Original Song Scene: Lidia Jazgar, Ryszard Brączek

Lidia Jazgar — singing Ryszard Brączek — guitar Galician concert

invites — Basia Stępniak-Wilk

Lidia Jazgar — singer, author and composer of songs; co-founder of the band Galicja, with which the artist became, among others, the laureate of the Student Song Festival; graduate of pedagogy of the Jagiellonian University, certified choreographer; TV and radio presenter, speaker (e.g. concert on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the location Artists of Krakow to their City, TVP2 2007), organizer of cultural events, including Galician Evenings with Song, Nowa Huta. Why not?! Author of periodic broadcasts in Radio Kraków; For her social work on behalf of people with disabilities she received, among others, the Saint Brother Albert Medal. Lidia Jazgar's concerts are usually performances with the Galicja band — in clubs, cellars, theatres and stadiums, in hospices, in kindergartens and in churches... in duet, trio, as “Guitar Galicia” or accompanied by symphony or... wind orchestras! Original, original songs, orchestrated by the pianist Michał Woźniak, the recognizable sound of the composition of the guitarist Ryszard Brączek and of course the charisma of the vocalist — Lidia Jazgar, who, like no one else, can establish a bond with the audience, and in recent years also discs with texts by friendly poets and music by Ryszard Brączard Ka. All this means that the loyal audience of the Galicja band is constantly growing. The current record of Galicia consists of 14 releases, including CDs (including CD Kejem, CD Wiał wiatr with lyrics by Father Andrzej Zajów, CD Fate bene fratelli with lyrics by Leszek Aleksandar Moczulski, CD Ale nam się — a CD dedicated to Korol Wojtyla for his hundredth birthday, pastoral CD Time of Gifts), 2 DVD albums and two musical books for children with music by Ryszard and poetry by Lidia: “Olchowa z Craców” (with the participation of Anna Dymna) and “The Angel's Tale from Krakow” (with the participation of Anna Polona and Krzysztof Globisz). Songs of Galicia can also be found on many albums, which are a selection of the most valuable songs from the Musical Land of Gentleness.

Each of the band members is a separate individual and regardless of the Galician playing, each is realized in individual artistic projects. And when everyone in Galicia meets, an extraordinary energy, full of faith, hope and... love for the world and man, flows from the stage.

Ryszard Brączek — composer, songwriter, guitarist. He graduated from the XVI LO named after K. K. Baczyński, for whom in later years he composed a hymn. He studied Library Science at the Jagiellonian University. Winner of the Brother Albert Medal for charitable activity (2022); In 1985, a group of enthusiasts founded the word and music cabaret “Galicja” in Krakow. Among them was Ryszard Brączek, who was responsible for the musical layer of the presented works. Since Lidia Jazgar was invited to collaborate as a vocalist, the band became more and more famous, soon became associated with Krakow clubs such as Pod Jaszczurami and Arka. After the collapse of the cabaret, Ryszard together with Lidia decided to continue their cooperation as a musical group “Galicia”. This time Ryszard became responsible not only for composing the music, but also for writing the lyrics of the songs. In 1992, the band won the Student Song Festival in Krakow and the unique Piwnica pod Baranami Special Prize in the history of the festival. For many years, it was the Piwnica pod Baranami that was a place of particular importance for Galicia. Here, under the supervision of Piotr Skrzynecki, the ensemble developed artistic wings. Here, in Piwnica, he performed regularly from 1991 to 1997 in various line-up, but of course the constant core of the band were Ryszard and Lidia. The Galicia team exists to this day, that is, more than 40 years! He gives concerts and releases albums — with the guest participation of Anna Dymna, Andrzej Sikorowski, Jacek Wójcicki, Mateusz Ziółko, Mietek Szcześniak and Przemysław Branny. Galicia's albums were also played by excellent guitarists — Jacek Królik, Maciek Mąka, Krzysztof Cyran, Michał Gąsiorowski, as well as pianist Piotr Wyleł, bassist Robert Kubiszyn and many other great musicians. Ryszard Brączek constantly creates — music and lyrics. He also collaborates with other artists and implements many other musical projects, including theater and film music. The latest venture is a musical tale about Krakow, CD Zapozmajmy się (2025 r.), where lyrics by Krystyna Stolarska with music by Ryszard Brączek are sung by Jacek Dewódzki.