Wola Art – Joachim Mencel in Concert (hurdy-gurdy, piano)

The Wola Art series presents the work of outstanding Krakow-based artists from the jazz, contemporary, electronic, ambient, world, and acoustic music scenes.

It was created in response to the enthusiastic reception of the Strzelnica na Woli space – a venue where music resonates with exceptional beauty. The event offers an intimate setting for artists and audiences to meet, reflect, and share in the experience of art — where music becomes a starting point for conversation, attentive listening, and genuine connection.

Joachim Mencel – pianist, composer, producer, and professor at the Academy of Music in Krakow – is often called “the romantic of Polish jazz piano.” A pioneer of incorporating the hurdy-gurdy into jazz, he has been awarded the Silver Cross of Merit and the Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture. He has collaborated with artists such as Nigel Kennedy, Brad Terry, Ewa Bem, and Anna Maria Jopek. Mencel has performed across several continents, and his album Brooklyn Eye, recorded in New York, was released by Origin Records. He currently performs solo, in duos, and with his quintet, presenting original compositions inspired by Polish folk music.
The event is made possible thanks to the initiative, collaboration, and dedication of Maciej Trifonidis (Trifopark).