Record Reviews

(0-58) ~ DO DZIESIECIU OLO 003 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2001 This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist and her debut recording with the group (0-58)Find albums by this artist, which placed her as a co-leader with guitarist / composer Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist and bassist / composer Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist. The group also included accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist and alternating drummers Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album includes nine original compositions, four each by Grzywacz and Walicki and one by Stanko with lyrics all written by Stanko. Musically the album presents a process of searching after a unique identity, which takes the musicians exploring many different avenues, such as Blues, chanson, alternative Pop and of course Jazz. The songs are very diverse in their tempi, moods and melodic ranges and the album keeps changing quite dramatically between one song and another. Listening to the album is like embarking on a journey with destination unknown. On the whole the approach is acoustic and rather intimate. The instrumentalists perform splendidly, improvising extensively between the vocal parts. Grzywacz and Walicki both play some outstanding instrumental parts as do the guest soloists. Stanko is theatrical and somewhat reserved, perhaps still not aware or her formidable vocal ability, which will flower on her later recordings. In retrospect this is a very interesting document of the Polish Jazz scene at the turn of the Millennium. Obviously the young generation of musicians is looking for something different than the mainstream tradition and with Yass paving the way in the previous decade, everything is open and nothing is taboo any more. The album is unfortunately out of print since many years and it took me ages to track a copy down – lucky me!

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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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MAREK NAPIORKOWSKI ~ HIPOKAMP AGORA 5903111493905 (Barcode: 5903111493905) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is an album by Polish guitarist / composer Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with keyboardist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist and Brazilian percussionist Luis RibeiroFind albums by this artist. Veteran saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album presents nine tracks, six of which are original compositions by Napiorkowski, two are arrangements of songs by David BowieFind albums by this artist and one is by the great Brazilian composer Egberto GismontiFind albums by this artist. It is enormously satisfying to see an Artist achieving a status of stability and security, where his authority / ability / talent are not repeatedly questioned and where he does not have to prove anything any more, all this as a result of consistent hard work and good judgment as to the consecutive steps of his vocation. Napiorkowski is a prime example of such an Artist, enjoying a carefully weaved career built step by step, always surrounded by first class musicians and never resting comfortably on his laurels. This album is full of surprises, starting with the very unusual lineup: basically a duo of guitar and keyboards supported by a rhythmic backbone. The wonderfully multi-talented Smoczynski is able to display the entire palette of his keyboard wizardry, including the beautiful Hammond Organ parts and of course supplying the bass lines in this bass-less setting. Dobrowolski is right on the money with his dynamic and beautifully tasteful drumming and Ribeiro ornaments the proceedings with stylish percussion parts. Pieronczyk does not disappoint either, and his elegant lyrical saxophone parts suit the music ideally. The original compositions by Napiorkowski offer wonderfully coherent melody lines, which are expanded into non-trivial improvisations, at times touching upon imaginative Free Form sections. The two Bowie songs receive unique arrangements, taking the original melody contents into unexpected territory. The Gismonti piece, although very brief, expresses Napiorkowski´s admiration of the Brazilian Genius and fellow guitarist. The entire album offers a wonderful flow and continuity, which turns it into a superb listening experience. Overall this is another excellent step in Napiorkowski´s well paved career, finding him searching and exploring, which of course is commendable. For the lack of a better definition, this is a beautiful example of intelligent and innovative Fusion, which points out that the idiom is far from being stale, when in great hands. Respect Maestro!

