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FBI Jazz Project

About Me


The inspiration for forming FBI Jazz Project came about after Szymon (drums) , Roman (piano) and Wojciech (saxophones) performed together at two jazzy Christmas concerts in Lviv (Ukraine) in 2008 - where Christmas, incidentally, is celebrated in early January. The enthusiastic response from audiences and the good feeling generated between these musicians encouraged all of them to take this initial association further, with the opportunity of exploring more music outside of the (lucrative but cheesy) Great International Christmas Songbook and pushing their musical abilities a step further in the process. Szymon, who currently studies at one of London's top universities for jazz, extended an invitation to two colleagues from the university - Geoff Bartholomew (trumpet), and Rob Patterson (bass), to join the established trio, and FBI Jazz Project was born. In fact, it was a slightly tricky delivery as Rob became the metaphorical runt of the litter, arriving late and struggling for breath! However they were very grateful that he could join them at such a last minute request. After their first rehearsal and concert together in Lviv, June 2008, it became apparent that as a group they had a wide variety of influences from eastern, central and western Europe (as well of course as their shared love of American jazz) which they realised could be combined in a unique and interesting way.
To gather people from England, Poland and the Ukraine at one place and at the same time is not easy. Especially if they are all musicians. And especially if they are jazz musicians. Considering that all five are jazz students, or as good as, this was a nearly impossible feat to pull off. Once all together though, other considerations entered into the fray. Practically, choosing musical material for the tour meant relying on some jazz standards so that there was initially some common musical language and conventions in place. But they all realised that their strength would lie in creating music that linked together their separate influences and so also performed some originals by Wojciech and Roman that drew on the traditional folk music of Poland and the Ukraine (at least one of which will be available on the CD). Having had such a successful and enjoyable trip together they are working hard to develop this aspect of their performance and are busy writing and rehearsing new material for their upcoming tour - including a succession of concerts at the Jazz Bez festival throughout the Ukraine and in part of Poland. They are really pushing to develop their own voice in the European jazz community and enjoy surprising their audiences...
"It's not just about the tunes, it's about playing with energy. Rock and roll!" - Szymon Fortuna
See just what he means exactly by joining us at one of our concerts - we will be very happy to see you there!
!!!NEWS!!!
Pierwsza płyta zespołu. (Druga już w drodze...)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 18/08/2008
Band Members: Geoff Bartholomew - tpt (London, UK)
Wojciech 'Faza' Zwierniak - soprano, alto sax (PL)
Roman Bardun - piano (Lviv, Ukraine)
Rob Paterson - bass (electric double bass) (London, UK)
Szymon Fortuna - drums (London, UK/PL)

Szymon Fortuna started playing drums at the age of 11, in addition to his continued study of the piano. However drums soon became his real passion. By the age of 14 he was providing the (rock solid) beat for different local bands. In order to improve his technical and musical skils, he successfully applied to study at the Krakow School of Jazz and Contemporary music with expert tuition provided by Artur Malik and Łukasz Żyta. Presently Szymon is in his final year of the BA Jazz degree at Middlesex University in London where he started to improve his drum skills with international musician Andrew Bain (student of John Raily). He is currently studying with the incredible Gene Caldarazzo from New York.

Geoff Bartholomew was born into a musical family near Portsmouth in the south of England. At the age of 5 he started "playing" the cornet. When the cornet looked too small and silly in his monstrously oversized hands he changed to the trumpet and has been trying to remember which end to blow ever since. Although he studied classical music for the majority of his life, when he got to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama he did an abrupt about turn and entered into the dark side - jazz. He left the Guildhall to get some practical experience but instead ran away with the circus (Gifford's) and entertained the clown and Cossack horse riders with funny noises and by falling over a lot. He still does this. After returning to the real world, Geoff went back to study at Middlesex University where he emphatically will get his degree. He has performed all over the world, including South Africa, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and across the United Kingdom.

Wojciech 'Faza' Zwierniak comes from Szymon's home town of Bochnia, and plays soprano and alto saxophones as well as piano. He's been playing gigs in Poland and abroad (Hungary, Germany, Ukraine). He has rightly won many prizes at music festivals and is a natural performer. His first serious band was 'Skafander', a pop/rock/ska ensemble much loved by audiences around Bochnia and beyond. He's also a participant of International Summer Jazz Academy in Krakow. Now he studies jazz music at the Music Academy in Katowice, Poland.

Roman Bardun is a pianist, vocalist and composer from Lviv (Ukraine). He started being interested in music at the age of 7, and created his first band in 1999. From that time he's been taking part in many different music projects and played in various rock, jazz and folk bands. Presently he playes in the Military Orchestra of western Ukraine. Inspired by "International Summer Jazz Academy in Krakow", which he has benefitted from attending several times in the last few years, he is trying to introduce exciting new music to Lviv's cultural environment. He's been studying with musicians like: Joachim Mencel, Wojciech Groborz, Rafał Stępień and Piotr Wyleżoł.

Rob Paterson is a London based bassist/composer. He took up bass guitar at the age of 15, and soon began to play in various funk, rock and soul bands, and by 17 he was playing professionally. Over time his interest in jazz grew, and he took up the double bass and went to study jazz at Middlesex University with Nikki Iles, Mark Hodgson and Chris Batchelor. Since leaving he has been gigging, writing and teaching in London, while also playing abroad. His playing is influenced by 'Brian Blade Fellowship', 'Avishai Cohen', 'John Coltrane Quartet' circa 1960, and many more.
Sounds Like: Sounds like nothing else...
Type of Label: Unsigned

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