Record Reviews

AD SHAVE ~ AD COMPLEMENTUM SOLITON 880 (Barcode: 5901571098807) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist, which compliments (as the title suggests) his debut album entitled "Ad ShaveFind albums with this title", released this time under the Ad ShaveFind albums by this artist moniker rather than under his own name. It was recorded with an excellent team of Polish Jazz musicians which include saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist, pianist / accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and several other musicians appearing on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, seven of which are composed or co-composed by Golicki, one each is composed by Paciorek and Lemanczyk and one is a Classical piece. The music is a wonderful collection of beautiful melodies, arranged mostly in a smooth Jazz-Rock Fusion mode and superbly performed by all the musicians involved. Although not innovative as such, the music is simply perfect in what it stands for and a schoolbook example of contemporary Fusion, which concentrates on excellent compositions and skillful arrangements rather than exploring endless instrumental doodling. The album is a most enjoyable ride, full of excellently weaved melodies, exciting soloing and a coherent "good time" approach, which is a breath of fresh air as far as most contemporary Fusion is concerned. Personally I had a great time listening to this music, which although seemingly pretty straightforward, does not make any compromises as far as aesthetic values are concerned and is an example of good taste and first class craftsmanship both on the compositional and performing platforms. Warmly recommended to Jazz-Rock Fusion fans, which prefer depth to flashy showmanship!

Updated: 04/05/2019Posted: 04/05/2019

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BABYSZKA / LEMANCZYK / GOLICKI ~ LUTOSIA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz trio consisting of pianist Maja BabyszkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, six of which are original compositions by Lemanczyk, one is an arrangement of a Classical piece by Polish composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist and one is a John ColtraneFind albums by this artist composition. The music is brilliant modern European Jazz, sparkling with freshness and inventiveness, which never ceases to amaze. The trio offers a unique atmosphere of tranquility, even on the up-tempo pieces, and intimate interplay between the trio members. Lemanczyk, who is undoubtedly one of the finest European Jazz bass virtuosi, dominates the album with his steadfast lead and amazing technique, both on the acoustic bass and the bass guitar, which seems to be his preferred arme de choix lately. Since most of the music features his excellent lyrical compositions, he is the obvious trailblazer here, which of course does not weaken the contributions by the other members of the trio. Babyszka, despite her tender age and novice status, appears as an excellent player, with tons of potential, which means she is surely going to take us all by surprise, assuming her studies in the US will not extinguish her talent. Golicki, an already established name on the Polish Jazz scene, also performs spotlessly and passionately, as appropriate for the occasion. The album recorded three years ago during an unexpected short studio session, offers not only great music, but also a beautiful sound quality, which allows the listener to enjoy every nuance of the delightful music. Overall, although almost a spur of the moment session, this is one of the nicest and most inspiring Polish Classic Jazz piano trio recordings in the last few years, which is an absolute delight from start to finish. I have no idea if this trio has any plans to repeat this experience, but one can always hope. This is Polish / European Jazz at its absolute best, making this little gem an essential listening!

Updated: 17/11/2023Posted: 17/11/2023

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CEZIK ~ AMBIWALNIETY SJ 035 (Barcode: 5903111492809) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish singer / songwriter CeZikFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Cezary Zenon NowakFind albums by this artist), active on the local scene since the mid 2000s. A decision to record a full album of his songs led to the meeting between CeZik and Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, who agreed to write the Jazzy arrangements to CeZik´s songs, which are executed by some of the best young Polish Jazz players: Ciesielski on piano, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Szymon KlekowickiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Sylwester MalinowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original songs written by CeZik (lyrics and music), one co-composed with Ciesielski, all arranged by CeZik and Ciesielski. Despite the Jazzy arrangements, the songs are basically Pop oriented, somewhat of cabaret / vaudeville character, especially due to the satiric lyrics, which are full of bitter humor and sarcasm (naturally being in Polish they are sadly only perceivable to the Polish speaking audience). CeZik´s vocal delivery is frivolous and theatrical rather than strictly musical, but it suits the overall character of the project ideally and works out perfectly. Some of the melodies are beautifully lyrical, sometimes delivered with exaggerated pathos, bringing recollections of the Polish popular songs created in the 1920s and 1930s. The album flows beautifully and delivers the intended atmosphere of a cabaret show. The musicians are all highly professional and play with gusto and elegance, emphasizing the Jazzy atmosphere without being overtly assertive, staying respectfully in the background. The arrangements are perfectly suited to the music and create a coherent and highly graceful flow and continuity. Overall this is a brilliant album from start to finish, entertaining, but educational, splendidly performed and masterfully sung, dripping with painfully sardonic messages, wrapped in sweet and soothing melody lines and superb vocal delivery by CeZik. This is definitely a highly unusual and unique project, which deserves praise and admiration, and one can only hope that it will be cherished by the listeners, who are able to appreciate its many values. Bravo!