Updated: 20/12/2019Posted: 20/12/2019

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MAREK NAPIORKOWSKI ~ TROJKA LIVE POLSKIE RADIO 1914 (Barcode: 5907812249144) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is a live album recorded at the Polish Radio Studio Three by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist. The recording captures Napiorkowski in a sextet setting with some of the absolute top Polish Jazz payers: saxophonists Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist and Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (who also plays on bass clarinet), pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist (who also plays flute), bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. They perform six original compositions, all by Napiorkowski. The music is a superb example of modern mainstream Jazz, which combines excellent compositions with perfect execution. Based on beautiful and masterly woven melodic themes, full of romanticism, melancholy and typical Polish mystery, the tunes presented here have been masterly arranged for the sextet by Herdzin, who is celebrated for his ability to create wonderful sonic structures, which are elaborate and highly sophisticated but sound remarkably pleasing. The lineup selected by Napiorkowski ensured a truly marvelous performance, with all the musicians involved having plenty of opportunity to play extended and expressive solos. The leader delivers his usual, slightly Fusion oriented strings of pearls on his electric guitar, which are, as always, dazzling. He also uses the acoustic guitar no less effectively. The saxophonists have plenty of opportunities to play heartwarming solos, the bass clarinet and flute provide nice atmospheric layers, the piano keeps the harmony together and leads the way and the excellent rhythm section takes care of the pulse, always perfectly on time. However, the individual performances are only pieces of the puzzle, which, when combined together, creates a much stronger and more satisfying whole. This is one of the best mainstream Jazz ensemble albums I came across lately, which proves that mainstream Jazz can be fulfilling and sophisticated, if talented and dedicated musicians are involved. The arrangements and the team work present here are a classic example of contemporary mainstream Jazz perfection. As if all this wasn´t enough, the album is also beautifully recorded and considering the fact that this is a live recording, the quality is even more remarkable. Overall this is a superb modern mainstream album, which offers beautiful compositions and perfect execution, and which should satisfy even the sternest connoisseurs and bring joy to all true Jazz lovers. Hats off!

Updated: 29/11/2016Posted: 29/11/2016

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MAREK NAPIORKOWSKI ~ UP! V 002 (Barcode: 5903111377014) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 Although this is only his fourth album as a leader, Polish guitarist / composer Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist is one of the most recorded artists on the local scene, being probably the most in-demand session guitarist since many years, which resulted in him taking part in over 140 different albums so far. He played and recorded with many world famous musicians and literally with everybody who is anybody on the local Polish scene; people like Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist, to mention just two extremely different environments, which emphasize his legendary diversity and chameleonic ability to suit every musical milieu. This is by far his most ambitious project so far, which involves eight of his original compositions arranged for a Jazz ensemble and a nine-piece chamber ensemble. The Jazz players are saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, bass clarinet player Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and American drummer Clarence PennFind albums by this artist. Herdzin was also the man in charge of the arrangements, orchestration and conducting the chamber ensemble, turning him in many respects into the most significant contributor to this album alongside Napiorkowski. The result is a sophisticated Jazz-Classical Fusion, based on solid melodies and featuring many excellent guitar solos, which floats between energetic up-tempo moods and gentle melancholic themes. Although the individual tunes are not related per se, the overall ambience and atmosphere of the album turns it into a kind of orchestral suite for chamber orchestra and Jazz soloists. The guitar work on this album, both in the acoustic and the electric tonalities, is simply brilliant and for me the best ever achieved by Napiorkowski. Rather than trying to prove his ability as a player, which is already established anyway, Napiorkowski really concentrates on playing music, the essence that so often tends to be forgotten in favor of flashy emptiness. Herdzin, the Polish musical Wizard of Oz, once again manages to sprinkle his magic all over this music, both as a pianist and of course as the man behind the ornamentation, which makes this music spark and sizzle. Luckily he found the way of balancing the basic Jazz contents and the chamber enhancements, keeping them both intact and coexisting alongside each other rather than mixing them into an undistinguishable mesh, which happens, unfortunately, way to often in such situations. Herdzin is probably the only person on the local scene who can pull this off. Some listeners might have a problem to identify with this music, which often happens when an Artist changes his established path in search of new means of expression. Perhaps this will be either too Jazzy or not Jazzy enough for some? One can never satisfy everybody and it´s preferable that the Art prevails rather than the attempt to be liked by everyone. This album is a statement by a mature, self-aware musician, who presents his vision, hoping that other can share it with him. I certainly hope many will do so!

