Magda Piskorczyk

Magda Piskorczyk (pronounce: peas-CORE-chick) is a singer with a mature, low and unusual voice timbre. Described in France as "la voix noire et au costume blanc" (Black voice in a white costume). She is a guitar, bass guitar and percussion player, as well as a song writer. Magda performs music of Afro-American and African heritage. She is a two-time semi-finalist of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, USA, and the Female Vocalist of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, chosen by readers of the Polish blues quarterly. In 2009 Magda was invited to play with Konoba, an international band performing traditional West African music. She tours regularly with her band, and has performed at numerous festivals almost all over Europe and in Taiwan. In 2011 Magda launched her original music workshops "Magda Piskorczyk Masterclass" based on her own program. CD "Magda Piskorczyk Masterclass" released in 2012 is the fruit of such workshops organized in Warsaw. Magda has released six CDs including: "Mahalia" - studio album prepared in Honor of Mahalia Jackson celebrating the 100th Birthday Anniversary of the Queen of Gospel; "Afro Groove" - double live CD feat. Billy Gibson, harmonica virtuoso from Memphis, with lots of ethnic flavor; "Live at Satyrblues" - with Swedish guitar player and singer-songwriter Slidin' Slim; "Magda Live" - acoustic CD, recorded live in Radio Gdańsk; "Blues Travelling" - feat. Michal Urbaniak, a renowned jazz violinist. "Magda Live", "Afro Groove" and "Mahalia" have been nominated to the Fryderyk Award, the most prestigious award of the Polish Phonographic Industry. Music of Magda Piskorczyk is her arrangements of funk, blues, gospel, soul, rock and jazz classics and her own original compositions as well. In 2011 Magda prepared a special gospel program "In Honor of Mahalia Jackson" with her versions of songs known from Mahalia's records. Magda has performed gospel and spiritual songs many times in Poland, Germany, Sweden, Hungary and France. In 2008 she gave a series of concerts with her band at the City Sings Gospel Festival in Liverpool. There she performed also at the Hope Street Festival and during the final concert in the Metropolitan Cathedral, broadcast by the BBC Radio. She has performed with many famous musicians, such as Bob Margolin, Bob Brozman, Seckou Keita, Greg Zlap, Rita Engedalen, Slidin’ Slim, Michal Urbaniak, Wojciech Karolak, Organek and Engerling group. In Summer 2010 she gave 22 concerts with harmonica virtuoso, Blues Award Winner Billy Gibson.