Record Reviews

BALDYCH / HERDZIN / PIERONCZYK / SZTABA ~ GREAT ENCOUNTERS ANAKLASIS 075 (Barcode: 5907795210841) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 - 2021 Released: 2021 This is an album produced to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the PWM Edition (Polish music publishing house), which also owns the prestigious AnaklasisFind albums on this label record label. The album collects five musical pieces, which represent the cross-genre projects released by the label as part of its “Revisions” series. Those are mostly Jazz-Classical Fusion or Pop-Classical Fusion explorations, which were inspired by Polish Classical Music composers: Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, Stanislaw MoniuszkoFind albums by this artist, Ignacy Jan PaderewskiFind albums by this artist, Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist and Henryk WieniawskiFind albums by this artist. Three Polish Jazz instrumentalists / composers: violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, as well as pianist / composer / arranger / conductor Adam SztabaFind albums by this artist, mostly associated with Polish TV and entertainment industry, were selected to create the music for this album. Herdzin is the author of two of these pieces and the others authored one piece each. The music is performed by Baldych, Herdzin, Pieronczyk and additional musicians: vocalist Igor HerbutFind albums by this artist, Moldovan cimbalom (hammered dulcimer) player Marcel ComendantFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist and the AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Marek MosFind albums by this artist. The music offers quite a diverse stylistic amalgam, dominated by the two pieces by Herdzin, which comprise almost half of the album’s duration, ranging from romantic easy listening Classical music to Jazz Avant-Garde and Avant-Pop. The level of the performances is absolutely superb and the music offers intelligent and highly aesthetic listening experience. Overall, this is another highly successful album in this wonderful series, and certainly something worthy of pursuing by the Jazz-Classical Fusion enthusiasts. Since these pieces do not appear on any of the albums released in this series, it is absolutely worth getting as well. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 31/03/2023Posted: 31/03/2023

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ADAM BALDYCH ~ LEGEND ANAKLASIS 020 (Barcode: 5907795211855) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Marek KonarskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Lukasz OjdanaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist, and Polish Classical violinist Agata SzymczewskaFind albums by this artist. The album presents compositions inspired by the music of Polish Classical violinist / composer Henryk WieniawskiFind albums by this artist, nine of which are original compositions by Baldych and one is variation on a composition by Wieniawski. The album was released by the prestigious Polish AnaklasisFind albums on this label label as part of its “Revisions” series. I have followed Baldych’s career closely since his arrival on the scene over a decade ago and even had the pleasure of writing the liner notes for one of his early albums, always believing in his extraordinary talent and proudly watching his amazing achievements over time. His participation in this prestigious series is therefore not surprising at all. The meeting of Jazz and Classical violins is not a completely novel idea of course, but in the past this happened mostly on the lighter side of the music spectrum (see kitsch), whereas here we witness a true connubiality of the two with no concessions whatsoever to the aesthetic meritum of the entire concept. Baldych’s compositions are sublimely melodic, absolutely soaked in the Polish lyricism and melancholy, not far in spirit from the music of this album’s patron. Therefore, the “inspired by” relationship is perhaps the most vivid of all the albums in this series. Even when the music ventures into a more Avant-Garde territory, it still firmly relates to the subject matter, not losing any of its melodicism of even lyricism. The members of the quintet stand up to the challenge with flying colors, providing a full-fledged harmonious base for the two violinist to play solos and duets at lengths. Ojdana, a brilliant Jazz pianist by any standard, is absolutely instrumental to the success of the whole project, showing wonderful restraint and profound understanding of his supportive role, but soloing with class and exceptional fluidity. Konarski adds his saxophone parts also extremely carefully and delicately, sounding somehow like another violin, as outlandish as this might sound. The highly proficient rhythm section is also completely enlisted to the cause, providing the ever so delicate Jazzy heartbeat to the proceedings. Almost anything said about the two violinist might sound completely superfluous, as they are both already established as Masters of their Art. It is very comforting that the initial fears and reservations proved to be completely baseless and everything worked out magnificently well. One can only hope that this duet will meet again soon, and judging by Baldych’s love of the duet idiom, my hopes are high. Overall, this is an absolutely marvelous album, one of the most natural amalgamations of Jazz and Classical Music I have encountered over the years. Everything here breathes music, elegance, dedication, good taste and impeccable performances. What a coincident that I should write these words on Valentine’s Day, as this album is so Romantic it simply melts one’s heart away. Thank you my Friends for another sublime gift of Music!