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OLES / PIERONCZYK / OLES ~ GRAY DAYS NOT TWO 726 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2001 Released: 2001 This is an early album by the Polish brothers: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist) recorded in a trio setting with saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist. The album presents 10 original compositions, five composed by Bartlomiej Oles, four by Marcin Oles and one co-composed by them both. It is very apparent that the Oles Brothers, despite their traditional role as a rhythm section, approached the Jazz idiom head on from the very start, envisioning themselves, both collectively and individually, as complete musicians, rather than just performers, with very special emphasis on composition. The music on this album includes some beautifully melancholic melodic themes, which although executed in the Free Jazz spirit, fully convey the depth of the compositional skills. Of course they are also brilliant performers and their playing on this album is, as usual, stunning from start to finish. Combined with the power of expression of Pieronczyk, who is definitely one of the most significant Polish mid-generation Jazz saxophonist (alas sadly tragically underappreciated), the music on this album is extremely powerful, even if kept mostly low key. The emotional restrain builds up a tremendous tension, which is the underlying characteristic of this album, making it a very potent listening experience. Although recorded and released sixteen years before I finally managed to lay my hands on a copy, this album takes no prisoners and sounds completely up to date today, revealing a mature approach and exquisite technique already at the very early stages of their career. Such music is definitely too good to lay about so I urge everybody to get a copy of this album before it gets completely out of print and you will have to pay an arm and a leg to get one. Highly recommended!

Updated: 30/04/2017Posted: 30/04/2017

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ A-TRANE NIGHTS FOR TUNE 0040 (Barcode: 5902768701395) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2014 This is an "archival" album by the veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes Australian (living in Germany) trombonist / didgeridoo player Adrian MearsFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the Berlin A-Trane International Jazz Club (hence the title) in 2008, immediately following the studio recording of the same material, which was released a couple of years later as "El BuscadorFind albums with this title" on the German JazzwerkstattFind albums on this label label, on which Pieronczyk releases his albums in the last few years. The album presents eight original compositions, seven of which were composed by Pieronczyk and one which was co-composed by Pieronczyk and Mears, exactly the same as the studio album and in almost identical sequence. Naturally these live versions are expanded and provide a much broader basis both for individual explorations and ensemble interplay. Three of the pieces have a duration of over fifteen minutes and two others of over ten minutes, which obviously emphasizes the relaxed atmosphere and creative frame of mind of the quartet members at the time. The music is quite deceiving, as it does sound a bit simplistic at first, but careful listening reveals a depth much beyond the exterior layer of the melodic themes in each of the pieces. There is an intrinsic dimension of freedom in this music, which never actually crosses over to the Avant-Garde or even free form, but is sufficiently removed from straightforward mainstream to be both aesthetically elegant and intellectually intriguing. As I have already said on previous occasions, Pieronczyk seems to have developed a niche of his own within modern Jazz, which came to full fruition on his recent solo saxophone album "The Planet Of Eternal LifeFind albums with this title". The sound of the quartet is another challenge; a pianoless saxophone and trombone / didgeridoo fronted ensemble is obviously significantly less "user friendly" than a traditional harmonically supported lineup. But whatever is lost from the absence of the piano is gained by the sonic space stretched between the brass instruments. The "air" or empty space plays a significant role in the overall effect the quartet members achieve collectively as a group. Of course the individual performances are all quite splendid. Pieronczyk has a superbly mellow tone, which contrasts nicely with the somewhat rough trombone and didgeridoo sound. The soloists are supported admirably by the rhythm section, which of course is solid like a rock and flexible like a breeze. Big kudos is due to For Tune for putting this music out and saving it from getting stale and lost in the tunnels of history, as it surely deserves to see the light of day and make the music lovers happy!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ EL BUSCADOR JAZZWERKSTATT 064 (Barcode: 4250079758517) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2010 This is an album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international quartet, which also features Australian (residing in Germany) trombonist / didgeridoo player Adrian MearsFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight compositions, seven of which are original compositions by Pieronczyk and one is co-composed by Pieronczyk and Mears. The material present on this album was also recorded live in Berlin´s A-Train Club immediately following the studio recording and that live version of the music was released in 2014 by the For Tune label as "A-Trane Nights". Comparison of the two versions, i.e. studio and live, is very educational. The music is an excellent example of modern European Jazz with strong World Music influences, both harmonically and rhythmically. The sound, which is characterized by the absence of a harmonic instrument (i.e. piano), is very original and requires some effort to get used to, but eventually turns out to be very effective. The tribal feel dominates the music and the superb saxophone / didgeridoo duo featured on one of the tracks is definitely one of the highlights of the album. The individual contributions by all the musicians are excellent from start to finish. Pieronczyk is obviously one of the top saxophonists on the Polish Jazz scene and his performances are always beyond reproach. Mears is an obvious virtuoso player and his trombone parts are wonderfully structured. Cox has a beautiful warm tone and his pulsations are the glue upon which the music moves forward. Dziedzic is a versatile drummer and his elegant and very intelligent work on this album is nothing short of inspirational. Overall this is a brilliant album and a milestone in Pieronczyk´s career, which over time earned a well deserved place in the pantheon of the Polish Jazz recorded legacy. Absolutely not to be missed by all Polish Jazz connoisseurs and listeners who enjoy less obvious musical thrills.

