Urszula Dudziak

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Urszula Dudziak (born October 22, 1943) is a leading Polish jazz vocalist. She has worked with such artists as Krzysztof Komeda, Michał Urbaniak (her ex-husband), Gil Evans, Archie Shepp, and Lester Bowie.

[edit] Synopsis

Dudziak was born in the Straconka neighborhood of Bielsko-Biała, Poland. She studied piano, but began to sing in the late 50s after hearing records by Ella Fitzgerald. Within a few years she was one of the most popular jazz artists in her native country. She met and later married Michal Urbaniak, In the late 60s they began to tour overseas and in the 70s settled in New York.

Dudziak has few language problems, as she customarily eschews words in favour of wordless vocalizing that is far more adventurous than scat. Already gifted with a remarkable five-octave range, Dudziak employs electronic devices to extend still further the possibilities of her voice. She has frequently worked with leading contemporary musicians, including Archie Shepp and Lester Bowie, and was a member of the Vocal Summit group, with Jay Clayton, Jeanne Lee, Bobby McFerrin, Norma Winstone, Michelle Hendricks, and Lauren Newton.

[edit] Discography

• Newborn Light (1972)
• Super Constellation (1973)
• Atma (1974)
• Urszula (1976)
• Midnight Train (1977)
• Urbaniak (1977)
• Future Talk (1979)
• Magic Lady (1980)
• Ulla (1982)
• Sorrow Is Not Forever... but Love Is (1983)
• High horse (1986)
• Magic Lady concert from Walk Away(1989)
• Jazz Unlimited (1993)
• Journey, Saturation (1994)
• And Life Goes On (2002)
• Painted Bird (2003)