Record Reviews

BASTARDA & CHOR UNIWERSYTETU SWPS ~ KOLOWROT AUDIO CAVE 2021/011 (Barcode: 5908298549421) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the 5th (second this year) album by the Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist comprising of clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist. This time they cooperate with the SWPS University ChoirFind albums by this artist, conducted by Ewa MackiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents just four lengthy compositions, named after the four seasons, composed by the members of the trio and based on Polish Folk songs related to the seasons as well as some medieval musical sources. The music is deeply spiritual, embossed with Folkloristic sources and East European mysticism, Jewish, Christian and Pagan, with only slight touches of Jazzy improvisations. Bastarda managed to develop over time its own musical language, which despite the minimalism dictated by just three instruments, seems to be completely unlimited in its power of expression. This album is more focused and therefore also more striking than their earlier recordings, and with the presence of the choir enables to create much greater dynamics and diversity than ever before. The resulting music offers an explosive emotional statement, which easily competes with symphonic pieces, both in richness and expressionism, which is truly astounding in view of the fact that is created by three acoustic instruments and human voices. The superb recording quality of this album is also an important factor in the entire equation. Bastarda seems to be unstoppable in their path to create one of the most unique musical landscapes in Europe, with constantly changing subject matter on one hand and new ways of squeezing the minimalist instrumental lemon to the max. It often seems that they already reached to peak of their creativity, but every new album proves the audiences wrong. The cooperation with the choir is a wonderful example of putting human resources together in a way where the instruments and the human voices coexist as one, without dominating or disturbing each other, in perfect harmony, both tonally and spiritually. Overall this is an absolutely brilliant album, definitely one of the best Polish albums released in 2021, completely unique and fulfilling. It stays beyond any stylistic classification or genre association and excels in its simplicity, directness and power of expressions like only very few other albums can. Perfect music to be listened to with the snow falling outside and the fireplace ablaze. Marvelous, simply marvelous!

Updated: 15/05/2024Posted: 19/12/2021

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