Updated: 10/01/2017Posted: 10/01/2017

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ I`LL COLOUR AROUND IT JAZZ SOUND 023 (Barcode: 606707941457) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2021 This is an alum by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international quartet that includes American guitarist Jean-Paul BourellyFind albums by this artist, British (resident in US) bassist Orlando le FlemingFind albums by this artist and American drummer John B. ArnoldFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven composed by Pieronczyk and one co-composed by all four members of the quartet. Although recorded in 2016, the album was released only five years later. Pieronczyk is undoubtedly one of the most internationally recognized names among Polish Jazz musicians, who produced an impressive recording legacy with releases on many labels, both Polish and foreign. 2016 was surely a most fertile year of his career, as he managed to record no less than five albums (those already released and perhaps more available in his vaults) that year. The music on this album sounds more like a Jam Session rather than a carefully pre-planned recording session, with the musicians improvising on sketchy tunes and a relaxed atmosphere prevailing all around. Pieronczyk solos extensively with Bourelly mostly supporting him in the background, but also delivering occasionally his idiosyncratic soloing and vocal contributions, and the great rhythm section carries the music safely along the way. Overall, this is an interesting, mostly Free Form album, with highly impressive playing by all the participants, but somewhat less coherent and inviting than most earlier albums by Pieronczyk, which limits the listening audience to Improvised Music / Free Jazz enthusiasts. Personally I prefer the more “tamed” output by Pieronczyk, but of course his diversity is also one of his many virtues.

Updated: 09/12/2021Posted: 09/12/2021

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ KOMEDA – THE INNOCENT SORCERER JAZZWERKSTATT 104 (Barcode: 4250079758715) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is an album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist dedicated to the music composed by the Godfather of Polish Jazz pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. Pieronczyk recorded the album with an international quintet, which also features American saxophonist Gary ThomasFind albums by this artist, Brazilian guitarist Nelson VerasFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. Together they perform six compositions (one repeated twice), all composed by Komeda. The Polish Jazz scene produced dozens of albums dedicated to the music of Komeda. Many of these records are pretty derivative and often not in par with Komeda´s memory, but some are simply brilliant, and this is definitely one of the latter. Pieronczyk manages to transform Komeda´s music into new dimensions, completely unconventional and unexpected, which is very effective and creates a new perspective of Komeda´s music. The unique lineup of the quintet, which includes two saxophonists and guitar, which replaces the piano one would expect to be present on an album dedicated to Komeda´s music, is just one of the surprises on this album. Then there is the fact that the tempi of each of the compositions are changed dramatically from the original ones, often using World Music influences like bossa nova and Cuban rhythmic patterns. The fact that this album includes two American Jazz players and manages to incorporate them into this very non-American music is also a very significant contribution. They both leave their Bebop roots behind and step boldly into the new territory, contributing beautifully. Since these are all very talented musicians, the fact that everybody contributes excellent solos and plays along splendidly with the others is of course no surprise whatsoever. The amalgam of Polish, American and Brazilian musical cultures works out wonderfully and Komeda´s music is again verified as being beyond National borders and as all great music successfully transcends any Cultural diversities and as such this is a very significant tribute to Komeda´s music. This album deserves an honorable place in every serious collection of Polish Jazz recordings.

