Record Reviews
22 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | AUGUSCIK & JAGODZINSKI TRIO ~ SZEPTEM
MJT 11725 (Barcode: 5906409117255) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016
This is an exquisite album by Polish Jazz Diva Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist recorded with the classic piano trio led by pianist / arranger Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist which also includes bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine Polish evergreens, beautifully transcribed into the Jazz idiom by Jagodzinski.
The album is a loving tribute to the Polish popular songbook, collecting nine wonderful ballads written over a period of many years by some of the best Polish composers and lyricists, which points out clearly what t takes to create a great song, which can last for posterity: a beautiful melody and intelligent poetic lyrics.
The songs are performed with a very minimalistic approach. Auguscik sings the melodies in a very straightforward manner, eschewing almost completely the typical Jazz mannerisms and improvisations (except for a few vocalese parts), emphasizing the lyrics which are pronounced clearly and elegantly. The piano trio, which provides the Jazzy background, treads also carefully, with Jagodzinski playing the chords behind the vocalist and soloing rather sparingly. It is the rhythm section which keeps the music swinging at all times and doing a superb work at that.
One can only hope that this album will find its way into the hands of the young generation of Polish music connoisseurs, who should be able to discover the treasures of their National musical heritage while listening to this music. However, if this music should reach only listeners in the third age group, it would be tragic overlook.
Both Auguscik and Jagodzinski should be praised for preserving Polish Culture in general and the Polish musical heritage, which they have been doing for many years. The fascination with music originating from other sources, which often blinds many Polish musicians as to their own roots, is luckily balanced by their activity.
What a great way to start a new year (2017) by writing this review, which talks about old, but not forgotten music, that has been given new life. Blindly idolizing the "new" has proven to be a disastrous path, so please let´s enjoy this wondrous journey into the past, for the benefit of the future. Kudos!
| | Updated: 01/01/2017Posted: 01/01/2017 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | EWA BEM ~ BE A MAN (POLISH JAZZ VOL.65)
MUZA 1065 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1981 Released: 2006
This is the 2nd album by the excellent Polish Jazz vocalist Ewa BemFind albums by this artist, who dominated the female vocals spot in her country in the late 1970s and 1980s and is still active today. The five songs, which were included on side A of the vinyl LP are standards, which she sings in English and the six songs on side B of the vinyl LP are all originals, written especially for her, which she sings in Polish. She is accompanied by a wonderful octet, called Swing SessionFind albums by this artist, led by Polish Jazz icon, trumpeter Henryk MajewskiFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the wonderful arrangements. The octet members include also reedmen Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist and Zbigniew JaremkoFind albums by this artist, trombonist Zbigniew KonopczynskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Henryk StefanskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jerzy StwarzFind albums by this artist and drummer Tadeusz FederowskiFind albums by this artist. Male vocalist Zbigniew WodeckiFind albums by this artist guests on two songs and three songs have also string arrangements. Whatever Bem misses as a virtuoso vocalist, she fully compensates by her wonderfully warm tone and exceptional musicality. Her interpretation and delivery are first-rate and she is definitely a world-class performer. Although pretty mainstream, this music is done with elegance and taste, which is why it stands the test of time wonderfully. Warmly recommended to fans of female Jazz vocals!
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  | 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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  | BOSSA NORKAH ~ NA MOIM BRZEGU
MULTIKULTI MPJ 024 (Barcode: 5907529223994) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion
Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2018
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz ensemble Bossa NorkahFind albums by this artist, led by vocalist Honorata KozuchowskaFind albums by this artist, which also includes some of the top Polish Jazz instrumentalist: pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, guitarists Rafal SarneckiFind albums by this artist / Piotr AleksandrowiczFind albums by this artist, bassists Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist / Michal JarosFind albums by this artist, drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist and several other guests appearing on selected tracks playing brass and a plethora of percussion instruments. The album presents thirteen songs (two of which appear twice in alternate versions), all of which were written by Polish songwriter / poet Antoni MurackiFind albums by this artist.
The music has a distinct Bossa Nova flavor, which is the main climate of all the songs. On the other hand the album is also clearly a Jazz & Poetry project, since Muracki´s songs are all deeply lyrical and evocative. The songs are kept in pretty reticent attire, featuring the vocals clearly in the center of the attention and the instrumental work kept to a bare minimum, with the piano providing the steady accompaniment and the rhythm section keeping the rhythm in check. There are only a few instrumental solos, which is a pity as those might have added a spark to the proceedings.
Kozuchowska handles the vocals well, which is not an easy task in this case for many reasons; the lyrics are complex and often difficult to express in rapid succession and admittedly South American rhythms are hardly native to East European singers. The vocals therefore lack the sensual and often plainly erotic sensitivity of Bossa Nova, which are native and natural to Brazilian vocalists. But all things considered, the album works fine and offers a pleasant listening experience with an added value of excellent texts (sadly relevant to Polish-speaking listeners only).
