Record Reviews

MARIUSZ BOGDANOWICZ ~ CONFITEOR SONG CONFITEOR 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2000 Released: 2001 This is the debut album as a leader on his own record label by Polish bassist / composer Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with a formidable team of Polish Jazz musicians, which includes saxophonists Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, US born guitarist Brandon FurmanFind albums by this artist, accordionist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BiskupskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions by Bogdanowicz and one arrangement of a folk tune. Considering the level of the musicians involved there are no surprises here; the performances by all the participants are spotless, professional and truly excellent. The young Herdzin, who was a member of the ensemble led by Namyslowski at the time, plays some great piano lines. It is very interesting to hear Namyslowski play music he did not compose; his performances here are truly inspired. Furman plays beautiful guitar lines, full of lyricism and technically brilliant guitar tricks. Jagodzinski, who normally plays piano of course, adds some nice accordion touches. Wendt adds also some fiery saxophone solos and finally Biskupski on drums plays solidly and respectfully alongside Bogdanowicz, who plays several beautiful bass solos, creating together a perfect mainstream Jazz rhythm section. But the focus of this album is of course on the superb tunes composed by the leader. Melodic and gorgeously lyrical, these compositions are all sensual and intelligent, serving as perfect vehicles for the musicians to spread their wings. These tunes are all as good as any Jazz standard and deserve to be listened to repeatedly. Overall this is a perfect mainstream Jazz album, which combines great music with perfect and inspired execution, a model for all excellent Jazz album ever created, becoming an instant classic Polish Jazz album in all respects.

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MARIUSZ BOGDANOWICZ ~ SYNTONIA CONFITEOR 007 (Barcode: 5902020591047) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the third album by veteran Polish Jazz bassist / composer Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet which also includes saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, pianist Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians participate on selected tracks. The album comprises of nine original compositions, all by Bogdanowicz, eight of which are instrumentals and one features vocals. The music is typical modern Polish Jazz mainstream, with beautiful melancholic melodies, lyrical moods and almost Scandinavian gloominess in the air. All the performances are excellent technically and proficiently executed, with some brilliant moments, especially when trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist joins the ensemble and the overall atmosphere becomes somewhat less constrained. The compositions are all quite gorgeous and sometimes it seems that they could have served as a basis for a much more adventurous approach. Bogdanowicz plays delightfully from start to finish and his partners all deserve applause. It is almost impossible to say anything negative about this album; it is after all a superb mainstream recording by any criteria. Many Jazz lovers, especially Americans (if this album was to reach the US market – which it won´t) would simply love it to bits. However, as good as it is, it does not break any conventional barriers and contributes very little to the development of the genre. But who says every album has to do so? So here we have a very pleasant mainstream album, well played and excellently recorded and full of good music, lacking only a bit of the audacious spark. Perhaps next time?

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GENERATION NEXT ~ LIVE AT JAZZ NAD ODRA SJ 007 (Barcode: 5902596066062) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz sextet, which as the name suggests, presents the Father-to Son continuity on the local scene; four of the sextet´s members are second generation of Polish Jazz personalities. Trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist is a son of Andrzej SchmidtFind albums by this artist, a renowned educator and author of Jazz history books, trombonist Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist is a son of the legendary saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, Gabriel NiedzielaFind albums by this artist is a son of the celebrated bassist / composer Jacek NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and finally saxophonist Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist is a son of saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist. The remaining two members of the sextet are Italian bassist Francesco AngiuliFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The sextet performs seven original compositions, two each by Schmidt, Namyslowski and Wendt and one by Niedziela. The material was recorded live at the Jazz Nad Odra Festival and at the Polish Radio´s Warsaw studio. The idea of forming a musical ensemble based on the fact that the members have something in common, other than the music they play, is always a perilous affair. Just imagine a group of left-handed players, or red-haired players or musicians who like strawberry ice cream? This is perhaps not the case at hand, but on the other hand it is difficult to guess what the purpose of this sextet really is. The music they play is straight-forward mainstream, which is completely déjà-vu and contributes no thrill and no challenge. Yes, they are all excellent players individually, but does their presence together on this album create any special interaction, which would have not happened in different circumstances? Not really. So here we have it, an unremarkable Jazz recording, which is listenable enough but simply fades away as soon as the music is over. Considering the fact that there are hordes of fabulous young Jazz musicians on the Polish scene, who make outstanding music, this is sadly an example of what should be avoided.