Updated: 14/02/2023Posted: 14/02/2023

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ADAM BALDYCH ~ MAGICAL THEATRE ELITE 001 (Barcode: 885767685468) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 The violin holds a very special position in the history of modern Polish Jazz, and except for France, no other European country can pride itself in such splendid heritage as far as the use of violin in Jazz is concerned. The first generation of modern Polish Jazz musicians includes three distinguished Jazz violinists: Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist (born 1943), Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist (born 1946) and Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist (born 1953). Each of these virtuosi and exceptional composers made his mark not only on Polish Jazz, but also on European Jazz and World Jazz scenes. Of course each of these three musicians offered a unique and very individual approach to violin, all being innovators and pioneers: Urbaniak contributed greatly to the development of Jazz-Fusion and Jazz-Funk, Seifert to modern and Free Jazz and Debski to the amalgam of Jazz and contemporary Classical music. Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist (born 1986) is of course a member of a different generation; one might even say a child of a very different era. His predecessors lived and created under the Socialist regime, which of course was far from enabling the freedom of expression and the opportunities to study and develop musical talents, and their life was a story of constant struggle with reality. Baldych grew up in a "new" Poland, liberated, democratic and full of opportunities. That does not mean, of curse, that his life and his path to success was an easy one. Considered a child prodigy, Baldych started his performing and then composing careers very early on, which explains his extremely impressive biography at the age of 25. The list of awards, notable performances, composing credits and recordings could easily satisfy a musician twice his age or more. And yet Baldych considers this album a pivotal point of his career and although not his recording debut, this is certainly a new begging, hopefully of an international career. Recorded with his band called Damage ControlFind albums by this artist, "Magical TheatreFind albums with this title" is certainly an album, which should expose him to the worldwide audiences. Baldych composed six of the eight compositions present here and co-composed one more, with the last being composed by the band´s keyboardist. The band includes gifted young players, who provide him with excellent support and execute his complex compositions with grace and panache. Full of youthful spirit and energy, the album flows beautifully from one track to the next, changing moods and atmospheres, but always remaining fascinating. There are no dull moments here, no boring parts and no fillers – just one continuous flow of entrancing music, which keeps the listener captivated. Of course regardless of how good the performers might be, the primary strength of this album lies in the music contained herein. Baldych´s compositions are simply spot on and his unique ability to amalgamate the Jazz tradition, the Polish romanticism and the contemporary sound techniques works perfectly. An experienced listener will be able to discover many delicate musical hints and references in this music, especially in Baldych´s solos, but surely anybody able of enjoying good music will find here starlight qualities. I´m sure that Michal, Zbigniew and Krzesimir would be proud of the continuator of their splendid heritage. What remains is to hope that as many music connoisseurs as possible will eventually discover this gem and hold it dear to their hearts. I certainly hope it does happen, big time, as it is well deserved! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 19/09/2018Posted:

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ADAM BALDYCH ~ POETRY ACT 9939 (Barcode: 614427993922) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the seventh album on the prestigious German ACTFind albums on this label label by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist recorded with his Polish quintet, which comprises of saxophonist Marek KonarskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist. Italian Master trumpeter Paolo FresuFind albums by this artist expands the quintet into a sextet. The album presents eleven tracks, ten of which are original compositions by Baldych and one is an arrangement of a song composed by the enigmatic BjorkFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the fabulous Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the usual exceptional sound quality. Following a dazzling career, which developed over the last decade, Baldych emerges as a pillar of the Polish Jazz violin tradition, joining the ranks of the Giants of the generations that preceded his era. This album sets also Baldych’s status as a composer, perhaps more clearly and distinctly than any of his earlier recordings. The collection of his compositions on this album presents a remarkable stylistic clarity and coherence, which, at least for me, sound completely his own, with specific characteristics, which are now clearly distinguishable. The music is beautifully melancholic, brilliantly melodic and superbly lyrical, following the Polish musical tradition on every level, from Polish Folklore, Classical Music and of course the Polish Jazz tradition. There is an elegant restrain and easy pace inherent in all the pieces, which perhaps is a result of the fact that Baldych does not need to prove anything anymore, as far as his violin virtuosity is concerned, and creating music is his only concern. Despite the fact that the music offers seemingly unrelated pieces, the album sounds remarkably as one aesthetically logical continuum. Although Baldych is surrounded here by first class instrumentalists, the album offers very limited soloing, except for the violin parts of course and occasionally subdued trumpet or saxophone soli. The fact that Fresu agreed to take part in this project, with his personal profile barely audible, speaks highly of his respect towards the essence of the music. Nevertheless, the contributions of all the participants are absolutely brilliant, as expected. Sonically the most surprising accent is a very unusual sound produced by the drums, which sound completely different to what one expects in the Jazz environment. Overall, as someone who had the honor to write the liner notes for Baldych’s debut album more than ten years ago, I feel a great satisfaction as a result of following his career closely and witnessing its splendid progress. The music offers a deeply spiritual sonic experience of rare quality and the album is wholeheartedly recommended as one of the most significant Polish Jazz outings of 2021.

Updated: 11/11/2021Posted: 11/11/2021

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ADAM BALDYCH ~ SACRUM PROFANUM ACT 9881 (Barcode: 614427988126) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with Polish Jazz musicians: pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist. It is the first album recorded by Baldych with Polish musicians released on the prestigious ACTFind albums on this label label, which released several earlier albums by Baldych, recorded with international partners. The album presents ten tracks, five of which are original compositions by Baldych, three are medieval / baroque sacred music pieces arranged by Baldych and Dys, one is an ancient Polish hymn and one is by contemporary, deeply spiritual Tatar-Russian avant-gardist Sofia GubaidulinaFind albums by this artist. The album´s title refers to the "concept" which Baldych wishes to present to the listener, based on the philosophical / religious conflict between the sacred and the profane worlds, in which we, human beings, exist simultaneously. The trivial interpretation of that concept would be of course to consider the five sacred pieces as the Sacrum facet of the music and the original pieces as the Profanum, but the truth is way more complicated than such simplistic approach. Baldych obviously treats Classical Music and Jazz with the same measure of spirituality and his life and musical path so far are a classical example of the rite of passage between the diverse musical idioms, which results in his own compositions being certainly no less spiritual / sacred than those a priori designated as such. The entire musical contents of this album can be therefore considered as an amalgamation of the lofty, spiritual ingredients of music and its earthly embodiment, which we are able to actually hear; the notes, harmonies, pulses and melodies. The overall atmosphere is deeply lyrical and spiritual of course and since Baldych personifies the Polish melancholy more profoundly than most, the resulting music is both deeply Polish as it is Universal. The inclusion of the Gubaidulina piece will hopefully awaken interest in the work of this exceptional composer among new listeners, as it is truly amazing. Although obviously deeply involved in Jazz improvisation, this music should be of interest to a wide audience of music connoisseurs, those from the Jazz side of the spectrum, Classical and Sacred Music enthusiasts and all true lovers of great music. It is, as already stated, completely universal and boundless, and as such able to touch the listeners both spiritually and intellectually. Following Baldych´s musical path over the last decade has been a true revelation. Being blessed by enormous talent and unprecedented skill is often not quite enough to ensure an Artistic triumph, but in his case he is also hard working, disciplined and open minded, which enables him to achieve the two fundamental goals leading to Artistic accomplishment: consistency and constantly coherent course of progression. As a result his international career keeps blossoming and his collective recording précis to date is unblemished. Overall this is an amazing piece of Artistry, splendidly conceived, put together and executed by the finest musicians on the Polish Jazz scene, which should be an essential part of any serious music collection. Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 01/03/2019Posted: 01/03/2019

