Krzysztof Herdzin is one of the most exceptional musicians in Poland today. As classically trained pianist, he explores the classical music idiom with ease and yet plays with elite of Polish jazz and pop musicians with equal fortune. His phenomenon lies first and foremost in his diversity. It is natural consequence, as it were, of the versality of a musician who combines the activities of a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, multiinstrumentalist and producer of records. Herdzin’s list of achievements is truly impressive, reflecting perhaps some kind of mystery hidden in his music, a music which, while being difficult to define, easily crosses the boundaries and is accessible to large sections of listeners.
He was born in 1970 in Bydgoszcz, where he attended secondary music school. On graduating from the Bydgoszcz Academy of Music in the piano masterclass of J. Sulikowski and K. Popowa – Zydron (Class of 1993) he became a faculty member of the Academy and has taught there for three following years, coming again to teach in 2010. He appeared in several orchestral concerts: “Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue” , Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor and his own Concertino for piano and orchestra . He recorded chamber music pieces for the Bayerische Rundfunk in Munich, performed classical music with clarinettist Wojciech Mrozek, violinist Vadim Brodsky and Mariusz Patyra, saxophonist Paweł Gusnar and famous polish flutists Jadwiga Kotnowska and Agata Igras, collaborated with Yehudi Menuhin’s “Live Music Now” fund based in Germany.
The pianist is one of very few artists in Poland who successfully combine exploring classical, jazz and popular music fields – the latter exemplified by collaboration with many Polish pop stars , such as: Kayah, E. Gorniak, A. Piasek Piaseczny, R. Rynkowski, R. Janowski, A. M. Jopek, K. Groniec, H. Frackowiak, E. Geppert, K. Groniec, L. Prus, I. Santor, E. Bem, A. Serafinska; cooperated with jazz stars: Maria Schneider, Gregoire Maret, Vinnie Colaiuta, Rick Margitza, Branford Marsalis, Matt Dusk, Gil Goldstein, Richard Bona, Oscar Castro Neves, Mino Cinelu, Gary Husband, Dhafer Youssef, Eddie Henderson.
Krzysztof Herdzin recorded 21 CD as a leader, and as a pianist, conductor, composer and arranger took part in recording of over 200 albums. As a producer and arranger recevied 19 Gold Records and 5 Platinum Records. He has taken part in many television productions for both public and private television stations in Poland. He has been a staff member and lecturer at numerous music workshops and held the function of artistic director of prestigious concerts.
He orchestrated and arranged music by famous Polish composer Jan A. P. Kaczmarek, on the movie “Finding Neverland“, which won an OSCAR 2005.
Spotted by jazz talent scouts Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski, Janusz Muniak, Kazimierz Jonkisz and a “legend” of Polish jazz Zbigniew Namyslowski ( 1996 – 2002 ) he has learned the practical aspects of performing in their ensembles.
Herdzin entirely produced many pop records and has also contributed to musical productions as a pianist and arranger ( “Fame” in Komedia Theater in Warsaw, “Crazy for You“, “Peter Pan” in Roma Theatre in Warsaw ). He was musical director for “Five Guys Named Moe” – 2002′ Roma Theater musical , “End Of The Rainbow” – 2008′ and “Blue Schrimps” – 2019 Teatr Stu musicals, “Singing In The Rain” – 2012′ Roma Theater musical, his own “Cyrano musical” – 2015 Teatr Muzyczny in Lodz, His current projects include concerts with popular polish jazz and pop artists, and leading his own Acoustic Trio and Big Band.
Krzysztof Herdzin is a highly valued composer, arranger and conductor, his work especially consisting of orchestral and big band pieces. He cooperated with: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Orchestre National de Belgique, Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, Polish Radio Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, NOSPR, Sinfonia Iuventus, Beethoven Academy Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Capella Bydgostiensis, Concerto Avenna, Elblag Chamber Orchestra, Katowice Chamber Orchestra, many philharmonic orchestras in Poland.
He performed in USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, India, Turkey, Israel, Italy, France, Monaco, England, Ireland, Sweden, Netherland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia.
Herdzin is composer of jazz and fusion music, pop songs and also film and classical pieces – not avant-garde or experiments. As classical composer he is all tradition and the whole tradition which he knows and of which he is keenly aware he will filter, as is his custom, through his personal vision of beauty.