Record Reviews

ED CHERRY / AREK SKOLIK PROJECT+ ~ LIVE AT METRUM JAZZ CLUB BLUES&JAZZ 004 (Barcode: 5902205589197) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is a live album by a Jazz quartet co-led by American guitarist Ed CherryFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist, with Polish trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, all standards. One of the oldest tricks in the Jazz book is for veteran Jazz players to play with young and gifted upcoming players, which is exactly what happens with Skolik, who has a gift to surround himself by some of the best young Polish Jazz players, which is the case here. Palcowski appears on a dozen or so albums recorded in the last decade, including a couple of ones as a leader. I have been following his career starting with his school days in the Katowice Music Academy, and he certainly is one of the top Polish mainstream / Bebop Jazz trumpeters today. Kitajewski, who is even more in demand, since there are never enough great bassists around, also took part in more than a dozen album recordings, including one as a leader. He is a versatile player stylistically, and his projects go often beyond mainstream Jazz, and he is certainly one of the young Polish Jazz musicians worth following. Cherry (born 1954) and Skolik (born 1970) are both veterans with an impressive record behind them, and they always deliver what their followers want to hear – a swinging mainstream Jazz, which never loses its charm to those who love it. Overall, this is a nice, well played and well behaved mainstream Jazz album, which delivers to Bebop fans all over the world their portion of exactly what the doctor prescribed. And yes, this is every bit as good as anything played beyond the pond!

Updated: 12/04/2024Posted: 12/04/2024

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ED CHERRY SPECIAL TRIO ~ SZOSTA PO POLUDNIU FOR TUNE 0064 (Barcode: 5902768701661) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is a live recording at Warsaw´s club Szosta Po Poludniu (hence the album´s title) of a trio led by veteran American guitarist Ed CherryFind albums by this artist with a Polish rhythm section: bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The trio performs six tunes, five of which are standards and one is a Pop song. The music is a standard mainstream, completely unimaginative, uninspiring and honestly boring to tears. Although Cherry has an impressive musical history, his contributions in the last decades are not very impressive or noteworthy and his playing here unfortunately sounds like a third rate imitation of Wes MontgomeryFind albums by this artist and is sadly embarrassing. The rhythm section, although quite professional, is not able to save this gig from disaster. This kind of music is still played in clubs all over the US, but on the European scene it is utterly out of place in view of the creativity and excellence displayed by musicians in any European country today. One can only wonder why this gig was recorded and released in the first place and speculate about the inferiority complex some Europeans still suffer from, based on the assumption that anything in Jazz done by Afro-Americans is superior to European Jazz, which is simply not true for at least half a Century. The usually excellent Polish For TuneFind albums on this label label, which released dozens of superb albums in the last few years, made a real blunder with this album. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come.

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

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GRAAL ~ CZARNE 13 FOR TUNE 0059 (Barcode: 5902768701630) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2015 This is the sixth album by the cult Polish ensemble GraalFind albums by this artist, founded and led by the legendary trumpeter / composer / bandleader Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist, who is also known for his involvement in such pivotal Polish ensembles as Free CooperationFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist, Tie BreakFind albums by this artist, Woo Boo DooFind albums by this artist, YesheFind albums by this artist and others. This album, recorded four years before it finally gets to be released, presents ten songs, all composed by Gralak and the ensemble with lyrics by the ensemble´s vocalist Jacek SzymkiewiczFind albums by this artist. Two radio edits of two of the songs on this album are added as bonus tracks. In addition to Gralak, who also plays tuba and Szymkiewicz, who also plays acoustic guitar, the other members of Graal are: trombonist Bronek DuzyFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Klaudiusz KlosekFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Aleksander KoreckiFind albums by this artist and Marek PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Locko RichterFind albums by this artist, drummers Ola RzepkaFind albums by this artist and Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist and finally tuba and trombone player Darek SprawkaFind albums by this artist; altogether ten musicians. The music of Graal is a strange amalgam of Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion, with elements of cabaret and theatrics. The "songs" are often full of dramatic exclamations and theatrical displays of emotion, and the "free" lyrics add to the overall atmosphere of "controlled anarchy". The huge brass section sounds at times like a street marching band, or Balkan brass ensemble, or typical Brass-Rock section, constantly changing its ambiance. The sound is rather muffled and often creates an impression of a live recording. The rhythm section sets a groovy paste, with funky bass guitar in charge of the bottom parts and the drums keeping the mayhem in check. The lead vocals are always up front and the brass is always in the background, which makes the solo parts somewhat less prominent in the overall sound, but those are all well worth being discovered by careful listening. The solitary instrumental piece on this album is perhaps the most powerful glimpse to the essence of this ensemble, with the multilayered brass parts creating a mini-suite which is both beautifully organized and free at the same time; a wonderful example of contemporary music. Gralak has a gift of creating stuff, which is always unique and exists outside of the Polish Jazz / Fusion scenes, being a typical Lone Ranger. This music simply creates a universe of its own, which is incomparable to anything else happing on the local scene or anywhere else for that matter. Since this is a typical ensemble project, there are few displays of Gralak´s virtuosic ability as a trumpeter, but it is his leadership that holds this project together. Whether one loves or hates this music, one thing is sure: it´s impossible to say indifferent to it, which is already a huge achievement in comparison to most of the music created today. Gralak is one of those people who make the Polish music scene worth following and admiring!

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GRZEGORSKI / SLUSARCZYK ~ TO MUNIAK WITH LOVE BLUES&JAZZ 002 (Barcode: 5908254159879) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is an album by Polish Jazz quintet co-led by saxophonists Tomasz GrzegorskiFind albums by this artist and Marcin SlusarczykFind albums by this artist with a rhythm section comprising of pianist Tomasz BialowolskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej AdamczakFind albums by this artist and drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten Jazz standards and one original composition by Bialowolski, which is both the title track and a bonus track. The album is dedicated to the memory of the legendary Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, who was a Father figure to many younger Polish Jazz musicians. The album was produced by Slawomir MajewskiFind albums by this artist, Polish Jazz activist and a great connoisseur of classic mainstream Jazz. The albums holds no surprises, exactly as intended, and is meant to be listened to by lovers of conventional, well known Jazz tunes, which are amicably played by professional musicians. This type of unpretentious, good time and somewhat nostalgic mainstream Jazz is relatively not so easy to come by in Poland, where the new generation of musicians and apparently also listeners tend to prefer much more complex and advanced Jazz explorations, which often distances older and more conventional Jazz connoisseurs from the contemporary scene. The music offers a nice blend of ballads and up tempo numbers, which should keep the listeners happy and the beautiful piano / saxophone duet closing the album is an appropriate gesture to commemorate one of the most beloved figures in Polish Jazz history.

Updated: 12/04/2024Posted: 23/12/2019

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LATORRE / KRZEMINSKI / SKOLIK ~ YOU KNOW? NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5906893807304) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by a trio comprising of Brazilian Jazz organist Daniel LatorreFind albums by this artist and Polish trumpeter Piotr KrzeminskiFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions, two by Latorre, four by Krzeminski, one by Skolik and finally one co-composed by Latorre and Krzeminski. The music was recorded “live in the studio”. The music is all straightforward mainstream Jazz, based on melodic themes, which swing splendidly. The unusual instrumentation offers a refreshing opportunity to enjoy the sound of the Hammond B3 organ played by a first-class Master of the instrument, which is sadly rather neglected these days. Krzeminski offers splendid trumpet parts and Skolik keeps the trio swinging vivaciously, which is something he is always doing without a hitch. Overall, this is a pleasant Mainstream Jazz album, with an unusual sound and strong swinging tunes, which are splendidly performed by the trio. The music is accessible to a wide audience of Jazz listeners and beyond, and for Hammond lovers this is a truly delightful experience.

Updated: 05/03/2025Posted: 05/03/2025

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JANUSZ MUNIAK ~ REMEMBRANCES SOLITON 1219 (Barcode: 5903684232192) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 Released: 2022 This is an archival live recording by iconic Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which includes pianist Wojciech PuszekFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr KulakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, all of which are American Jazz standards. The music is a fragment of a longer concert and is all straightforward standard mainstream Jazz with the tracks lasting on average about ten minutes and offering the usual soloing and bar exchanges between the saxophonist / pianist and the rhythm section. The recording is obviously amateurish and the sound quality is unbalanced, with the piano and bass being somewhat lost in the mix and the saxophone and drums being way too much up front. It is quite questionable if this album does any good to the memory of Muniak, who was after all one of the leading figures on the Polish Jazz scene for many years. The performances captured here are uninspired and mundane, surely not portraying the musicians in their best form. Overall, this is a document of an important figure of the Polish Jazz, which sadly contributes very little to commemorate Muniak’s contribution to the genre. It has very little musical value as such and its value as a document is, to me, also questionable.

Updated: 15/06/2022Posted: 15/06/2022

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NEW BRAND QUINTET ~ NEW BRAND QUINTET BLUES&JAZZ 003 (Barcode: 5908254159886) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz quintet called New Brand QuintetFind albums by this artist, led by veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist and four younger musicians: saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Tomasz BialowolskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six classic American Jazz standards. The choice of the participants and the choice of the material are well suited together, as these musicians have all been linked to the Polish Jazz mainstream, which cultivates the Bebop and Hard Bop tradition on the local scene. The musicians are all well-schooled and experienced, which results in a faithful reproduction of the traditional sound and feel of the music, which changed very little in the last seven decades. There is of course nothing innovative in this music, but it is well played and of course mainstream Jazz is still a legitimate Artform, which many, mostly American Jazz musicians dedicate their lives to. It has become less popular on the European scene in time, but that does not mean that it disappeared from the surface. Bebop and Hard Bop are still the heart of the Jazz tradition and learning that tradition is part of the basic education each Jazz musician should go through during his musical path. If this album proves anything, it is first and foremost the fact that the Polish Jazz scene, including the new generation, should not feel any inferiority complexes in comparison to their contemporaries across the pond. These young players know the tricks of the trade and can play shoulder to shoulder with anybody on this planet. Overall, this album should keep mainstream Jazz fans happy, regardless of their age or origin!

Updated: 12/04/2024Posted: 28/08/2021

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PAWEL PALCOWSKI ~ INFLUENCES SJ 060 (Barcode: 5902596066765) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by the leader. Palcowski faithfully continues the direction set by the debut, playing wonderful mainstream Jazz, which originates in the Bebop tradition perfected in America in the 1950s and 1960s. His trumpet playing is getting better all the time and his performances here bring fond memories of such greats as Lee MorganFind albums by this artist or Kenny DorhamFind albums by this artist. Except for the use of electric bass and piano, which perhaps is a mistake if authenticity was the aim, the music sounds like something recorded sixty or more years ago, which in this case is not a criticism, but rather a compliment. It is important to preserve the tradition and when that is done as tastefully and elegantly like on this album, it is truly commendable. All the musicians involved are obviously highly talented and well-schooled, which is plainly evident from their performances herein. The presence of the veteran drummer Arek Skolik also adds to the general feel of a Bebop party. Overall, this is a great album of traditional mainstream Jazz, updated by the excellent new compositions, which all sound like taken from a “Real Book”, which is a great compliment to the composing talents of Palcowski. I doubt if there are many albums of such quality recorded these days across the pond, which of course means that the young Polish Jazz musicians really can compete with anybody – “Polak Potrafi” ;)

Updated: 11/02/2022Posted: 11/02/2022

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PAWEL PALCOWSKI ~ OLD FASHIONED MOOD SJ 042 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Jakub LepaFind albums by this artist, pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. Trombonist Szymon KlekowickiFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Palcowski. As the album´s title suggests, it pays tribute to the classic mainstream Jazz period of the 1950s and 1960s, when Bebop, Hard Bop and Cool Jazz ruled and the foundations and most mannerisms of modern Jazz were "carved in stone". Palcowski deliberately tries to reconstruct not only the typical compositions of the era but also the sound and feel of the period, utilizing the most popular setting of the time – the classic Jazz quintet. Although re-visiting that period, especially among the young generation of European Jazz musicians, is definitely less popular these days, and often even considered less ambitious, Palcowski manages to create a wonderful piece of music, which offers not only a nostalgic trip down the memory line but a bona fide mainstream Jazz album, which sounds as if it was a "lost" Blue NoteFind albums on this label treasure, found in the vaults. All the compositions on this album as every bit as solid, coherent and spirited as anything that can be heard on the albums recorded at the time, which is truly remarkable. A young musician, decades later and thousands of kilometers away is able to crack the genetic code of this music perfectly and make it his own, not copying but creating new tunes which have the same magic feeling. The performances are also perfect and ideally suiting this particular music. There is no spectacular soloing but a series of well structured solo performances by the trumpet, saxophone and piano, supported by the entire quintet and the steady rhythm section which does a perfect job. Overall this is a splendid debut album, which proves that the young generation of European Jazz musicians is not only aware of the tradition and the history, but is also able to embrace it lovingly. I had the pleasure to hear Palcowski many times live during his student years at the Katowice Music Academy and it was obvious that he is going places. Well done Sir!

Updated: 01/07/2019Posted: 01/07/2019

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BEATA PRZYBYTEK ~ I`M GONNA ROCK YOU FLID 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 - 2012 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album by the Polish vocalist Beata PrzybytekFind albums by this artist and her debut as a singer / songwriter. After releasing three consecutive albums between 2003 and 2005, Przybytek took almost seven years to come up with this album, which presents sixteen songs written by her to lyrics (in English) by Alicja MaciejowskaFind albums by this artist (thirteen songs) and her own (the remaining three songs). She is accompanied by a wonderful ensemble of gifted and sympathetic instrumentalists, which includes the keyboardist / arranger Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist, who is responsible for the truly excellent and highly skilled musical settings created for her songs. Other players include guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist, pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassists Tomasz KupiecFind albums by this artist and Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist, drummers Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist and Filip MozulFind albums by this artist and percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians also appear, among them trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, organist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and others. Przybytek started her career as a Jazz vocalist, but her last album ("WonderlandFind albums with this title"), which comprised entirely of songs by Stevie WonderFind albums by this artist, saw her already flirting with Pop, Soul and Rhythm And Blues. This album, which focuses on her songwriting as much, if not more, as on her performances, takes her into new territory, which in a beautiful amalgam of Pop, Blues, Gospel, Soul and Jazz. The artistic level of her songwriting is formidable and these sixteen songs are all jewels in their own right, quite diverse and beautifully full of character. I must admit that at first hearing I could hardly believe my ears as I haven´t heard such a sublime collection of new songs in a very long time. The vocal performances are also first-class, somewhat similar to the mannerisms of Etta JamesFind albums by this artist / Amy WinehouseFind albums by this artist, but with a wonderfully warm tone and total control of timbre and expression. It´s a pity she chose to sing in English as I personally am quite convinced that if she sang these songs in her native language the result would have been even more stunning. Well, one can´t win them all. Still this is one of the best albums of its kind that I´ve heard in a very long time. The instrumental parts are, as already mentioned, simply delightful. Each song gets quite a different treatment, which keeps the album changing mood and ambiance often, as well as the instrumentation. The guest musicians get to deliver their respective solo spots and it sure looks like a great time was had by all during the recording sessions. This album is also a wonderful example of high quality music, which can be overtly accessible, without compromising even an iota of its intrinsic value. Every music lover should have a field day with this brilliant piece of music. Hats off, Beata! Silesia rulez again!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

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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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AREK SKOLIK ~ PLAYS MINGUS BLUES&JAZZ 001 (Barcode: 5908254159664) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio setting with saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist and bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Patrycja ZarychtaFind albums by this artist sings on one track. The album, as the title suggests, presents six compositions by Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, which are interpreted by Skolik and his crew. The music, as described by Skolik in the album´s liner notes, is a spontaneous jam session based on compositions by Mingus, recorded live in the studio. There is not much one can add to this description honestly, as the music is completely straight ahead, except perhaps for the fact that it is performed by a saxophone trio, but that is nothing extraordinary these days. This album might have been recorded five decades earlier, and no one would be able to tell the difference. All three players are highly professional and fluent and the execution is beyond reproach, as good as any American mainstream Jazz combo is able to perform, except that this is a Polish Jazz trio and one really expects to hear something beyond ordinary when Polish musicians are involved. Bothur has a wonderful tone on his tenor saxophone and his improvisations are inspired, Jaros plays excellent support behind the saxophone and Skolik is obviously a very sensitive drummer, playing both rhythm and melody, but there is nothing here that wasn´t heard already. Overall this is a nice mainstream Jazz album, which Bebop lovers should enjoy anywhere in the world, but which does not break any new ground. Recommended to Mingus aficionados!

Updated: 12/04/2024Posted: 08/04/2017

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AREK SKOLIK QUARTET ~ JAZZ NIGHT VOL. 1 BLUES&JAZZ 005 (Barcode: 5900786704213) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2024 This is a live album by a Polish Jazz quartet led by drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist with three representatives of the young Polish Jazz generation: trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Tomasz BialowolskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, all of which are standards. The relaxed atmosphere of the concert and the splendid sound quality produce a wonderful mainstream Jazz album, which many Jazz enthusiasts should enjoy. All four musicians perform splendidly, and Palcowski, who is the main soloist, deserves a special mention, as his beautiful tome brings a wide smile. I have followed his career since his student days and his recordings as a leader and sideman are all worth listening to. But Kitajewski and Bialowolski also perform formidably. Overall, this is a splendid straightforward mainstream Jazz album, exactly what the doctor prescribed for those Jazz lovers, who delight in the traditional approach, swinging and pleasing as well as one might expect even from the best, which Polish Jazz was always able to offer.

Updated: 24/06/2024Posted: 24/06/2024

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MICHAL WIERBA ~ BODY LANGUAGE FOR TUNE 0116 (Barcode: 5906395808168) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the Polish Radio in a quintet setting with saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist, drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist and percussionist Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, five of which are originals by Wierba, one is a traditional tune and three are standards (sort of). As usual with Wierba´s recordings, the music is definitely on the lighter side of Jazz, somewhere between mainstream Jazz and entertainment. His original compositions are well crafted, but do not represent a coherent stylistic consistency as of yet. This of course might be remedied in the future. The album is, however, excellently executed by all the participants, who are of course seasoned musicians with years of experience and numerous earlier recordings. Wierba is very skilled technically and plays with self confidence and vigor. Sikala is right on the money every time he takes a solo. The rhythm section provides amicable support and carries the music safely and steadfastly, albeit predictably forward. Personally I´m not a great fan of percussion, unless used in music where it organically belongs, so the percussion parts on this album add little to its value. Overall this is a very nice light Jazz album for listeners not necessarily associated with Jazz per se, but displaying some fondness of Jazzy oriented material that does not get to complicated. Definitely well played and entertaining, it might find many sympathetic ears.

Updated: 28/01/2017Posted: 28/01/2017

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MICHAL WIERBA / DOPPELGANGER PROJECT ~ ORANGE SKY CELESTIS 005 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist, known to local fans as the co-leader of a quintet with trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. This is a much more intimate project, basically a piano trio plus percussion and a female vocalist on three tracks. The participating musicians apart from Wierba are: bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist, drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist, percussionist Lukasz KurzydloFind albums by this artist and vocalist Patrycja ZarychtaFind albums by this artist. The album consists of ten tracks, five of which are Wierba originals, three are standards and one each is by Kurzydlo and Zarychta. Although Wierba is an excellent player by all standards, this album does him a terrible disservice. The music sounds like something played during a yuppie birthday party, always simplistic and pleasant, conformist and sugary sweet. Even the divine Jimmy RowlesFind albums by this artist´ composition "The Peacocks", played on solo piano like a Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist nocturne, sounds completely ridiculous. The vocalist sings in English (again!) and I don´t need to repeat what I think about that. Even the album´s liner notes credit the wrong tracks to their composers, at least in the case of the a.m. Rowles composition and the tracks timings are wrong like on the last track. In short anything that could go wrong here simply did go wrong. This record should have never been recorded, nor released. I´m not adding another word…

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