Updated: 09/01/2017Posted: 09/01/2017

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ MONTE ALBAN JAZZ SOUND 020 (Barcode: 5908254159602) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a beautiful album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded during a Mexican tour with his trio, which also included Polish bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Mexican drummer Hernan HechtFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight original compositions, seven of which were composed by Pieronczyk and one was co-composed by all three trio members. The album has a highly unusual sound, mostly due to the use of electronic devices to process the sound of the bass and add background sound layers to the trio´s performances. This contemporary approach creates a vigorous and fresh sound of the otherwise strictly Jazz oriented material and is by itself very unique. Pieronczyk is of course one of the best Polish Jazz saxophonists and his playing is nothing short of spectacular. His post-Coltrane approach, which he follows since many years, is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and delight and his stability and consistency are also remarkable. This recording is basically well within the "organized" Free Jazz idiom, with some Fusion injected via the rhythm section contributions. It is remarkable to hear established and respected musicians still trying to innovate and search for new ways to express their musical vision. This tireless quest is what Art is all about and it´s great to see that Pieronczyk is faithful to his inner truth and keeps challenging himself, the musicians he plays with and of course his listeners. The intimate relationship between Pieronczyk and the rhythm section is one of the crucial elements of this music, which make it so successful. Minimalism, respect and a lot of freedom and space, which this music is based on, can only exist when the ensemble is as tightly knit as this trio, which of course is extraordinary. Overall this is a superb Free Jazz album, with modern sound and innovative approach, which is definitely one of the most interesting releases on the Polish scene in 2016, which was a great year for Polish Jazz in every facet of its activity. Obviously highly recommended to all music connoisseurs the world over!

Updated: 09/12/2021Posted: 14/11/2016

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ OAXACA CONSTELLATION JAZZ SOUND 022 (Barcode: 606707035576) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2021 This is a solo saxophone album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded in a chapel of a Dominican monastery at the heart of the Mexican town of Oaxaca. The album presents thirty-five short solo improvisations, in ascending order by the track duration, from fifty-five seconds to two minutes and fifty-five seconds, all composed by Pieronczyk. Although recorded in 2016 during his visit in Mexico, which also produced the excellent “Monte AlbanFind albums with this title” album released that year, this album was released only five years later. The album offers a magical ambience and superb sound quality, which is breathtaking. Pieronczyk is undoubtedly one of the most internationally recognized names among Polish Jazz musicians, who produced an impressive recording legacy with releases on many labels, both Polish and foreign. 2016 was surely a most fertile year of his career, as he managed to record no less than five albums (those already released and perhaps more available in his vaults) that year. The music, although extremely fragmented, is wonderfully coherent and sounds like a pre-planned continuum, despite the fact that the final order of the pieces was selected quite arbitrarily. The sublime ambience of the historic building, the natural echo and of course Pieronczyk’s expressionism, lyricism and sense of melodic creativity are second to none. Solo Improvised Music albums have an intrinsic tendency to become eventually boring, repetitive and self-indulgent, but this album suffers from none of these problems. The music flows naturally and keeps the listener enchanted and mesmerized for the entire duration. Overall, this is a wonderful Improvised Music album, with highly impressive playing and obvious creativity. Fans of the genre should love this to bits, but many “regular” Jazz listeners should be able to enjoy this enchanting music, when given a chance. Personally this is one of my favorite recordings in the impressive output by Pieronczyk, which means of course that I wholeheartedly recommend it to anybody who loves truly good music.

