Conversation with jazz vocalist Bogna W. Kicińska
“Jazz Is Not Unambiguous”
When did music appear in your life?
Well, it happened already in my childhood. My mother was a dance teacher and my father was the director of a community cultural center in my hometown of Krasnystaw. From an early age, they took me to various concerts and music events. I know that my parents had a dream of playing instruments, but unfortunately they never had the opportunity to learn. My father worked hard to establish a music school in our town, and when it finally opened, my sister and I were enrolled there. My sister finished her musical education at that stage, but after completing the secondary music level, I decided to continue developing further.
Why jazz and singing?
My first instrument was the violin, and my second was the piano. I first became interested in jazz because there was a jazz big band at the music school led by a trumpet teacher who was himself a jazz musician. He heard me singing somewhere and invited me to collaborate. I really enjoyed singing jazz, and at the age of 16 I went twice to jazz workshops in Puławy. There was a wonderful atmosphere and really fantastic people. That’s when I became convinced that singing jazz was what I wanted to do in life. From then on, my education was directed into that direction. I graduated from the Jazz Department of the Academy of Music in Katowice, earning a master’s degree, and from the Jazz Studies program at Bednarska in Warsaw. Both institutions had wonderful teachers, but the Warsaw concerts and jam sessions I attended almost daily also had a huge impact on my musical development.
Probably not to the same extent as New York, though. How did you end up in America?
The United States never particularly fascinated me, except for the fact that jazz music had its origin there. At some point, I realized that if I wanted to perform my profession reliably and fully develop as a jazz vocalist, it would be necessary to see what it looks like there at the source. I also wanted to improve my English accent. So the main reason for leaving was education.
I moved to the U.S. in 2010 with jazz pianist Kuba Cichocki, who is now my husband. We eventually found affordable universities that guaranteed a good academic level. That’s how I ended up at the Queens College of Music. We also received scholarships from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but even with scholarships it is a rather expensive, commercial school, we ultimately chose New York.
Shortly after graduating in 2014, you recorded your debut—and so far only—album, The Maze, which features both your original compositions and jazz standards.
Yes. It is still my only release so far, although I must reveal that I’ve been working on a new album for quite some time. It’s almost finished, but making a record is a time-consuming process—especially since we’ve been happy parents for the past three years. The new album will largely be a musical continuation of The Maze, as we are recording it in a quintet, practically with the same lineup. The only difference is that the violin will be replaced by a viola. I believe the album will be released later this year. This time it will include only original compositions—mostly mine, but also Kuba’s—with wonderful lyrics written by Rose Ellis and Jeannine Dominy. I’m very excited that I’ll soon be able to present it.
Where did the title of your first album come from? “Maze” suggests a labyrinth.
I think the title reflects well the musical path I had traveled up to that point in my life. It illustrates my search for diverse inspirations and exploration of many musical genres, which ultimately shaped my musical world.
Do you consider releasing the album your greatest career achievement so far? I’m also asking because it was nominated for the Fryderyk Awards, which is certainly a great distinction for any artist.
That’s true. It’s definitely very satisfying when you receive a nomination for the most important music industry award in Poland. Besides the fact that my work was noticed and appreciated, it is undoubtedly the most measurable success. At the time, it seemed that everything was heading in the right direction, but then several things happened—including the pandemic—which significantly delayed my musical plans. I believe that the release of my new album will be well received by the music community, especially since I feel more mature as an artist now than I did over a decade ago.
Which jazz vocalists are your greatest inspirations?
I wrote my master’s thesis about Ella Fitzgerald and Kurt Elling, because at that time they were my musical and vocal heroes. I practically grew up on Ella’s music, and I’ve been fascinated by Kurt for many years. There was a period when I listened almost exclusively to him. Of course, there are many other artists who inspire me, such as Bobby McFerrin and Dianne Reeves. I also love listening to instrumental music, from which I draw a great deal of inspiration—especially in recent years. I’m thinking of artists like Miguel Zenón or Tigran Hamasyan. I’m also interested in composition and arranging, and their music is masterful.
What does jazz mean to you?
That’s a difficult question, because jazz is a very broad concept. Many people associate jazz exclusively with its older form—swing—but for me jazz is music that allows room for experimentation, using a specific jazz language of harmony and rhythm. Based on tradition, I try to create something new, also incorporating contemporary genres and various artistic solutions. What I like about jazz is that it is not unambiguous—it can lean toward classical, pop, or soul music. And although it doesn’t confine the artist to a single genre, it still remains jazz. I love that jazz leaves enormous space for personal expression, which doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate more mainstream jazz—I happily attend those concerts as well.
You also find fulfillment as a music teacher.
Yes. For years I have taught singing, piano, and violin. I teach at a school in Manhattan and also privately. I have taught people of all ages—from 3 years old to over 80. Teaching can be very inspiring.
Do you perform a lot?
Before the pandemic, I performed quite frequently. For example, I had my own concert series in a duo format at Terraza 7, where I invited wonderful musicians to collaborate, including Louis Perdomo and Manuel Valera. I performed at various festivals and clubs—some of which no longer exist. I also traveled with my music to countries such as Israel and Latvia. Now, partly because of our child, I perform somewhat less, but my stage activity has not ceased. I participated in the JazzWahi festival, where we presented a program inspired by Polish folk music; we played at the famous Blues Alley in Washington; and soon I will be part of the faculty for the third time at jazz workshops in Chodzież, Poland. Sometimes I join other bands, but mostly I perform in a duo with my husband. I’ve also had the opportunity to perform several times for the Polish community, including at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Manhattan during the “Chopin and Friends” festival. I also sang at the PSC during a Christmas carol concert for seniors from the Krakus club, which I remember very fondly. I’m happy that I’ll have the opportunity to perform there again.
Can you share any details about the upcoming performance?
We’re still working on it. Discussions are ongoing about the lineup and the repertoire we’ll perform that day. Since artists from various musical circles will appear at the Pre-May Day event, we’ll certainly try to adapt our repertoire accordingly—although it will definitely be a jazz concert. I will certainly perform together with my husband.
What are your non-musical interests?
I like traveling, reading books—especially crime novels—and baking cakes. As a teenager, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who was a great cook and made wonderful pastries. She instilled this passion in me. My signature dessert is lemon tart with meringue. In my free time, I also like visiting museums, especially MoMA.
Thank you for the conversation.
Interviewed by Marcin Żurawicz
