Record Reviews

KAROLINA PERNAL ~ CLARIDAD SJ 033 (Barcode: 5912596066665) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Karolina PernalFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with Italian saxophonist / clarinetist Achille SucciFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub OlejnikFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, five of which are original compositions: three by Karolina Pernal and two by her spouse trombonist Bartosz PernalFind albums by this artist and one is a Sam RiversFind albums by this artist composition arranged by Bartosz Pernal. The album was recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist with the usual excellent sound quality. The music is all kept within the melodic mainstream Jazz idiom, with solid original compositions by the Pernals, which are mostly ballads with typical Polish melancholic streak. It is easy on the ear but eventually rather uneventful, although professionally performed by the quintet members with Pluzek being the most interesting soloist by far. Having said that, this album offers a pleasant listening experience to mainstream Jazz connoisseurs and can be enjoyed in full, like many similar other albums in that vein. Karolina Pernal is one of relatively few female Polish Jazz instrumentalists, and as such she deserves support and encouragement to achieve an equal footing with her many male cohorts. This debut offering is surely just a first step on the way to a hopefully wonderful musical career.

Updated: 14/12/2018Posted: 14/12/2018

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STEFANO TRAVAGLINI / ACHILLE SUCCI ~ BOOK OF INNOCENCE NOTAMI 043 (Barcode: 8054729511219) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by the Italian Jazz duo comprising of pianist / composer Stefano TravagliniFind albums by this artist and clarinetist / saxophonist Achille SucciFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, eight of which are original compositions by Travaglini and one is by Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist. The music is excellent modern European Jazz, based on the solid melodic themes composed by the pianist with a considerable degree of Freedom during the extended improvised parts. The omnipresent Italian lyricism and romanticism are still very much in the air or course. The rapport between the two players is truly excellent and they function like one mind for the duration of this album, which is obviously fascinating. I personally love the clarinet, so every time Succi switches to that instrument my ears rise high, never to be disappointed. The music was superbly recoded and offers a first class sound quality, which allows for all the aural nuances to be perfectly audible. The warmth and intimacy that this music displays, is a wonderful example of human communication, which music is general and Jazz even more intensely relays on, and which was brought to perfection on this album. Overall, this is a very intense album by the duo with superb interplay between them, obvious mutual respect and understanding, which all are the basis for great Jazz performances. This is a typical display of the “Art of the Duo” idiom and a worthy part of any decent Jazz records collection.

Updated: 09/04/2023Posted: 09/04/2023

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