Overall this is an album floating between Pop and Easy Jazz, which can be enjoyed by a wide range of listeners, offering both musical and lyrical values combined with highly professional musicianship.
| | Updated: 21/02/2019Posted: 21/02/2019 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ DABROWSKI / ALL STARS ~ LIVE
FOR TUNE 0154 (Barcode: 5906395808700) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2018 - 2021 Released: 2022
This is a live album by veteran / iconic Polish Jazz vocalist / drummer Andrzej DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded during a concert celebrating his 80th Birthday. He is accompanied by a formidable sexted comprising of top Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, trombonist Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist, pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. Dabrowski sings nine songs, seven of which are American standards and two are Polish ones, written by Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist and Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist. A bonus track, the symbolic “My Way” (sung in Polish), recorded at the Polish Radio three years later with different musicians, is added to complete the set.
Dabrowski has been a part of the Polish Jazz scene since its inception and this album is a loving tribute to his lifetime contribution to the Polish Jazz scene and its achievements. Considering the age of the protagonist of this recording, any attempt to say anything about his performances are completely irrelevant, and would simply miss the point by a mile. The musicians gathered here all pay tribute to their colleague, with obvious respect and adoration, and that is all that matters.
Overall, the For TuneFind albums on this label label should be congratulated for releasing this loving tribute, which is a wonderful document of the Polish Jazz scene history. The respect paid to Culture is always highly appreciated.
Side Note:
This For Tune release initiates the new graphic layout of the label’s releases, which combines the decade-long tradition of consistent elegance and class. The move to digipak from the traditional jewel case is a sign of commitment to the collectors, many of which own the entire output of this excellent label, now numbering 155 releases – a true treasure of Polish Jazz.
| | Updated: 09/06/2022Posted: 09/06/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI ~ CHOPIN LES BRILLANTES
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 9788393067404) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010
This is the fifth album dedicated to Jazz interpretations of the music composed by the great Polish composer Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist recorded by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist and his trio with bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. This double album is a fact a new recording of the same material that is featured on the trio´s first two albums recorded fifteen years earlier, re-captured from a retrospective view and enriched by years of common experiences and joy of playing this music together.
When Jagodzinski first recorded Chopin´s music twenty years ago he was pioneering a trend, which in time swept the Polish Jazz scene like a tsunami, with literally hundreds of albums with Chopin´s music reinterpreted in the Jazz milieu. These attempts to follow a trend and jump on a bandwagon, which varied in quality form important and innovative to completely redundant and often preposterous, eventually had an adverse effect on the Polish Jazz fans, who had just about enough of Jazzy Chopin being showed down their throats.
Even if the original recording of Chopin´s music by Jagodzinski and his trio were not perfect and lacked the practice, they were bold, innovative and fresh. Sadly the repeated attempt, although richer and with better arrangements, lacks the original qualities and therefore is in some respect not such a great idea. Of course Jagodzinski and his cohorts are superb musicians and do a wonderful job playing on this album, but sticking to the original recordings is by and large preferable and sounds like a good idea. On the other hand since the original PoloniaFind albums on this label releases are not easily available, perhaps this album can fill the gap.
Overall there is plenty of great music herein, as well as excellent playing by these legendary veterans and in case you don´t own the original recordings this one is definitely worth checking out.
| | | CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI ~ KONCERT FORTEPIANOWY G-MOLL
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 9788393067442) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013
Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist is one of the veterans of the local scene and a prominent figure among his peers. He was one of the first musicians to record Jazz versions of the music by the great Polish composer Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, and his trio recording of Chopin´s works from the early 1990s remains a classic of this variety and started a trend, which continues to this very day and produced dozens of similar projects over time, some of which are completely redundant.
This album takes Jagodzinski to a whole new level of the Jazz-Classical Fusion trend, with a piano concerto he composed for a Jazz piano trio and orchestra, presented here. The piano trio consists of Jagodzinski and two other Polish Jazz veterans: bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and legendary drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The orchestral parts are performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Wojciech ZielinskiFind albums by this artist.
The three-part concerto consists of melodic / romantic atmospheric music, which is heard mostly in the background, supporting the piano trio. The themes are all quite well-rounded and easy on the ear, easily accessible to the average listener and not really challenging his intellect. The trio performance is very good, as expected from such distinguished musicians, but also lacks a certain degree of excitement, which is expected in Jazz. The entire project seems to be making an effort of not stepping on anybody´s toes.
