Record Reviews

KUBA BANASZEK ~ 2020 AFRO VIBE 007 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 - 2022 Released: 2024 This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba BanaszekFind albums by this artist, this time recorded with bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian OlszewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, eleven of which are a classic Jazz piano trio pieces and two are solo piano pieces, one of which features vocalist Zuza BaumFind albums by this artist. The music is a superb example of modern Jazz, mostly delicate and introvert, elegantly played by Banaszek both on acoustic piano and the electric Fender Rhodes, which adds another layer of sound. The excellent rhythm section supports the leader amicably and unobtrusively, which is always a great strength in a piano trio. A pleasure to hear Wykpisz and his sophisticated bass lines, as he somewhat “went underground” lately and I missed his round bass notes, which appeared on many albums s few years ago. The album is very much a trio effort, despite the fact that the leader wrote all the music, as he solos sparingly, shifting the responsibility from his shoulders to the ensemble effort, which I appreciate very much. Especially when the music becomes very melancholic and almost lethargic, and the rhythm section is what keeps it afloat. The beautifully minimalist melodic themes weaved by Banaszek are truly magical. Although composed and recorded quite soon following the debut, this album proposes a huge step forward in the leader’s approach, showing a process of reflection and maturity. As such, the music becomes more difficult and less immediately likeable than the debut album, but offers a way more power of expression and determination, observing the “less is more” principle. Overall, this is a beautiful and highly rewarding piece of music, albeit definitely non-trivial and demanding, certainly at the initial contact. In retrospect, it definitely deserves to be counted as one of the best Polish Jazz efforts released in 2024.

Updated: 14/01/2025Posted: 14/01/2025

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PIOTR BUDNIAK ESSENTIAL GROUP ~ INTO THE LIFE SJ 022 (Barcode: 5912596066238) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz drummer / composer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist with his Essential GroupFind albums by this artist sextet, which also includes saxophonists Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and Jakub SkowronskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist; definitely some of the best young Polish Jazz lions. The album presents six original compositions (one repeated twice), all by Budniak. Perfectly executed and presenting superb compositions this album is an example of what modern young European Jazz is all about and it is a momentous step forward for Budniak as a composer and bandleader. The music is diverse, interesting, often unexpected and developing constantly. Although based on clearly defined melodic themes, it keeps evolving within each tune, changing moods and tempi, all to the delight of the listener. Although perhaps not intended as such, the albums sound like a continuous suite-like piece of music, which is perfectly coherent and feels like a complete statement. The sextet plays like a dream, at times sounding like a small Big Band, at other times like a Jazz-Rock ensemble, always perfectly in sync, balanced and cooperating towards a common goal. The individual statements are all perfect with the wonderfully structured solos chasing one another. The bass clarinet parts by Skowronski and the guitar parts by Mika are the "secret ingredients" which create the overall wonderful sonic aura, but everybody plays simply superbly. The rhythm section drives the ensemble like a Porsche engine, with sublime sensitivity, with the Big Bear Wykpisz being the maestro of melodic structures at the low end of the sonic spectrum. Budniak himself is a very delicate and considerate drummer, who keeps his rhythmic pulsation at a proper ensemble level not trying to be bossy. Of course Budniak deserves praise for his extraordinary compositions, which are the essence of this music. I must say that it has been quite a while since I heard an album´s length piece of music, which has absolutely no weak parts and keeps the listener at his toes for the entire duration. Absolutely brilliant stuff! Congratulations are in order to everybody involved and I highly recommend this album to all Jazz connoisseurs around the world as an example of what great music means these days. Life is too short for anything less than this!

Updated: 16/09/2017Posted: 16/09/2017

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PIOTR BUDNIAK ESSENTIAL GROUP ~ SIMPLE STORIES ABOUT HOPE AND WORRIES SOLITON 429 (Barcode: 5901571094298) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz drummer / composer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist and his sextet called Essential GroupFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeter Pawel PoludniakFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Michal SobierajskiFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by the leader, who also wrote the lyrics to the vocal piece. Budniak, who returned to playing Jazz after a brief encounter with Rock-Folk as member of the ensemble LemONFind albums by this artist, which stirred quite a sensation on the local music scene, explores the Jazz tradition but maintains a fresh perspective, especially as a composer. The resulting music is a mixture of contemporary Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion, with a dash of Pop & Rock, performed efficiently and elegantly by the sextet. The emphasis on melody and lyricism creates an overall atmosphere of relaxation and lack of tension, which can be a two edged sword. The young players, who are members of the sextet, are all upcoming heroes of the next generation of Polish Jazz, many of which have already shown their chops on other recording released in recent years. Mika is the most noticeable soloist by far and Wykpisz slowly emerges as a very promising bass player, who can literally hold a tune like an old pro. These two are definitely worth following with special attention. But all the other players, including the leader, are fine young talents, who will be heard and noticed in the future. The focus of this album is obviously on the compositions, and rightly so, as Budniak has definitely a lot to say in that department. All of his compositions here are nicely crafted and a pleasure to listen to. The only drawback of this music is that it lacks originality and passion to explore uncharted territory, but perhaps it´s unfair to ask for boldness at this stage. This is definitely an impressive debut effort, which should make all the participants proud of their achievements. I am looking forward to their sophomore album in order to follow their progress.