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KAROLINA KOWALCZEWSKA ~ CHIARA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Karolina KowalczewskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a core trio consisting of bassist Maurizio RolliFind albums by this artist and drummer Jozef EliashFind albums by this artist, which is joined on various tracks by saxophonists Mariusz MielcarekFind albums by this artist, Adam WendtFind albums by this artist and Michal KobojekFind albums by this artist, a couple of vocalists, a violinist, a choir and even a symphonic orchestra (sampled mind you) arranged by Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist on the opening track. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Kowalczewska, with one of them being repeated twice as the opening and closing track. Kowalczewska is clearly flirting with both the Classical and Jazz idioms, a perilous game, which is rarely very successful. The music ranges from forms like a concerto for orchestra and sax, via a choir psalm and saxophone trio (with a lot of almost free blowing) which slowly degrades to a bluesy ballad in which the trio supports a lengthy saxophone solo, a series of mainstream quartet pieces, three vocal tracks and a sax quartet to round things up: altogether an unimpressive hodgepodge of musical ditties lacking any coherence or sense of direction. Yes there are some nice melodic themes and nice sax solos but in all honesty there is nothing here which deserves special attention or something that wasn´t played endless times before at best and at it´s worst moments this albums sounds like a junior high school band, completely amateurish. I am truly sorry but this stuff is really embarrassing and releasing this material for the world to hear is a major misjudgment of quality, which should be avoided at all cost.

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MICHAL LEWARTOWICZ QUARTET ~ INSPIRATIONS SJ 053 (Barcode: 5902596066642) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Fusion guitarist Michal LewartowiczFind albums by this artist recorded with his quartet, which also includes keyboardist Rafal CzarnackiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaroslaw ZarnowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel NowakFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Lewartowicz. The music is typical Fusion, based on solid, very melodic compositions, full of catchy riffs, well put together and not less impressive than any music of this kind made across the pond in the last four decades or so. These young musicians know their stuff and are able to express the Fusion Groove like clockwork. Lewartowicz is familiar with all the tricks of the trade and has all the sound gadgets one would expect to be in his arsenal. The rest of the quartet follows suit and veteran Wendt shows that his chops are completely up to date. Overall this is a perfect Fusion album, that fans of the idiom will love to bits for sure. The music is catchy, the playing impressive and professional, and it is fun to listen to. It is definitely a solid debut album, reflecting the inspirations that guided Lewartowicz so far. One can only hope that now, once Lewartowicz proved his abilities, his future projects will move forward towards more ambitious territories, since honestly Fusion has not moved an inch since it was first invented a very long time ago.

Updated: 26/04/2021Posted: 26/04/2021

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KRZYSZTOF PUMA PIASECKI & ADAM WENDT ~ WE SEE THE LIGHT SOLITON 1048 (Barcode: 5903684230488) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is an album by two veteran Polish Jazz musicians: guitarist / composer Krzysztof Puma PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / composer Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the early days of the pandemic (when such things were still possible) in the famous Polish Jazz club Pod Filarami. Rapper EskaubeiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist) joins the duo on one track and adds some electronics on others. The album presents twelve original compositions: five by Piasecki, four by Wendt and three co-composed by them both. The music is all melody based, moving between Blues / Fusion influences (Piasecki) and mainstream Jazz (Wendt), offering mostly beautiful melodic themes, full of typical Polish melancholy. The entire atmosphere of the album is unique, with the spooky ambience of the empty club and the poignant uncertainty of the pandemic influencing the proceedings. Both Piasecki and Wendt perform brilliantly and their obvious mutual respect and understanding, as well as vast performing experience are immediately apparent here. Despite the limited instrumentation and the rather unusual guitar / sax pairing, the music sound just perfect and lacks nothing more to express the emotions involved. Piasecki´s superb guitar parts, both as accompanist and soloist, are simply breathtaking. Wendt adds wave after wave of heartwrenching emotion and together the duo is as perfect as one might wish for. Overall this is a beautiful album, full of great music and masterful performances, which is not trying to dazzle or surprise but concentrates on communicating music at its purest and most emotional form, which works here perfectly. The album´s optimistic title certainly has a bit of prophecy in it, with the end of the pandemic now in sight. This album is highly recommended to guitar fanatics, as it offers some highly unusual craft, but also to all music lovers, who can enjoy it in its purest form.