Overall this is a very "slick" piece of music, which undoubtfully will find many eager listeners, who like romantic, lyrical orchestral music. Enthusiasts of more ambitious Jazz projects might find this disappointing. The album lasts only for about 36 minutes, which really puts it in the EP category, regardless of the elegant digibook packaging.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI ~ MUZYKA POLSKA
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 9788393067428) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2009 - 2010 Released: 2011
This is a beautiful and very ambitious album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist and his trio with bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist, also involving the great vocalist Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist and two Classical Music soloists: flautist Jadwiga KotnowskaFind albums by this artist and harpist Anna Sikorzak-OlekFind albums by this artist, as well as the AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Marek MosFind albums by this artist. The album presents a seven part Jazz suite for piano trio, voice, string orchestra and soloist, which attempts to "define" what "Polish Music" means in general and especially in the Jazz context as what we understand under the term "Polish Jazz". Five parts of the suite are based on Polish Folk tunes, one is a Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist composition and one is a tune composed by Marcin JanuszkiewiczFind albums by this artist. Jagodzinski and Auguscik arranged the vocal parts and Jagodzinski wrote the elaborate piano trio / string orchestra arrangements.
The concept behind this album obviously points towards the conclusion that contemporary Polish Music / Polish Jazz are a synthesis of the Polish Folk tradition with contemporary music forms. The Polish Folk tradition is most obviously identified with the Polish Folklore dances, such as kujawiak, mazurka, oberek and others, but also with the intrinsic Polish melancholy and lyricism, which create its unique characteristics, which are instantly recognizable to a trained ear. Regardless of the concept, this album is first and foremost a true celebration of music, crossing and bridging between Folklore, Jazz and Classical Music and doing it in an impressive, intelligent and truly beautiful way. All the parts and ideas fall together into an amazing amalgam, which is a delightful listening experience.
The album is also a wonderful platform to enjoy the individual contributions by the participating musicians. Auguscik again proves that she has very little competition on the local scene and her wonderful sensitivity and power of expression are simply stunning. Her appearance on this album is somewhat prophetic in the sense that her album "Inspired By LutoslawskiFind albums with this title", which was recorded four years after this one, would deal with the same subject matter. Jagodzinski, who also plays accordion on this album, and his trio cohorts, as well as the soloists and orchestra all perform spotlessly and harmoniously, with obvious dedication and joy of creation.
This is the best album by far that Jagodzinski recorded during his splendid career, and one of the best attempts to create a coherent musical concept, dedicated to Polish Music. Personally I´d love to see more such attempts done by other musicians. Discovering one´s musical roots and traditions is surely preferable to imitating other cultures.
This album is a pure delight from start to finish and I recommend it wholeheartedly to every Polish Jazz fan, as it reveals many of the innermost secrets about what Polish Jazz really means.
| | Updated: 11/01/2023Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI ~ REQUIEM
POLSKIE RADIO KATOWICE 142 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022
The great Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist has been a pillar of the local Jazz scene since the early 1990s, with an impressive recording legacy, which includes some of Polish Jazz classic albums, both as a leader and sideman / accompanist. His musical style is firmly based in the Jazz mainstream, but he also flirts passionately with the Jazz-Classical Fusion idiom. His groundbreaking 1993 album “ChopinFind albums with this title” established the Polish Jazz tradition of interpreting the music of the Polish National composer Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, which is still quite popular thirty years later, sadly largely abused and misunderstood by now.
The music on this album perfectly depicts the marriage between Jazz and Classical / Sacred music. It incorporates the classic Jazz piano trio, which is Jagodzinski’s modus operandi in the last three decades, with bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist, with a mixed choir Camerata SilesiaFind albums by this artist, directed by Anna SzostakFind albums by this artist and three renowned Polish Jazz vocalists: Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist, Agnieszka WilczynskaFind albums by this artist and Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist. The six-part Requiem is loosely based on the traditional Requiem structure and form, but obviously includes strong Jazz elements, as expressed by the trio improvisations and the vocalese parts by the three vocalists, with the choir providing the traditional sacred oriented parts.
It is extremely difficult to balance the Classical and Jazz elements within one musical piece, which often leads straight into the kitsch pit. But in this case Jagodzinski and the wonderful performers manage to create a coherent, elegant and harmonious unification, which makes perfect sense musically and aesthetically, with a truly moving effect. As a result, the music is universally appealing to a wide range of music lovers, from both idioms.
Overall, this is a beautiful example of cross-genre exploration, which as a result of the talent and experience of its creator and his team emerges as a sublime piece of music, which preserves both traditions and finds a peaceful coexistence, where the result is bigger than just the sum of its parts. Jagodzinski does not disappoint, and his “magic touch” is felt in every note, every nuance and every melodic theme on this album. As usual, I simply raise my hat to you Maestro, and wait for the next time I can hear you performing live, which is always a transcending experience.
| | Updated: 02/12/2022Posted: 02/12/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI ~ W HOLDZIE WOLNOSCI
POLSKIE RADIO 1986 (Barcode: 5907812249861) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is a live recording of a concert performed by veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, which was organized to commemorate the fifteenth Anniversary of the IPN (Institute of National Remembrance). For the concert Jagodzinski collected thirteen pieces of Polish music, which constitute a soundtrack of the Polish struggle for Freedom, both National and Political. They range from music composed by the Polish National composer Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist to popular Folk and Pop songs, mostly those related in many ways to the Polish underground struggle during WW II, including the heroic Warsaw Ghetto uprising and the no less heroic Warsaw Uprising, the anti-Communist struggle following the immediate post-WW II years and up to the Solidarity movement, which finally led to the creation of the Free Polish Republic with the fall of the Soviet Empire.