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ADAM BALDYCH / BALTIC GANG ~ IMAGINARY ROOM ACT 9532 (Barcode: 614427953223) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the first international release by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist. Recorded in Berlin, it features Baldych in a sextet / septet setting with some of the best Scandinavian musicians (hence the Baltic GangFind albums by this artist): trumpeter Verneri PohjolaFind albums by this artist (Finland), saxophonist Marius NesetFind albums by this artist (Norway), trombonist Nils LandgrenFind albums by this artist (Sweden) who plays on two tracks and co-produced the album, pianist Jacob KarlzonFind albums by this artist (Sweden), bassist Lars DanielssonFind albums by this artist (Sweden), and drummer Morten LundFind albums by this artist (Denmark). Baldych composed ten of the album´s twelve tunes and co-composed the remaining two (one with Karlzon and the other with Danielsson). The album was released on the German ACTFind albums on this label label, which already features several Polish Jazz artists on its recording artist roster. Baldych, just 26 years old at the time this music was recorded, has already a most impressive list of achievements behind him and is often referred to as the new hope of Polish Jazz violin, which has a remarkable tradition indeed, with such outstanding masters as Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist and Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist. With this album Baldych certainly earned his final seal of approval, joining the distinguished club of his predecessors. The music included on this album is a major step in the development of Baldych as a composer. There is a definite style and a personal signature on all the tunes, which share a remarkable tendency towards melancholy, romanticism and deep lyricism. Most of the music is delicate, low key and slow tempo, with long and winding melody lines, a manner quite typical to the great Polish composers, both Classical and Jazz. The presence of the Scandinavian musicians, who are also known for their specific tone, might have influenced the overall sound and atmosphere of the album, but that would be only marginal. Considering also the fact that the tracks are relatively short and the arrangements do not allow expanded improvisations, it is obvious that the focus of this album is the music (compositions) rather that the performances. The performances are, of course, stellar, which is not surprising considering the level of the musicians involved. Baldych plays superbly, as expected, but much less flashy and extrovert than on his earlier recordings. It is obvious that he reached a mental maturity, which turns him into a total musician, who does not need to prove his ability to the world, but to present a complete musical work of art, which includes composition, arrangement, performance and ambience as a whole. There are plenty of superb musical moments on this album, which of course will be revealed and discovered with repeated listening sessions. The album is definitely one of the finest recent Polish Jazz recordings and will become part of the Polish Jazz canon for years to come. Baldych, who is just making his first international steps, is destined for glory, which hopefully will be achieved gradually. In the meantime this music is his gift to us, to be enjoyed to the fullest. Chapeau!

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ADAM BALDYCH & YARON HERMAN ~ THE NEW TRADITION ACT 9626 (Barcode: 614427962621) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish / Israeli duo comprising of violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and pianist Yaron HermanFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, five of which were composed by Baldych, two are Classical pieces and the remaining two are Polish Jazz standards. Baldych arranged all the music, except for the closing piece which was co-arranged by him and Herman. It is pretty clear from the very onset of the album that this music is only marginally Jazzy and the intention is to take a few steps back and examine the sources of contemporary music, regardless of their stylistic origins. Both players follow a rather minor and minimalistic approach, stating the melodies and improvising delicately and non-aggressively. One can interpret the album´s title in many ways of course; personally I believe that music fuses all its elements developed over time in a continuous process, and therefore "The New TraditionFind albums with this title" is simply an amalgam of all the traditions that existed beforehand, as this music clearly demonstrates to be possible. Tradition simply re-invents itself inside every Artist anew. Since all the original music on this album was composed by Baldych, he points out the musical direction of this album and therefore the tradition in this case involves his sources: European Classical music, Polish Folklore and of course Polish Jazz. Baldych pays tribute to the Godfather of Polish Jazz, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist as well as the great Polish Jazz violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist. Thanks to the great musicality of Herman, he plays along splendidly, not only on the obvious sonic level, but way beyond proving to be a "twin spirit" in every way. Of course we have two great virtuosi players here, so the individual performances are also important, but the musicians clearly try to avoid flashy exhibitionism, sticking to the "less is more" approach at all times. This is no doubt "pretty" music, but it manages not to cross over to the kitschy domain, which always looms in the background of all Jazz-Classical Fusion projects. As usual it is all a matter of personal integrity of the musicians involved. This album should be easily accessible to quite a wide audience, as most Classical music lovers should find it appealing no less than the Jazz buffs. In any case this is music for connoisseurs and those few, who still listen to music seriously and passionately. Our Culture might be in a retreat, but as long as we have people like Adam & Yaron making music, not all is lost.