Updated: 13/04/2019Posted: 11/01/2019

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CONFUSION PROJECT ~ HOW TO STEAL A PIANO? BCD 34 (Barcode: 5906880885292) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz trio called Confusion ProjectFind albums by this artist, led by pianist / composer Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist with bassist Piotr GierszewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of nine compositions, eight of which are original compositions by Ciesielski and the last one (a bonus track) is a standard. Gierszewski plays electric bass, so the overall sound of the classic piano trio is somewhat updated here to sound quite Fusion-like at times. The music is a mixture of up tempo numbers and ballads with clear melodic themes stated usually at the onset of each piece, followed by solos, all quite ordinary except for the rhythm section playing much more aggressively and stridently than in a typical Jazz setting. The compositions are all nice, well developed and rounded, creating a pleasant atmosphere easily accessible for mainstream Jazz listeners. The whole thing is perhaps to pretty altogether, lacking an edge that would turn it from pleasant into fascinating, but considering the fact that it is a debut album, these young musicians have done a splendid job herein. Ciesielski shows off his technique and knowledge of many different stylistic mannerisms, but most of it is derivative and we´ll have to wait for his original statement to arrive sometime in the future. The rhythm section is a bit too busy at times, but all in all it does the job of accompanying the piano shoulder to shoulder vigorously. The sound quality of the album is quite excellent, which Hi-Fi enthusiasts will appreciate enormously. In short this is a nice debut, which is pleasant to listen to and sounds good, a set of qualities that satisfy most contemporary listeners. Hopefully next time these young musicians with try to produce a more profound statement. In the meantime bon chance mes amis!

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CONFUSION PROJECT ~ LAST DAYMUSIC 03 (Barcode: 198002160188) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz trio called Confusion ProjectFind albums by this artist, led by pianist / composer Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist with electric bassist Piotr GierszewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, six by the leader and one co-composed with Golicki. The music, although still deeply melodic, presents a significant stylistic change in comparison to the earlier recordings, moving from Fusion oriented ambience into more Classical oriented one, even if only hinted rather than specifically emphasized. The compositions are longer and more extensively developed and the atmosphere is definitely more reflective, sometimes even somewhat somber, perhaps reflecting the times we live in. The album is a wonderful example of an alternative approach to the classic Jazz piano trio, with the rhythm section radically different, but definitely not less significant, than in the traditional approach. Gierszewski plays some amazing bass lines and solos frequently, which manages to contribute both to the melodic layer and the rhythmic layer of the music and Golicki keeps a tight ship without being intrusive or dominating, displaying a wonderful respect towards the music. Ciesielski has plenty of opportunities to show his piano chops, but stays mostly in a romantic, meditative mood and concentrates on the delivery. Overall, this is an excellent and interesting album and a significant step in the trio’s process of development and maturity, which I had a pleasure to follow over the years. For traditional Jazz piano trio fans this might be quite an eye (ear) opener and for listeners, who like a slight touch of Fusion in their Jazz dish, this is definitely something worth checking out. Of course we all hope this is not the “last” outing together by these talented musicians.

