Record Reviews

MILOSZ OLENIECKI ~ SONGS FOR A SOLTAN ART GROUP 021 (Barcode: 5904433795029) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2021 This is the debut album as a leader by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Milosz OlenieckiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio setting with bassist Pawel Zwierzynski-PioroFind albums by this artist and drummer Rafal DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by the leader. The music is all based on wonderful, highly interesting and quite “different” compositions, which manage to escape the traps of typical Polish melancholy, stunning with their diversity and cleverness. They are well based in Polish Folklore, but often touch upon contemporary Classical “trickery” with uneven rhythmic patterns and even Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s Spanish licks, all being unmistakably Jazzy all the way. I must say that it’s been quite a while since I have heard so much originality on a Polish Jazz debut, which means that this is definitely one of the best albums landing on my desk (or in my ears) this year. Oleniecki is also a very interesting pianist, again quite different from his colleagues, who concentrates on the delivery of his compositions rather than on playing endless arpeggios and showing off the speed of his fingers. This results on an idiosynchratic, almost minimalist at times, delivery, which leaves a lot to the listener’s imagination, rather than overloading his sensory perception. Although I am aware of two albums Oleniecki took part in before this recording, both completely different, I am not aware of any recordings by the members of the rhythm section, who contribute magnificently to the success of this album with their highly sensitive, as well as technically proficient performances. This means that the local scene has a lot of talent still waiting to be discovered. Overall, this a stunning and highly unusual debut album, which deserves all the attention it can get, as it certainly offers some new vistas on the rather conformist lately Polish Jazz scene, raising a hope that not all is lost despite the pandemic and other plagues. Hats off are in order and a lot of wishes for the future – please don’t keep us in suspense for too long. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 31/12/2021Posted: 29/12/2021

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