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PIOTR BUDNIAK ESSENTIAL GROUP ~ THE DAYS OF WINE AND NOISES NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the third album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist and his ensemble called Essential GroupFind albums by this artist, which on this album is a quintet and includes also saxophonist Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr NarajowskiFind albums by this artist and as guest Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live and presents five original compositions, all by the leader. Musically the album continues the path set by the earlier recordings by Budniak, presenting excellent compositions well within modern melodic mainstream, performed with vigor and technical proficiency. Lichtanski and Borowski have been with the ensemble since its inception and together with Budniak constitute the core of the group, which is obviously well solidified. The new young bassist has a very though pair of shoes to fit, filling in for the original member of the ensemble, the excellent Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist, but manages to catch up nicely. Doruzka is a very accomplished player and his role on this album proves his versatility and skill, again filling in for the original member of the ensemble Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist. Once again the focus of the album is on the excellent compositions by the leader, which present a diverse palette and a wonderful sense of melody and harmony. The quintet performs the music with grace and elegance, but without any extravagant solo excursions, which is all for the best. On the down side the sound quality of the live recording is rather problematic, which limits the pleasure of listening to the music. It is not entirely sure if this album is a formal release or just a promo release added to the Polish Jazz Forum magazine, but in any case sound quality is a crucial part of any recording and in this case it is simply not up to par with the quality of the music. Overall this is another injection of good Jazz compositions by Budniak and excellent playing by his ensemble, less formally packaged and recorded, but nevertheless very enjoyable.

Updated: 04/05/2018Posted: 04/05/2018

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ESKAUBEI & TOMEK NOWAK QUARTET ~ 10/10 NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rap Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 5th album by Polish Rap and Jazz ensemble which finds rapper Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist) combining forces with a Jazz quartet led by trumpeter Tomek NowakFind albums by this artist, which also includes keyboardist Kuba BanaszekFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian OlszewskiFind albums by this artist. DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist), vocalist Aleksandra TockaFind albums by this artist and a string quartet also take part in the proceedings. The album present ten original compositions, all of which were composed by Nowak. Skubisz wrote all the lyrics. As the title suggests, the album celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the ensemble’s existence. The album continues the same basic concept that was used on the previous albums, which sets the lyrics written by Skubisz against Jazz tunes, which serve at times as background / accompaniment to the lyrics but also take the front stage when Nowak or Banaszek play solo parts. After ten years of working together the Jazz-Rap Fusion is brought to perfection and seems as natural as any other cross-genre exploration and combined with the wonderful musicianship by the participants it offers its own aesthetic ambience, rather than a random opportunistic conglomerate of styles. The arrangements on this album are more elaborate than on early recordings, which adds another layer of interest. Overall this is another solid release by this ensemble, which maintains the same level of execution and musical ingenuity. As I already pointed out earlier on, the very close stylistic similarity of all the albums released so far, should perhaps be refreshed / reconsidered in forthcoming projects. But so far the formula works out splendidly, so on the other hand not trying to change something that works well is a better choice. I had a blast listening to this music, as usual!

Updated: 21/01/2025Posted: 21/01/2025

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ESKAUBEI & TOMEK NOWAK QUARTET ~ BEDZIE DOBRZE FOR TUNE 0058 (Barcode: 5902768701456) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rap Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is a very interesting album, which amalgamates Rap and Jazz; a concept that has been attempted many times before, but rarely turned out to be a success. Polish rapper Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist) combines forces with a Jazz quartet led by trumpeter Tomek NowakFind albums by this artist, which also includes keyboardist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Filip MozulFind albums by this artist. A few guests appear on selected tracks. The album presents eleven original songs, all composed by Nowak (with the exception of one tune which includes music composed by Pluzek) and with lyrics by Eskaubei (with the exception of two song lyrics written by the a.m. guests). The album also includes the radio edit of the title song as a bonus track. Rap and Jazz are seemingly two completely contrasting Art Forms. Rap focuses on the spoken word, which attempts to deliver a message, and which uses music as a background stimuli, mostly rhythmically, with the melody part being usually pretty limited, repetitive and ornamental rather than substantial. Jazz on the other hand is all about complex melodic and harmonic structures and unlimited improvisation. The Jazz & Poetry idiom successfully managed to combine spoken word and Jazz music since the 1950s but Rap & Jazz, as already mentioned above, has been much less consistent and successful in trying to present a contemporary artistic attempt of amalgamating spoken word and Jazz. When analyzing a Rap & Jazz project, like the one here, I usually try to separate the contents into two separate planes and than estimate the level of correlation between them. In this case my feelings are as follows: The Rap part, i.e. the strength of the lyrics and their delivery (sadly limited to Polish speaking audiences only) is cohesive, intelligent and moving. The subject matter touches upon many of the problems we all encounter in our lives, like social injustice, personal relationships, morality, hypocrisy of the media and the pitiful state of music industry. The delivery is emotional, clearly understandable and above all classy. The music is also quite excellent: funky, melodic, uplifting and intelligent. The performances are excellent with Nowak´s trumpet delivering many scorching solos and Pluzek playing a beautiful soulful electric piano, like a true pro, also delivering several heartwarming solos. The rhythm section is the backbone of this music, keeping the beat and pushing the groove rolling. This music could have easily stand on its own (without the Rap on top), producing an excellent Funk-Groove-Soul-Jazz album. But of course most importantly these two layers placed upon each other produce the best Polish Rap Jazz effort so far. This result is hardly accidental, in view of one of the album´s songs, in which Eskaubei tells about the deep influence of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist on his artistic creation. Overall this is a most enjoyable, aesthetically pleasing piece of music, which puts a smile on the listener´s face. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 31/01/2017Posted:

