Grzegorz Jerzy Turnau (born 31 July 1967) is a Polish composer, pianist, poet and singer. He has released eleven albums to date, including one (Cafe Sułtan) made up of his own versions of songs by Jeremi Przybora and Jerzy Wasowski, and most have enjoyed considerable chart success.
His characteristic style consists of strong, clear lyrics and music composed in special keys and harmonies, using instruments such as the piano (played by himself), saxophone, violin and various horns. Influenced by such artists as Marek Grechuta and Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz, his music style falls within the broad genre of sung poetry.
Biography He was born on 31 July 1967 in Kraków, Poland. At age seventeen he won First Prize (Grand Prix) at The Student Song Festival in Kraków in 1984. He went on to join the Piwnica pod Baranami Cabaret, composing such hits as "Znów wędrujemy", and released his first album, Naprawdę nie dzieje się nic ("Really, nothing is happening") in 1991.
He did participate in the Aleksander Glondys's "Ellington po krakowsku" ("Ellington, Kraków-Style"), a concert based upon idea of notable composers of Piwnica pod Baranami playing their interpretations of Duke's music. Other participants include Pawluśkiewicz, Zbigniew Raj and several other musicians.
Discography
Solo albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales CertificationsPOL Naprawdę nie dzieje się nic Released: 1991 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, digital download – POL: 100,000+ POL: GoldPod światło Released: 1993 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD – POL: 100,000+ POL: GoldTo tu, to tam Released: 9 October 1995 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, CS, digital download – POL: 400,000+ POL: 2× PlatinumTutaj jestem Released: 28 April 1997 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, CS, digital download – POL: 100,000+ POL: GoldKsiężyc w misce Released: 30 November 1998 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, digital download –Ultima Released: 5 June 1999 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD – POL: 50,000 POL: GoldNawet Released: 12 November 2002 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download 4Cafe Sułtan Released: 4 October 2004 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download 411:11 Released: 21 November 2005 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download 4 POL: 15,000+ POL: GoldFabryka klamek Released: 2 November 2010 Label: Mystic Production Formats: CD, LP, digital download 3 POL: 15,000+ POL: Gold7 widoków w drodze do Krakowa Released: 28 November 2014
Label: Mystic Production Formats: CD + LP19L Released: 13 October 2017 Label: Agora S.A. Format: CD + DVD11Szósta godzina Released: 10 October 2025 Label: Mystic Production "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales CertificationsPOLKawałek cienia Released: December 2000 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD –Do zobaczenia Released: 16 March 2009 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download 6 POL: 15,000+ POL: Gold "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Cover albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales CertificationsPOLHistoria pewnej podróży Released: 27 November 2006 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download 2 POL: 30,000+ POL: Platinumhttp://www.zpav.pl/plyty.asppage=platynowe&lang=plBedford School Released: 9 November 2018 Label: Mystic Production Formats: CD 20 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Collaborative albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales CertificationsPOLWitaj Gwiazdo Złota(with Ewa Małas-Godlewska) Released: 1998 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD, digital download — POL: 100,000+ POL: PlatinumKołysanki – utulanki(with Magda Umer) Released: 12 June 2003 Label: Fokus Formats: CD, digital download 32Kruchy świat, kruche szkło(with Wojciech Malajkat) Released: 4 August 2007 Label: Stowarzyszenie PrzyjaciółPiwnicy pod Baranami "Klub 40" Formats: CD —Pasjans na dwóch(with Andrzej Sikorowski) Released: 27 August 2007 Label: Music Collection Agency Formats: CD 21Astrid Lindgren(with Ewa Bem) Released: 28 listopada 2008 Label: EMI Music Poland Formats: CD — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Live albums Title Album details Sales CertificationsTurnau w Trójce Released: 1994 Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, digital download POL: 100,000+ POL: GoldOch! Turnau Och-Teatr 18 V 2011 Released: 17 October 2011 Label: Mystic Production Formats: CD, DVD, LP, Blu-ray
References
External links
Official internet page of Grzegorz Turnau