Maciek Hrybowicz

Eclectic Polish-born New Zealand guitarist

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Maciek has performed at several jazz and blues music festivals in the very short time since his arrival to New Zealand from London, where he worked in the music business for many years.Maciek’s performance at the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival led to this quote from Sam Edwards of Waikato Times (23rd Feb 2015):…delivering a virtuoso and musically informed lesson in guitarMaciek’s early influence was the “British Invasion” pop music which he first heard on Radio Luxembourg, since it was virtually impossible to get the original records in his birthplace communist Poland. Then he heard Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix, which provided instant motivation to learn the guitar. Later, Miles Davis and the plethora of electric jazz stars like Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, Return To Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra etc. contributed further highs of musical inspiration. More recently, Maciek has been delving into earlier era of blues and jazz as well as listening to various sounds from around the Globe.Maciek’s latest project is his solo album AWA inspired by the three rivers that have formed anchors at differing times in his life and by the unequalled beauty/nature of Aotearoa and indigenous Māori culture. AWA forms the soundtrack for Maciek’s sensual experience/awakening of this Pacific Island. This album will awaken your senses and become your soundtrack for Aotearoa.

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17 AUG 2020 // A REVIEW BY MIKE ALEXANDERAs far as introductions go, Poland-born composer and guitarist Maciek Hrybowicz has left quite the impression with this calling card.Mr Ponsonby is taken from his 2019 album AWA, a collection of pieces inspired by the beauty of his adopted home land New Zealand.As the title suggests, it references an afternoon spent driving around the suburb of Ponsonby in Auckland and captures the somewhat sophisticated (of course, that would be a matter of perception!!!), laid-back, cafe dynamic of the area.Hrybowicz, who has honed his craft in multiple genres but most notably with jazz singer Carol Grimes, has a technique and style that’s evocative but understated.Mr Ponsonby shuffles along at a gently brisk pace with precise and fluid guitar lines, a delicate flourish of horns, a woozy solo that never overplays itself and smooth shifts in time signatures.It’s the kind of track I would have expected to have heard on Rattle Records, where, as a reference point, he would not be out of place as an artist.(this is where you put your reviews)