Often compared to composer-pianists Ludovico Einaudi and Ólafur Arnalds, Aleksander Dębicz is one of the most promising young Polish artists. Two years ago, when he performed at the Transatlantyk International Film and Music Festival in Poznań, he was hailed “the dark horse” winner of one of the most extraordinary music competitions in the world – The Instant Composer Contest. The 27-year-old Polish pianist showed unique creativity and sensitivity backed by phenomenal technique.

Winning the ICC (in which artists improvise in front of the audience to accompany a film presented on the screen) opened the door for Aleksander Dębicz to release his debut album Cinematic Piano, an eclectic yet accessible exploration of the composer-pianist’s sound world.

The album’s compositions draw from film-music predecessors as well as from light or jazz music, without ever losing the touch of the classical virtuoso. As these genres are all equal for the pianist, switching between them comes naturally to Aleksander Dębicz.

Cinematic Piano is a mixture of spontaneous energy and vitality with a dash of nostalgia and film suspense, all played with Debicz’s astounding virtuosity, his touch particularly impressive in sparkling fast passages executed with charming nonchalance. Under the fingers of this young artist, the piano pulsates and grooves, flows and sparkles with numerous colours and emotions in different shades.

The album’s momentum and drive is inspired by film editing techniques. These 12 pieces, written by Dębicz, were recorded in Alvernia Studios near Krakow by Grammy Award winners Andrzej Sasin and Aleksandra Nagórko.

Born in Wrocław, Poland, Aleksander Dębicz graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the class of Prof. Elżbieta Tarnawska. He has won prizes in several national and international competitions, all the while developing his skills at master classes with today’s piano legends. As a chamber player he collaborates with a number of outstanding young musicians (among them Kasia Stankiewicz), in a variety of projects ranging from jazz to pop.