Updated: 19/11/2021Posted: 16/11/2021

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CONFUSION PROJECT ~ PRIMAL SOLITON 800 (Barcode: 5901571098005) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the third album by Polish Jazz trio called Confusion ProjectFind albums by this artist, led by pianist / composer Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, with electric bassist Piotr GierszewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents an eleven part suite, which is based on a concept story of Naturalist motif, composed and arranged by the leader. The album, which was recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, offers a superb sound quality, which should delight the Hi-Fi enthusiasts. The music is deeply melodic and only marginally belongs to the mainstream of the Jazz idiom, although it does include a substantial element of improvisation. It could be also considered as Progressive Rock, Fusion or contemporary Classical Music and better yet an amalgam of all these genres. Since the music is performed by a piano trio the obvious focus is on the leader, who dictates the dynamics and the flow of the suite and is also the principal improviser. The rhythm section stands shoulder to shoulder with the leader, providing the harmonic and chronometric basis of the music, but also soloing quite effectively, although sparingly. The smooth electric bass lines are ideally suited to the music, at times providing a very effective Groovy, almost Funky feel. The trio is perfectly matched up and synchronized up to the tiniest detail and sounds like one perfect musical unit. Overall this is a most enjoyable piece of music, which can be appreciated by a wide range of listeners. It is full of wonderful melodic themes and offers a coherent development of the themes, which constitute the entire suite. Although on the lighter side of the music spectrum, it is honest and elegant and above all highly professional and definitely inspired. It seems that Confusion Project found a niche they wish to operate within, which offers beautifully crafted and highly melodic music, which offers to please rather than challenge the listener, without compromising an iota of their musical integrity. This is definitely a legitimate and highly rewarding modus operandi. Enjoy!

Updated: 28/04/2018Posted: 28/04/2018

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CONFUSION PROJECT ~ THE FUTURE STARTS NOW BCD 37 (Barcode: 5906881885376) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the second album by young Polish trio called Confusion ProjectFind albums by this artist, which comprises of pianist / composer Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr GierszewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, six of which are original compositions by Ciesielski and one is the trio´s interpretation of a John ColtraneFind albums by this artist tune. This album continues the modus operandi presented on the trio´s debut from a couple of years earlier; piano trio with electric bass, playing mostly original music in a Fusion oriented manner with strong Classical music influences recognized in the pianist´s approach to the instrument. There is no real progress from the debut and it sounds mostly as "more of the same". The performances by all the trio members are accomplished and technically excellent in every respect: Ciesielski is a very skillful player and writes nice tunes, Gierszewski plays a great Funky bass guitar barrage and Golicki keeps the time like a chronometer. The only problem is that this music is not really going anywhere… Once it is over, at least in my case, it is easily forgotten. I´m sure that these talented young musicians have a lot of potential and it is only a matter of finding the right formula which will take their music to the next level. It has not happened on this album, but it surely will happen one day. Overall this is a nice Fusion album with a lot of interesting solos, especially by the bass player and some inspired moments, which should keep the average Fusion listener happy. Mind you this album is way better that most other contemporary Fusion albums, which have no musical contents whatsoever except for excessive and repetitious doodling, so here we are: quality is relative.

Updated: 11/02/2016Posted: 11/02/2016

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ILONA DAMIECKA / TOMASZ LICAK QUINTET ~ PIESNI POLSKIE VOL.1 NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz quintet co-led by vocalist / pianist Ilona DamieckaFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Tomasz LicakFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Michal Jan CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel GrzesiukFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six songs by Polish Classical composers: Stanislaw MoniuszkoFind albums by this artist, Feliks NowowiejskiFind albums by this artist and Mieczyslaw KarlowiczFind albums by this artist, arranged for the quintet by Licak. The music was recorded live at the Radio Gdansk studio and offers a remarkable sound quality. The music is an interesting Jazz-Classical Fusion, and although personally I am not a great fun of the original music, composed mostly in the 19th Century, these Jazz arrangements manage to transform it into the Jazz idiom rather successfully. The swinging treatment transforms the original melodies, many of which are based on Polish Folklore, into a much more vigorous environment and the resulting modern mainstream zest serves them well. The ballads emphasize the typical Polish melancholy, again deeply rooted into Polish Folk music, and those also work out very well in the up-to-date dressing. The closing song on the album gets a much more adventurous treatment, and perhaps points to a direction of the follow up album? The entire transformation process is done with taste and sophistication, which deserves to be praised. The members of the quintet are all seasoned musicians, which is clearly obvious by the splendid level of the performances herein. The idea of the double saxophone front line is excellent, but sadly although the two saxophonists perform beautifully on their own they do not play together enough, which might have intensified the result. Damiecka plays some wonderful piano soli and her treatment of the original lyrics, which are replaced by her vocalese, is also excellent, albeit somewhat minimalist. The rhythm section swings passionately and carries the tunes forward, as expected from professionals. Overall this is a superb debut effort and a most enjoyable listening experience, which as the title pledges, is just a first glance of the future plans by the quintet. Passionate performances, great soloing and swinging fluidity – what else can one expect form a mainstream modern Jazz album. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 16/07/2020Posted: 16/07/2020