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ESKAUBEI & TOMEK NOWAK QUARTET ~ SWEET SPOT FPJ 56A-19-01 (Barcode: 5907558261905) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rap Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the third album by Polish Rap and Jazz ensemble which finds rapper Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist) combining forces with a Jazz quartet led by trumpeter Tomek NowakFind albums by this artist, which also includes keyboardist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian OlszewskiFind albums by this artist. DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist), saxophonist Bartlomiej PrucnalFind albums by this artist, vocalist Aleksandra TockaFind albums by this artist and a few additional vocalists also take part in the proceedings. The album present thirteen original compositions, nine of which were composed by Nowak, one by Pluzek and three are collective instrumental improvisations. Skubisz wrote all the lyrics except two which he co-wrote with other people. The album repeats the same basic concept that was used on the two previous albums, which sets the lyrics written by Skubisz against Jazz tunes, which serve at times as background / accompaniment to the lyrics but also take the front stage when Nowak or Pluzek play solo parts. After five years of working together the Jazz-Rap Fusion is brought to perfection and seems as natural as any other cross-genre exploration and combined with the wonderful musicianship by the participants it offers its own aesthetic ambience, rather than a random opportunistic conglomerate of styles. Skubisz manages to express his views, often very controversial, critical and bitter, with clarity and coherence, using well developed language and eschewing vulgarism and simplistic shortcuts. Although the resulting Rap is somewhat "soft" in comparison to the usual hardcore roughness that characterizes the genre, his messages are my no means less striking, penetrating of evocative. Of course his target public is probably quite different from the typical Rap followers, especially when combined with Jazz, but his consistent activity definitely managed to create a strong following over time. Overall this is another solid release by this ensemble, which maintains the same level of execution and musical ingenuity. The only point worth consideration for future releases might be the very close similarity of the three albums released so far, which perhaps should be refreshed / reconsidered in forthcoming projects.

Updated: 19/06/2019Posted: 19/06/2019

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ESKAUBEI & TOMEK NOWAK QUARTET ~ TEGO CHCIALEM FOR TUNE 0117 (Barcode: 5906395808205) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rap Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the second album by Polish Rap and Jazz ensemble which finds rapper Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist) combining forces with a Jazz quartet led by trumpeter Tomek NowakFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Filip MozulFind albums by this artist. This time they are also supported by DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist) who performs turntablism, saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Patrycja ZarychtaFind albums by this artist. A couple of guest musicians appear on one track. Together the ensemble performs ten original songs, seven of which were composed by Nowak, two by Pluzek and one by Mozul (an instrumental intro). Skubisz wrote the lyrics to all nine songs and was helped out by the guest on one of them. This album continues the direction set by its predecessor, which combines Funky / Groovy Jazz tunes with Rap. In contrast to most attempts of such amalgamation, in which the musical content is rather limited and mostly very sketchy not to say primitive, this album offers a series of excellent full fledged compositions, which easily hold their own ground musically. This is even more emphasized on this album with the addition of Sliwa and expanding the quartet into a quintet on about half of the tunes. The Rap elements, although occupying a separate plane, are fully integrated within the musical structures. The turntablism, courtesy of Mr. Krime, who is prominently featured on the album, brings this album up to date with updated sound trends The instrumental work by the quartet / quintet is excellent from start to finish. Nowak plays superb soulful / funky phrases, Sliwa adds strength creating a brass section feel and soul when he plays solo, Pluzek plays absolutely wicked keyboards, using a plethora of sounds and groovy touches, Wykpisz, who is a wonderful Jazz bassist, turns here into a wizard of Funk and Groove and finally Mozul takes care of the rhythmic continuum, steady as a rock and devilishly inventive; in short a dream team! The Rap, which in fact is more a form than contents, turns out to be a recitation of Poetry, which deals with a wide range of subject matter, which Skubisz and his generation are facing in this strange and cruel world, which is consistently becoming less human. The lyrics are often bitter and frustrating, but from time to time also touch upon dreams and hope. They are a great example how one can express protest and anger without using even one four (or in Polish five) letter word. Overall this is another great album by Skubisz and his cohorts, proving that their debut effort was not just a lucky coincidence. The Rap and Jazz concept is again proven to be valid and creatively sound and the execution is once more just right on the money. Hopefully the Artists involved in this project will develop the idiom further in their future recordings, and in the meantime we are happy to enjoy this excellent effort. Well done again!

Updated: 31/01/2017Posted: 31/01/2017

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MATEUSZ GAWEDA ~ FALSTART AUDIO CAVE 2018/004 (Barcode: 5905669566537) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second album by young and upcoming Polish Jazz pianist / composer Mateusz GawedaFind albums by this artist, recorded with the same trio that was featured on his debut album with bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by the leader. Gaweda managed in a relatively short span of time to establish a respectful position on the local Jazz scene, both as a musician / composer and a colorful personality, which is a magnet of attention. His unique music and performances as well as his flamboyant dress code and glitzy / ritzy looks create a figure, which might have just stepped out form a black & white Hollywood gangster movie, in the best meaning of the idiom of course: elegant, stylish, charismatic and unmistakably himself. Almost the same metaphor applies to his music, which slowly but consistently keeps metamorphosing into a unique personal style and musical approach, unlike anything else currently present on the Polish Jazz scene, which of course is quite phenomenal, considering how vital, diverse and full of talent that scene is in the last couple of decades. Gaweda´s music is further and further moving away of the conventional Jazz idiom, creating a contemporary fusion of Jazz tradition with modern classicism, electronics and ambient music. Although recorded in a classic piano trio format, the powerful and imaginative music manage to overcome the limitation of the trio and with a slight help from electronic devices simply breaks away into new territory. Of course the music is still full of the typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, not only within the melodic themes, but in the entire sonic expression the trio creates. Introvert, reflective and mercilessly serious, the music is completely overwhelming and stunning, but as usual in such cases requires truly attentive listening and repeated listening to get to the true essence of it. The individual performances by the trio members are perfectly suited to the music of course. It is virtually impossible for Gaweda to play any "better" that already demonstrated on his earlier recordings, and therefore the focus on his role here should be on the compositions, rather than on his playing, which is simply stupendous, as always. It is really heartwarming to see the progress of Wykpisz, who is another example of a young lion charging the Polish Jazz scene with amazing consistency and talent, able to play anything between Swing and Avant-Garde with the same strike of brilliance. Palka, of the same generation, plays no less spectacularly, showing what it means to play the drums rather than just keep time. Overall this is a brilliant and highly rewarding piece of complex, but elegant and awe-inspiring music, which truly expands the Jazz idiom and which deserves both praise and attention. It is also another milestone album on the Polish Audio CaveFind albums on this label label, which in the last four years managed to release some of the best Polish Jazz albums, consistently maintaining the highest possible level of artistic achievement. Well done and hats off!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 27/04/2018