Updated: 11/12/2021Posted: 11/12/2021

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ SZYMANOWSKI / X-RAY ANAKLASIS 022 (Barcode: 5907795211923) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with Brazilian guitarist Nelson VerasFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven pieces inspired by the Etudes Op. 33, composed by Polish Classical Music pianist / composer Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist in 1916 and first performed in Paris in 1922. At the time the music was highly innovative and expressionist, marking the birth of the new era in European Classical Music with the dawn of the 20th Century. The album was released as part of the “Revisions” series on the prestigious AnaklasisFind albums on this label label, which present cross-genre experiments between Classical Music and other genres, like Electronic, Jazz or Improvised Music. As Pieronczyk explains in the booklet accompanying the album, the music the trio performs is not an attempt to interpret the original music by Szymanowski, but a completely new music composed by him, while looking at the music by Szymanowski as if under an X-Ray examination. Despite the fact that this music is freely improvised, and highly abstract, there is a strong, albeit fragmented, melodic presence, which serves as a catalyst for the three musicians to cooperate. Although the Etudes were written for piano solo, Pieronczyk decided to invite the two partners to share with him the burden of the re-examination and re-creation, sharing the duties among the three instruments equally. Obviously all three musicians are virtuosi on their respective instruments, but the essence of this album is the trialogue they are able to create intuitively between them, rather than the individual performances. Obviously this music is very demanding and might prove to be difficult both for Classical Music listeners and Improvised Music connoisseurs. Hopefully patience and open-mindedness will prevail and many music lovers will be able to discover this highly interesting effort. Overall, this is a challenging cross-genre adventure, which builds a bridge between early 20th Century Classical Music and contemporary Improvised Music, and which offers an intimate trialogue, which is fascinating and challenging as one. It is encouraging to see that such highly non-commercial and Artistic music is still able to find a home and be respectfully released.

Updated: 23/01/2023Posted: 23/01/2023

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ THE PLANET OF ETERNAL LIFE JAZZWERKSTATT 149 (Barcode: 4250317419958) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is a solo soprano saxophone album recorded live by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist. It comprises of fifteen tracks, twelve of which are his original compositions and the remaining three are standards. Pieronczyk, who has been active on the scene since the late 1990s, has already an impressive discography to his credit listing dozens of albums both as a leader of various projects and as a sideman. Solo saxophone albums are pretty rare phenomena in general, and those few that are actually recorded and released are usually associated with the Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene. Pieronczyk is basically a modern mainstream player and therefore his music is based on clearly defined melody lines, as evident on this album as well. However, the intrinsic level of Freedom present on this album is much more extensive than in most mainstream recordings, basically putting this recording very much in a class of its own; somewhere between "melodic free" and "experimental mainstream". But labels aside, the musical content herein, and this is what really matters, is truly excellent from start to finish. Pieronczyk displays a wonderful fluency in his performances, as well as sensitivity and improvisational qualities, which place him among the finest soprano saxophone players around. This, combined with his beautiful tone, create some truly magic moments. Of course one must also praise his courage to face his audience exposed and alone, an act of artistic statement attempted by but a few. The album might have a problem with finding listeners, who will be able to appreciate its beauty, since as already mentioned earlier, is sort of falls in between categories, One can only hope that true Jazz connoisseurs will be able to cross nonexistent boundaries and discover this gem and then enjoy it in full.