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ADAM GOLICKI ~ AD SHAVE BCD 36 (Barcode: 5906881885369) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz drummer / composer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist, recorded with a core trio, which also includes keyboardist Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Piotr GierszewskiFind albums by this artist. This same trio released an album under the Confusion ProjectFind albums by this artist moniker a year ago. Eight guest musicians appear on selected tracks, among them saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all composed by Golicki (although the album´s packaging includes also a conflicting line claiming the compositions were co-composed by Golicki and Ciesielski). The music is a nice collection of melodic tunes performed excellently by all the musicians involved in a Funky / Fusion mainstream style. This music swings and the musicians are all professionals, so nothing negative can be said about this album, except for the fact that it is derivative and introduces absolutely no innovation as far as music is concerned. On the other hand not every album innovates (in fact only very few do) so this album is at least as good as most other albums released in the same musical milieu and parts of it are even brilliant. I had an entertaining time listening to this music, not trying to analyze it any more than need be and having a good time in the process. Perhaps not music for brainiacs, but this is a solid piece of music in every respect and very many people who like the lighter side of Jazz should have a great time listening to it. Hopefully Golicki will continue his musical path further and will grace us with more ambitious projects in the future. His potential as a composer certainly ignites high hopes.

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ADAM GOLICKI ~ REFLECTIONS DAYMUSIC 01 (Barcode: 198000473723) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist, this time recorded in a classic guitar trio setting with two veterans of the local scene: guitarist Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist and bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist, who plays both acoustic and electric basses. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Golicki. The album shows a much serious facet of Golicki’s music in comparison to his earlier efforts, which presented an easy-going approach with a Fusion oriented approach. This time we are presented with a collection of carefully crafted tunes, strictly within modern mainstream Jazz, which are treated seriously and respectfully by the trio in a traditional Jazz manner. The music has a certain melancholic tinge, which suits the trio format perfectly. The performances are, as expected, exemplary, with Grzywacz playing the themes and improvisations with technical precision and obvious feel for the music. Lemanczyk is absolutely brilliant, both as an accompanist and soloist, and as usual “steals the show” with his virtuosity, a phenomenon repeating itself on all the recordings he takes part in, which he simple cannot avoid in view of his extraordinary technique and talent. The leader plays very tastefully and with great sensitivity, which is also apparent on the current recording he made with the Confusion ProjectFind albums by this artist, of which he is a founding member, album “LastFind albums with this title”, Overall, this album is an important milestone in Golicki’s recording career, certainly his most impressive achievement so far, which of course is very welcome. For guitar lovers this is a great opportunity to hear some beautiful guitar playing in the true Jazz spirit, avoiding the overbearing Fusion mannerisms, and of course a superb display of bass playing, which every bass player the world over surely can learn something from. This is a typical example of “less is more”, which in this crazy world we live in is a welcome balsam to one’s ears. Well done!

