Nocna Zmiana Bluesa

Sławek Wierzcholski

The most popular bluesman in Poland. Harmonica virtuoso, singer and songwriter. Learned to play harp from blues greats in clubs of Chicago. The leader of Nocna Zmiana Bluesa (The Blues Nightshift), the band he established in 1982 and with whom he has played thousands of gigs in Poland and other countries, such as Russia, France, Greece, the Nederlands, Sweden and even Zimbabwe.

Slawek has recorded total of 20 albums (3 LPs, 2 DVDs and 15 CDs). He also appeared in numerous radio and TV shows. As a sideman, Slawek played harmonica on several CDs of Polish pop and rock artists. He has also gigged and recorded with such distinguished bluesmen as Charlie Musselwhite, Junior Wells and Louisiana Red. With THE BLUES NIGHTSHIFT he opened for The Blues Brothers Band (Nürnberg 1989) and B.B.King (Warsaw 1996). He was the first bluesman from Poland to play at The World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany in 1997.

Slawek's harmonica can be heard on some movies and TV series soundtracks. He is the author of two harmonica instructional books, TV harmonica courses and has been a harmonica teacher at workshops in Poland and France. He is also a radio DJ, leading his own blues related show at the Polish Radio. He is also a contributor to Poland's blues magazine "Twój blues".

He and his band were chosen No1 harmonica player and No1 blues band in Poland in the "Blues Top" Polish surveys. His CD "Polski blues" got an enthusiastic review in March 2000 issue of America's leading blues magazine Blues Revue.

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