Updated: 01/03/2019Posted:

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ADAM BALDYCH & HELGE LIEN TRIO ~ BRIDGES ACT 9591 (Barcode: 614427959126) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the third album for the prestigious German ACTFind albums on this label label by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, clearly the most significant representative of the Polish Jazz violin school active today. Contrary to most Jazz musicians, Baldych obviously prefers to create ad hoc associations with various musicians rather than lead his own band, which in his case seems to be the ideal solution in order to fully communicate his enormous versatility. This time he cooperates with the Norwegian piano trio, led by pianist Helge LienFind albums by this artist, which also includes bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. The album´s eleven tracks consist of nine original compositions by Baldych and one piece co-composed by Baldych and Lien and additionally an arrangement of a pop tune. Two of the compositions were arranged by Polish Jazz pianist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist. Similarly to his previous album recorded with the Israeli pianist Yaron Herman, the atmosphere and actual material on this album is only marginally Jazzy and covers mostly other music areas like contemporary Classical and World Music. The music is very spacey, intimate and minimalistic in form, based on beautiful melodic themes, which Baldych masterly creates seemingly from thin air. The influence of the Polish Folklore is very significant in Baldych´s playing on this album, more than on any of his earlier recordings and some of the songs sound like famous Polish Folklore dances. Of course this might have happened somewhat subconsciously, but considering Baldych´s sophistication and perfectionism that is quite unlikely. Personally I find the team work on this album a bit limited, certainly in comparison of Baldych´s earlier work. Although the Norwegian trio has an excellent record behind it, their role on this album is almost entirely concerned with accompaniment with very few moments of true group improvisation and interplay. This might have been a conscious decision on the part of Baldych or simply worked out this way, but the result definitely puts the trio on a second plane, with the rhythm section almost never leaving the shadows. Of course the trio does a great job playing alongside Baldych, but personally I miss the electricity in the air which could have uplifted this album to another level. Overall this is a beautiful piece of music, skillfully executed, which should make every fan of violin perfectly happy. Jazz purists might find this a bit too sweet, smooth and melancholic, but to be fair Baldych simply has no competition neither in his own country nor anywhere else at the moment, so he is setting the mark. Baldych will surely come up with a new surprise pretty soon, being always full of ideas and abilities, and his work is always a source of joy and aesthetic pleasure.

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ADAM BALDYCH & HELGE LIEN TRIO ~ BROTHERS ACT 9817 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist recorded with the Norwegian piano trio led by pianist Helge LienFind albums by this artist, with bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. They are joined by Norwegian saxophonist Tore BrunborgFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine pieces, eight of which are original compositions by Baldych and one is a classic standard by Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist. The music presents another step in the coherent development in Baldych´s musical path, which has been taking shape in the last few years, leading him away from "conventional" Jazz idiom into contemporary Neo-Romantic Classical Music. Although the element of improvisation is still very prominent, the melodic themes, mostly deeply lyrical and introvert, touch deeply with the characteristic elements of Polish Classical Music and Polish Folklore, somewhat parallel, or rather in continuation of the great Polish Classical tradition going back to Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist. Perhaps the reference to Chopin might sound a bit over the top here, but people familiar with Chopin´s music will note how Baldych is skillfully able to pluck the soul´s strings that move the Polish People. The Norwegian musicians playing with Baldych are his soul brothers, providing the ideal companionship needed for this delicate journey. The intrinsic melancholy of the Scandinavian (and especially so Norwegian) music goes ideally hand in hand with the direction Baldych intends to put forward. Of course the fact that they are brilliant and highly intelligent musicians also adds to final result. Together they are able to make this by and large minimalist and introvert music sound complete and highly expressive. Overall this is a mature and focused statement by a great composer and a superb performer, which clearly affirms his status as one of the leading European musicians today. The music requires attentive listening, but for open-minded and music-living listeners it offers layer over layer of wonderful musical journeys into the world of contemporary Classical Music, Folkloristic motifs and Jazzy improvisations, all wrapped up in an elegant, highly aesthetic and moving "package". Well done Maestro!

Updated: 22/07/2017Posted: 22/07/2017

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ADAM BALDYCH & LESZEK MOZDZER ~ PASSACAGLIA IMAGINARY MUSIC 001 (Barcode: 5905817210015) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by a two Polish Jazz musicians: violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen relatively short tracks, six composed by Baldych, two composed by Mozdzer, four co-composed by them both and finally three Classical compositions, one by Eric SatieFind albums by this artist, one by Medieval 12th Century composer Hildegard von BingenFind albums by this artist and one by Renaissance 16th Century composer Josquin des PrezFind albums by this artist. I have followed closely the development of Baldych’s career from the very early stage, noticing immediately not only his exceptional talent as a musician, but also his determination and understanding of the investment needed to build an international career, which was quite unique among his Polish peers. He asked of me to write the liner notes for one of his early albums, the “Magical TheatreFind albums with this title” from 2011, which I did with pleasure. This might have led to his acceptance as part of the roster of the German ACTFind albums on this label Records label, a step which boosted his international career tremendously. Baldych released a series of highly successful albums on ACT over the years, but this new release marks the next step in building his career, the establishment of his own record label / publishing company, called Imaginary MusicFind albums on this label, with this album being its debut release, and his Wife’s album “ButterflyFind albums with this title” appropriately released hand in hand. Considering the classy, fashionable design and packaging of these products, he certainly knows what he is doing. Classically trained, Baldych obviously feels close to his sources and knows perfectly well how to incorporate them in his music, which is always characterized by a deeply melodic appeal, with the Jazzy improvisations ideally suited to caress and delicately embellish the melodic core. He uses the beautiful sound of his Renaissance violin, in addition to the usual instrument, to extend the palette and uses plucking extensively, which makes the violin sometimes sound almost like a guitar, and again expanding the sound variety. Baldych always had an incredible talent to compose incredibly touching melodies, which are simply irresistible, and which are often heart-melting even in the case of most hardened opposition. While listening to the album I had often a notion that the music was somewhat out of contemporary time-frame, perhaps something one would expect from a Baroque-period collection of pieces. Although there is plenty if improvisation, it remains so “well-hidden”, almost camouflaged, as if being an integral part of the compositions, rather than their extrapolations. This might be a very clever way to bring listeners nor used to improvisation to listen to this music without any predispositions. Overall, this is a sophisticated cross-over between Jazz-Classical Fusion and almost cinematic contextual music, which offers beautiful melodic themes, richly encrusted in delicate improvisations, which should apply a wide range of listeners, mostly not necessarily Jazz oriented ones. It is a step into a different musical dimension from what used to be Baldych’s modus operandi, but not so radically different than it may appear at first glance. Almost meditative at times, it is surely a magical sound experience.

