On Sunday afternoon, a day after news of the jazz legend’s death, his wife Dorota Urbaniak posted a heartfelt tribute on social media.
Heartfelt Goodbye Published
On Sunday afternoon, a day after the announcement of jazz musician Michał Urbaniak’s death, his wife Dorota Urbaniak shared a lengthy farewell on social media. The post was dated Sunday, the day after the news hit the internet.
Personal Reflections on Their Time Together
Dorota recalled that the couple had fought through daily challenges for the last one‑and‑a‑half years. “Every day, after your first time in a coma, everything changed. Life slowed for us, we left the city less, but sometimes we still managed to do things. As it always was with you,” she wrote.
Last Words About Life and Music
She also remembered his dedication to work: “You wanted to release ‘Kind of Blues’, you were relentless on WhatsApp, you wrote scores with Peter, you searched for beats with Zuzia, and you made AI videos. At the end, we made time for ‘Family Soprano,’ a show you adored, and once we even went to the theatre.” She admitted he liked to pretend everything was fine.
Postscript and Final Notes
In the closing remarks Dorota mentioned that Barcelona had won their last match on December 16, 2023 (FC Barcelona beat El Guadalajara 2‑0 in the Copa del Rey). She added, “You’ll probably meet Karolakiem, chat in Swedish, and laugh at us.” She also attached a black‑and‑white photo of the couple.
Daughters’ Tributes
Mika Urbaniak posted a colourful image with the caption: “Dad, we love you. Sleep among the angels.” Kasia Urbaniak shared the same photo and wrote, “I will miss you, dad! Your father died last night and I could not be prouder to be the daughter of this legendary person. I wish I could shout my love and grief from the roof so you could hear me. Dad! Our relationship was a masterpiece. Thank you for letting love open our hearts and for constantly changing us until we achieved perfection.”
Biography of Michał Urbaniak
Michał Urbaniak was born in Warsaw in 1943 and grew up in Łódź, where he received classical musical training while playing jazz in the respected Tiger Rag ensemble. In 1969 he founded the Michał Urbaniak Group, recording a series of Polish Jazzalbums titled “Live Recording” and “In Concert,” featuring musicians such as Urszula Dudziak, Adam Makowicz and Czesław Bartkowski. He collaborated with leading American jazz figures—Ron Carter, Lennie White, Larry Coryell, Billy Cobham, Marcus Miller—and was the sole Polish musician to work with trumpeter Miles Davis, recording a violin track for the album “Tutu.”