links? How do you like Mietek's playing and the tone of his Essence?

[white_cloud]

Jarek,
 
I have to say that Im really impressed by some of the music coming out of Poland at the moment! I loved the links and Mieteks sound is awesome - what else would it be with an Alembic!
 
The Essence is one of my favourite models and I adore the electric blue finish on Mieteks ( I never thought I would say that - I usually hate painted finishes on Alembics!)
 
How about posting us a pic of you Nexus and Malinek basses? Would love to see them! I almost bought a GMR pi bass recently - the build quality was superb for the small asking price!
 
I understand how people can get annoyed at JB because of his outspoken opinions ( I think he feels underappreciated and that is why he likes to get attention! ) But feel that an outspoken opinion on musical learning techniques doesnt warrant nasty references to the ammount of Bagels he consumes!!!
 
John.

[basstard]

John,
 
I can see a strong tendency for going off-topic, lol! I guess it's pretty usual on message boards... ;-)
 
Here are my basses:

L-R: '79 (probably) Aria Rev-Sound Bass, Malinek Fretless 5, Nexus Shining 5
 
The Nexus has its own story - Jacek Kobylski, the luthier behind the Nexus brand, made this bass for himself in the beginnings of his career as an instrument builder. Not long afterwards, Kasia Lach who used to play for a fairly well known Polish band Formacja Niezywych Schabuff back then ordered a 5 string from him. Unfortunately, Jacek didn't manage to build the bass for her on time, and she needed it for recordings so he offered her this one... She fell in love with it immediately and used it for next 9 years or so. I bought it from her in July 2006. It's a great instrument, I've already recorded 2 albums with it (I managed to use the Malinek in only one song and I didn't have the Aria yet)... but, as I've already said, my ultimate goal bass-wise is an Alembic! I had the opportunity to play 3 Alembics (a Spoiler and 2 Epics - a 4 and a 5) and I managed to find THE sound I want. Maybe this year, maybe... ;-)
 
Anyway, there are many great bassists and great bands in Poland, and we have several very good luthiers (Jacek Kobylski making Nexus basses and guitars, Krzysztof Kania, Piotr Witwicki etc.) and guitar companies (GMR and Mayones are the best known). Still, none of those luthiers, great as they are, makes instruments as phenomenal as Alembic does...

[white_cloud]

Great basses and  nice story as well, thanks for sharing with us Jarek!
 
I love the Nexus in particular - really great looking bass!
 
I was astounded at the quality of the GMR bass I came across- especially when I saw the price and I love the look of the Mayones (havent had the chance to play one of those yet!)
 
Have to agree with you though, there are lots of great basses out there, but nothing compares to an Alembic!
 
John.