Updated: 28/03/2024Posted: 28/03/2024

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ADAM BALDYCH QUINTET ~ PORTRAITS IMAGINARY MUSIC 003 (Barcode: 5905817210039) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer / bandleader Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, released on his Imaginary MusicFind albums on this label label. The album was recorded in a quintet setting with pianist Sebastian ZawadzkiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marek KonarskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist. Vocalists Kari SalFind albums by this artist and Piotr OdoszewskiFind albums by this artist guest on one track, which uses the lyrics written by poet Krzysztof Kamil BaczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents sixteen tracks, all but one composed by Baldych and one composed by Zawadzki. The album’s extended booklet features a liner note by Jacek SolkiewiczFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. MirrormanFind albums by this artist). In his liner note Baldych states his reflections about the meaning of music in human life, especially in face of brutal reality. He refers to the fate of the Polish Jewish violinist / composer / author Szymon LaksFind albums by this artist, who is known for his role as the head of the inmate’s orchestra in the Auschwitz concentration camp, which Laks described in his memoirs. The absurdity and inhuman cruelty of the orchestra performing twice a day in the midst of the Auschwitz inferno is definitely something to ponder about, especially as the Holocaust Remembrance Day is just four days away. The music is full of deep melancholy and reflection, gently intertwining Jazz and Classical (mostly Medieval) as well as World Music influences, with profoundly lyrical and even at times gloomy themes. Baldych’s renaissance violin fits perfectly to the tonal structures and his virtuosity of expression is able to project the entire aesthetic atmosphere clearly and vividly. I have followed the work of Baldych since his early steps on the music scene and I am happy so he that he matured extremely well, as his recent work, and this album in particular, takes him to the pedestal of exemplary musical personalities, well beyond just the Jazz scene. All the music on this album sounds like one coherent continuity, and the division into tracks is simply a technical matter, as I can’t imagine listening to any part of this music separately. Baldych’s team comprises of some of the best Polish Jazz musicians, so the ensemble performances are, not surprisingly, sublime. There is limited soloing herein, not because of lack of ability, but obviously since this music is an ensemble effort, not a showcase of individual abilities, other than those by the leader of course. But when solos do appear, they are truly brilliant, albeit being relatively short. Overall, this is a true Masterpiece of an album in every possible sense: the compositions, the performances, the team effort of the ensemble, the interplay, the dynamics, in short everything just fits perfectly in place. It is Baldych’s most mature work so far, which will be extremely hard to follow, but he has proven time and again that he can be full of surprises. Congratulations are in order!

Updated: 23/01/2025Posted: 23/01/2025

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BAUER / BALDYCH / DUCHNOWSKI / KONRAD ~ TRANS-FUZJA FOR TUNE 0108 (Barcode: 5906395808069) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2016 This is a live recording by an ad-hoc quartet comprising of two Polish Jazz musicians: violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, a Classical cellist / composer Andrzej BauerFind albums by this artist and an electronic music composer / pianist Cezary DuchnowskiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform seven original compositions, three of which are credited to all four participants, being basically spontaneous improvisations, and two each are by Baldych and Duchnowski. The album was recorded four years before it was finally released. The music is a variety of contemporary Avant-Garde Classical Music, with includes a large degree of improvisation, but also other forms of Modern Classical composition. Although conceptually the music does not belong to the Jazz idiom per se, Baldych´s violin phrasing and Konrad´s rhythmic parts make the music to sound quite Jazzy, definitely more than probably initially intended, and simply transfers it safely into the Jazz environs. Although the music is pretty minimalistic and introvert, it is definitely interesting not only to the Avant-Garde connoisseurs but to a much wider circle of potential listeners, especially during the parts which display a melodic content and rhythmic stability, and as such are relatively easy to follow. Not surprisingly, the two pieces composed by Baldych are the most melodic and include, as usual in his works, huge doses of the typical Polish melancholy, which almost defines Polish Music as such. The level of execution is of course brilliant, again with the focus in Baldych´s exquisite violin virtuosity, but also due to the overall superb contributions by all the musicians involved. Bauer, who is of course a renowned cellist in the Classical field, gets a relatively limited opportunity to showcase his talents, but there is still enough of his presence herein to amaze and astonish. Konrad, who is one of top Polish Jazz drummers, exposes his versatility and wonderful ability to listen to his partners while driving the ensemble forward. Duchnowski adds some brilliant electronic effects and plays great piano licks. Overall listening to this recording is an uplifting aesthetic experience. Kudos, as usual, to For TuneFind albums on this label Records for releasing this unusual and obviously non-commercial music, which otherwise might have disappeared in the vaults of music archives, which never see the light of day, especially in view of the fact that this music such a great example of cross genre pollination and Jazz-Classical Fusion at its best.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 30/12/2016

