Record Reviews

ADAM BALDYCH QUINTET ~ PORTRAITS IMAGINARY MUSIC 003 (Barcode: 5905817210039) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer / bandleader Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, released on his Imaginary MusicFind albums on this label label. The album was recorded in a quintet setting with pianist Sebastian ZawadzkiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marek KonarskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist. Vocalists Kari SalFind albums by this artist and Piotr OdoszewskiFind albums by this artist guest on one track, which uses the lyrics written by poet Krzysztof Kamil BaczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents sixteen tracks, all but one composed by Baldych and one composed by Zawadzki. The album’s extended booklet features a liner note by Jacek SolkiewiczFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. MirrormanFind albums by this artist). In his liner note Baldych states his reflections about the meaning of music in human life, especially in face of brutal reality. He refers to the fate of the Polish Jewish violinist / composer / author Szymon LaksFind albums by this artist, who is known for his role as the head of the inmate’s orchestra in the Auschwitz concentration camp, which Laks described in his memoirs. The absurdity and inhuman cruelty of the orchestra performing twice a day in the midst of the Auschwitz inferno is definitely something to ponder about, especially as the Holocaust Remembrance Day is just four days away. The music is full of deep melancholy and reflection, gently intertwining Jazz and Classical (mostly Medieval) as well as World Music influences, with profoundly lyrical and even at times gloomy themes. Baldych’s renaissance violin fits perfectly to the tonal structures and his virtuosity of expression is able to project the entire aesthetic atmosphere clearly and vividly. I have followed the work of Baldych since his early steps on the music scene and I am happy so he that he matured extremely well, as his recent work, and this album in particular, takes him to the pedestal of exemplary musical personalities, well beyond just the Jazz scene. All the music on this album sounds like one coherent continuity, and the division into tracks is simply a technical matter, as I can’t imagine listening to any part of this music separately. Baldych’s team comprises of some of the best Polish Jazz musicians, so the ensemble performances are, not surprisingly, sublime. There is limited soloing herein, not because of lack of ability, but obviously since this music is an ensemble effort, not a showcase of individual abilities, other than those by the leader of course. But when solos do appear, they are truly brilliant, albeit being relatively short. Overall, this is a true Masterpiece of an album in every possible sense: the compositions, the performances, the team effort of the ensemble, the interplay, the dynamics, in short everything just fits perfectly in place. It is Baldych’s most mature work so far, which will be extremely hard to follow, but he has proven time and again that he can be full of surprises. Congratulations are in order!

Updated: 23/01/2025Posted: 23/01/2025

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CUATRO MANOS ~ WAY HOME SJ 069 (Barcode: 5902596066826) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish acoustic guitar duo Cuatro ManosFind albums by this artist, which comprises of Jakub KotyniaFind albums by this artist and Michal LewartowiczFind albums by this artist. They are supported by a rhythm section, which includes bassists Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist or Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummers Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist or Pawel NowakFind albums by this artist. Violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist plays on two tracks. The album presents seven original compositions, four by Lewartowicz and three by Kotynia. The music is very melodic, with a slight Jazzy touch and a tinge of Folkloristic / Latin themes. For a lack of a better classification, it could be counted as Smooth Jazz, or just guitar instrumental music. Although personally this kind of music is not really my cup of tea, I can appreciate the obvious skills of the guitarists and of course I am very familiar with the rhythm section, as those are very able Polish Jazz musicians. The guitar performances are very capable and the guitarists obviously enjoy their interplay, which is full of grace and wonderful melodicism. Overall, this is a very pleasant listening experience, on the very light flank of the Jazz spectrum, but nevertheless full of highly skilled performances and deeply melodic flow, which obviously has many fans. This is a perfectly valid statement for those who enjoy the entertaining facet of Jazz music.

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 02/02/2023

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DOORS NOT SHUT ~ LUTY AUDIO CAVE 2018/013 (Barcode: 5905669566674) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the sextet Doors Not ShutFind albums by this artist, which comprises of five veteran Polish Jazz musicians: clarinetist Waclaw ZimpelFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassists Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and Ksawery WojcinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. They are joined by Australian percussionist Philip SouthFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions by the sextet members, mostly co-composed by several of the musicians. The concept of the sextet is pretty loosely conceived, since only Szmanda and South play on all the ten tracks, Swies plays on nine tracks, Dys plays on just three tracks and finally Zimpel and Wojcinski play on five tracks. As a result the entire sextet does not play together on any of the tracks. The music is an interesting amalgam of Ambient Music and Free Jazz, with strong World Music influences, especially on the rhythmic plane. The overall sound and approach are quite minimalist and the music mostly flows slowly, rarely displaying any strictly melodic contents. The bass pulsations (either electric or acoustic) and the ethnic / polyrhythmic drumming are the constant elements of the music, with the piano and clarinet being the only melodic anchors. The entire concept definitely works well, displaying a lot of originality and fascination with rhythm, being quite unique in that area. The drummers get most of the exposure, followed by the bassists, with Dys and Zimpel adding spice and color to the proceedings, but not dominating the concept. The three quartet tracks with Dys are closest to Jazz, while the five tracks with Zimpel are Ambient Improvised Music which listeners familiar with other recordings by Zimpel should find quite recognizable. The remaining two tracks featuring only drums and percussion (with some vocal and spoken word ornamentation) are perhaps the roots of the music. Overall this is a bold and highly innovative concept album, which offers originality and excellent musicianship, as well as intellectual challenge, which is often missing from less ambitious Jazz oriented recordings. This album is recommended for the more adventurous and open-minded listeners, who are ready to embrace new concepts. Although Zimpel plays only on half of the tracks, this album presents some of this most moving work, which is an absolute must to his followers. Highly recommended!

Updated: 29/12/2018Posted: 29/12/2018

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DYS / JORGENSMANN / MARCUS ~ ELEMENTS IN CANDOR FOR TUNE 0086 (Barcode: 5902768701869) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is an album by a Jazz quintet fronted by Polish pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, German clarinetist Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist and American clarinetist Michael MarcusFind albums by this artist, with a Polish rhythm section: bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. Together they perform thirteen original pieces, four composed by Marcus, three by Jorgensmann and one by Dys and the remaining five were co-composed by various combinations of the quintet members. Although based on some pre-composed phrases, the music is predominantly freely improvised and belongs to the radical Improvised Music idiom, which of curse is loved by a tiny group of enthusiasts but fails to reach a wider audience. Although the double clarinet front line has a wonderful potential of interplay between these two players, that potential is not realized herein and the music simply makes little if any aesthetic impact. As already stated many times, Improvised Music might make sense when listened to live, due to the emotional involvement and interaction between the players and the listeners, but only very rarely it is able to carry over that interaction into a recorded document, like an album. This album is a typical case where the music simply fails to communicate and remains remote and cold, as if the musicians were playing to each other, leaving the rest of the world outside. Even the fact that the clarinet is an instrument I truly love and the musicians involved have all made formidable recordings earlier on, this album simply does not cut it for me. Of course this is only my opinion and others might be able to enjoy this music. Dys, who is one of the most talented and important young Jazz musicians on the Polish scene plays very little on this album, which is another reason why this is a missed opportunity. If the whole album was anything like the last track, the story would have been completely different. Oh well, you can´t win them all.

Updated: 10/05/2016Posted: 10/05/2016

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KRZYSZTOF DYS ~ TOYS FOR TUNE 0115 (Barcode: 5906395808199) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2016 This is the debut album in the classic piano trio format by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, recorded with his usual cohorts: bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The trio performs eleven classic modern Jazz compositions by famous American Jazz musicians / composers, except for one track which was composed by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist and in addition one original composition by Dys is also included. Although not mentioned anywhere on the album´s artwork, this is the first Polish Jazz album dedicated to re-composition or de-composition of music composed by others, which does what other albums claimed to do but didn´t. It is of course a speculation on my part if this was the intended procedure by Dys and his colleagues, but the treatment of the well known compositions offered by the trio is very radical and most listeners will have a very hard time to identify these compositions simply by listening to the music, which seems to support my guesswork. As a result this is definitely one of the most intellectually challenging Polish Jazz albums released lately and a true masterpiece, which deserves but the highest praise. The sublime balance between the hidden melodies and the Free Improvisations is magical and truly fascinating. The superb technique and virtuosity displayed by all the members of the trio clearly puts them in the high echelons of the Polish Jazz scene, which is no surprise to people following that scene closely Dys gradually earns the respect and the position of "musician´s musician", which sadly does not always go in parallel to his popularity with the critics and Jazz listeners, and this album is an excellent example of such dilemma. It is simply to "witty" to be loved by the average Jazz fan. On the other hand considering his versatility and proficiency, Dys should sooner or later reach the level of popularity he truly deserves. His recorded legacy so far definitely proves his abilities beyond any shadow of a doubt. Overall this is a excellent piece of highly sophisticated European Jazz, even if it is based on music written by American composers, which although challenging and demanding is very much worth the effort of several listening sessions, which should suffice to let the music sink deeply and be appreciated in full. Great stuff!

