„Derlak’s expansive soloing (...), adrenaline-
charged compositions, (...) cohesive, exhibiting a fiery chemistry music and a sence of drama – will
take the trio far”
- Ian Patterson (All about jazz)
Aga Derlak has been awarded with the most important Polish music award FRYDERYK in three categories: Jazz Artist of the Year (2023), Jazz Album of the Year (2023), Jazz Debut (2016).
The music of Aga Derlak represents most of all unrestrained expression and unstoppable freedom, which direct her on unexplored, winding paths throught the history of her life, inspirations derived from jazz, european music, latin-american folklore, classical music; Inspirations - that sometimes wonderfully contradict and sometimes complement each other. And this dance in the midst of what is correct and incorrect, what is spoken loudly and delivered between the lines, of what is literal and figurative is what Aga invites the listener to. Her music reflects the courage, novelty, and an absolute honesty in her search of the bigger meaning and purpose of music in the world that needs so much the breath and truth.
„Aga Derlak Trio is a strong wave of vital energy. They are a very important voice of young Polish jazz society”
- Michał Tokaj
Aga Derlak is a pianist, composer and educator. She has been awarded with the most prestigious music award in Poland FRYDERYK three times (2024: Jazz Artist of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year; 2016: Jazz Debut of the Year). She is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Arts at Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin. She is a winner of many prestigious awards, gaining wide recognition in the European jazz community. She is an alumni of Berklee College of Music in Boston (2019) and Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice (2017).
While studying in Boston, she studied under the guidance of Danilo Perez, pianist of Wayne Shorter Quartet. Aga has performed in Poland, USA, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Germany, Greece, UK, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Moldova, Slovakia, Czech Republic. She has participated in the most important jazz festivals in Europe and beyond, including, among others, such festivals as: Panama Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Jazztopad in NY, Ecuador Jazz Festival, Athens Technopolis Jazz Festival, Ankara Jazz Festival, Xjazz Berlin.
In September 2019, she performed at the legendary Jazz at Lincoln Center /
Dizzy's Club in New York with her new project during the Generations in Jazz festival.
Aga has collaborated with Zbigniew Namysłowski, Andree Hayward, Luciana Souza,
Claudio Ragazzi, Mauricio Morales, Patricia Zarate, Jerzy Malek, Michal Tomaszczyk,
Nikola Kolodziejczyk, Grzech Piotrowski, Sabina Meck and many others.
She has released four original albums: "First Thought" (2015), "Healing" (2017) "Parallel" (2023).
In 2025, Aga released her newest project: neurodivergent.
The project is co-created by Aga Derlak, Maciej Szczyciński, Miłosz Berdzik, and Kacper Malisz.
In 2025, the album Neurodivergent was released by the Polish Radio Music Agency. The work is dedicated to the theme of neurodivergence. In this project, the artist grants creative agency to her own nonlinear way of perceiving the world — giving musical form to inner chaos and a unique logic that often remains incomprehensible from a neurotypical perspective..
FESTIVALS:
Aga with her projects has been invited to the most prestigous jazz festivals and TV productions in the world, among others:
Letnia Akademia Jazzu, Łódź, 2025
Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa, 2025
Fryderyk - Jazz Gala, Warsaw, 2025
USFQ Jazz Festival, Quito, Ecuador, 2025
Corno Jazz Festival, Zielona Góra, 2024
Jazz in Ruins, Gliwice, 2024
Roots Music Festival, Warsaw, 2024
Chileuropa Festival, Chile, 2023
Recoleta Mapocho Jazz, Chile 2023
Ecuador Jazz Festival, Ekwador, 2022
Sopot Jazz Festival, 2022
Jazz Meets World Festival, Czechy, 2022
Alternatilla Jazz Festival, Hiszpania, 2022
Jazz Nad Odrą, 2022
Krakowskie Zaduszki Jazzowe, 2022
1st Baku Piano Festival, Baku, Azerbejdżan, 2022