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BARTOSZ DWORAK ~ LIVE AT RADIO KATOWICE PRK 0130 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz violinist Bartosz DworakFind albums by this artist recorded live with his quartet which also includes pianist Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. They perform six compositions, two of which are original compositions by Bartosz Dworak, one is by Piotr Matusik, two are by Polish Jazz composers Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist and Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist and the remaining one is by Joey CalderazzoFind albums by this artist. Bartosz Dworak is the winner of the 1st International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin Competition, which took place in Poland in 2014 and is considered as one of the top young Polish Jazz violinists who continue the glorious legacy of Jazz violin in Poland established by such luminaries as Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew Seifert, Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist, Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and others. From the very first notes of this record it is pretty obvious that Dworak is a Polish violinist, as he has the same unmistakable "Polish sound" that characterizes his predecessors and other contemporary Jazz violinist in the country. In his case this specific sound, which floats somewhere between Slavic folksy fiddle and virtuosic lyricism is clearly identifiable. And of course there is the individualism and the virtuosity, which are obviously in their early stages but already clearly noticeable. From the strength of the two original compositions it is immediately apparent that Dworak should concentrate on playing his own material. His interpretations of the compositions by other musicians are less impressive, except that of his band mate Piotr Matusik. The entire quartet plays smoothly and dynamically, with the rhythm section supporting the two soloists with taste and elegance. Matusik is one hell of a player and steals a significant part of the show in his favor, deserving every bit of it. I´m waiting anxiously to hear his first solo album. Considering that this is a debut recording one can simply envy these young musicians their talents and obvious musicality. Hopefully Dworak will develop his skills as a composer and engage in more ambitious / challenging adventures when his career takes off, which will inevitably happen. In the meantime this is definitely a most impressive calling card.

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BARTOSZ DWORAK ~ POLISHED HEVHETIA 0091 (Barcode: 8588005257336) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the second album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Bartosz DworakFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes pianist Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs nine original compositions, four by Bartosz Dworak and five by Matusik. Several of these compositions already appeared on the quartet´s debut album, which was a live recording, and get here a more polished (tongue-on-cheek) version. Dworak proudly joins a long list of Polish Jazz violinists, which keeps growing as the years go by, and includes such luminaries as Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist, Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and young lions like Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist. This wonderful legacy can be of course quite overwhelming and daunting, but Dworak seems to have no inferiority complexes whatsoever and gallantly steps into their shoes, doing his own thing. Although Dworak is the leader of this quartet, the compositional and soloing duties are split quite equally between him and Matusik, who wrote about half of the music and plays superb piano parts, both supporting the violin parts and soloing himself. The rhythm section plays along with the two soloists supporting them amicably but staying mostly in the background, which in this specific music is probably all for the best. The music is all pretty straightforward melodic mainstream, although at some moments the quartet ventures, albeit only partly, into a less clearly defined set of parameters. Of course, as usual with Polish Jazz violinists, the music is soaked in melancholy and lyrical folkloristic undertones, which brings fond memories of the material recorded by those musicians listed in the second paragraph. All nine tunes are beautifully melodic, which surely opens this album to a very widespread range of audiences, even those beyond the Jazz idiom. In many respects this album could be considered as a debut, since the semi-formal live recording released earlier was really just a teaser of things to come. And as a debut it certainly is a very impressive effort, in every respect, which keeps the hopes for a new generation of Polish Jazz musicians in general and violinists in particular at their highest. Personally I simply can´t wait for the next album, which will be the decisive proof of maturity. In the meantime we can all enjoy this gem!

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FUSIONATOR ~ KUNG FU NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5903292102993) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by the young Polish Fusion band FusionatorFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Wawrzyniec PrasekFind albums by this artist, bassist Lukasz Jan JozwiakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon LinetteFind albums by this artist. The violin virtuoso Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album includes ten original compositions, six composed by Lenczowski, and two each by Prasek and Jozwiak. The music is quite conventional as far as Fusion goes, with a tendency more towards Rock than Jazz, demonstrated both in the improvisational approach and the choice of rhythmic patterns. If fact Progressive Rock listeners should feel especially "at home" with this music, as it is similar to many other efforts in that area. Whatever is missing here as far as innovation and exploration are concerned is balanced by the excellently crafted tunes and the individual performances, which are mostly excellent, especially those by the guitarist, who is undoubtedly the most imaginative player in the group as well as the main composer. Stylistically he is heavily influenced by Mike SternFind albums by this artist (who also tends to sound Rockier rather than Jazzier) and a plethora of other guitar heroes, but manages to find an individual voice, which is quite rare these days. Although obviously an introductory effort, this is quite an impressive debut, which should provide an exciting listening experience for Fusion / Prog enthusiasts, especially in view of the complete lack of excitement in that area in years. There is a lot of potential herein, which hopefully will turn into a more mature achievements in the not to distant future. Definitely worth investigating!

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HELGE LIEN TRIO ~ 10 OZELLA 091 (Barcode: 4038952000911) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the tenth album by the Norwegian Jazz piano trio led by pianist / composer Helge LienFind albums by this artist, with bassist Mats EilertsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. Eilertsen recently replaced the bassist Frode BergFind albums by this artist, who was a founding member of the trio, which obviously had a major impact on the trio´s creative process, resulting in the album presenting no less than twenty new original compositions on two CDs, mostly composed by Lien but with a couple of compositions by Eilertsen, one by Johansen and three pieces co-composed by all three musicians. To be precise this is in fact the twelfth album by the trio, if one counts the two excellent albums they recorded with the Polish violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist. The music is not as radically different from the earlier recordings, at least not stylistically or aesthetically, as it still proudly embraces the modern European Jazz idiom, allowing for some Nordic Jazz influences, Jazz Neo-romanticism and perhaps touches of contemporary European Chamber Classical associations. It is however somewhat invigorated and Eilertsen´s bass playing and the use of bow adds a more lyrical overall sound to some of the pieces. His solid pulsations also allow for more openness and freedom, which causes the pieces to develop slower and more gradually, building up to the anticipated crescendo with a higher level of tension. The Norwegian Jazz scene produced a remarkable new generation of Jazz composers and players since the turn of the Millennium, and this trio is a great example of that phenomenon. All members of the trio took part in many other recording projects, all of which are prime examples of the strength of European Jazz in general and Norwegian Jazz in particular. Therefore it is hardly surprising that the combination of their talents could be anything but excellent, as this album beautifully exemplifies. Overall this is a great piano trio Jazz album, with diverse and highly rewarding compositions and superb performances, which create a wonderful aesthetic experience. The music is also excellently recorded, although not at the usual Rainbow Studio in Oslo, but still with a truly brilliant sonic quality. For piano trio Jazz lovers, European Jazz enthusiasts and diehard sound connoisseurs, this album is a dream come true!