Updated: 21/11/2021Posted: 21/11/2021

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DOMINIK KISIEL EXPLORATION QUARTET ~ LIVE AT RADIO KATOWICE PRK 0137 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is a live recording by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist and his quartet called Exploration QuartetFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Michal Jan CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr SzajrychFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four composed by Kisiel, two by Ciesielski and one by Golicki. The music is typical modern young Polish Jazz, based on excellent melody based compositions and superbly performed by these young musicians, who never cease to amaze how well musically advanced they are despite their young age. It is worth to mention that the material present on this album is completely different from the material included on the quartet´s debut studio album recently released on AlpakaFind albums on this label Records, which proves the prolific compositional capacity of the quartet members. The individual performances are all excellent and the concert setting allows the musicians to stretch out and play long solos without being concerned by time limitation often present in the recording studio. As a result three of the tunes performed here last for over ten minutes in duration. Kisiel skillfully builds up his solos gradually, with excellent usage of dynamics and harmonics, adorned with his technical skill, which is spotless. Ciesielski also stretches out wonderfully, playing with confidence and beautiful sense of lyricism, at all times supported amicably by Kisiel. The rhythm section does an excellent job as well, with Golicki showing his maturity and experience gained over the last few years. Szajrych keeps mostly to the basics, as he seems to be the most inexperienced player in the quartet, but his performance is stable and accurate, exactly what one would expected from a solid bassist in a quartet. Overall this is an excellent effort by the young generation of Polish Jazz players, full of great tunes and superb performances, which is a true fun to listen to and admire their talents and abilities. Definitely well done!

Updated: 06/10/2018Posted: 05/10/2018

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OLKO.M.TRIO ~ TRUE NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 198000124588) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz trio led by pianist / composer Alexandra MularczykFind albums by this artist with bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Mularczyk. The piano trio format on this album is significantly modernized with the presence of the electric bass, especially the fretless one, crossing over to Fusion at times, but the acoustic piano and the long arpeggios keeps it firmly within the mainstream Jazz idiom. The music is energetic and youthful, firmly based on solid melodic compositions, which serve as basis for extended improvisations. Golicki, who has already an impressive recording experience behind him, ornaments the music with diverse rhythmic patterns and certainly steps beyond the basic drumming duty, becoming an integral part of the creative team. Although the album does not offer much of adventurous exploration of the Jazz idiom, it shows the excellent level of the young Polish Jazz generation, as well as the growing number of young female Jazz musicians (mostly pianists but not only), which are now joined by Mularczyk, who earn their position thanks to their talents and creativity. Overall this is a very promising debut album, which will hopefully be followed my more examples of the work by the musicians involved in this one. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 18/07/2021Posted: 18/07/2021

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CEZARY PACIOREK ~ EMIL: LIVE AT RADIO GDANSK SOLITON 944 (Barcode: 5901571099446) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz accordionist / composer Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist recorded live in a quintet setting with clarinetist Marcin JanekFind albums by this artist, violist Filip KowalskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The project is a tribute to the clarinetist / composer Emil KowalskiFind albums by this artist, who passed unexpectedly in 2008 and who was a lifetime friend and musical partner of Paciorek. Kowalski was a prominent Jazz-Classical and Jazz-World Fusion activist and a much loved personality on the Polish Baltic Tricity scene. The majority of the music on this album was composed by Paciorek but includes also two Classical pieces arranged by Kowalski and a medley of standards. The music offers a pretty diverse collection of melodic Jazz tunes with both World and Classical Music influences, as expected by the project´s objective, performed completely acoustically, offering a fresh and immediate sound rarely found on albums today. The sound of the live recording is clear and well defined, with the bass a bit too high and the drums too low in the mix, but nothing that would spoil the fun of listening to the music. The compositions by Paciorek are all solid, with a tinge of melancholy always present. The performances are professional, as expected from these experienced musicians, with Paciorek delivering his virtuosic solo parts, which are the heart of the entire project. But Filip Kowalski (the son of the late Emil Kowalski) and Janek also deliver some splendid soloing. The rhythm section is up to par with the three soloists and provides a steady, reliable and tasteful backing. Overall this is a nice collegial gesture which honors a memory of a friend musician, who deserves to be remembered, as much as a pleasant musical venture, which can be enjoyed by a wide audience of Jazz and around listeners.