Updated: 02/01/2021Posted: 02/01/2021

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ SAXESFUL SJ 032 (Barcode: 5912596066658) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 What is this thing called Jazz? This question seems to reverberate for over a Century now among Jazz musicians, connoisseurs of the genre and scholars of the idiom, with the answer intractably remaining as elusive and mysterious, as the very nature of the music itself. Perhaps the splendor of Jazz is characterized by the inability to define or even properly describe it? Jazz keeps evolving and growing as an Art Form, combining its tradition with new discoveries and innovation, which soon after become part of the essence of the same Jazz idiom, in a perpetuum mobile like fashion. Polish Jazz, one of the most vital and ingenious local scenes on the world scale, which started while the country was still isolated from the rest of the world by the Iron Curtain, managed to flourish and explode artistically over the years, against all odds. Today Poland is a Jazz Super Power, leading the European Jazz scene in every aspect, all thanks to the seemingly inexhaustible influx of young and talented musicians, who treat their Jazz as seriously as their life. Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist (born 1985) is certainly one of those Polish Jazz mavericks. Not only is he well educated, talented and ambitious, but he is also a restless entrepreneur, record label owner, bandleader and educator who keeps constantly coming up with new ideas, maintaining his Jazz alive and kicking. This album is only one of such ideas, but the scale and audacity required to put such a project into life can be understood only by the cognoscenti of the Jazz scene. This album is a multilayered tribute to the Jazz tradition. It presents seven classic Jazz standards, each performed by the core quartet and featuring a different saxophonist. The list of the saxophonists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz and is also an obvious tribute to Polish Jazz itself. With their ages ranging from Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist (born 1936), Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1939), Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (born 1951), Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Adam WendtFind albums by this artist (born 1962) and finally Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1974), i.e. four generations of Polish Jazz players, they represent the incredible power and stylistic versatility of the scene. The core quartet is by no means less impressive, featuring Schmidt on trumpet, pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and Poland´s top rhythm section comprised of bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, all of which have a most impressive list of achievements under their arms. But tributes and history aside, this album is also a wonderful collection of great tunes, beautifully performed and entertaining, in the most positive meaning of the word. Jazz is, after all, also a source of unadulterated pleasure to those, who love it, and this album is certainly a concentrated dose of such pleasure. Enjoy! Adam Baruch, August 2018 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: 19/09/2018

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ SAXESFUL VOL II SJ 056 (Barcode: 5902596066703) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2021 It’s not a secret that when recording an album, the producer often “thinks ahead” and takes the opportunity of the studio sessions already in place to record much more material than actually needed to complete one album. This is exactly the case with the recording sessions for the album “SaxesfulFind albums with this title”, which took place in 2018, recorded by Polish Jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader, record label owner and producer Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. Following the hiatus of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent passing of Piotr’s Father, Prof. Andrzej SchmidtFind albums by this artist, an iconic figure on the Polish Jazz scene, whom I had a great pleasure to meet many a time, Piotr decided to return to the unreleased material from the “Saxesful” sessions and release a follow up album with that material, among other things to commemorate his Father’s memory. The concept of “Saxesful” was to present a series of Polish Jazz saxophonists, each playing on a different track. This second volume does exactly the same, presenting six classic Jazz standards, each performed by the core quartet and featuring a different saxophonist. The list of the saxophonists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz and is also an obvious tribute to Polish Jazz itself. With their ages ranging from Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist (born 1936), Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1939), Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (born 1951), Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Adam WendtFind albums by this artist (born 1962) and finally Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1974), i.e. four generations of Polish Jazz players, they represent the incredible power and stylistic versatility of the scene. The core quartet is by no means less impressive, featuring Schmidt on trumpet, pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and Poland´s top rhythm section comprised of bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, all of which have a most impressive list of achievements under their arms. My Grandmother loved to quote the Polish proverb, which says: ”Those, who eat the leftovers are smooth and beautiful” (In Polish: “Kto zjada ostatki, ten jest piękny i gładki”). The meaning of this proverb is, that leftovers are as good, if not better, than the original food and should not be discarded, which applies exactly to the music on this album in every sense, and it would have been a shame to leave this music unreleased. Once again we have here a feast great classic Jazz music and first rate performances, which is a tribute to the genre itself, Polish Jazz history and tradition and a great listening experience. Enjoy! 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: 30/08/2021Posted: 30/08/2021

