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Urszula Dudziak

Urszula Dudziak
UrszulaDudziak20101121.jpg
Born Urszula Bogumiła Dudziak
(1943-10-22) 22 October 1943 (age 73)
Straconka, Poland
Occupation Singer
Spouse(s) 1. Michał Urbaniak (divorced)
2. Benght Dahllof
Children Mika Urbaniak
Katarzyna Urbaniak
Relatives Leszek Dudziak (brother)
Musical career
Genres Jazz
Instruments Piano
Years active 1958–present
Labels Inner City, Kayax
Associated acts Krzysztof Komeda, Gil Evans, Archie Shepp, Lester Bowie
Website www.urszuladudziak.pl

Urszula Bogumiła Dudziak-Urbaniak (born 22 October 1943) is a leading Polish jazz vocalist. She has worked with artists such as Krzysztof Komeda, Michał Urbaniak (her ex-husband), Gil Evans, Archie Shepp, and Lester Bowie. Her 1970s song, "Papaya", gained widespread popularity in Asia and Latin America in 2007.

Dudziak was born in the Straconka, now a neighborhood of Bielsko-Biała, Poland. She studied piano, but began to sing in the late 50s after hearing records by Ella Fitzgerald. Within a few years she was one of the most popular jazz artists in her native country. She met and later married Michał Urbaniak. In the late 60s they began to tour overseas and in the 70s settled in New York City.

Dudziak has some problems with language and customarily eschews words in favour of wordless vocalizing that is far more adventurous than scat. Already gifted with a remarkable five-octave vocal range, Dudziak employs electronic devices to extend still further the possibilities of her voice. She has frequently worked with leading contemporary musicians, including Archie Shepp and Lester Bowie, and was a member of the Vocal Summit group, with Jay Clayton, Jeanne Lee, Bobby McFerrin, Norma Winstone, Sting, Michelle Hendricks, and Lauren Newton. Dudziak has also cooperated and performed with her fellow Polish female jazz vocalist Grażyna Auguścik.


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