Updated: 27/01/2017Posted: 27/01/2017

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EL GRECO ~ SING CUCKOO INSPIRAFON 02 (Barcode: 5903111259006) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2011 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by Polish ensemble El GrecoFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Joachim MencelFind albums by this artist, which also includes vocalist Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist) who performs turntablism, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and Austrian drummer Harry TanschekFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten tracks, eight of which are songs and the remaining two instrumental pieces. The eight songs are all composed by Mencel to lyrics by Polish poets (five of the songs, naturally sung in Polish) and literary texts in English (the remaining three, sung in English). One of the instrumentals is a group composition and the remaining one is by Gil EvansFind albums by this artist. This is obviously quite an ambitious project, well within the Jazz & Poetry realm, which seems to be a favorite of the Polish music scene. However, contrary to many splendid efforts in this area this album leaves me quite cold. It´s quite difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for my opinion, but somehow the mixture of complex, sophisticated poetry with the rather simplistic music does not work for me. Anybody engaging in the poems of Cyprian Kamil NorwidFind albums by this artist must be aware of their masterly interpretation by the legendary NiemenFind albums by this artist or more recently by Stan BorysFind albums by this artist and in comparison the versions presented here seem to be quite pale. The music seems to be by and large based on blues themes, with a modernistic rhythm patterns emphasized by the turntablism. There is a limited space for serious improvisation and the atmosphere is more of an alterative Rock album than a Jazz album, which of course might be just what the ensemble (or the leader) wanted to achieve. The only thing that makes this album enjoyable as far as I´m concerned is the truly excellent work by Andrzej Swies, who emerges as the star of this particular project and without whom this music simply wouldn´t work at all. As usually the attempt to sing in English proves to be fatal. Overall this is not a bad album and many people will probably enjoy it, but I just can´t seem to be able to warm up towards it. Mea culpa!

Updated: 31/01/2017Posted:

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MACIEJ FORTUNA ~ LOST KEYS FM 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz trumpeter Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which comprises of pianist Przemyslaw RaminiakFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and American drummer Frank ParkerFind albums by this artist. Fortuna has been one of the recognized talents on the local Jazz scene for a few years and this recording serves as the "formal" act of entering the major league of Polish Jazz musicians. The quartet performs nine original compositions, seven of which are credited to all four band members; of the two remaining one is by the pianist and the other by the bassist. The music fits perfectly the modern Jazz mainstream, but is very interesting and aesthetic, with beautiful melodic themes and perfect arrangements. The execution is also absolutely first class, from start to finish. Most solos are performed (not surprisingly) by the leader and the pianist, but the rhythm section is firmly present throughout, playing confidently, accurately and with a lot of imagination. Pianist Raminiak is definitely one of the best among the young generation of Polish Jazz players, which erupted in the last couple of years forcing its way towards the top and his other recordings (with his RGGFind albums by this artist trio) are all worth investigating. As to the leader, his playing is both beautiful and perfect in every respect, with great sense of melody and technical proficiency. Stylistically Fortuna is still distilling and purifying his personal and unique voicing, with his many influences even now quite apparent – mostly Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and other American Bop players, but also several notable Europeans. Of course every young Polish trumpeter is expected to follow and is judged by comparison to the mentor of Polish trumpet – Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, which of course is not fair and quite absurd. Even if Fortuna should in the future lean more towards less structured music, his voice and sound will be his own, so let´s give him a fair chance. It definitely sounds as we´ll hear quite a lot about him in the future. This is definitely a brilliant debut album, which should make all the participating musicians proud. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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MACIEJ KOCINSKI ~ PROVERBS 3:5 ALLEGRO 026 (Barcode: 5901157049261) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the debut recording by the trio led by Polish saxophonist / composer Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, who is primarily known as the leader of the SoundcheckFind albums by this artist quartet, which received a lot of positive attention on the local scene in the last few years. The other members of the trio are bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist, who are also Soundcheck members. Vocalists Kuba BadachFind albums by this artist and Patrick JiyaFind albums by this artist appear as special guests. The album consists of ten original compositions, all by Kocinski. The trio serves as another vehicle for the leader and his cohorts to present music, which does not fit within the framework of the Soundcheck quartet, moving into areas like atmospheric / ambient / contemplative music influenced by folkloristic motifs and to some extent by contemporary Classical music. The usage of electronics and electric bass takes the music further away from purely acoustic Jazz mainstream. There is also an atmosphere of deep emotional expression, enhanced by the album´s beautiful artwork, title and of course its subject matter. Naming an album after a Biblical quote (and even printing the original Hebrew text on the cover) is surely no accident. The music is quite an unusual amalgam, which makes sense only after listening to the whole album, preferably more than once. It involves many different techniques, from "conventional" acoustic saxophone trio to purely improvised passages, electronic soundscapes, vocal chanting, recitation and others. And yet all these different elements fit together perfectly against all odds, creating truly exciting and emotional sonic experiences. Kocinski uses the EWI skillfully to produce a plethora of different sounds, enhancing the overall instrumental range. The element of melody is vital to this music and reoccurs repeatedly, with beautiful lyrical themes, which later serve as the basis for improvised excursions. The album and the music are obviously a team effort, and although the leader is the primary soloist, his partners get ample opportunity to contribute. Swies is brilliant, as always, with his bass (acoustic and electric) being the backbone of this excellent music. Szmanda fills the blanks and supports delicately, which is exactly what this music needs. His intelligence and good taste are obvious all the way through. All in all this is a superb musical effort, which keeps the listeners on their toes for the entire duration, leaving them wishing for more of the different same. The Polish Jazz scene seems to be a bottomless pit of great music and talented musicians. It is always a great pleasure to discover yet another example of the above and this album certainly stands out as one of the most interesting releases of 2012. Wholeheartedly recommended to all those lionhearted connoisseurs of exciting, surprising and adventurous music!

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MACIEJ KOCINSKI ~ 14 SHORT STORIES ALLEGRO 046 (Barcode: 5901157049469) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Maciej Kocin KocinskiFind albums by this artist), recorded in an intimate trio setting with bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist, same as the debut album “Proverbs 3:5Find albums with this title”, recorded a decade earlier. The album presents fifteen tracks, mostly original compositions by Kocinski except one standard, one traditional melody and one composition by Swies. Kocinski is definitely one of my favorite Polish Jazz Artists, and although he appears as a sideman on some albums from time to time, the fact that we were destined to wait for so long for his next solo album is a great pity, especially in view of his talent. This album offers an up-to-date sonic ambience, with Kocinski playing the EWI and utilizing some electronic layers, and the concise, mostly relatively short tracks, with a strong electric bass upbeat and dynamic drumming. This trio goes back almost twenty years as a three-fourth of the fabulous Soundcheck quartet, and their telepathic communication is absolutely phenomenal, which enables them to achieve a maximal result from the difficult saxophone trio setting. As usual with Kocinski’s music, it is very expressive and stimulating, always telling a story, which of course can be freely interpreted by every listener. Although melody based, the music offers advanced freely improvised passages, with Kocinski displaying his excellent technique and imagination, which never ceases to amaze. Despite the fact that these musical “stories” are relatively short, they are deeply absorbing and offer a first class musical experience from start to finish, seamlessly and excitingly performed by the trio. It is plainly obvious that Kocinski is a mature, fully developed Artist, who needs to prove nothing anymore, and can concentrate on what is important rather than build up camouflage. This album is simply a concentrated, wholehearted musical delivery. Overall, this is a beautiful, deeply moving Jazz album, elegant in its minimalism and full of touching, lyrical melodies. Hopefully we won’t be exposed to such extended period of silence until the next album by Kocinski comes around, and in the meantime we can enjoy this little gem of an album to the max.

Updated: 06/01/2023Posted: 06/01/2023

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LUKASZ KORYBALSKI ~ CMM ALLEGRO 034 (Barcode: 5901157049346) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Lukasz KorybalskiFind albums by this artist, known primarily for his work as composer of cinematic music. This album presents the music Korybalski wrote for the film "Cale Mnostwo Milosci" (hence CMM), performed by a quintet which features the leader on trumpet and also includes saxophonist Borys JanczarskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist; a most formidable team. Saxophone icon Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist guest on one tune each. The album presents six original compositions, all by Korybalski. The music is absolutely stunning from start to finish, typical melancholic Polish Jazz very closely reminiscent of early cinematic music by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, with the same melodic hooks one just can´t stop humming after the music is over. The similarity is so close, that if I didn´t know what album is playing, I´d suspect that a newly discovered Komeda album is on. This is not only reflected by the music, the melodic approach and the harmonic progressions, but also by the way the quintet performs the music, which has a tinge of wonderful "out fashioned" nostalgia to it. Even the one relatively "free" composition on the album is spiritually almost identical to Komeda´s famous composition "Astigmatic". The instrumental performances are all top notch. Korybalski displays some Miles Davis modal influences, all being in the most elegant form, Janczarski has a warm and smooth tone and Tokaj, one of Poland´s best pianists, sadly relatively rarely heard on albums, is a dream. The superb rhythm section cements the lineup with amicable support for the soloists and wonderful drive. Albums like this one are a persuasive proof that contemporary melodic mainstream can be intelligent, creative, fascinating and aesthetically fulfilling. It simply has something that sets it apart from thousands of other mainstream albums, firmly standing in a class of its own. It also shows why European Jazz left the American Jazz in a fifty years slumber. Overall this is one of the best Polish Jazz albums that I have had the pleasure to listen to in many years. It is perfect in every way, it bridges the tradition with contemporary ideas, it pays tribute to its cultural background and sources; in short it is it! Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 09/04/2017Posted: 09/04/2017

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MARTA KROL ~ THE FIRST LOOK ŚTM 05 (Barcode: 5908248979056) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2013 This is the debut solo album by Polish vocalist Marta KrolFind albums by this artist, a beautiful Silesian Princess whose looks turn men into stone on sight ;) On the album she presents ten Jazz and Pop standards, dressed up in excellent new arrangements, by keyboardist / arranger Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist, who also plays some additional keyboards on the album. She is accompanied by a wonderful quartet of Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonist Dawid GlowczewskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. Krol has a delightfully warm voice, which she uses most effectively and with a natural charm and sex-appeal. Her musical education is immediately apparent, as she stays in tune at all times, even during the tricky passages and obviously keeps well in-synch with her band. The accompaniment is excellent, with many interesting solo spots by Glowczewski, beautiful piano and Fender Rhodes parts by Tomaszewski and solid and sympathetic support from the rhythm section with virtuosic, but kept in low profile bass parts by Swies, who is consistently perfect every time he appears on record and earns a well deserved position among the best contemporary Polish bassists. However, in spite of the Jazzy arrangements and instrumental passages, this album is only marginally Jazzy per se. Krol lacks the Jazz sensitivities and fundamental improvisational approach, singing mostly "straight forward". That does not mean she is doing anything wrong, but if the purpose of this album was to present her as a Jazz singer, it fails to do so. Nevertheless it is a very pleasant and well done piece of music, which deserves all praise, especially in view of the fact that it is her debut effort. Of course there is the usual problem of Polish vocalists stubbornly trying to sing in English, which is an insurmountable barrier, which simply keeps reappearing on almost all vocal albums recorded in the country. It´s not that Krol´s pronunciation and accent are terribly wrong; in fact they are not too bad at all, but her struggle to sound "right" takes away her attention from the music, as always. My advice to the lovely young lady would be perhaps to try and find out her unique own style, which would amalgamate Soul, Pop, Blues and just a dash of Jazz, and which would serve her vocal talents to the max. And of course perhaps a bit more risk-taking and ambitious material, original if possible and preferably in Polish – with such a formula she is destined to reach places. But than again, who am I, an old fart, to give advice to lovely young ladies singing the Blues? Overall this is an impressive debut, which holds many promises for those with patience to wait for the lady´s future endeavors. I certainly intend to do so.

Updated: 23/03/2024Posted:

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JERZY MALEK ~ FOREVELLE KAYAX 103 (Barcode: 5907678818645) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the seventh album as leader by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with keyboardist Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist, guitarist Krzysztof LochowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Maciej KadzielaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. Together they perform seven original compositions, all by Malek. The music is typical melodic mainstream Jazz, full of distinctive Polish Jazz characteristics, like melancholic ballads, Slavic folkloristic harmonies and the overall atmosphere of poignancy, even on the up-tempo numbers. All the seven originals are solid compositions, elegant, well structured and aesthetically pleasing, especially so the ballads, which seem to be Malek´s forte. The execution is also top notch, with evident class and talent displayed by the musicians involved. Malek is an excellent trumpeter, with steady clear tone and brilliant phrasing, and his playing is a great example of the classic approach to Jazz trumpet, which is sadly not very appreciated these days. Kisiel plays beautiful piano lines both on the acoustic and electric instruments, contributing several nice solos and supporting the leader amicably. Lochowicz is a mystery as I could only hear him on one tune and there he was so back in the mix that he was totally lost. Swies, a veteran and brilliant bassist, is one of the top Polish players and every recording featuring his talents is already ahead just by his presence. Koryzno plays also very well, supporting the steady rhythmic patterns with confidence and skill, staying respectfully in the background. Overall this is a classic mainstream album, which features superb tunes and excellent execution, which should make every Jazz connoisseur in the world happy. There is no innovation or groundbreaking here, but not every Jazz album has to be about these elements. Playing solid, excellent mainstream Jazz like the one here is still Art.

Updated: 19/11/2016Posted: 19/11/2016

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MALGORZATA MALISZCZAK ~ ZLOTE MYSLI KOBIETY POLSKIE RADIO 1954 (Barcode: 5907812249540) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is a wonderful album, which presents twelve original compositions by Polish pianist / composer Malgorzata MaliszczakFind albums by this artist, based on poems (by prominent Polish poetesses and poets), which present the feminine "point of view". The beautiful texts and superb music go hand in hand, creating a gorgeous set of songs, carefully arranged and Jazzed up, performed by four vocalists: Lola SzafranFind albums by this artist, Mietek SzczesniakFind albums by this artist, Beata PrzybytekFind albums by this artist and Agnieszka MaliFind albums by this artist. The vocalists are supported by a great team of instrumentalist, including many of the top Polish Jazz players, like the great pianist Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist, drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist and many others. Kudos to Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist for producing this gem! The album firmly continues the Polish Jazz & Poetry tradition, which goes back to the 1960s and always has been one of the most successful expressions of the local Culture. It is good to see that it has not been abandoned so far, even though the contemporary music scene makes every effort to annihilate every sign of Culture itself. Of course the fact that these poems were written in the Polish language limits the potential audience, I´m pretty sure that even non-Polish speakers should be able to enjoy this album in full. Personally I find Beata Przybytek to be the most striking vocalist on this album, but all four artists make a grand job, including the veteran Szafran, who seems to be still in great form. The instrumental work is perfectly suiting the lyrical atmosphere, with subtle soloing and attentive accompaniment. This album simply says "elegance and grace" minute after minute, and when it is eventually over, one longs for more. Overall this is a splendid effort and everybody who contributed to its creating deserves to be wholeheartedly thanked and congratulated. One can only hope that it will be heard by as many people as possible, who can truly appreciate it.

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

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ANIA MICHALOWSKA ~ BACK TO THE TREES NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter Ania MichalowskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a core trio featuring keyboardist / arranger Michal IwanekFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. Several additional musicians play on selected tracks. The album presents eight tracks, all of which are original compositions by Michalowska (one co-composed with Iwanek) and feature her own lyrics on two songs and lyrics written by others on the rest of the songs. Only the title song features English lyrics. Michalowska’s debut album from 2017 “Snow PejzazeFind albums with this title” was very impressive and I was eagerly waiting for a follow up, which arrives seven years later. I am happy to say that the sophomore effort is definitely worth the wait. The main difference between the two is the fact that this time all the music is her own, expanding the scope of her achievements not only as a vocalist but also as a composer. The album offers an impressive collection of beautiful songs, with literally no exception, all exquisitely executed both vocally and instrumentally. The arrangements maintain a delicate balance between the vocal parts and the instrumental accompaniment, which work harmoniously together, offering a modern sound, full of skillful usage of background vocals and acoustic and electric keyboards. Michalowska has a very idiosyncratic voice, which she uses intelligently and skillfully, applying modulation, moving up and down the scale and most importantly being expressive and emotional, which adds an elegant energy to the lyrical character, the album is soaked in. The songwriting is also exemplary, offering clearly define aesthetics and perfect bland of Jazzy accents with soulful melodic vistas. The album also makes a clever use of guest musicians, who add outstanding gems on some of the tracks, like the hair-raising viola solo by Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist or trombone solo by Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist. Overall, this is a beautiful, heart-grabbing album, full of outstanding vocals and excellent instrumental parts, which is a delight from start to finish. Michalowska managed to create a very personal piece of music, which offers universal elements of elegant beauty and charm. Although on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, this music should delight Jazz listeners as much as music lovers who have no Jazz inclinations at all. Hats off, my Lady, you came back with a bang!

Updated: 11/03/2024Posted: 11/03/2024

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MINIM ~ EARTH KOLD (Barcode: 7427137119598) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish Jazz quartet MinimFind albums by this artist (previously named Minim ExperimentFind albums by this artist) comprising of guitarist / composer Kuba WojcikFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Albert KarchFind albums by this artist and featuring the renowned experimental Tuvan singer Sainkho NamtchylakFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, five of which were composed by Wojcik, two were improvised, one was co-composed by Wojcik and Piotrowicz and one was composed by Karch. Namtchylak added some improvised lyrics. The music is absolutely unique, to some extent continuing the ideas put forth on the debut, but exploring many new dimensions obviously inspired by the strong personality of Namtchylak and her vast experience. The result is an absolutely innovative amalgam of cross-genre music making, encompassing such diverse explorations as electronics, World Music, Avant-Garde, Jazz, Rock and a pleiad of other named and unnamed genres and sub-genres, all intermixed into a kaleidoscope of sounds, which is irresistibly beautiful. There is no doubt that the meeting between Minim and Namtchylak creates a result that is greater than just a sum of its ingredients. Namtchylak´s extended discography created in the last thirty years includes dozens of albums, but this recording definitely belongs to the very best of her outings. The wonderful fact is that she is carefully avoiding dominating the proceedings here despite her repute, allowing full freedom to the "youngsters" to state their ideas and by herself contributing only when appropriate. Minim present the individual talents of its members on this album, with beautifully lyrical piano parts by Piotrowicz, brilliant bass parts by Swies who turns out to be ready to step beyond the mainstream with Mastery and incredible feel, unusual and innovating guitar parts and superb compositional skills by Wojcik and highly imaginative drumming by Karch, who turns out to be one of the leading Polish young generation stick men; in short these guys are definitely worth being followed. This album is certainly one of the most interesting recordings released on the Polish scene in 2020, which suffered, as did the entire world, from the pandemic, which resulted in almost completely silencing many of the creative forces this year. As such, it offers hope and anticipation for great things to come in the future for all uncompromising, searching and open-minded Artistic minds. Music knows no borders and this album attest to this fact more convincingly that most other efforts, fully deserving our praise and gratitude. Hats off Lady and Gentlemen!

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

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MINIM ~ MANIFESTO KOLD 0006 (Barcode: 606707738859) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2021 This is the third album by Polish Jazz ensemble MinimFind albums by this artist led by guitarist / composer Kuba WojcikFind albums by this artist and the second release featuring renown Tuvan vocalist Sainkho NamtchylakFind albums by this artist. Minim on this recording includes keyboardist Grzegorz TarwidFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Albert KarchFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live at the Warsaw club SPATIF and presents seven original compositions, five by Wojcik, one by Namtchylak and one co-composed by the two. The album is in fact a companion to the previously released studio album “EarthFind albums with this title”, both recorded in 2019, based on the same material. As already stated in my review of the a.m. studio album, this music is absolutely original and incomparable with anything created on the Polish Jazz scene or even worldwide scene for that matter. Obviously strongly under the spell of the Tuvan throat singing, which here appears as virtuosic improvised vocalese, the entire atmosphere of Avant-Garde Jazz-World Fusion manages to spellbind the listener from the very first note and maintain the suspenseful tension to the very last. Of course these are some of the best Polish Jazz musicians out there, so their individual performances come as no surprise, but the obvious bond they manage to create with the vocalist, who comes from a very different cultural background, speaks volumes about the open-mindedness they are blessed with and no less importantly the deep respect of dissimilar Cultures. As usual in such circumstances, it is fascinating to compare the studio and live versions of the same material as well as the interaction between the musicians in these two environments. Of course in this case one can be hardly surprised how different the two results can be, both able perfectly to preserve the esthetic validity of the music. Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist, who played on the studio album, and Tarwid, are two very different keyboardists, which of course has an impact on the differences found between these two recordings, which again emphasizes the amazing amount of talent among the new generation of Polish Jazz musicians. Overall, this is a perfect companion to the studio album and the two complete each other splendidly. The music is fascinating and often mindboggling, but despite the artistic freedom remain perfectly coherent. I can only repeat my recommendation to grab a copy of this album ASAP, and as usual thank the musicians for sharing their talents with us.

Updated: 09/11/2021Posted: 09/11/2021

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MYRCZEK & SCHMIDT QUINTET ~ MLYNARSKI. BYNAJMNIEJ. SJ 080 (Barcode: 5905489720904) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is an album by a Polish Jazz quintet co-led by vocalist Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. French percussionist Mino CineluFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks and the AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Marek MosFind albums by this artist, performs the strings arrangements. The album presents nine tracks, composed by various Polish composers and arranged by Herdzin (six tracks), Sabina MeckFind albums by this artist (two tracks) and Joanna SzymalaFind albums by this artist (one track), all with the lyrics by Wojciech MlynarskiFind albums by this artist, a distinguished Polish lyricist, who contributed lyrics to numerous classic Polish songs, whose talent this album celebrates by presenting them in a Jazzy framework. The music is all absolutely perfectly suited to the purpose, with superb arrangements that go hand in hand with these mostly highly lyrical / romantic songs, emphasizing their beauty. Myrczek, often called “the Polish Frank Sinatra” which is not entirely without a basis, is absolutely ideal for the job. Schmidt ornaments the songs by his short, concise but again perfectly crafted soli, and the rest of the participants are all Masters of their trade, and as usual do all in their power to make everything work as planned. Encrusted with the delicate string arrangements, this music is a true “whole package” in every sense. Of course I can only pity all my friends, who are not Polish language speakers, who are obviously destined to miss the pleasure of enjoying these sophisticated, intelligent and masterly woven lyrics by Mlynarski, but on the other hand my better half, whose knowledge of the Polish language is limited to “pierogi” and “prosze Pani”, loves this album and anything else by Myrczek, she just ignores the lyrics and enjoys the velvety voice, so here you are. This honestly is a universal piece of music. Overall, this is a beautiful vocal Jazz album, which borders on “Jazz & Poetry” due to Mlynarski’s sublime lyrics, with superb instrumental parts performed by some of the best Polish Jazz players, masterfully arranged and altogether delightful. What a joy!

Updated: 07/02/2025Posted: 07/02/2025

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JACEK NAMYSLOWSKI ~ MODERATE HASTE BKQ 004 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2015 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz trombonist / composer Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, which comes rather late in his career as he has been active on the local scene for quite a while. He is a son of the legendary Polish Jazz figure saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, and since several years has been a member of his father´s ensemble, as well as several other projects. The album was recorded in a classic quintet lineup with saxophonist Lukasz PoprawskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Lukasz OjdanaFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. It presents seven original compositions, all by the leader (although the album´s packaging says nothing about this, I assume it is so). The album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia, engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with spectacular sonic quality. The music is kept well within the mainstream Jazz milieu, which means solid melodic themes expanded to make room for solos by the ensemble members, with relatively steady rhythmic approach and no great surprises. The compositions are all well rounded and based on fine melodic themes, mostly lyrical and somewhat melancholic. This is definitely well crafted music, intelligent and subtle, which does not try to create flashy impressions but asks for attentive listening. In some respects it is somewhat similar to the music which Zbigniew Namyslowski wrote in the early days of his career, but does not venture into folkloristic influences, staying firmly within the well threaded Jazz path. The individual performances are all quite excellent, as these are first-class experienced and gifted musicians. Namyslowski plays beautifully and demonstrates a personal voice, which is not easy to achieve for such a difficult instrument as the trombone. Poprawski plays several fiery solos; the young Ojdana demonstrates his exceptional ability once again, turning every little solo of his into an instant gem. The rhythm section does a perfect job driving the music forward steadily and smoothly with flair and obvious sensitivity. Overall this is pleasant, well rounded mainstream Jazz album, with good music and excellent performances, which should make every Jazz fan happy. People looking for more adventurous outings might find this music somewhat "outdated", but honestly every candid and well played Jazz album has its place and its audience. Definitely worth investigating!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ NICE & EASY ITM 14125 (Barcode: 4250079711253) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This superb album by Polish saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist was recorded with a quintet comprising of young musicians including his son trombonist Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. It presents ten new original compositions by Namyslowski. It was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist – a guarantee of sonic fidelity. At the time of the recording Namyslowski was almost seventy years old, being one of the few remaining last Mohicans of the first post-WWII Polish Jazz generation still active on the local scene. There is absolutely no evidence on this recording of Namyslowski´s age, surely not in the negative sense. He seems to be completely confident both as a composer and a performer and stands hip to hip with the "youngsters" not giving up an inch. It is hard to believe that the same person took part in the legendary 2nd Sopot Jazz Festival in 1957 and was a member of the Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist quintet that recorded "AstigmaticFind albums with this title" in 1965, and yet these are just a few of Namyslowski´s amazing career milestones. Namyslowski´s compositions were always his forte, as he manages consistently to present a completely unique musical signature, which includes many different characteristics, like the odd meters he so often uses or the unexpected tempo changes, all those on top of beautifully structured melodies, which are simply magnificent. Therefore the musicians playing with him are supplied with a perfect vehicle for their respective solos. Although the music conceptually belongs to mainstream Jazz, it always comes with a twist which makes it anything but predictable or simplistic. On the contrary these tunes take a while to get used to and have a wonderful quality of growing on the listener with every listening session. The quintet performs like a dream, obviously inspired and directed by the Master. These young and extremely talented musicians keep the splendid tradition of the Polish Jazz alive and kicking, this time also learning from the best. Namyslowski continues his tradition to lead groups comprising of young musicians, which keep him invigorated and at the same time serve as a hothouse growing generation after generation of new players. The album was released on the German ITM label and the album´s booklet includes liner notes by the excellent Jazz critic Bert Noglik, who is familiar with Namyslowski´s music since many years. All in all this is a superb modern Jazz album, which should keep happy even the sternest Jazz connoisseurs, and of course deserves a honorable place in any serious Jazz collection alongside the earlier albums by this great Artists. A must!

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NOWICKI / SWIES / FRANKIEWICZ ~ OVERTONES AUDIO CAVE 2021/003 (Barcode: 5908298549230) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz trio comprising of saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, five by Nowicki, three by Swies and one by Frankiewicz. Following the debut recorded and released almost a decade ago, this release offers a much more coherent and mature piece of music, based on excellent compositions and outstanding performances by the trio members. The music is mostly contemplative and develops slowly, but is wonderfully expressive and offers a most satisfying listening experience, which is a vast improvement in comparison to the earlier effort. Although the saxophone trio is an extremely difficult vehicle to steer, this trio works just perfectly, offering a perfect balance between the three musicians. It is nothing like a lead instrument supported by a rhythm section, but from the very onset it becomes completely clear that they work in unison and shoulder to shoulder. As a result, the saxophone, bass and drums are fully present for the entire duration, recorded on the same level and offer an organic trio sound, which is very rarely achieved by other similar outfits. It is usually expected from the saxophone to set the tone, but it is impossible to decide who is leading the trio at any given moment, while the music lasts. Swies paves the path with his deep and rounded pulsations and his performances here are absolutely stunning. Frankiewicz does not stay behind, driving the music lice a hurricane during the crescendo moments and pushing it gently during the delicate passages. Nowicki states the melodies gently and improvises with conviction and obvious Masterly touch. Overall this is a great album from start to finish, with no dull moments in between, superbly played by three Masters of the trade, who push their abilities to the max. The music manages to create a unique sonic climate, and the no bullshit playing is convincing and strikes right where it is most effective. This is Polish / European Jazz at its best - Kudos my friends! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 09/04/2021Posted: 09/04/2021

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NOWICKI / SWIES / FRANKIEWICZ TRIO ~ PATHFINDER MULTIKULTI 005 (Barcode: 5907529223468) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz trio comprising of saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. There are nine tracks on the album, eight of which are original compositions (four by Nowicki and two each by Swies and Frankiewicz) and one is the trio´s interpretation of a RadioheadFind albums by this artist song. The album was recorded in the legendary Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, the studio owner, a guarantee of superb sonic quality. These three talented young musicians have all quite impressive musical achievements behind them and therefore it is not surprising that they sound remarkably mature as performers. Stylistically, however, they seem to be still somewhat undecided as to the degree of freedom they want to incorporate into their music, which remains mainstream oriented on this recording. The saxophone trio is one of the most difficult Jazz formats and demands a lot of discipline in order to present a cohesive whole and this trio definitely stands up to the challenge with flying colors. Naturally saxophone trios tend to put the focus of the listener´s attention on the saxophone player and are less about interplay and cooperation than say piano trios. On this recording there are plenty of bass and drums spots, showcasing the individual talents of the participants, but in most cases it is the sax up front supported by the rhythm section. The music, although quite appropriate for the format, is somewhat lacking in the melody department. Mainstream Jazz is usually based on strong melody lines, which last at least as long as the tune is being performed. The melodic content here is somewhat abstract and difficult to follow, which works fine for a free form setting, but in a mainstream is contra productive. It seems as if the trio members intended to play a much looser set, but were reluctant to "cross the line". However, all things considered, this is still a very strong debut with great performances and a lot of interesting moments, which should make the trio members proud of their work. Definitely worth investigating!

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DARIUSZ PETERA ~ FLASHOVER REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2019/4 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dariusz PeteraFind albums by this artist recorded in a sextet setting with some of the top Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Petra. The music was recorded at the excellent RecPublica Studios and offers a superb sound quality. It also offers a highly aesthetic packaging. The music is a wonderful example of contemporary Polish / European Jazz, which combines melodic themes with open structures, which enable the music to spread freely in many different directions not being limited by traditional Jazz pre-conceptions, resulting in many unexpected manifestations of the compositional palette. Petera certainly arises as a new talent on the local Jazz scene and the fact that the last time he took part in recording an album happened six years ago is very intriguing. But the long wait was certainly worthwhile, as the compositions on this album are all perfectly rounded and coherent, mature and most importantly present unique personal stylistic idiosyncrasies, characterized by the dominant role of the rhythmic pulse, which stands on the same level as the melodic and harmonic contents. The performances are all absolutely stellar, which of course is hardly surprising. Kocinski, Swies and Szmanda, who together with Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist at the piano played together for many years as the sublime SoundcheckFind albums by this artist quartet, one of my favorite Polish Jazz ensembles which sadly dropped off the horizon, are of course Masters of the trade. Lenczowski, who made a spectacular career with the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist and recorded superb solo albums, is a Superstar. And finally Miszk, who is the most in demand young generation upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeter. In short Petera might have as well called this ensemble All Stars. Of course Petera also plays excellently, but respectfully shares the spotlight more or less evenly with the rest of the sextet members. Overall this album is undoubtedly a notable event on the Polish Jazz scene, especially in view of the incredibly high competition that scene generates. It is also a splendid debut effort, which hopefully will be followed by many similar achievements of the same significance and Artistic scale. Well done indeed!

Updated: 30/05/2019Posted: 30/05/2019

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DARIUSZ PETERA ~ WLADZA ALGORYTMOW AUDIO CAVE 2023/005 (Barcode: 5908298549582) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dariusz PeteraFind albums by this artist, recorded with the same sextet lineup that appears on the debut album “FlashoverFind albums with this title”, with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. Brothers Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist on violin and Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist on synthesizer appear as guests. The album presents seven tracks, which are said to be mostly improvised during the recording sessions, with three tracks partly based on pre-composed themes by Petera. The album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan Smoczynski, with the usual splendid sonic result. The music is a powerful display of group improvisation, brilliantly executed by these highly talented musicians. The sound of the sextet (and at times octet) is dense and complex, and despite the fact that the music is improvised, offers a wonderful continuity and coherence. Although large group improvisation is not new in Jazz (what is?), it is relatively quite rare in contemporary Polish Jazz, making this album especially interesting and refreshing. In comparison to Petera’s debut album, recorded four years earlier, this album climbs to a whole different level and is a Milestone in his musical development. The concept of group improvisation is a double-edged sword, in a sense that in some cases the music offers a collection of individual improvised statement by the musicians in a group, not necessarily corresponding to each other, whereas in this case the individual improvisations serve a purpose of creating an ensemble statement, not ignoring individual contributions of course, but rather combining them into a whole new collective amalgam, which this album manages to do remarkably well. Overall, this is an outstanding achievement by Petera and his cohorts, a powerful, beautifully played musical statement, offering unconventional approach and preferring the common musical good over individual statements, not by ignoring them, but by unifying them into a greater whole. This album is quite a surprise, and I love surprises, as we all should. Well done my Friends – respect is due!

Updated: 30/04/2023Posted: 30/04/2023

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LENA PIEKNIEWSKA / SOUNDCHECK ~ KOLYSANKI NA WIECZNY SEN NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This most unusual album presents the music, which is a part of a multi-media show by singer / songwriter Lena PiekniewskaFind albums by this artist, dedicated to the memory of the Polish Jewry, which was annihilated during the Holocaust. Piekniewska is accompanied by the excellent Polish Jazz quartet SoundcheckFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist and violinist / vocalist Maciej FilipczukFind albums by this artist. The album includes fourteen tracks, some including vocals and other being instrumental only. Piekniewska wrote all the lyrics (in Polish, and those were later translated into Hebrew) except in two cases, where traditional lyrics or a biblical text are utilized. The music is a mixture of traditional melodies and new compositions by Piekniewska, Kocinski and Dys. As far as Soundcheck are concerned, this is their fifth album. This is neither the place nor the time to discuss the actual concept behind this album. The incredible renaissance that Jewish Culture enjoys in Poland in the last two decades is a very complex and not entirely clear matter. Practically there are almost no Jews living in Poland any more and therefore the entire resurgence of interest in Jews and their Culture is inexplicable rationally but in many respects quite wonderful. Sadly it is accompanied by a parallel growth of Polish Nationalism and revolting anti-Semitism. Musically the album presents a mixture of Jewish (mostly Klezmer) music and Jazz, which is not a new concept and has been explored many times before. Luckily for her, Piekniewska enlisted one of the best Polish Jazz ensembles to stand by her side, which ensures at least that the music is performed formidably. Kocinski, who plays mostly the traditional Jewish clarinet, plays wonderfully and so do all three other members of Soundcheck. The rhythm section has a really tough job, as they can´t apply the usual Jazz formats here, but they overcome the challenge with flying colors. The pianist is wonderfully sensitive and deeply lyrical, playing equally well the traditional and the Jazzy parts. Overall the instrumental part of this album works well, with the music providing the intended tonal reference to the subject matter, being mostly sentimental, melancholic and contemplative. The music is mostly kept low key, which is exactly what the concept needs. As far as the vocal parts are concerned, I´m afraid that I find them somewhat misguided. The biggest problem for me is the usage of the Hebrew lyrics. Firstly Hebrew was not the language spoken by Polish Jews before the Holocaust, it was Yiddish. Therefore perhaps it would have been better to translate the Polish lyrics into Yiddish and sing them in that language? On the other hand if these memories are by descendants of the victims, Hebrew makes sense in a way. Secondly, the same way I severely criticize Polish vocalist when they sing in English, the same criticism applies here; Piekniewska obviously is not a native Hebrew speaker and her accent and pronunciation are simply inacceptable (at least to people who speak Hebrew). Perhaps a better idea would have been to invite an Israeli singer and record this album in a duet setting with Piekniewska singing in Polish and the other singer in Hebrew. In a way I´m sorry I wasn´t there to suggest this solution, but it probably was meant to be this way. That said, I must emphasize that Piekniewska does an excellent job as a vocalist, with a delicate, dramatic and clear voice and an obvious sensitivity. All in all her concept certainly works out as intended, in spite of the minor weaknesses and is a moving and honest tribute to the memory of those no longer with us. As someone, who lost almost all of his ancestors in the Holocaust, this album certainly gets my full blessing. People who are interested in Jewish heritage and unusual musical ventures should find this album fascinating!

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KATARZYNA PIETRZKO ~ EPHEMERAL PLEASURES NOT ON LABEL 02 (Barcode: 5907779691222) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish pianist / composer Katarzyna PietrzkoFind albums by this artist recorded again in a classic piano trio setting, this time with veteran bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and young drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten pieces, four composed by Pietrzko, one by Swies and five are not credited and are assumably improvised by the trio. The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio. The names of the rhythm section musicians and the name of the recording engineer are not mentioned on the cover art, and the CD is a CD-R, which somewhat spoil the fun. Pietrzko debuted a couple of years earlier with an excellent album, which introduced her as a new player on the local scene and a promising composer and which was warmly received. The decisive strength of the debut was the strength of the compositions rather than the actual piano playing ability. This sophomore effort moves from the modern mainstream Jazz environment into a much more open territory. The five compositions are still melody based, but the melodic content is less emphasized and the improvisations take over. The five improvised "Episodes" are all naturally dedicated to free expression. As a result the album is overtly less melodic, and as such loses much of the charm of the debut, taking the pianist into a much more treacherous territory, undermining the pianist´s capabilities. Pietrzko piano playing did not develop significantly since the debut and is still somewhat limited, which results in the rhythm section de facto taking over the proceedings, especially Swies, who dominates the performances with his excellent, but very strong presence, emphasized by the bass being rather high up in the mix. Overall this is an interesting and ambitious effort, which shows the young pianist exploring new ground and growing, which is commendable. The result is somewhat uneven and less coherent, but Pietrzko is certainly an important new arrival worth being watched.

Updated: 15/08/2020Posted: 15/08/2020

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KAMIL PIOTROWICZ ~ POPULAR MUSIC HEVHETIA 0134 (Barcode: 8588005257916) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist, this time recorded in a sextet setting with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist and Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Piotrowicz. The music is a superb collection of modern Jazz compositions, brilliantly arranged for the sextet, using all the power and interplay possibilities of the relatively large ensemble. The compositions are diverse and quite complex, changing styles and tempi rapidly and displaying an incredible maturity relative to the age of the composer. In spite of the complexity and multilayered structure the compositions are completely coherent and deeply moving emotionally. Stylistically the music moves between contemporary Classical oriented pieces and large ensemble compositions, firmly based on the tradition developed in the late 1950s and 1960s by such Jazz mavericks like George RussellFind albums by this artist and Charles MingusFind albums by this artist. Adorned with typical European harmonies this music reaches peaks rarely heard before. The level of execution of this difficult music is also exceptional. All the participants play amazing solo parts and cooperate brilliantly in the ensemble parts, with the rhythm section firmly holding the intricate musical construction in place. Nothing is taken for granted here and these wonderful musicians keep surprising the listener again and again, with a bag of virtuosic tricks that never ceases to amaze. Most of the individual statements are concise and perfectly suited to the musical setting at the moment of their execution, This album is a giant step forward for Piotrowicz and although his debut album, released a year earlier, showed a lot of potential, nothing prepared the listeners for this masterpiece following up so soon. This is definitely one of the best Polish Jazz albums released in 2016 and a very strong contender for the top of the heap. If Piotrowicz is able to create music of such profound impact today, what will happen next? This is an absolute must for all Polish Jazz connoisseurs around the world and an exquisite example of the fact that Jazz is alive and kicking and progressing and exciting and intensely beautiful! Hats off!

Updated: 28/10/2016Posted: 28/10/2016

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KAMIL PIOTROWICZ ~ PRODUCT PLACEMENT HOWARD 1 (Barcode: 5903420785937) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the third album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist recorded with the same sextet lineup which recorded the previous album a couple of years earlier. Besides Piotrowicz the sextet also includes trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist and Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Piotrowicz, one of which is an epic multipart eighteen and a half minutes long piece and another is a short bonus track closing the album. The music on this album makes a bold step towards Free Jazz and other less constrained musical forms in comparison to the two earlier albums, with the traditional sense of composition almost completely lost in the process. Of course the music has a coherent continuum and sense of direction, but there are almost no melody lines or steady rhythmic passages. As a result the music simply flows propelled by its intrinsic drive and allows the instrumentalists to create the sound on the fly. It is often very difficult to distinguish between the "composed" and the improvised ingredients of this music, not that it really matters, as the end result is what counts, similarly to an attempt to analyze an abstract painting and try to find in it the pre-designed and the spontaneous smears of paint. The album is a stupendous exhibit of ensemble work, without which the entire creation would have simply collapsed on itself. The level of conversation and mutual influence, as displayed by the sextet members, is simply phenomenal. Obviously they are all superb instrumentalists, as is clearly heard all along the way, but this music is all about fusion of individual statements into an amalgam, which is way grander than just a sum of its ingredients. Piotrowicz obviously plays a central role in the entire process and his piano lines and synthesizer parts serve both as the glue and the backbone of the entire musical structure, strangely playing more a role of a conductor rather than a soloist. In spite of the devilish complexity, multi-layered and multi-directional structure, unusual approach and even eerie sound at times, this music is remarkably lucid and comprehensible and as a result accessible. In complete contrast to most Avant-gardish statements of such scope, this album is a true pleasure to listen to, which hopefully will help this music to reach as wide an audience as possible. Overall this is another brilliant album made by young Polish Jazz musicians and another pretender to the title of one of the best albums of 2018. It is also another statement of quality, which puts the Polish Jazz right at the very top of the European level. By now Piotrowicz has entered the "serious" league of contemporary European Jazz Artists, well earned and praiseworthy by any standards. Personally I already can´t wait for the next album. Well done messieurs and hats off high!

Updated: 08/11/2018Posted: 08/11/2018

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KAMIL PIOTROWICZ ~ WEIRD HEAVEN HOWARD 6 (Barcode: 5903689818278) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a sextet setting, almost identical to the sextet which recorded the previous album except for the trumpeter, with trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist and Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, all original compositions by the leader. The music continues faithfully the direction set by the previous album “Product PlacementFind albums with this title”, released four years earlier, moving even further into experimental music, which although composed, includes many elements of Free Improvisation. Piotrowicz manages, despite the obvious complexity, multi-layered structures and weird time signatures, to create music which is listenable and even enjoyable to a relatively wide spectrum of Jazz connoisseurs. The album is an incredible example of ensemble playing, with individual statements, however significant, which are completely lost in the general scale of things, being simply building blocks of the “bigger picture”. It takes musicians of the highest echelon to perform this music and of course the team Piotrowicz assembled is able to escape the challenges without a hitch. It is quite obvious that Piotrowicz consistently emerges as one of young Lions od the Polish Jazz scene, and my enthusiasm about his earlier recordings, both those as a leader and his other projects, was fully justified. Overall, this is a brilliant example of contemporary Polish Jazz at its best, which proves the vibrancy and incredible creative power of the scene, which sadly often remains unrecognized outside the country’s border. This music doesn’t try to be nice or pretty, but takes no prisoners in its power of expression, deserving the attention of those looking for something truly remarkable and challenging.

Updated: 13/09/2023Posted: 11/09/2023

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BEATA PRZYBYTEK ~ TODAY GIRLS DON`T CRY FLID 003 (Barcode: 5908254159718) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Soul Fusion Recorded: 2015 - 2017 Released: 2017 This is the long anticipated fifth album by Polish singer / songwriter Beata PrzybytekFind albums by this artist. It presents twelve original songs composed by Przybytek, nine of which feature English lyrics by Alicja MaciejowskaFind albums by this artist, two feature Polish lyrics by Dariusz DuszaFind albums by this artist and one features Polish lyrics by Grzegorz WasowskiFind albums by this artist. There is also a bonus track (lucky thirteen) written by Polish poet Andrzej PoniedzielskiFind albums by this artist and guitarist / composer Jakub ChmielarskiFind albums by this artist. The recording of the album lasted for almost two and a half years, spans several recording studios and features some of the best Polish Instrumentalist, many of them associated with Polish Jazz. Keyboardist Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist is again in charge of the arrangements and production and other musicians involved include keyboardists Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist and Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, guitarists Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist and the a/m Jakub Chmielarski, bassists Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist, Robert SzewczugaFind albums by this artist and Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist, drummers Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist, Filip MozulFind albums by this artist and Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist, percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Marek PodkowaFind albums by this artist and Mariusz MaczkaFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Sebastian SoldrzynskiFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Beata BednarzFind albums by this artist guests on one track. About five years ago the previous album by Przybytek ("I`m Gonna Rock YouFind albums with this title") landed accidently on my desk and my enthusiastic review expressed my delight and joy experienced while listening to it, heralding her as one of the great hopes of the Polish vocal scene, despite the fact that she was almost completely unknown at the time. After a long wait it is even more delightful to hear that my "discovery" proved to be spot on and Przybytek delivered another masterpiece, not only on the Polish scale, but surely on a world scale as well. There are only a handful of other singer / songwriters active today who are able to write such wonderfully heartfelt songs and deliver them with such passion, conviction and seductive magnetism. Each and every one of these songs is an absolute gem, with no weak moments on the entire album. Although rooted in Jazz, Przybytek made a very conscious and in retrospect astute decision to move towards Soul, Rhythm And Blues and sophisticated Pop, which suit both her warm, sexy voice and obviously also her musical inclinations better than the Jazz idiom she started with. It takes a lot of intuition and self-confidence to make decisions like that, which in Przybytek´s case paved the way for her spectacular success. She truly "found herself" perfectly on this album, which directly projects on its quality, making it as "perfect" musically as albums get. Of course Przybytek´s vocals are more polished than on her earlier recordings, luckily not destroying her natural vocal qualities, which are still convincing and heartbreaking. Although I prefer her singing Polish lyrics (as usual in my case) her delivery of the English lyrics are spotless and completely natural. The instrumental work by all the musicians involved is absolutely stunning, as expected. My personal favorites are the organ parts played by Tomaszewski, who is superb as always, but the overall level of performances is simply extraordinary. This is obviously one of the best Polish albums released in 2017, regardless of what other critics may say. Over the years I have completely lost confidence in the Polish music awards scene, including the "Fryderyki", which have become a complete farce, but if any Polish album deserves the title of album of the year 2017, this is it! Przybytek is the epitome of talent and professionalism, which sadly are not in high esteem any more. Personally I wish to thank you Beata for fulfilling my belief in you, for writing such beautiful songs, for singing them so exquisitely and for making this dark, sad world a better place, even if only for some fifty six minutes and twenty two seconds ;) Go Women!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 24/12/2017

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MACIEJ SIKALA ~ LIVE IN CLUB ZAK SOLITON 762 (Barcode: 5901571097626) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is a live recording by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, captured in a septet setting with trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist Tomasz KlepczynskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist – all of which belong to the commonly accepted top league of the local jazz scene. The album presents six original compositions, all assumed to be by Sikala, as the album´s artwork fails to confirm this. The sound quality is excellent despite the fact that this is a club live recording. The music is all completely mainstream oriented, following the patters set by Bebop and Hard Bop some five or more decades ago. That said, the original compositions are very strong and the performances are all excellent, which means that this music is a real pleasurable listening experience for mainstream Jazz connoisseurs, who after all are the majority of the Jazz crowd. Also the Polish Jazz accents can be heard throughout this music very distinctly, not influential enough to change the character of the music, but appealing enough to make it much more interesting than parallel music performed across the pond. Although Sikala started his Jazz career within the adventurous Yass idiom as a member of MiloscFind albums by this artist and other experimenting ensembles, in time he "returned" to the American influenced mainstream, retaining his wonderful fluency and improvisational power. All the projects he was involved with over the years and numerous recordings he made always represented a high quality of music and musicianship. Overall although the music on this album is quite predictable, it is full of wonderful individual statements by the musicians involved in this project and should keep mainstream Jazz fans vey happy. The original compositions are coherent and well woven and the septet playing is nothing short of perfection in this specific musical scenery.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted: 12/06/2018

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SOUNDCHECK ~ MARTIN LUTHER: SUITE FOR JAZZ QUARTET AUDIO CAVE 2019/012 (Barcode: 5905669566865) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2019 This is the fifth (although by my count the sixth) album by the excellent Polish Jazz quartet SoundcheckFind albums by this artist led by saxophonist / composer Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist with pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. It presents a six-part suite dedicated to the great reformist Martin LutherFind albums by this artist and one additional bonus tracks, all composed by the leader. The album marks the return to "active duty" by the quartet, which was almost completely absent from the scene in the last seven years of so, with their last recordings dated 2012 (including also Kocinski´s debut solo album recorded and released that same year). Since their formation in 2002 and the release of their debut album on 2005, Soundcheck experienced a meteoric rise to stardom, reaching the status of one of the very best young Polish / European Jazz ensembles, and therefore their disappearance from the scene was as mysterious as it was heartrending. I was glad to see Kocinski´s name popping up on two Polish Jazz albums recorded in 2018, and this album under the quartet´s moniker is a happy occasion, although the music was recorded back in 2015 and was a part of Kocinski´s Ph.D. thesis rather than a planned full fledged release. In the liner notes Kocinski talks about his emotional and intellectual involvement with Luther´s ideas and teachings, both those about the religious and the social ideology behind the reformation. Musically the album is noticeably more reflective and reserved that the quartet´s earlier work, full of lyrical melodic themes, which are slowly developed by the quartet. It is also more constrained and allows less free improvisation, mostly staying on a firm melodic ground. The individual performances by the quartet members, although as brilliant as always, are less extrovert and flashy, displaying mostly concentration and elegance. Make no mistake, these are some of Polish Jazz best players today, but this recording in definitely not intended to show off and speaks strongly to true connoisseurs rather than Jazz adventurers. Personally I love this music, but considering the rapid progress and the incredible level of contemporary Polish Jazz scene, its density, competitiveness and incredible overflow of superb recordings, this album could be endangered by the tendency to be overlooked. Seven years in such circumstances could be significant and Jazz "critics" / listeners unfamiliar with the quartet´s legacy and Artistic scope could probably miss the point, as it happens way too often. Hopefully that will not happen in this case. Glad to see you back, hoping for a real new album to be recorded and released ASAP and wishing you all the best, as always. What a great soundcheck this is ;)

Updated: 07/11/2019Posted: 07/11/2019

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SOUNDCHECK ~ SOUNDCHECK JAZZ FORUM 041 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz quartet SoundcheckFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. It includes seven original compositions, four of which are by the saxophonist, two by the drummer and one by the bassist. In retrospect this is definitely one of the strongest and most impressive debuts released on the Polish Jazz scene in the first decade of the 21st Century. Both the level of personal and collective ability by these young musicians and the incredible compositions are simply outstanding. Of course the quartet members gained already some experience playing with various Polish Jazz ensembles earlier on, but their combined talents and abilities as reflected by this album are a classic example of a unit which is much more than a sum of its parts. But the real revelation is of course the music, which sounds incredibly mature and profound, certainly much more so than what one might expect from such young musicians. It is full of the typical Polish Jazz melancholy and lyricism, which is emphasized here to the max, even in the up-tempo pieces. There is also a great deal of dynamics, with compositions starting off as relaxed and dreamy and gradually getting more intensive, ending up in a crescendo. There are also traces of folkloristic influences, both melodic and rhythmic, such as Jewish and Oriental music as well as contemporary Classical motifs. Kocinski, who is the quartet´s principal composer, soloist and driving force, performs splendidly on all counts. His playing is simply perfect throughout and never stops to please aesthetically and challenge intellectually. His soprano saxophone is especially impressive and most effective, often sounding as if trying to charm a snake. The pianist, who is obviously an excellent musician, keeps a low profile soloing sparingly, which is commendable as modesty is a very rare quality nowadays. The rhythm section is solid as a rock on one hand and forward thinking on the other. Swies is one of my favorite young Polish Jazz bass players and his performances here as first class. The problem with debut albums like this one is that they are incredibly difficult to follow with something, which fulfills the promise made here. Considering the strength of their output here it seems they´ll be able to deliver after all. This album easily enters to pantheon of recordings, which represent everything that is good about Polish Jazz and should not be missed by any true Polish Jazz connoisseur!

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SOUNDCHECK ~ SOUNDCHECK II BCD 15 (Barcode: 5906881885147) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz quartet SoundcheckFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. It includes ten original compositions, six of which are by the saxophonist, one by the drummer and three are co-credited to the quartet. Following up the exceptional debut album was no easy task, but the quartet managed to overcome the famous "second album crisis" with flying colors. This album again presents a series of excellent compositions, which are superbly executed, being much more thought-out, with the three tracks (intro-interlude-outro) enclosing the entire musical content under a unified concept. The music is intended to represent the quartet´s search for the meaning of their music, as much as meaning of life. It also reflects their musical inspirations and discloses their influences, like the music of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, to whom the longest track on the album is dedicated. Several changes between this album and the debut are evident, all being a verification of the quartet´s rapid development and refining process, all of them for good. The music is definitely more relaxed, with a lot of space and less strict melodic dependency, showing a lot of freedom and allowing much more expanded improvisations. The quartet becomes also more unified, as far as interplay and group performances are concerned. Dys is heard soloing much more often than on the debut album and the rhythm section is much more part of the entire music-making process rather than mostly providing just the rhythmic support. Swies, as usual plays some amazing bass lines. The music is again the focal point with a series of brilliant compositions, which simply scream "Polish Jazz" time after time, emphasizing the finest qualities of it. Sophistication, lyricism and this time even almost Scandinavian composure. There is less World Music influence this time, but perhaps the quartet will return to that path again in the future. Overall this is another triumphant achievement for the quartet and for young Polish Jazz, which is alive and kicking like never before. Every true lover of Jazz on this planet will find this music as much enjoyable as it is fascinating. Great stuff!

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SOUNDCHECK ~ SOUNDCHECK III - DRUGLUM BCD 24 (Barcode: 5906881885246) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is the third album by Polish Jazz quartet SoundcheckFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. It includes eleven original compositions, eight of which are by the saxophonist and three by the drummer. For the third consecutive time Soundcheck manages to create an excellent piece of modern Jazz full of sophistication and lyrical power, which has little competition both on the local Polish scene and even worldwide. This is a perfect amalgam of melodic themes with artistic freedom and virtuosic abilities, which simply makes the quartet to stand out as one of the most interesting Polish Jazz ensembles in the first decade of the 21st Century. Stylistically this album continues the path the quartet travelled on during their two previous albums. The same elements of melodic modern Jazz, which focuses on the compositions rather than on spontaneously improvised themes, are all here. The strength of the compositions steadily grows, with Kocinski clearly achieving a status of an important Jazz composer in view of his collected works on the three albums the quartet released so far. A watchful listener will also notice the personal development of the quartet members as Jazz improvisers. Although Kocinski fronts the quartet unequivocally, the contributions by all three remaining quartet members are an absolutely integral part of the full sound of the group and the effect it entails on the listener. Listening to the albums quickly becomes one of those rare moments, when the listener wishes for it to go on forever. Tune after tune, instant after instant the music flows engulfing the mind totally, leaving the listener completely defenseless. Albums, which are able to achieve such effect, are very rare indeed. It´s also worth to note that the music more and more often flows beyond the Jazz conventions into contemporary Classical music, with the artificial barriers between genres melting away completely. This album should be heard by every Jazz connoisseur as an example of what modern Jazz should sound like, at its most refined form. The perfect balance between aesthetic beauty and intellectual excellence is what this music stands for. Brilliant!

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SOUNDCHECK / AGA KIEPUSZEWSKA ~ SOUNDCHECK IV – MARYSIA – WIERSZE Z KAZACHSTANU BCD 27 (Barcode: 5906881885277) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz quartet SoundcheckFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. It includes eleven original compositions, all of which were composed by Kocinski to the poems written by Maria KocinskaFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Aga KiepuszewskaFind albums by this artist sings the lyrics and recites parts of the poems, except for one case where the vocals are performed by child Antosia KocinskaFind albums by this artist. Several of the pieces also feature string quartet arrangements performed by the Dell`Arte String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The album belongs to the Jazz & Poetry genre, which is utilized often in Polish Jazz, certainly more so than in any other country. However, this time the lyrics are not by a well-known Polish poet, but by the Aunt of Soundcheck saxophonist Maciej Kocinski. These beautiful poems were written between 1942 and 1946 in Kazakhstan, where she and her family were exiled by the Soviet authorities after the Soviets accused her Father of anti-Soviet conspiracy. USSR invaded Poland in 1939, just a couple of weeks after the invasion from the west by Nazi Germany, and as a result Poland was divided between the Nazis and the Soviets according to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. This very personal history of one young woman, as told by these poems, is a painful memory of the fortunes of very many Poles, who shared her fate. These poems, although perhaps lacking the glitter of famous lyricists, are no less convincing and certainly no less moving. They are deeply lyrical, full of sadness, pain, longing, despair, hope, love and faith. Now, endorsed by the wonderful musical veil, they were brought back to life, enhanced and revitalized. The music is perfectly suited not only to accompany the poems but also to paint a perfect soundtrack for the story behind them. The entire album sounds like a continuous musical suite, with the songs, recitation and interim instrumental pieces interwoven into a complete conceptual piece, with is not only highly emotionally effective, buy also aesthetically sublime. The execution is also exceptional, which is not surprising, as Soundcheck have already established a strong position on the Polish Jazz scene in the last few years. Naturally this music is less adventurous or freely improvised than their instrumental albums recorded previously, but that does not mean it is any less ambitious or complex or beautiful. The limitations involved with incorporating lyrics and music obviously did not present a serious challenge neither to the composer not to the players, and as a result they managed to create an uplifting, awe-inspiring, intelligent piece of music. The vocals, which are somewhat restrained and delicate, are also perfect in this framework. Anything spectacular would have simply spoiled the perfect balance achieved here. Of course the vocalist sings beautifully and her ability to restrain herself is admirable. Kocinski plays several breathtaking solos and his playing seems to grow from one album to another. The rest of the group just do what they do best: play their hearts out. This is definitely one of the most outstanding albums recorded in 2011, an admirable addition to the Polish Jazz legacy and the Polish Jazz & Poetry movement. As long as there are young Jazz musicians on the local scene, capable of producing music of such quality, the faith of Polish Jazz is in good hands. Wholeheartedly and most warmly recommended!

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

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ANDRZEJ SWIES ~ FLYING LION SJ 071 (Barcode: 5905489720027) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with guitarist Rafal SarneckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, nine composed by Swies and two improvised and credited the trio members. It is hard to believe that after recording dozens of albums as a sideman and two albums as co-leader it is only now that Swies gets to record his true debut, but on the other hand many great musicians share this fate and sometimes never actually get to record as leaders, despite their achievements. Happily, in this case we get to hear this “baby” finally coming to fruition. The music is everything one would expect from a bass-centered album, offering great melodic lines with Funky, Jazzy and sometimes even Rocky rhythmic approach, wonderfully executed by the trio. The sound is saturated by a plethora of bass sounds, some created directly by the instrument and others electronically enhanced / transformed, which allow Swies to display his virtuosity and boundless imagination in full. Contrary to the accepted formula, the music is not dominated by the guitar, which usually captures the front stage, but by the acrobatic bass guitar barrage of notes, which is absolutely dazzling. Swies managed to select two perfect partners for the recording. Sarnecki, definitely one of the top Polish Jazz guitarists, takes a step back and amicably supports the leading bass guitar lines in the background, soloing sparingly, only when appropriate. Dobrowolski, another Polish Jazz maverick, who also likes to stand in the shadows, supports the music by his intense, but highly sensitive barrage, which never disturbs the leader thanks to the right sound balance of the recording. Together the trio manages to achieve a collective sound, which fully conveys the leader’s music, expanding and supporting his ideas constructively and with great aesthetic sensitivity. Overall, this is a highly unique, unusual album, which explores the world of the bass guitar and presents many previously hidden vistas of the instrument. It is not an attempt to show off and prove something, which Swies really does not need to do any more, but an honest attempt to create a bass-centered experience, which is no less than heaven for the lovers of the bass guitar and its world of sound. Now, that the deed is done, we can only hope that it will be repeated, and in the meantime thanks for this revealing piece of bass Artistry.

Updated: 18/03/2023Posted: 18/03/2023

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PAWEL TOMASZEWSKI ~ COINCIDENCE FILHARMONIA SZCZECIN 025 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with several leading Polish Jazz instrumentalists and the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Szymon BywalecFind albums by this artist. The album presents two suites, one two-parts and the other seven-parts, with the second being inspired by a film theme composed by Polish composer Wojciech KilarFind albums by this artist. The quartet comprising of Tomaszewski, saxophonist Marek PodkowaFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist play on the entire album, while marimba player Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, vocalist Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist and American guitarist Mark LattieriFind albums by this artist play on the first suite and trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist plays on the second suite only. The music is wonderfully melodic, full of typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, which characterizes both Polish Jazz and Polish Cinematic music at their best. The balance between the Jazz instrumental parts and the orchestral accompaniment and statements is absolutely perfect, and offers a pleasant cross-genre listening experience. All the musician are of course Masters of their relative areas, offering excellent soloing and ensemble performances. This delicate and mostly tranquil music is all about balance and harmonic cooperation, which means that there is no space for much individual statements, but rather a collective effort. Of course Tomaszewski’s piano work leads the music consistently all the way through. Overall, this is a very elegant and beautifully performed album, which offers music that is widely accessible to audiences from both Jazz and Classical Music circles. Tomaszewski is an excellent pianist and talented weaver of beautiful compositions, and all the musicians taking part in this project and the orchestra definitely fit the bill perfectly. Highly recommended!

Updated: 05/06/2023Posted: 05/06/2023

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OLA TRZASKA ~ ALL AROUND SJ 009 (Barcode: 5912596066085) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish vocalist / flautist / songwriter Ola TrzaskaFind albums by this artist, recorded by a sextet which also includes trumpeter Lukasz KorybalskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Marcin PiekosFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight songs, all original by Trzaska (music and lyrics), six of which feature English and two Polish lyrics. The music is a nice mixture of Pop / Soul / Funk & Groove, based on Trzaska´s melodic themes jazzed up by the arrangements and instrumental work, especially that of the brass section. Not a Jazz album per se, but close enough for comfort to turn the ear of a Jazz fan as well as those who have almost nothing to do with it. Usually I completely condemn Polish singers singing in English, but in this case the result is acceptable, thanks to Trzaska´s phrasing and a skillful mix which keeps the vocals usually in unisono with instrumental backing, which mute the language "imperfections". Trzaska has a limited vocal range and wisely utilizes her voice safely within her comfort zone, which of course becomes somewhat inadequate in the long range, making all the songs to sound a bit alike. But her singing is expressive and full of emotion, which overall saves the day. Combined with the truly inspired instrumental work by the players, the album is a fun to listen to. Swies deserves a special mention since his bass notes drive the entire album with an incredible funky groove. Tomaszczyk also plays a few beautiful trombone solos on the album, which are little gems. This is definitely an impressive debut, presenting Trzaska as a gifted songwriter, vocalist and arranger, who will surely take part in the development of the Polish music scene in the years to come.

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OLA TRZASKA ~ AMULET SJ 016 (Barcode: 5912596066184) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2015 - 2016 Released: 2016 This is the second album by Polish vocalist / flautist / songwriter Ola TrzaskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a formidable team of musicians, very similar to the lineup of her debut album, which includes trombonist / co-producer Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. Several other musicians participate on selected tracks. The album presents twelve compositions, eight of which are original compositions by Trzaska and one is co-composed with Tomaszczyk. One short piece is composed by Kolodziejczyk and two are of Brazilian origin. Trzaska also wrote most of the lyrics, of which three are in Polish and the rest are in English. Musically the album continues the same musical approach as Trzaska´s debut, with nice Jazzy arrangements and excellent playing by al the participants, but very limited vocal parts and unremarkable compositions, making very limited progress from the debut, which is a pity. Trzaska continues to sing in English, which does her no good at all, and the professionalism of her colleagues is not able to conceal her limitations. For the second time the bass parts by Swies and the trombone parts by Tomaszczyk are truly wonderful, but that is about all there is to this album.

Updated: 16/04/2017Posted: 16/04/2017

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JAN PTASZYN WROBLEWSKI ~ ON THE ROAD VOL.1 FOR TUNE 0160 (Barcode: 5906395808755) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 - 2020 Released: 2022 As the title suggests, this is the first volume of an archival live album by the Polish Jazz Colossus and Godfather of the local Jazz scene, saxophonist / composer / bandleader Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, born in 1936. The album presents five tracks recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassists Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist or Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. The first three tracks were recorded in 2003 and the other two in 2020. Four tracks are original compositions by Wroblewski and one is a standard. The music is all mainstream oriented, combining elements of Bebop and typical Polish Jazz lyricism, based on beautiful melodic themes, which Wroblewski has been spinning for decades with great skill and craftsmanship. Despite his age, his saxophone playing remains masterful and unblemished. Although the first and the second recording are separated by seventeen years, there is no noticeable / audible difference in his performing ability. I had ample ability to hear the Master perform live during these years, and was always amazed by his longevity and imperishable gift of handling his instrument. The four musicians accompanying Wroblewski, all much younger than him, reflect the incredible level of the local talent, carrying the torch he and a few others ignited decades earlier. Their performances are all impeccable. This beautifully produced and released album is an obvious tribute to the Man behind the notes, a symbol and a living history of the Polish Jazz movement. The album’s booklet (bilingual) includes an interview with the Master, which sheds light on his personal relationship with Jazz, which is a fascinating read. Overall, this is a loving tribute to a man, who symbolizes the Polish Jazz scene for decades and who contributed enormously to its development, admired by his peers as much as the by the younger generations of Polish Jazz musicians. Luckily he can enjoy this gift of love and admiration, while still with us.

Updated: 07/01/2023Posted: 07/01/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAN PTASZYN WROBLEWSKI ~ ON THE ROAD VOL.2 FOR TUNE 0162 (Barcode: 5906395808779) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 - 2020 Released: 2023 As the title suggests, this is the second volume of an archival live album by the Polish Jazz Colossus and Godfather of the local Jazz scene, saxophonist / composer / bandleader Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, born in 1936. The album presents five tracks recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassists Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist, Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist or Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. The tracks were recorded between 2003 and 2020. One track is an original composition by Wroblewski and the rest are standards. Everything I wrote about the first volume of this album (“On The Road Vol.1Find albums with this title”) still applies, so I am simply repeating it again below, in case someone reads this first. The music is all mainstream oriented, combining elements of Bebop and typical Polish Jazz lyricism, based on beautiful melodic themes, which Wroblewski has been spinning for decades with great skill and craftsmanship. Despite his age, his saxophone playing remains masterful and unblemished. Although the first and the second recording are separated by seventeen years, there is no noticeable / audible difference in his performing ability. I had ample ability to hear the Master perform live during these years, and was always amazed by his longevity and imperishable gift of handling his instrument. The five musicians accompanying Wroblewski, all much younger than him, reflect the incredible level of the local talent, carrying the torch he and a few others ignited decades earlier. Their performances are all impeccable. This beautifully produced and released album is an obvious tribute to the Man behind the notes, a symbol and a living history of the Polish Jazz movement. Overall, this is a loving tribute to a man, who symbolizes the Polish Jazz scene for decades and who contributed enormously to its development, admired by his peers as much as the by the younger generations of Polish Jazz musicians. Luckily he can enjoy this gift of love and admiration, while still with us.

Updated: 01/06/2023Posted: 01/06/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend