Ozimkowicz’s Band is named after Jan Ozimkowicz, a 17th-century goldsmith and Persian language translator from Jarosław, Poland. The band’s musicians hail from the same region, with members from Przemyśl (Konrad Ozimek on fiddle) and Jarosław (Paweł Iwan on hammered dulcimer and vocals; Anna Iwan on bass and vocals).
The band focuses on the traditional music, songs, and dances of their native Pogórze Przemyskie and Dynowskie regions. They draw their repertoire from rural masters like Władysław Piróg and Wojciech Pilch from Słonne, as well as the Sowa Band from Piątkowa. Their music is also enriched with Ukrainian dances and songs once popular in this borderland area. At times, they venture beyond their home regions, playing melodies from eastern Poland and western Ukraine, following the spirit of masters like Jan Marek. The Rzeszów fiddler, upon hearing a melody he liked on the radio, would fondly exclaim: “That one must be mine!”
In keeping with old village customs, the band plays primarily for dancing. They develop melodic motifs at length, weaving them into suites and giving dancers ample space to truly express themselves. They are known to play all night long, until the very last dancer leaves the floor.
The musicians are also members of other dance bands – Hajda Banda, Traszno, C.K. Kapela, Kapela Brodów – with whom they have played dozens of village dances and received awards at competitions such as Stara Tradycja / Old Tradition, Nowa Tradycja / New Tradition, Mikołajki Folkowe, and the Turniej Muzyków Prawdziwych / Tournament of Authentic Musicians. They also organise festival clubs with traditional dancing, including at the Festiwal Pieśń Naszych Korzeni / Song of Our Roots Festival in Jarosław, and in earlier years at the Festiwal Galicja Gnojnica / Galicja Gnojnica Festival.
Performers:
Konrad Ozimek – fiddle
Ania Iwan – bass, vocals
Paweł Iwan – hammered dulcimer, vocals
Karol Kot – baraban
photo: Katarzyna Norka Niedźwiedzka