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MATEUSZ GAWEDA ~ OVERNIGHT TALES AUDIO CAVE 2016/009 (Barcode: 5905669566193) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Mateusz GawedaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Gaweda. Gaweda´s arrival on the Polish Jazz scene created a lot of buzz and genuine interest, not only due to his flamboyant expressionism, but primarily as a result of his obvious talent and fresh, innovative input to the Jazz idiom, easily noticeable even on the dense and competitive local scene, which is bursting with talent. I had several opportunities to watch him performing in the last couple of years and my immediate reaction was always full of genuine appreciation. 2016 proved to be a breakthrough year for Gaweda, with several excellent albums with his participation being released, including this debut wrapping up the proceedings of an extremely busy year. As all great Jazz musicians, Gaweda is first and foremost unique in his approach to composition and the instrument. Surprisingly the music on this album is the most "conventional" performance by Gaweda that I have heard so far, which is a great revelation. There is very little of the Avant-Garde experimentation, which his live performances usually emphasize. That does not mean of course that the music is "conventional" in any sense. In fact it is anything but conventional. Based on beautiful melodic themes, the extended pieces allow the pianist to venture far away from the basic melody and explore uncharted territory. Not Free Jazz per se, the music incorporates a large degree of space and freedom, which allows for tempo changes and intense climaxes within the duration of each of the tunes. There is a wonderful natural flow, which keeps the music moving forward, seemingly effortlessly in spite of its complexity and dramatic mood swings. The rhythm section is perfectly cooperative with the leader, staying respectfully in the background in order not to collide with the delicate piano sound, but filling the spaces, both harmonically and rhythmically, just in the right spots. Wykpisz is steadily earning a position of a leading bass player on the Polish scene in the last few years and the young Palka is still earning his dues. Both of them do a great job here and Gaweda made the right choice to have them on the album. It will take several listening sessions, even for the more experienced listeners, to fully appreciate this album. This music, like good wine, takes time to mature and settle in, best explored at ease and in perfect concentration. Since Gaweda is surely going to emerge as one of the major players on the Polish Jazz scene in the years to come, fans and lovers of Polish Jazz should give this album the time and the respect it truly deserves. This is definitely a very impressive debut, which hints as to the gift Gaweda is blessed with. Perhaps decades from now people will remember it as a classic, which introduced Gaweda to the world? Definitely one of the most important Polish Jazz releases in 2016. Respect!

Updated: 17/06/2021Posted: 20/12/2016

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HIGH DEFINITION ~ HOPASA EMARCY 602537434725 (Barcode: 602537434725) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by High Definition QuartetFind albums by this artist, a young Polish Jazz outfit comprising of saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. Polish Jazz connoisseurs are of course familiar with Orzechowski (a.k.a. PianohooliganFind albums by this artist), who made a meteoric entrance on the scene as a solo performer and recorded one of the most interesting Polish Jazz albums a year earlier, which presented his interpretations of music written by Maestro Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist. Here we have the occasion to hear him finally as a part of an ensemble, which of course is quite different than performing solo. Dobosz is also somewhat familiar as a member of the phenomenal Magnolia Acoustic QuartetFind albums by this artist, which released a brilliant live album shortly before this album was released. The quartet performs six pieces (well, five actually, as the first one is just a brief intro), four of which were composed by Orzechowski and one is a Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist composition. The album offers a sublime sound quality and ambiance, which not surprisingly is a result of it being recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. Musically High Definition is a quintessence of Modern Jazz in every respect. The musicians are all masters of their trade, which is absolutely amazing considering their tender ages, who perform with virtuosic sophistication, superb intelligence and brilliant feel; and yet these strong individuals are able to collaborate seamlessly to create a whole, which is stronger than the sum of its parts. The music they play is completely contemporary and yet it plays a loving tribute to all the traditional Jazz sub-genres, with humorous hints of Swing, Bebop, Hard Bop, Cool Jazz and of course Free Form, switching from one to another like a butterfly hopping from flower to flower. All that Magic is being performed completely effortless, elegantly and almost nonchalantly, which of course is a sign of true Artistry. They are able to switch tempi, keys and approach several times within a very short span of time, doing it in perfect harmony and unison, which is nothing short of stunning. There is no doubt the Orzechowski is the most dominant personality behind this album, both as a composer and a player. This is not as much a question of solo exposure, but the overall feeling one gets listening to the music, with the piano chord obviously leading the way and stating (or emphasizing) the melodic content. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that of course, as Orzechowski is very charismatic and his musical personality is obviously very extrovert. On this album he is exposed, both as a composer and a player, showing his deep lyricism and even romanticism without any attempt to hide it behind false facades. Here it is, all in the open and in its full glory for us to enjoy. Overall this is undoubtedly one of the strongest releases on the Polish Jazz scene this year, which is even more astounding as this has been a truly amazing year for Polish Jazz. And again, being a debut it is absolutely a miracle. Even more of a miracle is the fact, that it was released on a Major label, which usually releases less ambitious music. Perhaps even they can be converted? Heaven on earth!

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

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HIGH DEFINITION QUARTET ~ BUKOLIKI FOR TUNE 0074 (Barcode: 5902768701760) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz outfit called High Definition QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. PianohooliganFind albums by this artist), bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist (who replaced Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist). The album presents five pieces related to the five piano miniatures by contemporary Polish Classical composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist based on Polish Folklore tunes from the Kurpian region and called "Bukoliki". Orzechowski, rather than using the pieces by Lutoslawski, found the original Folk tunes that Lutoslawski used as his inspiration and rearranged them into his own version of "Bukoliki", later transforming it into the Jazz quartet version heard here. As the year 2015 swiftly approaches its ending it becomes apparent that the Polish Jazz scene this year was dominated by two parallel trends: the re-discovery of Polish Folklore and the re-discovery of Polish contemporary Classical Music by Polish Jazz musicians / composers. The most impressive releases by Polish Jazz artists in 2015 are either related to one or another of these trends and in some cases, like this album, to both of them simultaneously. Orzechowski, who is obviously the most dominating personality in this team, has already a rich history of tackling with Folklore ("15 Studies For The OberekFind albums with this title") or Classical Music ("Experiment: PendereckiFind albums with this title") and this album is a natural development as far as his musical path is concerned. What is less natural and much closer to "supernatural" is of course his immense talent to transpose pieces of music between genres or rather to transform them into his own universe, which is completely unique and unparalleled by anybody else. But it takes a team work, like the one presented here, to make this transformation complete. Sliwa, Wykpisz and Fortuna, all brilliant representatives of the young generation of Polish Jazz musicians, play along Orzechowski completely free of any inferiority complexes and sound like young semi-Gods performing in Pieria at the foot of the Olympus Mountain with Zeus and the rest of the Godly pack grinning madly and the Muses dancing along as if possessed by the sounds floating in the air. From the very first notes heard on this album it becomes immediately apparent that this is one of the best pieces of music produced in the Jazz sphere this year, not only in Poland, but worldwide. The intensity, elegance, flair and above all European aesthetic is omnipresent here, creating a true artistic masterpiece. I am not going to name it the "best" album of 2015, not because it does not deserve the title, but simply because I don´t believe art is a competition. It is brilliant and deserves to be heard by every music connoisseur on this planet, before the barbarians take the world over or our idea of Culture implodes upon itself. Absolutely essential!

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HIGH DEFINITION QUARTET ~ DZIADY ANAKLASIS 007 (Barcode: 5907795208732) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the third album by Polish Jazz ensemble High Definition QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, pianist / composer Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. PianohooliganFind albums by this artist), bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist (each of the three albums features a different drummer). On this album the ensemble collaborates with five electronic music composers: Polish veteran / pioneer of the idiom Krzysztof KnittelFind albums by this artist, Igor BoxxFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Igor PudloFind albums by this artist), Americans William BasinskiFind albums by this artist and Robert RichFind albums by this artist and Austrian Christian FenneszFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, five of which are performed by the ensemble and were composed by Orzechowski and five shorter pieces, each composed and performed by one of the above listed electronic music composers (except for the Knittel piece which was co-composed with Orzechowski and co-executed with the ensemble), which are sandwiched between the ensemble pieces. The album´s title "Dziady" ("Forefathers´ Eve") refers of course to the epic poetic drama by the Polish national poet Adam MickiewiczFind albums by this artist, considered as one of the greatest works of European Romanticism and a source of controversial interpretations throughout the convoluted Polish political history, famous for its role in the 1968 Polish Political crisis, but retaining its prophetic actuality to this very day. The drama was staged many times over the years of course and one could speculate that this music could be considered as a possible soundtrack / stage music to an imaginary / future spectacle. Combining Jazz with electronic / ambient music is of course quite fashionable these days and this year´s (2019) Polish Jazz recording harvest offers several such outings. In most cases the electronic / ambient music is closely amalgamated with the Jazzy content, whereas on this album, with the exception of the opening Knittel / Orzechowski track, the rest of the electronic / ambient tracks stand on their own musically, which raises a basic speculation as to their integration within the album´s musical fabric and its continuity. Personally I feel that their absence would not have changed the album´s overall effect dramatically. The Jazz part of the album is however absolutely brilliant, as one might expect. Orzechowski´s dramatic music, rich in texture and full of imagination, is delightful from start to finish. The five seemingly separate themes constitute a coherent whole, which is perfectly executed by the quartet. Orzechowski´s piano playing is radiant as always, and he proves to be on top of the heap, in spite of the fact that his recording output is sadly way too infrequent for my liking. Sliwa manages to keep his unique personal style, which sets him apart from most contemporary young Polish Jazz saxophonists, and who sadly also does not record frequently enough. Big Bear Wykpisz is amazing as always, a monster bass player in every bone and muscle of his body – he does play constantly and is omnipresent on the local scene, being probably the most sought after bassist around these days. Palka integrated with the three founding members without a hitch, which is completely natural in view of his achievements lately. Together they are able to carry a tune as well as open up and improvise, supporting each other amicably and offer a superb listening experience. The album was released by a new record label on the Polish market called AnaklasisFind albums on this label Records. I must admit that I was quite taken aback by the primitive / simplistic cover design; perhaps this is some kind of new sophisticated graphic aesthetics, but it looks plain ugly to me. This music surely deserves a better packaging. The album includes an extensive booklet, which offers a bilingual version of an essay by Polish music journalist Jaroslaw SzubrychtFind albums by this artist. Overall this is a brilliant piece of music, ambitious and searching, which stands up to the highest echelon of contemporary European Jazz and which is consistent with the earlier work by High Definition. Hopefully the listeners won´t be discouraged by the cover and reach out to embrace this exquisite music, as it truly deserves it. Well done Gentlemen!

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

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ POWER KISS HEVHETIA 0150/0151 (Barcode: 8588005258111) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the seventh album by Polish Jazz vocalist Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, this time recorded live during his 2016 concerts in China. The enclosed CD presents ten tracks, five of which are original compositions / improvisations by Karnas, one song (repeated twice) is by Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, another song (also repeated twice) is by Laurie AndersonFind albums by this artist and one is a Michal TokajFind albums by this artist composition. Karnas is accompanied by a piano trio, which consists of Azerbaijani pianist Elchin ShirinovFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. The enclosed DVD presents mostly the same material included on the CD with a couple of alternate takes. Karnas is of course the most unique Polish Jazz vocalist and his music presents a completely individual approach, which is basically incomparable with anything else in the vocal department, not only in Poland but in the whole world for that matter. He hardly ever uses words (lyrics) and most of what he utters is virtuosic vocalese unrelated to any "real" language (although here he seems to make an effort to communicate with his audiences in Chinese). His inventive use of his vocal cords and his unearthly timbre, combined with superb instrumental work by his band members always create epic results, which are beyond what one might expect within the vocal Jazz idiom. It is absolutely amazing what these four musicians are able to achieve on stage, live and "naked". Karnas chose some of the absolutely best young musicians on the European scene, with the brilliant Shirinov creating all the melodic / harmonic background (and soloing spectacularly) and the rhythm section simply carrying the music all along on a rock-steady foundation and with exquisite inventiveness. Overall this is a stunning piece of music, which deserves to be taught in music schools not only for its musical qualities, but primarily for the freedom of creation it symbolizes like only very few other recordings do. Every true music connoisseur should find this album enchanting, even if not immediately likeable. Music of such quality requires total involvement, nothing less. It is great to see Karnas still able to move mountains, especially in view of his relatively sparse release schedule lately. All his albums deserve an honorable place in any serious Polish / European Jazz collection, and they are all a chronicle of an Artist, who does not rest for one moment, constantly searching for new territory and new forms of expression; a rare and precious quality for which he deserves all praise. Thank you for the gift of music!

Updated: 12/09/2017Posted: 12/09/2017

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KOLAKOWSKI / WYKPISZ / KORELUS ~ SCHONBERG FOR TUNE 0119 (Barcode: 5906395808229) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz piano trio comprising of pianist Mateusz KolakowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej KorelusFind albums by this artist. The album presents the trio´s interpretation of the famous set of six pieces for solo piano by Jewish Austrian composer Arnold SchonbergFind albums by this artist called "Sechs Kleine Klavierstucke" (Op. 19 from 1911). All the six pieces of the set and an alternate take of the first piece are present herein. Schonberg´s music was as much revolutionary in its nature at the time it was composed, as Free Jazz was some fifty years later, braking with existing tradition of Classical music (or Jazz music later) and paving the way for reinvention of the idiom. The six brilliant miniatures comprising the set influenced an entire generation of young European composers and Classical Music would not be the same from that moment on. Kolakowski, Wykpisz and Korelus take a giant leap into the unknown by attempting to reinterpret this complex and highly sophisticated music and the final result proves that sometimes taking risks pays off big time. The music is indeed reinvented, often quite distant from the origin, and manages to amalgamate perfectly the essence of Jazz with the compositional concept of tonality, which the original pieces introduce. The music is beautifully executed, perfect both technically and emotionally and full of virtuosic phrasing and dazzling arpeggios which should make the listener´s head spin. The elegance which characterizes the trio´s transitions between Classically influenced passages and the Jazzy vistas is mind-bugling and awe inspiring. It is difficult to imagine a more perfect match between Classical Music and Jazz than what this album offers, which simply means that musical genres are really quite meaningless. Overall this is a superb piece of music, which should satisfy the most sophisticated music connoisseurs. Listeners who look for intellectual challenges in what they let into their ears should find this album overwhelmingly satisfying. Hats off!

Updated: 04/02/2017Posted: 04/02/2017

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NATALIA KORDIAK ~ BAJKA HEVHETIA 0194 (Barcode: 8588005258708) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist Natalia KordiakFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Przemyslaw ChmielFind albums by this artist, pianist Mateusz KolakowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Kordiak, two of which feature lyrics (one by Polish poetess / playwright Maria Pawlikowska-JasnorzewskaFind albums by this artist and the other by Kordiak) and the rest feature wordless vocalese. The album was recorded at the RecPublica Studios and engineered by Michal WasylFind albums by this artist, and offers a superb sound quality. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to hear Kordiak sing live in Katowice as a member of the First Was The VoiceFind albums by this artist vocal ensemble conducted and directed by my friend the fabulous Anna GadtFind albums by this artist, which should have prepared me for what I was about to hear on this album, but now I have to admit that probably nothing could have really prepared anybody for what this album offers. This is simply the Polish Jazz vocal album I have been dreaming about for the last half a Century, since Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist appeared on the Polish Jazz scene and revolutionized the approach to vocal Jazz not only in Poland but worldwide. Kordiak treats her voice as an instrument and her vocalese explorations are simply unbounded by any previously set limitations, conventions or boundaries. Her singing is completely intuitive and her sense of melody is so open and free that the music becomes completely boundless and unconventional. Each of the tunes offers a melodic theme, but the vocal and instrumental improvisations move freely beyond the sketched horizons into the unknown and unexpected, which happens extremely rarely and immediately pushes this music into the "high sphere" of Jazz aesthetics. The instrumentalists do a magnificent job on this album, with the most important task always before their eyes: do not disturb the vocals. Each of these players is able to play exquisitely as a soloist but this album sets a textbook example of respect and supportive role by the instrumentalists, who are clearly heard within the delicate fabric of the music, but never overshadow the vocal parts even for one moment. The rhythm section of Wykpisz and Palka, which is certainly phenomenal on its own, offers here a magnificent assistance to the vocals, often just in a trio settings. Kolakowski, who deserves a much wider recognition that he enjoys in Poland at the moment, is a key element which makes this music what it is, playing absolutely stunningly and beautifully free, which is amazing considering his Classical Music upbringing and education. Chmiel, also relatively anonymous, offers some stunning saxophone parts, which immediately put him alongside the most respected names on the Polish scene. In short this is a true dream team and Kordiak was extremely fortunate to record this album with these magnificent musicians at her side. Polish vocal Jazz has been struggling in the last decades to produce anything as artistically and aesthetically valuable as the output it managed to offer time after time in modern instrumental European Jazz, which won it an international acclaim. Sadly Polish vocal Jazz got stuck mostly in imitating rather that inventing, with the ever present obsession of singing English lyrics, more often than not with appalling results. Therefore, although obviously hardly politically correct, the most accurate compliment I can think of under these circumstances is to say that Kordiak emerged here as someone with truly "big-balls", setting everything aside and doing her own thing. I am not surprised that Kordiak comes from under the wings of the above mentioned Anna Gadt, who is a true revolutionary Artist and obviously also and Educator. Considering the fact that Kordiak is still a student, God only knows what she is capable of in the future and I can’t wait to find out. And yes, now I know what my best Polish Jazz album for 2019 will be on my list ;) Thank you for a true fairytale my Dear!

Updated: 13/12/2019Posted: 13/12/2019

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PIOTR MATUSIK ~ INDEPENDENCE SOLITON 688 (Barcode: 5901571096889) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist recorded in a piano trio setting with bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Matusik. Matusik debuted about five years earlier with an album dedicated to the music of Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, which I sternly criticized at the time. In the meantime his career developed well as a member of the quartet led by violinist Bartosz DworakFind albums by this artist and participation in occasional other recordings and his music matured over time, as this album, which should be really considered as his artistic debut, clearly proves. His compositions offer melody based themes, which are laced wit the typical Polish Jazz melancholy and the execution is open enough to allow space for extended improvisations by all three musicians. The intimate piano trio format is perfect to expose the excellent interplay between the musicians, which is the strongest virtue of this album. As usual in a piano trio setting, Matusik is the prime soloist, performing lengthy piano parts, superbly supported by the rhythm section. It is however Wykpisz, who offers a truly refined musicianship on this album, with wonderful solo parts and sublimely sensitive accompaniment behind the piano. Dobosz is also excellent, keeping the time precisely and inventively, using a versatile arsenal of percussive trickery. Overall this is an ambitious effort, which shows a clear step forward in Matusik´s development. Jazz trio piano enthusiasts should find this album an educational experience as far as the role of the rhythm section is concerned. Definitely worth investigation!

Updated: 30/05/2020Posted: 30/05/2020

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MATEUSZ PALKA / SZYMON MIKA ~ POPYT SJ 011 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz quartet co led by pianist Mateusz PalkaFind albums by this artist and guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, with bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. It presents six original compositions, four by Palka and two by Mika, and one standard. Stylistically the quartet seems to continue the mainstream Jazz tradition, which crystallized in America in the 1960s and was captured on classic Jazz recordings by labels like Blue Note and numerous others. The album´s ambience and overall sound character is very similar to what was created in that milieu at that period of time and automatically brings on waves of nostalgia. The excellent original compositions, all very melodic, clearly structured and swinging rhythmically are ideally suited for creating that kind musical environment. Personally I think that a more free approach, which the ensemble utilizes on the last track on the album, should be a pointer to their future path, especially in view of how well they manage to handle it here. The individual performances are all superbly executed, way beyond what one might expect form such young musicians, but in today´s reality that fact is almost universally true; musicians mature faster and reach their peak as performers much earlier in their careers. The quartet works very well as a unit surprisingly because these four young musicians are so different from each other. Palka is obviously the instigator of many ideas and wishes to say as much as possible in a given time frame, whereas Mika is an island of tranquility and a king of "cool", playing exactly what is needed at a given moment, with obvious flair and beautiful "old fashioned" tone, which sounds simply marvelous. Wykpisz is a brilliant bassist, with incredible feel for time and melody, and keeps the entire ensemble in check, which allows Maslowski to be all over the place and fill the blanks (or rather intervals) with his pulsating ornamentations. This is definitely a solid and promising debut album by musicians who are surely going places on the Polish Jazz scene and beyond in years to come. Well done indeed!

