Record Reviews

KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI ~ LOST JOURNEY REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2021/17 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz cellist / composer (and now also guitarist) Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, primarily known as a member of the superb Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, but with a rich and exciting recording legacy of dozens of albums by top Polish artists. This album finds him in an exciting organ trio format with the wonderful organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartek StaromiejskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Lenczowski. The music is absolutely delightful, like a ten-course meal in a tree-star Michelin restaurant. Each and every of those compositions is completely different and the diversity is simply astounding, including Classical Music, Rock, Prog, Fusion, World and other influences, skillfully exploited to create a dazzling kaleidoscope of sounds. It is hard to believe that all this music is performed by just three instrumentalists, which emphasizes their individual skills and talents. Lenczowski is a brilliant cellist of course but here he demonstrates amazing scale of different sounds he is able to create on his cello. Galas, whom I have been following closely for a few years now, is a stunning talent, able to express a myriad of feelings using the keyboards. Staromiejski adds his robust drumming to drive the music steadily through the rapid turns and twists and frequent mood changes with sensitivity and skill. It is very difficult to accurately define this music stylistically, and for luck of a better term, it would probably be best described as Jazz-Rock Fusion, although that might not do the music justice, as it is way more rich in textures than what usually passes as Fusion. The leagues of Prog fans should also feel perfectly comfortable with this music, as in fact should all lovers of ambitious melodic music, full of surprising vistas and virtuosic performances. There are very few musicians today, who can match Lenczowski’s compositional ingenuity and chameleonic cross-genre and cross-idiom approach. A retrospective glance at his recorded legacy so far is already highly impressive, and one can never guess what he will come up with next – which of course is one of his many virtues. Overall this is an absolute gem of an album, which a great appeal to all Artistic souls out there, of all ages and all musical affiliations. I can’t imagine anybody not loving this music, and if they don’t I am really sorry for them…

Updated: 01/04/2021Posted: 27/03/2021

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