These are all undoubtedly patriotic songs, one way or another, and in time when patriotism is often not considered as "politically correct", it is encouraging to see musicians taking a clear stand, without being ashamed or intimidated by it. Polish Jazz history has always been intertwined with political messages, as was Polish Literature, Poetry, Film and all other Arts. Being able to state one´s political or patriotic view is after all an integral ingredient of the very Freedom, Poles have been fighting for so long.
Jagodzinski "called to arms" some of the top Polish Jazz musicians on this album: vocalists Anna StankiewiczFind albums by this artist and Agnieszka WilczynskaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Janusz StrobelFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. They all perform brilliantly, which is hardly surprising considering their experience and talent, creating a sensitive, intelligent and moving piece of meaningful music with carries a clear message without being vulgar or offensive. Jagodzinski´s arrangements are all elegant and tasteful, suiting the atmosphere ideally.
Of course this album has a layer which speaks only to people, who understand the Polish language and have some knowledge of Polish history. Nevertheless it has also universal values, which should be able to cross language barriers.
This album made very little impact on the Polish Jazz scene at the time of its release, which is a great pity. The fragmented and often plainly divided Polish Society should really grow up put aside its political differences, when it comes to appreciation of Art or human relationships. The precious Freedom is after all so fragile and easily lost..
| | Updated: 11/10/2016Posted: 11/10/2016 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI TRIO ~ BACH
STUDIO REALIZACJI MYSLI TWORCZ (Barcode: 5907222840047) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020
This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist recorded with his fabulous trio with bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album is dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist and presents six of his compositions, beautifully transformed into the Jazz idiom.
Playing Bach by Jazz musicians is of course nothing new and the romance goes back to the early 1960s, when French pianist / composer Jacques LoussierFind albums by this artist made a grand career by Jazzing up Bach’s compositions for the crowds, and many other Jazz musicians since tried to tackle this task, including Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist and Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist, with varying results. Bach’s music, which undoubtedly is one of the absolute pinnacles of Human artistic ingenuity, in most cases is best served by being left alone in its original form and shape, with rare exceptions.
I am happy to see (or rather hear) that Jagodzinski and his trio are up to the challenge of successfully transforming Bach’s music into the Jazz realm, served by their great sensitivity, talents and of course extensive experience. They manage to avoid trivializing this great music, keeping the original sense of flow, melody and rhythm intact, and adding the Jazzy ornamentations with carful respect of the original compositions. This is not altogether surprising taking into consideration the sublime Jazz oriented interpretations of the music by Polish National composer Frederic Chopin, which Jagodzinski and his cohorts managed to create in the past.
The performances are absolutely stellar, as expected, and although the piano is naturally in the epicenter of the sonic experience, the rhythm section also contributes some superb parts, which deserve no less admiration. Personally I hear a bit of Chopin on these interpretations of Bach, which again is hardly surprising, as Chopin’s music flows in the blood (or sub consciousness) of every Polish musician at all times.
Overall this is a wonderful album in every sense, both emotionally and intellectually, which deserves to be heard by every true lover of Jazz-Classical Fusion, Bach’s followers and Jazz piano trio enthusiasts all over the world. A true elixir for mind and body at these crazy days of misfortune and suffering.
On a personal note, almost exactly to a day last year I had the immense pleasure to attend a concert at a small Jazz club outside of Warsaw, where messieurs Jagodzinski, Cegielski and Bartkowski (and others) were performing. This was an unforgettable evening of great music and friendship, especially since it was the last live concert I managed to attend before the pandemic and the last time I was abroad…
| | Updated: 05/02/2021Posted: 05/02/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIKA LUBOWICZ ~ NIKA`S DREAM
FOR TUNE 0065 (Barcode: 5902768701654) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer Nika LubowiczFind albums by this artist, who is accompanied by a very impressive group of musicians, which includes her siblings: violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist (Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist) and keyboardist Jakub LubowiczFind albums by this artist, cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist (also Atom String Quartet), bassist Marcin MurawskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Marcin UlanowskiFind albums by this artist, percussionist Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Artur GierczakFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. Veteran pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of tracks. The album presents nine tracks, three of which are standards, two are by Dawid Lubowicz, another two by Krzysztof Lenczowski and yet another two by Nika Lubowicz herself. All songs feature English lyrics except for the last track which has lyrics in Polish.
From the very first notes of this album it´s plainly evident that this is no ordinary vocal Jazz album. The arrangements, which in most cases feature either the violin or the cello up front alongside the vocal parts, replace the usual "vocals with piano trio" setting. The arrangements also include other unusual lineups, keeping the listener on his toes at all times. The overall atmosphere of this album is all about the essence of music, freely crossing genre boundaries, comfortably and elegantly touching upon mainstream Jazz, ethnic music, Pop and Soul with the same artistically predetermined frivolity. I even have to agree with all the compliments listed in the album´s liner notes authored by Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, which happens extremely rarely.