Updated: 16/09/2020Posted: 16/09/2020

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KARI SAL ~ BETESDA HEVHETIA 0153 (Barcode: 8588005258135) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2015 - 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish singer / songwriter Kari SalFind albums by this artist, recorded with a dream-team backup group consisting of top Polish Jazz musicians: violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist (Sal´s husband), violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, pianist Pawel KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. Finnish trumpeter Verneri PohjolaFind albums by this artist also guests on several tracks. The album presents seven original songs, five of which were composed by Sal, one was co-composed by Sal and Baldych and one was co-composed by Sal, Baldych and Kaczmarczyk. Sal wrote the lyrics to five of the songs and two songs have lyrics based on Biblical texts. There is also one track featuring wordless vocalese with music by Baldych. The music is a mixture of many diverse influences, which include Polish Folklore roots, Scandinavian Alternative Pop and others; altogether close in spirit to the Polish sung poetry idiom. The arrangements add a distinct Jazzy flavor, but the music is not rooted in Jazz per se. Sal´s songwriting is full of typical Polish lyricism and melancholy, both on the musical and textual planes. Influenced by her visit to Island, the music also encompasses the Nordic characteristics, which are not that far away from the Slavic sources, which perhaps explains why Polish and Scandinavian musicians feel so much affinity towards each other. The biblical sources and Sal´s own lyrics reflect deeply religious / spiritual involvement, which is rarely present in contemporary Art. Sal´s compositions are all remarkably mature, harmonically coherent, stylistically consistent and aesthetically rounded, which of course deserves praise and admiration. As expected, the performances by all the instrumentalist present on this album are nothing short of stellar. There are numerous exquisite solos and the accompaniment by the basic violin / piano / rhythm section quartet is superbly and consistently executed. But of course the vocal parts by Sal are the focus of this album. She has a wonderfully clear, steady and colorful voice, which she uses wisely and cleverly. Both her lyrics and vocalese parts are moving and fascinating, and although she demonstrates self-confidence and clear musical vision, she is not over-confident and respectfully cooperates with the band members. The decision to sing in Polish is also extremely important and it´s encouraging to see that some Polish vocalists are free of the "singing in English" complex, which is a plague and keeps Polish vocalists in many cases back from achieving its full potential. Overall this is a beautiful and most impressive debut album, which proves that determination and talent conquer all. Obviously Sal received a lot of support and help from the musicians playing on this album, but it is first and foremost her own achievement, both as a songwriter and performer and she deserves every bit of our gratitude for creating this sensitive, intelligent music. I already can´t wait for the next album… Thank you, Milady!

Updated: 04/11/2017Posted: 04/11/2017

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KARI SAL ~ BUTTERFLY IMAGINARY MUSIC 002 (Barcode: 5905817210008) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Polish vocalist / songwriter Kari SalFind albums by this artist, recorded with an excellent team of musicians, which includes her husband, violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, Swedish pianist Jacob KarlzonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Kacper BudziszewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Roman ChraniukFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve songs, all composed by her (three co-composed with her husband) and all (except one) with her lyrics, sung in English. Recorded at the fabulous Tokarnia 2.0 studio and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, the result offers the expected wonderful sound quality. It was released on the new Imaginary MusicFind albums on this label label, founded by Baldych. Sal kept us all in suspense since the release of her debut album in 2017, which I personally loved immediately. It seems the long break did not damage her creative flow and this album certainly delivers a refined and mature set of songs, beautifully performed by all the participants. Baldych’s superb violin (also Renaissance violin) parts provide the sophisticated ornamentation and settle the mood, while Karlzon’s piano add a Romantic as well as Jazzy accents. The music is a delicate amalgam of many diverse influences, from clear Polish folkloristic themes, improvised Jazzy parts, Folky melody lines and poetic atmosphere, all combined together to create a coherent flow of musical continuity and lyrical contents. Sal’s idiosyncratic vocal approach suits the aesthetics perfectly and her vocal abilities are impeccable. She stays completely focused when using a wide vocal range, always staying perfectly in tune, both musically and emotionally. It is commonly known that I am usually not supportive of Polish vocalist singing in English, for the obvious reasons. However, this album is a rare case when the language, accent and pronunciation barriers are minimized to such degree, that they are completely acceptable and hardly noticeable at all. Having said that, I’d love to hear her singing in Polish again. Also I miss a bit of her vocalese parts. But hey, this album was not made specifically for me of course. Overall, this is a remarkable sophomore effort, full of great songs, stylistic diversity, brilliant vocals and stunning instrumental parts, all exquisitely arranged, performed, recorded and finally packaged, to create a true bomboniere of an album, which sweetens the long waiting period we had to bear. Thank you again, my Dear, for this gift of music!

Updated: 05/03/2024Posted: 05/03/2024

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JACQUES KUBA SEGUIN ~ LITANIA PROJECT ODD SOUND ~ CANADA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 This is the third album by Canadian (of Polish origin) trumpeter / composer Jacques Kuba SeguinFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet lineup which features the Polish violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and Canadian musicians: pianist Jonathan CayerFind albums by this artist, bassist Frederic AlarieFind albums by this artist and drummer Kevin WarrenFind albums by this artist. They perform seven original compositions, five by Seguin and two by Baldych. Musically the material is all over the place; starting with an obvious wink towards the music of the legendary Polish Jazz trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist - the album´s title and opening track are dedicated to him - it moves towards contemporary Classical, Blues and Modern Jazz, but doest not sit really in place in any specific style, which sometimes works fine but in this case is just chaotic. There are some nice melodies, but overall the music simply goes nowhere. Even the two tunes by Baldych, who usually writes excellent music, in this case, although better than the rest, are still way below his usual standard. The performances are even more problematic. The trumpet and violin unisono sound is really dissonant and even painful at times, as if both are out of tune; as a result the combination of these two instruments is hard to swallow. Although all five musicians are highly skilled professionals, the overall result simply falls apart. There are problems with tempi, hesitation and basic lack of togetherness, which is essential in a small ensemble setting. Seguin and Baldych play several impressive solos, but those are hardly enough to save the day. Some of the a.m. problems might be the result of a very problematic recording sound quality, which is harsh and unpleasant, badly balanced and seriously damaging the listening experience. This is a classic example of an album which has a tremendous potential and turns out to be a failure. Good intentions don´t cut it this time.

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JAROSLAW SMIETANA ~ A TRIBUTE TO ZBIGNIEW SEIFERT JSR 0011 (Barcode: 5901119902399) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009 This is a stunning tribute album to the Polish violin virtuoso / composer Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist by the great Polish guitarist Jaroslaw SmietanaFind albums by this artist and his band: pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist, drummer Adam CzerwinskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist. Keyboardist Janusz GrzywaczFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. Smietana invited nine leading Jazz violinists to play along with this fabulous band, performing Seifert´s wonderful compositions. They are: Jerry GoodmanFind albums by this artist (ex-Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, USA), Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist (Poland), Didier LockwoodFind albums by this artist (France), Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist (Poland), Christian HowesFind albums by this artist (USA), Mark FeldmanFind albums by this artist (USA), Maciej StrzelczykFind albums by this artist (Poland), Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist (Poland) and Pierre BlanchardFind albums by this artist (France). These nine virtuosi play like there´s no tomorrow and the resulting music is simply a breathtaking trip into Seifert´s world. This is such a conglomerate of talent, that anything said beyond this would be simply superfluous. Simply grab this ASAP, as you are about to take trip of your life – violin heaven indeed!

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SVANTE SODERQVIST ~ ARRIVAL PROPHONE 221 (Barcode: 822359002265) ~ SWEDEN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the debut album as a leader by Swedish bassist / cellist / vocalist / composer Svante SoderqvistFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio setting with pianist Adam ForkelidFind albums by this artist and drummer Calle RasmussonFind albums by this artist. Polish Jazz violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and vocalist Maria WinterFind albums by this artist on one. The album presents ten pieces, nine of which are original compositions by Soderqvist and one is an interpretation of a song by Stevie WanderFind albums by this artist. The music is all strictly melodic mainstream Jazz, definitely on the lighter side of the spectrum, but the compositions are all solid and coherent and offer an opportunity for the leader to show his chops as a bassist and cellist. His vocalese singing of the melody lines is however a bit simplistic, but overall fits the mood of the proceedings. Forkelid plays excellent piano lines and confirms his status as formidable pianist known from his other recordings. Rasmusson drives the music forward with precision and respectful distance. The two tracks featuring Baldych are the highlights of the album and both are closer to the Jazz spirit then almost all the other pieces which combine Folklore / Pop / Classical Music influences. Baldych delivers fiery solos, as expected. Overall this is a very mellow, pleasant album offering melodic content executed splendidly by the participants, which should satisfy a wide audience of listeners, who are enjoying the more entertaining facet of Jazz. Combined with the excellent sound quality this album is definitely great fun to listen to.

Updated: 02/11/2020Posted: 02/11/2020

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PIOTR ZACZEK ~ MUTRU ARMS 02 (Barcode: 5900238791013) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 This is the debut solo album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr ZaczekFind albums by this artist, recorded with several fellow musicians, such as saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Marcin GornyFind albums by this artist and Grzegorz JablonskiFind albums by this artist, and drummer Robert LutyFind albums by this artist. Two vocalists: Ania SzarmachFind albums by this artist and Kuba BadachFind albums by this artist take care of the vocal parts. The album includes fifteen compositions, thirteen of which are by Zaczek, one by Szarmach and the remaining one is a Pop song. The music is heavily oriented towards Fusion, Funk and Ambient, featuring the bass as a leading instrument. The musicians provide some exciting solos and vocals, but overall this is electric bass haven, and people who love the sound of fretless bass will definitely enjoy this album to the max. Zaczek is obviously a virtuoso and some of his licks are quite phenomenal. No wonder he is one of the most sought after session musicians in Poland. As much as I enjoy my Fusion and Funk, the Ambient soundscapes are less exciting, especially electronic programmed drums. Of course I realize they are an integral part of what Zaczek wanted to present here, and they are very well done, just that particular sound somehow doesn´t sit well with me. Several of the album tracks are plays solo by Zaczek, who plays basses, keyboards and programmed the drums, others are performed by a duet, trio etc. There is enough diversity and certainly a lot of excellent performances to make this a nice album to listen to. Of course this is on the lighter side of Jazz and geared mostly towards Fusion fans, which are the natural habitat for this music. Of course bass players should be fairly warned that hearing this album might be very frustrating for some of them ;)

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