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ZBIGNIEW JAKUBEK AFRO VIBE 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2013 - 2023 Released: 2023 This is a 2CD album paying tribute to Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer / arranger Zbigniew JakubekFind albums by this artist, a prominent figure on the Polish Jazz scene for many decades and member of such ensembles like Walk AwayFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist and others. Jakubek recorded many albums with the groups he was a member of, as well as a sideman in numerous projects with other top Polish Jazz musicians, but sadly never managed to record a solo album as a leader. Following his death in May 2023, guitarist / composer Marek RaduliFind albums by this artist, who was a close friend of Jakubek, undertook this splendid project to record an album with original music by Jakubek, with the help of many of the musicians Jakubek played with, such as bassists Michal GrottFind albums by this artist, Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist, Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, drummers Michal DabrowkaFind albums by this artist, Wojciech FedkowiczFind albums by this artist and Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents ten tracks (five on each CD), nine of which are original compositions of Jakubek and one is composed by Raduli, with lyrics by Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist). Seven of the tracks are based on tracks left by Jakubek, recorded as sketches / preparations for his solo album and other sources, two are taken from Walk Away albums and the last one, was written (see above) especially for this album. The music is all brilliantly melodic, with typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, excellently performed by all the participants and offers an excellent sound quality. Raduli’s guitar playing is absolutely sensational and his emotional involvement with this project is evident and his dedication to carry it out is exceptional. Overall, this is a brilliant tribute album to a great musician / composer, warmly remembered by his peers and friends, and the music offers some of the finest guitar oriented Jazz / Fusion music recorded in Poland. For the lovers of the genre, this album is an absolute must, but all Jazz lovers around the world should be able to appreciate the superb compositions by Jakubek and enjoy the music wholeheartedly. Hats off to those who contributed to make this project a reality!

Updated: 09/04/2024Posted: 09/04/2024

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LAURA CUBI VILLENA & ADAM WENDT ACOUSTIC SET ~ POR LA NOCHE SOLITON 757 (Barcode: 5901571097572) ~ SPAIN ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is an album by Spanish vocalist / lyricist Laura Cubi VillenaFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Polish ensemble led by saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, which also includes accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist (Pawel ZaganczykFind albums by this artist also plays accordion on one track), bassist Jaroslaw StokowskiFind albums by this artist and the Amber String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original tracks all composed by Wendt with lyrics by Villena. Villena and Wendt collaborated already on the last album by Adam Wendt Acoustic SetFind albums by this artist ("Acoustic TravelFind albums with this title") which apparently worked well for both of them, leading to this full album recorded together. The music is only marginally Jazz oriented and offers a dominant Spanish / Latin flavor, using elements of Tango and other World Music motifs. The music is beautifully arranged and the instrumental performances are all excellent, as expected from these veteran pros. The accordion parts are especially beautiful, as are the heartfelt saxophone solos. Villena has a deep and sensuous voice, with a rasping coloring, and her delivery is ideal for the melodic contents and sounds authentic and striking. Overall this is a fine Jazz-World Fusion / Smooth Jazz offering, which does not compromise any musical qualities and offers first class entertaining. For lovers of Latin music and the Tango, this is quite a feast. This music, with the help of a good bottle of wine, is able to teleport the listener back in time to the streets of Buenos Aires, where the Tango used to be a way of life.

Updated: 16/06/2018Posted: 16/06/2018

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WALK AWAY ~ FLOWER POWER SOLITON 1186 (Barcode: 5903684231867) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz ensemble Walk AwayFind albums by this artist, formed in the mid-1980s by drummer / composer / bandleader Krzysztof ZawadzkiFind albums by this artist. The lineup of the ensemble was remarkably stable over the years and still includes vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist and bassist Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist. Master percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist joins the quartet, expanding the lineup to a quintet and guitarist Grzegorz SkawinskiFind albums by this artist guests on couple of tracks. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which are originals (three by Maseli and two each by Wendt and Grabowy) and one is by Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist. The music is a continuation of the musical path the ensemble preferred over the years, which is an easy going mainstream Jazz, with some touches of Fusion and Smooth Jazz, all excellently put together, arranged and performed. Although definitely on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, this music is honest, direct and highly professional, and for listeners who love this shade of Jazz, it is simply perfect. All these musicians are so experienced and professional that they simply cannot play anything below standard. Sometimes one wonders if Jazz musicians completely forgot the concept of having a good time and all try to be over complicated to prove their worth. Well, this album is certainly all about good time, without giving away the seal of quality. Overall, this is a pleasant, highly melodic and entertaining Jazz album, which proves that the less complex Jazz explorations can be Artistically satisfying and highly pleasurable. Great to see all these guys in such a great form!