Nika Lubowicz uses her vocal abilities wisely and intelligently, switching between lyrics and vocalese with grace. Her vocalese parts are in fact way more impressive than her actual singing lyrics, which as always in such cases suffer from the English pronunciation, being far from ideal. The closing track sung in Polish is a sore proof of this. Luckily her singing lyrics are altogether just a minor part of the entire endeavor. I have not timed the album but about half of the album´s duration is instrumental, which is highly unusual for albums involving vocals, and which is a very courageous and in this case extremely tasteful decision.
This is the second album in the "pink" (Jazz vocals) series by For TuneFind albums on this label Records, and it is again a big time winner. Albums of such quality and obvious aesthetic approach are extremely rare and the fact that at least once a year they do materialize makes life worth living, at least for people who love music. This is definitely a most impressive debut and so far the best vocal Jazz album released this year on the Polish Jazz scene. Well done girl!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIKA LUBOWICZ / ALL STARS ~ NIKA SINGS ELLA
FOR TUNE 0157 (Barcode: 5906395808717) ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022
This is the third album by Polish vocalist Nika LubowiczFind albums by this artist, this time recorded by a classic Jazz combo comprising of veteran Polish Jazz players led by Wieslaw PieregorolkaFind albums by this artist, who also arranged most of the tunes. The excellent rhythm section with pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummers Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist or Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist provide the backbone. Vocalist Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of tunes.
As the album’s title suggests, Lubowicz performs a collection of Jazz standards associated with the repertoire of the great American Jazz vocalist Ella FitzgeraldFind albums by this artist, which of course sets an incredible challenge in view of the Majestic status held by Fitzgerald in the Vocal Jazz tradition.
Lubowicz approaches the classic repertoire with a straightforward attitude, sticking to the convention and intelligently avoiding mimicking her model but at the same time eschewing any extravagant innovations. As faithful as the music is to the source, Lubowicz manages to put forward her personality as a vocalist, which is beyond reproach. Her vocalese parts are especially interesting.
The instrumental performances are all exactly what one might expect from a collection of such experienced players, with brief, but excellent soli and obvious empathy to the material. The arrangements are very conservative, which in this case is just what the doctor prescribed.
Overall, this is a tribute to the tradition of a great Artist and a kind reminder of what Jazz sounded like more than half a Century ago. For the many fans of the great Ella Fitzgerald and classic Vocal Jazz tradition this is a most welcome effort, which will surely be enjoyed immensely.
| | Updated: 10/09/2022Posted: 10/09/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROBERT MAJEWSKI ~ TRIBUTE TO HENRYK MAJEWSKI
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 9788365344014) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This album is exactly what it is supposed to be: a loving tribute to one of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, trumpeter / composer Henryk MajewskiFind albums by this artist, recorded by his colleagues and sons to commemorate the tenth anniversary of his death. All seven musicians participating in this recording are top Polish Jazz musicians and the ensemble could have been easily called Polish Jazz All Stars. They are: trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist (Henryk´s son), saxophonists Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist and Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, pianists Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist and Wojciech MajewskiFind albums by this artist (Henryk´s son), bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded partly live in a club and partly at the legendary Studio Tokarnia, with a stunning sound quality. The ensemble performs ten tunes, six of which are original compositions (four by Henryk Majewski and two by Robert Majewski) and the remaining four are standards.
The music is, as expected, well within the Jazz mainstream, mostly Bebop oriented, with no surprises but excellently performed from start to finish. Many fabulous solos, most of which feature Robert Majewski, ornament the album and the overall atmosphere of great time was had by all seems to be the essence.
For listeners unaware of Polish Jazz history this album symbolizes the process of growing up by the Polish Jazz scene, proving that European Jazz musicians can play (and swing!) as well as their counterparts across the pond, and the inferiority complex of past generations is completely baseless today.
So both as a great mainstream Jazz album and a document of Polish Jazz history, this beautifully packaged and lovingly executed package is absolutely worth having! As someone who knew Henryk Majewski I can only salute with a tear in the corner of my eye, in memoriam!
| | Updated: 25/03/2017Posted: 22/09/2016 | CD 1 Digibook Recommend To A Friend |
  | DOROTA MISKIEWICZ ~ PIANO.PL
UNIVERSAL MUSIC POLSKA 602557206852 (Barcode: 602557206852) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This is a live recording of a gigantically ambitious project conceived by Polish Jazz vocalist Dorota MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, which pays tribute to the Polish Jazz piano school, which spans several generations and is a sublime example of Polish / European Jazz tradition. The album presents twelve songs, one original by Miskiewicz and eleven "Polish standards" composed and written by the best Polish composers and lyricists, each performed by Miskiewicz accompanied by a different pianist and on eight of them also accompanied by the renowned Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The list of the pianists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz: Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, Lutoslawski Piano DuoFind albums by this artist, Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist, Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist, Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist, Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist, Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, Grzegorz TurnauFind albums by this artist (who also briefly sings) and Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (Dorota´s Father) guests on one song. The DVD (filmed during the concert), included in the package, adds the concert´s intro, outro and a couple of songs not included on the CD.