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ADAM PIERONCZYK WITH ANTHONY JOSEPH ~ MIGRATORY POETS FOR TUNE 0061 (Barcode: 5902768701562) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is a live recording by an international ensemble performing a Jazz & Poetry concert. The ensemble, led by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, also includes Brazilian guitarist Nelson VerasFind albums by this artist, Polish bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and American drummer John B. ArnoldFind albums by this artist. They are joined by British (of Caribbean roots) poet Anthony JosephFind albums by this artist, who recites his poems accompanied by the quartet. The album consists of seven tracks, six of which are poetry accompanied by music and one is an instrumental piece. All the music is original and was composed by Pieronczyk. The albums brings on fond memories of times (mostly the 1960s) when Jazz & Poetry concerts were a common happening, both in Britain and in Poland, producing some of the most adventurous and aesthetically challenging music at the time. Since the sub-genre is quite a rarity today, this album is a welcome reminder of this magnificent Art form. The overall performances on this album are all very good, with Pieronczyk playing as usual with great fluidity and taste. The rhythm section produces a steady groove as a background to the poetry recitation and the guitar and saxophone solos are intertwined between the stanzas or after the recitation is over. Pieronczyk, although perfectly capable of Free Style improvisation, keeps a very calm profile here, playing mostly very lyrically and melodically, suitable Joseph´s poetry, which is mostly more associative than clear-cut thematically, full of exotic smells, tastes and panoramas. Overall this is a beautiful trip of poetic dreams engulfed in lyrical music, that make the listener forget his whereabouts and take him on a dreamy trip to a far away place. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ADAM PIERONCZYK & MIROSLAV VITOUS ~ AD-LIB ORBITS PAO 11320 (Barcode: 9006834113207) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by the duo comprising of two veteran Jazz Masters: Polish saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist and Czech bassist / composer Miroslav VitousFind albums by this artist. The album presents sixteen relatively short spontaneous improvisations, fourteen of which are credited to both musicians and one each is credited to Pieronczyk or Vitous, being solo pieces. This album, being a second encounter, misses the element of surprise the duo managed to create first time around, but in every other respect it is a superb example of the "Art of the Duo" idiom, which in Jazz has a very long tradition. Despite the fact that all the music is spontaneously improvised, it is remarkably accessible to a larger Jazz loving audience beyond the miniscule circle of enthusiasts of Free Jazz or Improvised Music. Of course the question if conventional Jazz fans will have the stamina and open-mindedness to relax and enjoy these musical explorations is always relevant. The music is mostly low key and slow tempo, which makes it very meditative and demanding. Both players are of course beyond any need to show their chops and concentrate on the dialogue that develops between them. Listeners who like such musical environment will of course enjoy the music immensely, exploring the exchanges and dialogues developed in the process. In short this is a successful follow up album to the duo´s debut recorded a year earlier, much in the same aural and conceptual vein. Listeners who enjoyed the debut should definitely grab this one as well; those who did not have the opportunity to listen to the debut album could start from this one and then get the debut. Either way works well!