Ni CaJazz! Festival, Alcandre, Hiszpania 2022
Jazzonalia Festival, Konin, Poland 2022
Tuesday Jazz Series, NOSPR, Katowice, Poland 2022
TVP Kultura, Aga Derlak Septet 2021
TVP Kultura, Aga Derlak Septet - concert broadcast from Enter Enea Festival 2021
Jazz Jamboree Festival, Warszawa 2021
Enter Enea Festival, Poznań, Poland 2021
International Festival of Jazz Pianists, Kalisz, Poland 2021
Festiwal JazzJantar, Gdańsk, 2021
Jazz Nad Odrą 2021, Wrocław
Generations in Jazz Festival - Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, 2019
Jazz in Ruins Festival, Poland 2019
Vertigo Sumer Jazz Festival, Poland 2019
Panama Jazz Festival, Panama 2019
Alternatilla Jazz in Mallorca Festival, Spain 2018
Ankara Jazz Festival, Turkey 2018
Festival Kolory Polski, Poland 2018
Jazz’n’Chisinau Festival, Moldavia 2018
Festiwal Jazz Od Nowa, Poland 2018
Mandau Jazz Festival, Germany 2017
Jazzinec Festival 2017
Palm Jazz Festival, Poland 2017
Edinburgh Jazz&Blues Festival, UK 2017
Nisville Jazz Festival, Serbia 2017
XJazz Festival Berlin, Germany 2017
Athens Technopolis Festival, Greece 2017
Lublin Jazz Festival, Poland 2017
Wielka Improwizacja - Wrocław NFM, Poland 2017
Jazz Jantar Festival, Poland 2017
European Jazz Conference Wrocław, Poland 2016
Festiwal Pianistólw Jazzowych w Kaliszu, Poland 2016
Silesian Jazz Festival, Poland 2016
Rzeszów Jazz Festival, Poland 2016
Orbita Jazzu, Poland 2016
Gala Fryderyk, Poland 2016
Hevhetia Festival Bratyslava, Slovakia 2015
Jazz Juniors, Poland 2015
Lotos Jazz Festival (Bielska Zadymka Jazzowa), Poland 2015
Hevhetia Festival Kosice, Slovakia 2014, 2015, 2017
Brno Jazz Festival, Czech Republic 2014
Jazz Autumn Vrchlabi, Czech Republic 2014
![[PL]**La Profe #7** Drop 2 + opóźnienia w improwizacji diatonicznej ✨
Proste ćwiczenie wychodzące z układu drop 2. Aby wprowadzić pewien ruch w sekwencji akordów możemy skorzystać z opóźnień. Wystarczy że przed zagraniem właściwego voicigu (w tym przypadku 1 5 7 3), pożyczymy sobie ze skali inny dźwięk rozwiązujący się w dół na jeden z powyższych. Tutaj pokazuje opóźnienie 6-5 oraz 4-3.
Bardzo proste, a urokliwe.
Zrób w 12 tonacjach i improwizuj!
[EN] **La Profe #7** Drop 2 + Delays in Diatonic Improvisation ✨
A simple exercise based on the drop 2 voicing structure. To introduce some movement into a chord sequence, we can use suspensions (delays). Before playing the actual voicing (in this case 1–5–7–3), simply borrow another note from the scale that resolves downward to one of those chord tones.
Here I demonstrate the 6–5 and 4–3 suspensions. Very simple, yet charming.
Practice it in all 12 keys and improvise!
#jazzpractice #jazzpiano #piano](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/638294585_18568262887047709_6778034072083304913_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=sc19WMpWNn4Q7kNvwEcLWsa&_nc_oc=AdmuNcd0IyRMR3YLB-IcSThiiEMXyZ0xD7_a5A7a73SNpRlqWlU3s9MaBwUYiDnuFDM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=oa0Z48VaP4x4Q_e8wNL2tA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQE_F23bQDprJtmQp1IH4X1zSe0aHaW59eUWCF0ZCy6T0bQCIy-18ZAAE3sldcYMcCDyaQRJUzfC&oh=00_Afznzv1_JXF-LyMcn9nhfDKzxg3EspsdsERHmtDbEl_--w&oe=69C09D6A)
![Dzięki wielki @studio7piaseczno ✨
Praca nad nowym materiałem rozpoczęta.
A jego Ojcem Chrzestnym [muzyczka z filmu] jest @sniper_musicproduction od którego oczekuję zaległych prezentów na komunię. 😅
#recording #studio #rhodes](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.71878-15/635302701_1687506675567581_292084188927459277_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=qFoS57Z62OMQ7kNvwGM5KuF&_nc_oc=AdlYnh37DHLOVuI6btNY8u0AJ-p2zDmDD6Gtrg5O6dOIwo8Bn_8npyS8I66Z_yUaxC0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=oa0Z48VaP4x4Q_e8wNL2tA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGIw-b0pcWECawxVCKzBX_ZVoGtsDAcb4oUAh8kVq-94Bi5Qm4FYNzw4wZZlppk9BPTDs8WbnQA&oh=00_AfzlhCY-aj4TwPsnjyMMEOuKs1sHPa_4T88g8kXCrzKOOQ&oe=69C0B6E6)
![[PL] **La Profe radzi #6**
Komponowanie ćwiczeń. Dziś na drop 2. ✨
Jeśli masz problem z jakimś zagadnieniem, stwórz sobie własne ćwiczenie, które będzie sprawiało Ci radość, i z którym, będziesz mogła/mógł pokombinować harmonicznie!
Tutaj wychodzimy od zagrania II V I w układzie drop 2, we wszystkich przewrotach, tak aby łączyły się najbliższą drogą. Ja zaczynam od układu na septymie i schodzę w dół. Potem myślę, a co by było, gdybym dodała dominantę na VI stopniu i zrobiła Turn Around. A potem myślę o substytutach, akordach przejściowych i można na prawdę bawić się dowoli.
[EN] ****La Profe’ advice #6**
Composing exercises. Today: drop 2. ✨
IF you have trouble practicing something - compose an exercise that will be fun to play and to mess with. We start by playing a II–V–I progression in drop 2 voicings, in all inversions, making sure they connect using the closest possible voice leading. I begin with the voicing that has the seventh in the bass and move downward.
Then I think: what if I added a dominant chord on the VI degree and created a turnaround? And after that, I think about substitutions and passing chords — and you can really have endless fun with it.
#jazztheory #jazzpiano #practice](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/626278599_18564538960047709_4074196915162374847_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=uyyT3IUFCUUQ7kNvwFSQPr8&_nc_oc=Adl286F1rw9iytLDeRLreIemzpByBi8AUnB5pZBRAWxBG8oTeLyVKrpu985s9DVeJD4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=oa0Z48VaP4x4Q_e8wNL2tA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQFNJoVKsslZ-S1Hm9El_9m2zv8AkF6xhz2OxBngDpkZrzdzDRnFFMRNKjh56Pi6XKyvlolqYmBU&oh=00_Afw2VwAxFaGq9ilygz7okIbl53VAJvppVTkGaEQfZlELPw&oe=69C0C473)
![[PL] **La Profe Radzi #5**
Turn Around rozszerzony✨✨✨
Turn Around to prosta kadencja składająca się z akordów na I VI II i V lub III VI II V stopniu. Natomiast posiadamy wiele narzędzi, dzięki któremu możemy „rozszerzać” prostą sekwencję harmoniczną. Tutaj zamieniłam I na dodatkowe II-V do VI7 z użyciem substytutu trytonowego, IIm zamieniłam na II7. Do tego dodałam opóźnienia 4-3 lub 6 - 6b oraz dodałam linię melodyczną w środkowym głosie schodzącym po poszczególnych składnikach akordów. Możliwości jest wiele, backdoor progression, wychylenia, opóźnienia. Bawcie się dobrze! ✨
[EN] **La Profe’s Advice #5**
Extended Turnaround ✨✨✨
A turnaround is a simple cadence composing of chords built on the I–VI–II–V or III–VI–II–V degrees. However, we have many tools that allow us to “expand” a basic harmonic sequence.
Here, I replaced the I with an additional II–V leading to VI7, using a tritone substitution, and I changed the IIm to II7. I also added 4–3 or 6–♭6 suspensions, as well as a melodic line in the inner voice descending through the individual chord tones.
There are many possibilities: backdoor progressions, tonicizations, suspensions. Have fun exploring! ✨
#jazz #jazzpiano #musictheory](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/626289182_18564539485047709_2012782095513117297_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=iVryflxhbvsQ7kNvwHHYXgv&_nc_oc=Adl8Wgc73IURTsh7lSwSfuTV6PU7-GQd0aJA1r_lu0I_pRdS3abF3eQLqEr_T72CX4E&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=oa0Z48VaP4x4Q_e8wNL2tA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGvZ04zAcB_agKQzr8Ieo4dHXobwlCjLg0nGbv-HceBilZO_Ivm5W8EmHO7VTU4ZbfcmtIY-Kg7&oh=00_AfwbBWkOjT7kWBl651bRDbn4HdoVdgW54i5N_pYCJ5IcWg&oe=69C0B985)
![[PL] **La Profe Radzi #4** Harmonizacja na zasadzie dźwięku wspólnego. ✨✨✨
Super tip dla songwriterów, wokalistów i wszystkich tych, co chcieliby poeksplorować np harmonię na stopniach alterowanych. Cała na biało tutaj wjeżdża zasada łączenia za pomocą dźwięku wspólnego! I nagle wszystko jest banalne. Dziękujemy Ci zasado.
Wystarczy znaleźć jeden dźwięk wspólny dla obu akordów (składnik akordu, składnik skali) i użyć go jako łącznika (nie tylko w górnym głosie) ✨✨✨
Proponuj w ten sposób: w prawej ręce graj jeden dźwięk a w lewej ręce schodź poltonowo w dół szukając nowych brzmień i interesujących połączeń. Potem wybierz tryb akordów i gotowe! Baw się dobrze!
[EN] **La Profe’s Advice #4**
Harmonization based on a common tone ✨✨✨
A great tip for songwriters, vocalists, and anyone who’d like to explore, for example, harmony on altered degrees. Here comes — shining in all white — the principle of connecting chords through a common tone! And suddenly everything becomes simple. Thank you, dear principle.
All you need to do is find one common tone between two chords (a chord tone or a scale tone) and use it as a link (not only in the top voice) ✨✨✨
Try this approach: in your right hand, play one sustained note, and in your left hand move down by semitones, searching for new colors and interesting connections. Then choose the chord quality/mode — and you’re done! Have fun!
#jazz #jazzpiano #musictheory](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/626279837_18564539437047709_5911313203705631700_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=njYlPtLjTW8Q7kNvwEn8GwC&_nc_oc=Admxq_EyeQVYG8oy9l38OEBI0BsaF50-0F_RCDwoyW0rkrkNK8f-Sr3bmrcuHCqR_5E&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=oa0Z48VaP4x4Q_e8wNL2tA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQGuabVQqikhz8NaqO5EULg27CnDVZo59V-E_0K94eeXlxmbel6HsKNtwtmWfaRMdbm1vc3yEDW4&oh=00_Afxr-3WECXxSTWopag_y_pC5q-g64M1UEWAm-9ekWEJVnw&oe=69C0ACF7)
![[PL] **La Profe Radzi #3**
Urokliwy zwrot na dominancie
Urokliwy zwrot, trochę susika, trochę alteracji, opóźnienie (Bm7 / Eb - EbMaj7) i mamy to! Baw się dobrze! ✨🎹
[EN] **La Profe’s Advice #3**
A Charming Turn on the Dominant
A charming little move — a touch of suspension, a hint of alteration, a delay (Bm7 / Eb – EbMaj7) — and there you have it! Have fun! ✨🎹
#jazz #jazzpiano #musictheory](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/626282056_18564539386047709_2607248314465326737_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=Y8LM-nlpe64Q7kNvwHHo4et&_nc_oc=Adn7cGZ9ymZv4cOyyiKcyMWoQ6yYY5yPZ38Di5dPAupdiNOhLqUtn4YgwxC2sn-KnNM&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=oa0Z48VaP4x4Q_e8wNL2tA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQEEgDJ8q5g2sjIGfEd8W2-TxHlLk2r66-71DDQQimw_1zh2gh3LIFCmuXmvvnzlGukkQZTJQFIr&oh=00_AfyrHZyehyaT3Eksnd4kgKDqhPQT5wwT_32tpPdwTcHOBw&oe=69C0C37D)
![[PL] **La Profe Radzi #2**
A radzi SIĘ:
Jak ustawiasz metronom? ✨✨✨
Istnieją różne szkoły — osobiście lepiej działa u mnie na „2 i 4”kiedy jest na „1 i 3” od razu pojawia się u mnie lekka nerwowość. Jak u Was z tym?
[EN] **La Profe’s Advice #2**
Or actually, she’s asking for one ;)
How do you set your metronome? ✨✨✨
There are different schools of thought — personally, it works better for me on 2; when it’s on 1, I immediately get a slight sense of nervousness. How do you deal with this?
#jazz #jazzpiano #musictheory](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/632264866_18564539341047709_1734836958914813602_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=3dGYZcEysvgQ7kNvwEB1Mkm&_nc_oc=Adk3UWIyKH7UakFN6s5778MiF4O8Mi-yjJpoiEwkLPz_sWgYz5HJRx62ad122tZ-VNQ&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=oa0Z48VaP4x4Q_e8wNL2tA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQHr6NtaqgX1e_u5AFdqqQQir0g9Hi29bHFcKvwl6OUwB4GImX5PclDSO13PkJUDjEFs5aaFnNbU&oh=00_AfywG6hMgN799RaNV5FExUIfHhRx52XsjhoMiWmaaDiDOg&oe=69C0B565)