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SLAWOMIR PEZDA ~ TRIBUTE TO TENOR LEGENDS NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5903819630053) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Slawomir PezdaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Mateusz GawedaFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist – a formidable team indeed. As the album’s title suggests, it is a tribute to leading tenor saxophone Jazz players, seven Americans and one Pole: Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist, Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist, Sonny RollinsFind albums by this artist, Pharoah SandersFind albums by this artist, John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, Albert AylerFind albums by this artist, David S. WareFind albums by this artist and Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, presenting one track each of their compositions. This highly ambitious undertaking of interpreting the entire modern American Jazz, from Bebop to Free / Avant-Garde, focusing on one instrument, might have proved to be a perilous task, a chutzpah of an unprecedented scale. I must confess that I placed the CD into the player with slightly trembling hands and heart, as I deeply respect the four musicians involved and would have hated to hear them ridiculing themselves. To my sheer amazement, this bold attempt not only works splendidly, but offers some of the best Jazz music I have come across in a long time. Obviously, the compositions by the eight Jazz Giants are a good starting point, but trying to impersonate the highly idiosyncratic expressionism of all eight performers, which in all cases continuously changed over time, is a momentous task. I must say that Pezda and his cohorts managed to capture the spirit not only of the compositions, but also of the eight Saxophone Colossi. The more experienced the listeners to this album are, the more they will be able to appreciate the depth of the perception Pezda and the quartet managed to achieve. But most importantly, this album manages to exemplify the process of Europeanization of this music, which is truly astounding. Whereas the American, original form of this music is full of fire and natural, raw, wild power of expression, the music on this album is transformed into elegant, precise, coherent and harmonic beauty, losing absolutely nothing of its strength of expression, depth or penetration. Of course this is not the first time such transformation of American music in the hands of European musicians happens, but this album is a perfect school example of the process, which should be taught in every Jazz institution. Of course it goes without saying that all these musicians are absolute wizards and already in this relatively early stage of their careers, offer a magnificent control of their relative instruments and superb level of knowledge and creativity. Overall, this is absolutely brilliant album from start to finish, a wonderful lesson in Jazz history and the fundamental differences between American and European Jazz idioms. Of course, as already stated above, the level of understanding of this music might relate to the level of knowledge of Jazz history and the musical worlds of the eight heroes, who are being paid a tribute herein. In any case, this extraordinary piece of music deserved an honorable place on the pedestal of the best Polish Jazz albums ever recorded. Respect!

Updated: 05/03/2023Posted: 05/03/2023

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VEHEMENCE QUARTET ~ ANOMALIA FOR TUNE 0078 (Barcode: 5902768701791) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz ensemble called Vehemence QuartetFind albums by this artist, which recently managed to draw a lot of attention on the local scene by winning a couple of prestigious competitions. The ensemble comprises of young and highly talented musicians, who have been active in the last few years and recorded assorted albums over time: saxophonists Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. I had the privilege of hearing the group live just a few weeks ago. The album presents six compositions, five of which are originals (three by Lichtanski and two by Sliwa) and the remaining one is a Wayne ShorterFind albums by this artist standard. The unusual double-saxophone front line of the quartet creates immediately an unusual sound effect, which turns out to be working in their favor. The wonderful harmonies achieved by the alto and tenor saxophones are a true revelation. In reality the quartet works shifting between a double saxophone trio and a quartet, which offers a much wider range of possibilities. Both the individual performances and the collective interplays work like a dream, being evidently highly professional and inspired. The original compositions are all first-rate modern Jazz pieces, which combine the Polish Jazz "streak" of melancholy and lyricism with well developed rhythmic layers, resulting in a most enjoyable and at the same intellectually challenging feast for the ears. Even the interpretation of the standard is original and innovative, which happens rather rarely these days. Vehemence Quartet is a "classic" example of the young Polish Jazz scene, which boasts with talent and creativity, combining the modern Jazz tradition with contemporary developments, freedom of expression and the drive to push the music forward into terra incognita, a drive that is rarely present these days anywhere else beyond the borders of Poland. Overall this is a very strong debut effort, worth of respect and admiration, and heartwarming considering the future possibilities it holds. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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ALAN WYKPISZ PROJECT ~ CITY JUNGLE AFRO VIBE 005 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album as a leader by prominent young generation Polish Jazz bassist / composer Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist, recorded with an excellent team of musicians, which includes guitarist Jakub MizerackiFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Pawel KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist and Dawid LachFind albums by this artist and drummers Maksymilian OlaszewskiFind albums by this artist and Tymoteusz PapiorFind albums by this artist. DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist) performs turntablism on the title track. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader. The music is absolutely delightful, from start to finish, quite diverse and surprising, fresh and enchanting. The melodic content is lyrical and well put together and the performances by the leader and ensemble members are electrifying. Wykpisz is not shy and offers many brilliant solo parts, both acoustic and electric, and his firm pulsations dominate the music quite noticeably, but the open character of the compositions and the ensemble format allows all the members to solo extensively. The double drums create a dense and complex rhythmic support, which fits the music ideally. The album offers a unique atmosphere, highly electric and sonically charged. Despite the electric guitar, keyboards and bass, the music is distinctly non-Fusion oriented, and offers somewhat nostalgic sense of early electric Jazz. There is a strong dimension of freedom and space, which at some moments is close to Free Jazz, but then the music moves suddenly into a sweet Swing / Funky mode, only to become something completely different soon after. Despite this rapid changes of mood and tempo, the music makes perfect sense at all times, which is truly amazing. The modern, somewhat unusual ambience as far as Jazz recordings are concerned, with a lot of dark bottom layers and sparkling synthesizers, might keep back some of the more conservative listeners, and I hope serious Jazz lovers will be able to overcome prejudice and primal fears. This music is bold and distinctly different, but it is immensely intelligent and enthralling, so please make an effort to embrace it. After all the history of Jazz is full examples, where sublime albums were recognized only decades later. Hopefully this will not be the fate of this great piece of music. Overall, this is an amazing album, one of the most unique Polish Jazz recordings in 2022, and to be honest probably one of the best Jazz albums that landed on my desk worldwide that year. There is absolutely nothing obvious or trivial for the entire duration and the matchless amalgam of all the elements creates a magical piece of music, which left me awestruck. Great to see Wykpisz finally in full blown blossom of his talents after hiding for so long behind his massive instrument. Respect!

Updated: 16/01/2023Posted: 16/01/2023

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