Updated: 20/09/2017Posted: 20/09/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ADAM PIERONCZYK & MIROSLAV VITOUS ~ WINGS FOR TUNE 0084 (Barcode: 5902768701890) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is a duo album by Polish saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist and Czech virtuoso bassist / composer Miroslav VitousFind albums by this artist. Together they perform ten pieces, seven of which were composed by Pieronczyk, two were co-composed by Pieronczyk and Vitous and one was composed by Vitous. The music is obviously only partly pre-composed and emphasizes the improvised dialogue between these two players, which is the most vital element presented on this album, which in turn definitely belongs to the "Art of the Duo" category. The duo format, although obviously perilous in its nakedness and exposure, is also ideal in many aspects; it enables a conversation, which solo format often lacks, it enables the listener to concentrate on just two musicians, which is easier to do than to follow a whole group of them, and finally it is intimate enough to bring out the best in its participants. Listeners familiar with the recording legacy of Pieronczyk won´t be surprised by his superb performances on this album. He has produced consistently excellent output since the mid-1990s and is definitely one of Poland´s top Jazz figures, which considering how crowded that scene is, is already a great distinction. He obviously prefers small formats and already was engaged in the duo format with Polish pianist Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist and recorded a solo saxophone album. His music always borders between contemporary modern Jazz and Free Form improvisation, amalgamating the Jazz legacy and the need to expand its horizons. Vitous doesn´t need any introductions, but surprisingly on this album he plays much more openly and freely than usual, obviously inspired by the circumstances and his partner. His statements, both when playing alongside Pieronczyk and when soloing, are all extraordinary beautiful, elegant and expressive. Although living in the US since the late 1960s, his aesthetics is still very European, full of romanticism and Eastern European melancholy, and as such he fits the role of Pieronczyk´s partner ideally. There are no weak moments on this album. From the starting notes and well after the music is all over, the feeling of a cohesive, continuous spiritual experience prevails. Although, as all improvised music, the music on this album is often challenging and engaging, it is remarkably accessible and keeps the listener in a relaxed state of mind, which is very rare in such circumstances. This is definitely one of the best albums released on the Polish market in 2015 and proudly matches any album released anywhere else in the world. Polish Jazz enthusiasts will obviously find it as an essential ingredient of their listening milieu.

Updated: 26/02/2016Posted: 26/02/2016

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TADEUSZ SUDNIK ~ TADEUSZ SUDNIK & HIS FRIENDS IN ART AUDIO CAVE 2017/001 (Barcode: 5905669566223) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 1986 - 2005 Released: 2017 This is an archival release by Polish keyboardist / composer / electronic music pioneer Tadeusz SudnikFind albums by this artist, which presents nine tracks recorded between 1986 and 2005 with the participation of some of top Polish Jazz musicians, like trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist and Aleksander KoreckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist and others, including the Polish Avant-Garde legend Andrzej MitanFind albums by this artist. Sudnik is listed as co-composer of all the tracks, except the piece with Stanko. The music presents a wide scope of stylistic influences, but clearly points out the tremendous input Sudnik contributed to the development of electronic music as well as Polish Jazz and other genres. His membership in Stanko´s group FreelectronicFind albums by this artist in the 1980 and his work on such albums as "Peyotl - WitkacyFind albums with this title" or "Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival 1987Find albums with this title" are major contributions to the genre. On the album Sudnik utilizes live computer generated sounds, producing amazing and always perfectly suited music to accompany the friends he plays with. The album is full of great melodies, mystical sound vistas, exciting dialogues and a plethora of highly unusual, but highly aesthetic musical statements. Overall this is a superb career spanning overview, which presents Sudnik as a major electronic pioneer, full of ideas and stylistic diversity, which is rarely present in electronic music, which tends to be more concerned with electronics than with music. For Polish Jazz followers, this is a must have item, which enables a glance at a much lesser known areas of the genre´s activities. Electronic music connoisseurs should also find this fascinating, and much different from the usual output found within the genre. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 05/07/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR WYLEZOL QUINTET ~ LIVE NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is a live recording by Polish Jazz quintet led by pianist / composer Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions (one repeated twice as a bonus track), five of which were composed by Wylezol and two by Doruzka. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz idiom, based on solid melodies, and as usual with Eastern European composers with a distinct share of melancholy. There is little drama on this album with the tunes flowing gently one after another, leaving the listener in a state of blissful relaxation. The individual performances are all excellent, as expected from musicians of this class. Pieronczyk is one of the top Polish saxophonists with a vast experience and Doruzka is one of top European guitarists, in addition to the talented and also very experienced leader and the excellent rhythm section. There is nothing but professionalism and elegance herein. On the other hand considering the strength of the lineup, one might expect a somewhat more exciting and fulfilling result. Overall this is a nice live mainstream album, which should keep most Jazz listeners happy, but which in retrospect joins a long list of albums that go gently into that good night and remain consequently desolate.

Updated: 04/05/2017Posted: 04/05/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend