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Mieczysław Kosz, a brilliant, blind pianist and a composer, was one of most important figures of Polish school of jazz. Emerging on the Polish jazz scene like a shooting star, he recorded only one album (1971 "Reminiscence") before his tragic death at the age of 29, rumored to be a suicide. His musical style was influenced by romantics, such as Liszt and Chopin, as well as polish folklore.
Kosz was born in a remote, rural area to a very big family living in extreme poverty. At the age of 3 he began to gradually lose his sight, becoming blind at the age of 12. Due to his condition he was sent to the first Polish boarding school for blind children, where his musical talent was quickly spotted. As a teenager he began showing interest in jazz, and after graduating from secondary musical school, he decided to pursue a career in jazz and popular music. His great success was a groundbreaking Jazz Jamboree festival in 1967 in Warsaw, where he was recognized as one of the most promising young artists in jazz. He was the first Pole to win the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival. However, his personal life was tragic and rather lonely. Surrounded by people who tried to take advantage of him, Kosz developed alcoholism. He died tragically by falling off the window at the age of 29.
