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Maciek Pysz is originally from Poland and currently based in London. He has been playing guitar for over 16 years and has studied jazz, Latin and classical music. 
Arriving in the UK in 2003 he quickly established himself as an up-and-coming young guitarist and has toured round Europe.
“Incredibly talented” Jazz Forum.
“…combination of enormous talent, virtuosity and passion as well as a deep sensitivity” Rich Rainlore (Rainlore’s World Of Music)
“Incredibly talented young guitarist” Jazz Forum
“Acoustic guitar/Percussion/Bass-led world roots and modern jazz sounds from this EST/Avishai Cohen-sounding trio…Recommended!” Time Out
“Maciek…shows in his playing an unusual combination of passion and virtuosity which easily grabs the audience” Nowy Czas
“Mesmerising, magical music!” Torfaen Jazz Club
“…combination of enormous talent, virtuosity and passion as well as a deep sensitivity” Rich Rainlore (Rainlore’s World Of Music)
“Incredibly talented young guitarist” Jazz Forum
“Acoustic guitar/Percussion/Bass-led world roots and modern jazz sounds from this EST/Avishai Cohen-sounding trio…Recommended!” Time Out
“Maciek…shows in his playing an unusual combination of passion and virtuosity which easily grabs the audience” Nowy Czas
“Mesmerising, magical music!” Torfaen Jazz Club
“Your tone is beautiful and there is some real sensitivity in your music which is what the world needs” Kai Eckhardt (bass player: John McLaughlin, Steve Smith)
“You sound great!” Mike Walker (Guitarist)
Maciek’s improvisational and accompanying style is quite unique as it’s a combination of many influences coming from the jazz, Spanish, classical and Brazilian guitar traditions. He is able to improvise using chords and melody and sometimes detunes the sixth string of his guitar both to accompany himself while playing solo and to accompany others He mostly plays using a pick and alternate picking style but also by finger picking, on both nylon and steel string guitars. Very often he uses both techniques on the same tune. He has never used many digital effects and produces all the sounds by himself using guitar’s natural palette of sounds.
In 2011 Maciek began to make frequent visits to Paris, where he jammed with up-and-coming bass star Hadrien Feraud and other established French musicians. He fell in love with the city. More recently, Maciek has found inspiration in the long 
solo improvisations of Keith Jarrett and French guitar virtuoso Sylvain Luc. Other people who have influenced him greatly are guitarists Pat Metheny and Paco De Lucia as well as South American masters of music Astor Piazzolla, Egberto Gismonti, the incredible John McLaughlin, Ralph Towner and the group Oregon, bassist Jaco Pastoriun, Turkish pianist Aydin Esen, Cameroonian bass player Richard Bona, Isreali bassist and composer Avishai Cohen, the jazz greats Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis, and gypsy jazz guitarist Bireli Lagrene.
Following his gig last Friday at the Royal Albert Hall Maciek came to Jazznights wto play with the Roger Odell Trio
Following the review2s above we were looking to a great night – that is a litotes – it was outstanding – please come back soon
The gig opened with a great set from our resident songbird, Larraine Odell and the Jazznights Trio.
The band were:
Roger Odell – Drums
Roger was one of the founder members and drummer with the jazz-funk group 
Shakatak and the forerunner band Tracks. Roger has toured internationally and recorded numerous CDs, which he continues to do on a regular basis to this day. Apart from a great power drummer he is also a prestigious arranger.
Bernie Hodgkins – Electric Bass. Inspired by an uncle, who played and recorded with Django Reinhart and Stephane Grappelli in the legendary Quintet de Hot Club of France, 
Bernie grew up in a Jazz-oriented family. Their influence led him to become a respected bass player behind such people as Matt Munroe, Dickie Valentine and Dennis Lotus, in the early stages of his career. Bernie is particularly acknowledged as being one of the few players to bring an authentic, driving jazz feel to both the double bass and the bass-guitar, and for his fluent and creative soloing. Tonight Bernie was playing his his electric bass. guitar.
Simon Brown – Piano
A highly respected and popular jazz pianist who is equally known for his arranging 
skills. He is always in demand to play many gigs with other bands when he is not playing with jazznights or his own trio, quartet and his Beyond Cantaloupe quintet at ‘Jazz at the Green Man’ in Rackheath, Norwich.
