About

Bartosz Niebielecki

Drummer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Wrocław, Poland. I played my first gig at twelve — these days it is between a hundred and a hundred and fifty shows a year.

I have been behind a kit for close to thirty years, on stages and in studios with most of the front rank of Polish music, from blues and jazz through to pop and hip-hop. I also play bass, guitar and keys, which helps more than you would think: it makes you treat drums as part of the arrangement rather than a world of their own.

I co-founded HooDoo Band and produced the band’s debut, which went Gold. I won a Fryderyk — the Polish Grammy — for Carlos Johnson & Joint Venture feat. Wojciech Karolak “Live in Poland”, and have been nominated for it four more times. I have played Open’er, Męskie Granie and the Opole Festival.

In my attic studio I record and produce, often with my wife, singer Alicja Janosz. I run drum workshops, and every week I take viewers behind the scenes in my vlog “Behind the Beats”.

Gallery

Bartosz Niebielecki in a hat holding a drumstick, in stage smoke — Mr. Shuffle.

Bartosz Niebielecki behind a drum kit with a Mr. Shuffle bass drum head — Behind my kit.

Nine musicians taking a bow on a festival stage — Taking a bow after the show.

Anita Lipnicka with a guitar, Bartosz Niebielecki on drums behind her — On stage with Anita Lipnicka.

Carlos Johnson playing guitar, Bartosz Niebielecki on drums behind him — With Carlos Johnson — me on drums.

A band on stage after a concert, a full hall behind — With Anita Lipnicka and The Hats after the show — the view from the stage.

Bartosz Niebielecki with Frank McComb at the keyboard — With Frank McComb.

Bartosz Niebielecki with David Price and Ronnie Foster at Vertigo Jazz Club — With David Price (left) and Ronnie Foster (right) at Vertigo Jazz Club.

Eric Gales playing guitar, Bartosz Niebielecki on drums behind him — With Eric Gales — me on drums.

Carlos Johnson with a guitar in the foreground, Bartosz Niebielecki on drums behind him — On stage with Carlos Johnson.

Wojciech Karolak at the keyboard, Bartosz Niebielecki on drums in the background — With Wojciech Karolak.

Eric Burdon with a microphone, Bartosz Niebielecki on drums behind him — With The Animals and Eric Burdon, playing “House of the Rising Sun”.

Bartosz Niebielecki and Chris Dave, a photo together — With Chris Dave.

Bartosz Niebielecki and Alicja Janosz, a JANOSZ / BARTOSZ photo session — With Alicja Janosz — JANOSZ / BARTOSZ.

Bartosz Niebielecki at the drums covering his ears, a small child next to him doing the same — Too loud?

Awards

Fryderyk Award 2010 — Blues Album of the Year, Carlos Johnson & Joint Venture feat. Wojciech Karolak “Live in Poland”
Gold Record for the HooDoo Band album, as producer
Four Fryderyk nominations

Trudno Świetnie My motto — roughly “oh well, great!”. I take what comes and make something good of it. Family comes first.

See what I have recorded