I am happy to say that I managed to have a more modest (with just three pianists) version of this project perform at the 2018 Singer Jazz Festival, which was extremely successful.
As expected, all the performances are absolutely wonderful, a typical example of European haute Culture, where music, words and stage performance are combined to deliver an overall experience, which is more than just a sum of its ingredients. The album moves between Jazz & Poetry and highly lyrical popular music, all expertly arranged and brilliantly executed, especially in view of the fact that it was captured live.
This album delivers exactly what it promises: an extraordinary panorama of Polish Jazz piano, full of elegance, virtuosity and flair. Miskiewicz moves with ease from one song to another, with a chameleonic change of moods and emotions, as appropriate for a great performer.
For lovers of Polish Jazz in general and Polish Jazz piano in particular, this album is a superb introduction to the subject. Even for listeners beyond the Polish language sphere, this music easily penetrates and language barriers and should be completely accessible to every music lover.
| | Updated: 14/09/2018Posted: 14/09/2018 | CD+DVD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | TOMASZ STANKO ~ ROBERTO ZUCCO
POLONIA 059 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1995 Released: 1996
This is a relatively little known brilliant album by Polish virtuoso trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, presenting one of the numerous soundtracks Stanko created for stage and cinema. This soundtrack was used for the Polish production of the theatre play "Roberto Zucco" by Bernard-Marie Koltés, based on the life of infamous Italian serial killer Roberto Succo. The music, which as usual with Stanko´s work, stands alone perfectly when removed from the stage context, consists of sixteen relatively short pieces performed by a quintet, quartet or on solo trumpet. Thirteen of these pieces are composed by Stanko and the remaining three are variations on the famous standard "Blue Velvet", of which two include vocal parts by singer Dorota MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist. This is an ultra rare opportunity to hear Stanko performing a standard, which he almost never does. Other players include pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Janusz SkowronFind albums by this artist, bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist, drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist and percussionist Zbigniew BarysiakFind albums by this artist. Overall, as always with Stanko, this music is powerful and delicate simultaneously, simply making you wish it just wouldn´t stop. This is of course an absolute must to any Stanko acolyte / collector and a great proof of Stanko´s versatility as a composer. Brilliant stuff!
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  | STARONIEWICZ / JAGODZINSKI / RAJSKI ~ TRANQUILLO
ALLEGRO 025 (Barcode: 5901157049254) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012
Lush saxophone, gently strumming piano and a string orchestra sound more like a recipe for a soundtrack to a third-rate erotic movie (i.e. porn flick) than a serious musical venture. The iniquitous "Sax and Strings" trap made many of the best Jazz saxophone players sound like muzak junkies, leaving only a few of them, who managed to create some superb music out of this unforgiving format. I was prepared for the worse when I placed this album into the CD player and hesitantly pushed the Play button. Lo and behold, the music turned out to be simply delightful… what a relief.
Veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist combines forces with pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist and his trio, which also includes bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and Master veteran drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The resulting quartet is accompanied by the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot, conducted by Wojciech RajskiFind albums by this artist. The album consists of eleven compositions, two of which are originals by Staroniewicz and the rest are standards (four of those are by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist). The orchestral arrangements of seven of the tracks were written by another veteran Polish Jazz hero Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, three are by Jagodzinski and the remaining one by Artur JurekFind albums by this artist.
The music is presented on three overlaying platforms: the saxophone, the piano trio and the orchestra; each of those with its separate content, and merging with the other two to create the overall effect and compliment each other. Staroniewicz is a superb sax player and his wonderful tone and flow are absolutely perfect for this music. He plays the melodies, but also improvises constantly, although staying well within the harmonic boundaries. Jagodzinski and his trio are also one of the finest Polish Jazz ensembles, and although their role on this album is mostly limited to provide the Jazzy atmospheric background and rhythmic backbone, the trio´s leader plays several beautiful lyrical solos and the rhythm section swings like there´s no tomorrow.
The strings are the biggest surprise of them all; the arrangements are quite unusual and often not what the listen might expect at all – intelligent, challenging and with a life of their own. Combined with the quartet playing on top they enhance the overall result enormously and one must admit they do it most pleasantly.
Yes, this is the gentle side of Jazz. It is sweet and romantic and beautiful, but it is also clever, perfectly done and heartwarming. It manages to avoid being kitschy, which is so damn difficult under these circumstances. OK I admit, I´m a dead romantic at heart and I love this stuff, exactly for what it is – bite me ;) The album´s artwork is also beautiful, one of the few cases when the artwork fits the album´s contents perfectly. Great stuff!
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  | WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ QUIET CITY
POLONIA 043 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1995 Released: 1995
This is an early release by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quartet setting with pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The album includes six original compositions, all by Staroniewicz, most of which are ballads.
After listening to just a few opening notes it becomes immediately apparent that this is a Polish Jazz recording, as the music is full of the characteristics, which are unique to Polish Jazz: wonderfully lyrical melodies, folkloristic undertones, unusual meters and those unique harmonies, which only Polish Jazz musicians are able to invent. Also clearly apparent is the virtuosity of the participants, who in spite of their (at the time) young age sound as if they played Jazz for decades. Staroniewicz has a beautiful tone when playing his tenor saxophone, which resembles several of the great American saxophonists, but has more vitality and chutzpah. Jagodzinski is a fantastic player and this early recording already shows him in his full capacity. The rhythm section is also first class, doing a fantastic job supporting the two soloists both during the ensemble parts and solo parts.
Although this is solid mainstream Jazz, it is full of intelligent moments and passionate performances, which take the music well beyond what is usually conceived as mainstream. Partly due to the leader´s superb compositions and partly to the musicians growing up absorbing the Polish Jazz heritage, which includes the innovations introduced by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, which were as much influential on Polish Jazz as John ColtraneFind albums by this artist´s legacy was on the global scene, this music is both a classic example of mainstream Jazz as much as an epitome of Polish Jazz.
In retrospect I find myself returning to this album from time to time and although it is rarely considered as a Polish Jazz "classic", it is definitely so for me. Of course the fact that it was recorded almost two decades ago means absolutely nothing except for the fact that is seems to be getting better with time. The fact that Staroniewicz emerged eventually as one of the pillars of the Polish Jazz scene, not only as a player but also as a record label owner, concert organizer, etc. proves that he means business, which is always a great quality in people. So a "classic" for me, and if you get to listen to it – it will be also a "classic" for you!
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  | LORA SZAFRAN ~ SPIEWNIK NAHORNEGO
CONFITEOR 004 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2003
Polish Jazz vocalist Lora SzafranFind albums by this artist is active on the local scene since the mid 1980s, when she graduated from the Katowice Music Academy. She sings Jazz but is also active on the mainstream Polish popular music market. This is her sixth album as a leader and it is dedicated to songs composed by the legendary Polish Jazz pianist / saxophonist / composer Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, who is also known as the author of popular evergreens. The album includes twelve songs composed by Nahorny, with lyrics (in Polish) by some of top Polish lyricists. Szafran is accompanied by a trio which includes Nahorny on piano with bassist Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BiskupskiFind albums by this artist and a string sextet, with string arrangements by Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist.
The album is kept in the classic mainstream Jazz tradition, performed spotlessly and with flair by all participants. Nahorny´s music is timeless and remains fresh and beautiful in complete disregard of passing fads and fashions. His compositions are as good as any American standards. The intelligent lyrics are a painful remainder that song´s lyrics are supposed to tell a story in an intelligent way, as they do here in complete contrast to today´s monstrosities called songs.
Szafran sings perfectly and superbly, with her charming mannerisms and vocal tricks, which she manages to use as effectively as always. She is able to pronounce every word clearly and accurately, with feeling and obvious sentiment to the context, an art that seems to be lost completely these days. Her warm and round voice and professional finesse are irresistible. The interplay between her and the trio is always impeccable, which turns the entire recording into a musical love affair. Nahorny and the rhythm section are of course a living example of knights in shining armor.
This is an "old fashioned" album, but in spite of that often misused classification it sounds fresh and alive in spite of its delicacy, fragility and sophistication. I must be old fashioned myself, as this stuff simply melts my heart.
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  | WANDA WARSKA ~ DOMOWE PIOSENKI
POLSKIE RADIO 1984-1985 (Barcode: 5907812249847) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry
Recorded: 1964 - 2015 Released: 2016
This is a phenomenal collection of radio recordings by the iconic Polish Jazz vocalist Wanda WarskaFind albums by this artist, the wife of the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / trumpeter / trombonist / composer / arranger / conductor / bandleader Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, considering the criminally limited recorded legacy by Warska, in spite of her status and immense talent, she was perhaps overshadowed by the colossal figure of her husband and perhaps decided to support his career rather than develop her own. Whatever the reasons might have been, there is almost nothing available on the Polish music market that reflects her incredible artistry and this collection is a most welcome, albeit much belated, tribute to this Wonder Women!
This 2CD album presents thirty seven stunning songs, all of which have two things in common: Warska sings them all and she wrote the lyrics to all of them, unveiling a part of her creative nature less know to the public. As if this wasn´t impressive enough, she also composed twenty four of these songs. Those she did not composed are mostly by Brazilian composers: Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, Vinicius de MoraesFind albums by this artist, Dorival CaymmiFind albums by this artist and Joao GilbertoFind albums by this artist, the Godfathers of Bossa Nova and modern Brazilian music (total nine songs). Warska started her career as a lyricist in 1964, when she translated into Polish the a/m Bossa Nova songs, which swept the Polish scene as they did all over the world at the time. The remaining four songs come from other sources and interestingly none of the songs on this album were composed by Kurylewicz.
These songs were recorded during a number of recording sessions as follows: one song was recorded in 1963, five songs were recorded in 1964, seven songs were recorded in 1966, one song was recorded in 1971 and seven songs were recorded in 1972; on all of the above twenty one songs Warska is accompanied by various ensembles led by Kurylewicz, lineups of which are unknown. Thirteen songs were recorded in 2002 and one in 2004 with a quartet which included Kurylewicz on piano, guitarist Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Two more songs were recorded in 2015 (after the passing of Kurylewicz in 2007) with a trio featuring pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, Napiorkowski and Panta.
The songs composed by Warska are all pearls of the Polish Jazz & Poetry idiom, full of that heartbreaking lyricism, Slavic melancholy and beautiful melodies, that only Poles are capable of weaving. Warska´s interpretations of these songs are absolutely divine, although she was always the absolute Queen of Cool, playing around with her beautiful voice and using cleverly the idiosyncrasies of the Polish language and diction, but eschewing theatrics and drama. This perfect minimalism is her trademark, and sets her apart from all other Polish Jazz vocalists, regardless of their age.
In truth this album is a wonderful opportunity to compare Warska to her alter ego, the legendary Polish Jazz vocalist Ewa DemarczykFind albums by this artist, who also enjoys an iconic status based mostly on a very limited number of recordings done decades ago. Demarczyk and Warska are the two most important figures of the Polish Jazz vocal artistry, and they both remain unchallenged so far. Demarczyk, the absolute Drama Queen, is the devilish face of Polish Jazz vocals whereas Warska is the absolute angelic face of it. They compliment each other perfectly, like Yin & Yang and a prospect of seeing them both on one stage and / or the possibility of them making an album together gives me the Goosebumps.
As usual in such cases, the lyrical content of this album is sadly limited to those listeners who understand the Polish language, however I´m pretty sure that the beauty and the power of these songs is much stronger than language barriers and all sensitive listeners anywhere on this planet should be able to enjoy this album immensely.
As far as Polish Cultural Heritage is concerned, this is an absolute National Treasure, which deserves to be cherished and studied by young musicians in Poland, first and foremost by vocalists of course. For us, the humble admirers, this is an essential addition to our record collections, no questions asked. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
| | Updated: 05/05/2016Posted: 05/05/2016 | CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | AGNIESZKA WILCZYNSKA / ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI ~ WILCZE JAGODY
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5907222840030) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019
This is a beautiful Jazz & Poetry album by the Polish duo comprising of vocalist Agnieszka WilczynskaFind albums by this artist and veteran pianist / composer Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original songs composed by Jagodzinski and featuring lyrics by contemporary Polish poets / lyricists: Andrzej PoniedzielskiFind albums by this artist, Stanislaw TymFind albums by this artist, Wieslawa SujkowskaFind albums by this artist and Jan WolekFind albums by this artist. Wilczynska contributed the lyrics to one of the songs. Jagodzinski in addition to playing the piano add also some accordion parts.
The music is an archetypal example of what the essence of Polish Jazz represents, in its profound lyricism, melancholy and harmonies deeply rooted in Polish Folklore, which are unmistakably idiosyncratic. Jagodzinski´s compositions, which are influenced and inspired by his insightful love and understanding of the music of Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, are heartbreakingly melodic and deeply wistful, and when combined with the intelligent and thoughtful lyrics they simply become irresistible. For listeners interested in exploring his exceptional status and his contribution to the Polish Jazz idiom, I recommend the wonderful "Muzyka PolskaFind albums with this title" album, which is a classic.
But clearly the amalgam of this superb music and the marvelous vocal performances by Wilczynska is what makes this album even more special. She is undoubtedly an ideal Jazz & Poetry singer, with a perfect diction that allows each and every syllable to be heard precisely, a sublime theatrical expressionism which allows sensitive delivery of the underlying emotions and last but not least has a wonderful voice and feel of the music, which is clearly evident when she sings the lyrics or improvises using vocalese. Wilczynska cleverly avoids any unnecessary theatrical extravagance, delivering the lyrics with charming minimalism, clearly achieving the "less is more" effect, which ideally suits the concept of this album. I wish all the young Polish Jazz vocalists simply listened to this album, which is a classic example of how things should be done in that field.
During my last visit in Poland, just a few weeks ago and before the corona virus took control of our lives, I had an opportunity to hear Wilczynska, Jagodzinski and other Polish Jazz musicians deliver an unforgettable performance in a small club in the outskirts of Warsaw. The venue was absolutely packed with fans, which wouldn´t let the musicians off the stage after two solid hours of brilliant music. I hope all of you, my Friends, are well and I do hope to see you all again soon. May the Jazz Force be with you!
| | Updated: 22/03/2020Posted: 22/03/2020 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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