Larraine Odell – Vocals
Beginning her professional singing career with the group CMU with whom she recorded two albums, Larraine performed at numerous venues 
throughout the UK and Europe, including the Purcell Room, RFH, Boxford Fleece & Ronnie Scott’s.Larraine possesses a unique smouldering tonal quality and a subtle jazz phrasing style that has elicited great praise from two of her own vocal mentors, Mark Murphy and Sheila Jordan. “A sensitive singer who exudes a fine-honed jazz sensibility with every phrase”
Our Master of Ceremony this evening was the articulate and very jazz knowledgeable Gareth Williams-James.
Larraine opened with
1. I Could Write a Book (1940 with Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics by Lorenz Hart). This sung at a medium tempo with solos from Roger, Bernie and Simon as well as 4 bar trades between Roger & Bernie.
2. Out Of This World with Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics from Johnny Mercer. (It was introduced in the film Out of This World (1945) by Bing Crosby dubbing in for 
the voice of the main character played by Eddie Bracken.) This was played at a slow tempo and showed off Larraine’s lovely, and mellow mellifluous style for this type of song.
3. A Time For Love. Composer Johnny Mandel and lyricist Paul Francis Webster were nominated for a Best Song Oscar for “A Time for Love” from the 1966 film An American Dream. While the Oscar eluded them the song won the Golden Laurel Award in 1967. This was beautifully sung as a slow ballad with great sensitivity.
4. Speak Low the 1943 song with Music by Kurt Weill an Lyrics from Ogden Nash followed at a medium tempo with sympathetic accompaniment from Simon and Bernie.
5. The 1932 Cole Porter’s Night and Day ended Larraine’s great set at a medium to fast tempo as superb finale to Larraine’s set. All arrangements of Larraine’s numbers were by Roger Odell.
Maciek Pysz’s first set left us gasping for more and he opened with a solo performance of a (not named) improvisation based on the music of Keith Jarrett. “Manhã de Carnaval” (“Morning of Carnival”) which is also known as Black Orpheus from the Portuguese-language film Orfeu Negro. This was played with the trio and was played at a medium tempo with up-tempo interludes followed. Maciek’s first set ended with Nardis written by Miles Davis although it is more well known from the Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley recordings. This was a great medium to up tempo finale with fine solos from Simon, Bernie and and extended solo from Roger.
Following the Jazznights raffle of 4 jazz cd’s and a bottle of wine we had the traditional Jazznights sitting in spot which is open to all musicians who have an opportunity to play with the band. Tonight we had three local musicians. Terry Reed on keyboards gave us lovely version of Satin Doll while Geoff Harriman on Harmonica played a very sensitive You Don’t Know Me (although this was written . Young Harry Greene followed playing by Cindy Walker with Eddy Arnold, it came to fame with Ray Charles recording). Young Harry Greene came next playing Limelight on his alto sax.
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Maciek Psyz returned with a wonderful final set which included Estate – French for Summer, composed by Bruno Martino with words by Joel Siegel at a slow to medium tempo which really worked for the whole band. Continuing the Latin theme A very different and exciting and rousing version of Chick Corea’s instrumental jazz fusion composition Spain. This was not just an up-tempo number but was Presto 
or even Prestissimo! The evening finished continuing the this Latin theme. Maciek using his two acoustic guitars with pick ups as well as a a solid bodied electric guitar.
He played with a pick as well as combining a finger picking style which both seamed endlessly together. He has a true clear tone which is summed up by a previous quote: “Your tone is beautiful and there is some real sensitivity in your music which is what the world needs”
Jazznights on Sunday 1st Apr il- SNAKE DAVIS (sax)
Well established as one of the UK’s leading Saxophonists, Snake is in demand from the biggest names on the UK music scene, as well as visiting artists from overseas. As resident saxophonist on “Tonight With Jonathon Ross” he played with James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan and many more. “One of the most passionate styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn” Time Out.
Another Jazznights gig not to miss. 8.00 – 10.30pm Admission £8
at The Cherry Tree, Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul, CO10 7BY
Reservations strongly advised on 01787 237653 Your booking is held until 8pm on the night. Doors open 7.30pm.
Food is available in the bars before performances or can be served at your table during the gig.
“Brilliant atmosphere – the Village Vanguard of the Essex/Suffolk border!”
For details of future gigs go to http://www.jazz-nights.com
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