Updated: 10/08/2019Posted: 10/08/2019

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ALICJA SEROWIK ~ DO SE SAJD NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is a stunning debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist Alicja SerowikFind albums by this artist, accompanied by pianist Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, who also arranged all the music, accordionist Arek CzernyszFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof SlomkowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. A string quartet is also present on some of the songs. The album presents nine folk songs from the Kurpie ethnic region in Poland, which has a specific musical tradition and linguistic dialect. One of the songs is repeated in two different versions. One piece composed by Ciesielski and featuring wordless vocalese, is also present. The lyrics of one of the songs are missing from the otherwise beautifully and tastefully designed album´s packaging. The album also offers a superbly recorded sound. The music, based on the original Kurpie songs, is smoothly transformed into the Jazz idiom, creating an ideal amalgam of old and new, which sounds completely organic, coherent and natural. Thanks to the skillful arrangements and inspired execution, the music retains it folkloristic character, with the specific melancholy and lyricism typical of core Polish music, but also swings and potently projects the Jazz feel and quintessence. Serowik and her vocal performances are without a doubt the epicenter of this album. She manages to achieve a perfect balance between the original texts, which represent the folklore, and the Jazzy vocalese, which transforms her into the Jazz universe. Amazingly she also manages to sound equally convincing in both of these seemingly away from each other worlds. The vocals are clear and lucid, powerful yet delicate and always in perfect pitch with the harmonic background. Her overall performance on this album is nothing short of virtuosic. Ciesielski not only did a splendid job arranging the music, but also plays beautifully throughout the album, with many splendid solos and considerate accompaniment. Slomkowski and Golicki both do a perfect job required from the rhythm section, and considering the complexity of this material they both pass with flying colors. Czernysz, who plays only on the last track of the album, is also sensational and I´d definitely love to hear more of his playing. Overall this album is a splendid example of how Culture can be preserved from generation to generation, without losing its vitality and relevance. The Polish Culture incorporates a plethora of ethnic and regional sub-cultures, which are full of treasures, not only in music, but also in dance, plastic Arts, customs and literature / poetry. Serowik, like many other young Polish musicians, makes the conscious effort to dig into the tradition and bring it up to date, for which they deserve our respect and admiration. What a wonderful way to start a new musical year (2018) with this being one of the first releases this year that land on my desk. Very well done Milady and crew ;)

Updated: 17/02/2018Posted: 17/02/2018

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ PRZYJACIELE GRAJA HAJDUNA ALLEGRO 023 (Barcode: 5901157049230) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2011 This album presents the live recording of a memorial concert dedicated to the Polish pianist / composer Janusz HajdunFind albums by this artist, who died a year before this concert took place. Hajdun composed music to more than a hundred films, including the short animated film "Tango", which was the first and so far only Polish film to win the Oscar in 1983, as well as many popular songs. His music was characterized by a distinctive swing and a Jazz spirit, and therefore it is only natural that the Polish Jazz musicians taking part in this concert would pay this loving tribute to the beautiful music composed by Hajdun, hoping to preserve it for posterity. The album presents thirteen compositions by Hajdun (in two cases co-compositions), all of which were beautifully arranged by the participating musicians and three of which include vocals sung by Wanda StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist. The instrumentalist are: legendary pianist Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Piotr NadolskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist, percussionist Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist and pianist Kuba HajdunFind albums by this artist (the composer´s son). The music is truly beautiful, full of the typical Polish lyricism, somewhat melancholic and even gloomy, but always absorbing and aesthetically perfect. There is more than a coincidental similarity to Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s cinematic work, which indisputably inspired Hajdun, as it did all Polish composers. Hearing all this music collected here makes a great impact as a sum total and emphasizes his incredible value as a composer and contributor to the development of Polish Culture. The performances are inspired and overall perfect, full of superb solos and excellent team work, kept in relative low-key, as appropriate for a memorial concert. Ranging from solo piano performances to a full-blown Jazz ensemble, things are definitely happening here, which should leave no listener cold. The fact that people pay tribute to their departed colleagues and mentors is heartwarming and commendable and when it is done with such love, dedication and talent, it becomes an unforgettable event. This is Polish Jazz at its best, and as such it deserves to be listened to with attention and open-mindedness. Taking care of the past and the heritage is every bit as important as taking care of the future, let´s not forget it.

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