Updated: 04/11/2021Posted: 04/11/2021

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ADAM WENDT ACOUSTIC SET ~ ACOUSTIC TRAVEL SOLITON 367 (Barcode: 5901571093673) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the sixth album as a leader by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, recorded in an acoustic setting with his trio which features accordionist Pawel ZaganczykFind albums by this artist and bassist Jaroslaw StokowskiFind albums by this artist. Three guest musicians are heard on a few tracks: vocalist Laura Cubi VillenaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist and euphonium player Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks, ten of which are originals by Wendt (two of which are repeated in vocal and instrumental versions) and two come from the Jazz-World repertoire, composed one each by Richard GallianoFind albums by this artist and Astor PiazzollaFind albums by this artist. Villena wrote the lyrics for the three songs she performs on the album. The music is a Jazz-World Fusion / Smooth Jazz effort, presenting a set of nice melodic compositions by the leader, all of which have a South American feel about them, mostly associated with the Tango. Wendt has a beautiful saxophone tone but his improvisations are limited within the melodic "safe" zone. It´s great to hear the accordion, which is such beautiful and yet so neglected instrument in the Jazz idiom. The bass plays clean and precise backing notes and keeps the trio well together. Overall this is a pleasant album, which offers no innovation or exploration whatsoever, staying well within the mainstream formula at all times but on the other hand it is very well executed and is very accessible for listeners who are well outside of the strict Jazz milieu.

Updated: 14/03/2016Posted: 14/03/2016

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ADAM WENDT AND FRIENDS ~ RHYTHM & JAZZ SOLITON 862 (Barcode: 5901571098623) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam WendtFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WrombelFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. American trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and guitarist Dean BrownFind albums by this artist on one track. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Wendt. The album was beautifully recorded at the RecPublica Studios and engineered by Lukasz OlejarczykFind albums by this artist and offers a truly spectacular sound, The music, as the title suggests, is all mainstream Jazz that emphasizes the Rhythm And Blues stream in American Jazz popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It is pretty astounding how American this music sounds, although it is completely "Made in Poland"! When blindfold tested this music might have been identified as a "lost" Cannonball AdderleyFind albums by this artist album. For the Jazz cognoscenti the Adderley´s great hit "Mercy, Mercy. Mercy" comes immediately to mind when this music plays, but we should remember it was written by Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, who was as European as they come. Niedziela´s vamping on this album and his piano parts are a great tribute to Zawinul. The execution is absolutely perfect in every respect – the sound, the beat, the feel and everything else sounds like top American musicians at work. But considering the fact that these are original compositions, one can only take the hat off in full respect and admiration. Although this album does not overall offer anything new or unexpected, it presents a truthful reproduction and a tribute to the lighter side of American Jazz, with originally contributed music, which does hold its ground perfectly. For the many enthusiasts, who still love this kind of Jazz, this album is a true delight and an irrefutable proof that "White Man Can Jump", especially if they are Polish.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 29/12/2018

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ADAM WENDT ~ MY CHOICE SOLITON 1304 (Barcode: 5903684233045) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with some of the best local musicians: pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, bassist Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Ignacy WendtFind albums by this artist (Adam’s son) guests on two tracks. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader. The music is all within the familiar modern mainstream Jazz idiom, driven by the excellent, highly melodic compositions and superb performances by all the musicians involved. Wendt is clearly a representative of the “old school” approach (in the best possible meaning of the phrase), with each and every note precisely where it should be, which of course does not limit his dynamic expressionism, perfected over the years, and driven by his talent. The compositions are all perfectly coherent and well crafted, as appropriate for a musician of such class, covering a wide range from lyrical ballads to energetic up-tempo Bebop inspired tunes. There is a typical Polish Jazz sound and feel present at all times. The accompanying trio is absolutely stellar, with Wania playing his highly imaginative phrases in the background and inserting blood-curdling solos into the proceedings. Bogdanowicz and Frankiewicz are both Masters of their respective trades and musicians, who can be always relayed on with perfect confidence. Overall, this is a great mainstream Jazz album, which offers good music and exciting performances, which can be appreciated by all Jazz lovers the world over. These musicians don’t need to prove anything anymore and therefore the music they create is full of the joy of music making. This is definitely something worth listening to with love and attention.

Updated: 22/01/2023Posted: 22/01/2023

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