BIO

Pawel Ignatowicz is a New York City-based guitarist, composer, and music producer, born on December 20th, 1980, in Zywiec, Poland. He is considered one of the most remarkable and distinctive jazz-meets-rock guitarists and composers of his generation. A guitar virtuoso with groove power, Ignatowicz seamlessly fuses potent jazz improvisation and progressive rock with various other genres.

Surrounded by a wide variety of musical influences from an early age, Ignatowicz’s father, a multi-instrumentalist, exposed him to styles ranging from the folk music of the Highlanders of the Beskid Zywiecki region to New Orleans Dixieland Jazz. At age 8, Ignatowicz enrolled in the Polish National Music School to study clarinet, later adding piano and saxophone to his repertoire before discovering his true passion for the guitar at age 10. He is a master of electric, acoustic, nylon guitars, fretless, guitar synths, and electric sitar.

Ignatowicz earned a Master’s in Music from the University of Silesia, majoring in jazz guitar under Prof. Karol Ferfecki. After graduating in 2005, he moved to New York City to further his musical career. His compositions combine elements of straight-ahead jazz and fusion, with influences from South American and Indian rhythms, various music genres such as drum and bass, rock, and minimal music, where he blends acoustic sounds with electric elements. Ignatowicz believes in transcending genre boundaries, focusing on the quality of melody, harmony, and sound. His music has a multicultural feel, yet it remains deeply rooted in the tradition of jazz.

Pawel’s musical sensibilities are inspired by a myriad of influences, from his childhood fascination with Queen to the virtuosity of Steve Vai and the profound impact of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. His compositions combine elements ranging from Jimi Hendrix to the contemporary classical music of Steve Reich. Ignatowicz emphasizes creating musical spaces without the boundaries set by classification, stating, “The only reasonable division is between good and bad.”

Ignatowicz has collaborated with numerous distinguished musicians, including John Benitez, Richie Cannata, Ari Hoenig, Glenn Zaleski, Edward Perez, Ferenc Nemeth, Colin Stranahan, Julian Shore, Rick Rosato, Benito Gonzalez, Luques Curtis, Dana Hawkins, Adam Bałdych, Piotr Wyleżoł and Ofri Nehemya. He released his debut album, “Talk To You Later,” in 2008 and composed the score for the film “Double Breath” by screenwriter and director Rafal Janus in 2011. His latest album, “Here and Now” (2017), features a diverse blend of acoustic and electric sounds, with contributions from Ferenc Nemeth, Julian Shore, Edward Perez, and Jonathan Singer.

Ignatowicz has performed in many legendary jazz clubs and venues, such as The Django, 55 Bar in New York, and Blues Alley in Washington, DC. In 2023, the authorities of Żywiec, Poland, honored him with the title of “Ambassador of the City of Żywiec” for his achievements and artistic activities. He was also invited by the Polish Ambassador in Washington, DC, to perform at the 25th Anniversary of the fall of communism in Poland.