Jarek Śmietana
Jarosław "Jarek" Śmietana was a Polish jazz guitarist, composer, and band leader.
Early life and education
Śmietana was born in Kraków. He studied at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice.Career
Śmietana led the band Extra Ball in 1974. He continued to lead this band until 1981. He was the leader of the Sounds Big Band Symphonic Sound Orchestra, the Polish Jazz Stars Band. He was also a co-leader of the Namysłowski-Śmietana Quartet. He performed at festivals, concert tours, and workshops in the U.S., India, Asia and South America.During his musical career he played and recorded with Art Farmer, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Henderson, Vladislav Sendecki, Joe Zawinul, Janusz Muniak, Gary Bartz, Carter Jefferson, Vince Mendoza, John Abercrombie, Hamiet Bluiett, Idris Muhammad, Ronnie Burrage, Harvie Swartz, Mike Stern, Jack Wilkins, Zbigniew Seifert, Cameron Brown, Andy McKee, David Gilmore, and Nigel Kennedy. He recorded more than 25 albums as a band leader.
He was the father of violinist Alicja Smietana. He died in 2013. In 2015, a contest, the International Jarek Śmietana Jazz Guitar Competition was initiated in his memory. It was held in Kraków.