The first musical guest headlining this year’s Drumfest in Opole is the great Frank Gambale All Star Group.
Frank Gambale is a Grammy winner and three-time Grammy nominee. He created the Sweep Picking technique and developer his own instrument tuning, both of which continue to inspire generations of guitarists to this day. With a career spinning over 36 years , he was part of Chick Corea’s Elektric Band (whose leader said that “everything Frank touches with his guitar turns to pure gold”), performed with Return to Forever IV with Stanley Clarke, and has written more than 300 songs released via 20 albums. Pat Metheny, once admitted that he would gladly take time off just to learn from Frank. During his concert in Opole, the leader will showcase fierce (or, as the Rolling Stone magazine once put it, “wild!”) electric riffs, acoustic guitar, smooth jazz sounds and his vocals.
Gergo Borlai, a drummer born in Hungary and now based in Los Angeles, was once a child prodigy who started playing at the age of three and started to receive professional work offers at 15. He is still an on-demand musician, composer and producer, having participated in the recording of more than 500 albums. His third-place finish in Modern Drummer magazine’s prestigious poll for the world’s best all-around drummer (behind legends such as Vinnie Colaiuta and Steve Smith), emphasizes his skill. He also won Drummer of the Year title three times, received a Grammy nomination for his solo album, and has his own signature snare drum released by the legendary Gretsch brand. Having shared the stage with famous artists from Tony MacAlpine and Terry Bozzio to Nathan East, he will return to Opole Drum Fest for the third time.
The group’s lineup is completed by world-class musicians, each bringing an enormous wealth of experience and unique talent to the band. Taking charge of the keyboards will be Tom Schuman, recognized as a longtime pillar and musical mastermind of the legendary American jazz-fusion group Spyro Gyra. With appearances on dozens of Grammy-nominated albums to his name, Schuman is renowned for his brilliant, highly melodic and dynamic improvisations.
The bass player will be Martin Gudics. This phenomenal young bassist is a rising star of the European scene, captivating audiences with his flawless technique, incredible groove and powerful stage presence. Completing this roster is the voice gluing the group’s sound together. The stage will be graced by the outstanding vocalist Boca Gambale.
The concert in Opole will surely let you experience the sound of world-class jazz-rock live and see a brilliant rhythm section set the stage on fire, and is simply an event you cannot afford to miss! The concert will take place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Concert Hall of the F. Chopin State Music School in Opole, located at 18 Strzelców Bytomskich Street. Tickets are priced at PLN 120.
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