Record Reviews

ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ ~ HENDRIX PIANO PIANOART 5907760035028 (Barcode: 5907760035028) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2010 This is the fourth album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic Jazz piano trio setting with bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist (bassist Daniel BielFind albums by this artist plays on three tracks) and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist as his partners. The music, as the title suggests, is a tribute to the legendary American guitarist / songwriter Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist and presents nine instrumental arrangements of songs from his repertoire, seven of them composed by Hendrix and two composed by others. The album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and was engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist with spectacular sonic results This album was recorded at the same sessions which produced the previous album by Dutkiewicz, called "Niemen ImprowizacjeFind albums with this title", which pays tribute to the music of Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist, the legendary Godfather of Polish Pop / Rock. Therefore these two albums share not only the recording dates but also basically the same musical concept, i.e. the transformation of Pop / Rock music into the mainstream Jazz environment. Of course the music of Hendrix, who was a major Rock star with a worldwide following, was already arranged and performed by many Jazz artists earlier, with varying results, some absolutely spectacular and other utterly worthless. Although seemingly words apart, Niemen and Hendrix shared one obvious characteristic: their deep affinity to the Blues, which Dutkiewicz cleverly exploits on both these albums, and uses this opportunity to highlight his own Blues chops. The fact that these two albums were recorded basically together and present a common concept obviously "asks for" a comparison, which I´d rather avoid, but unfortunately that is quite impossible. Personally this album works slightly less effectively for me than its companion, which probably has nothing to do with the music but my own perception of the music Hendrix created and I was fortunate to hear live on several occasions. I seem to be unable to free myself from the stunning guitar sound which my memory / brain stores under the Hendrix pointer. This music played by a piano, however well, simply does not cut it for me as well as it should. But of course this album shares many of the same beautiful qualities present on its companion: great performances, intelligent arrangements, wonderful interplay between the trio members and so on. It is a great piano trio album in every respect and an admirable tribute to the Genius of Hendrix. Obviously Jazz connoisseurs all over the globe should be able to enjoy this music without reservation.

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ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ ~ MAZURKI PIANOART 5907760035035 (Barcode: 5907760035035) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the firth album by the veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist. Recorded on solo piano, the album includes nineteen relatively short pieces, all composed by Dutkiewicz, and beautifully recorded in a church located in a Warsaw suburb. Contrary to what one might expect, judging by the album´s title, this is not one more Polish Jazz album, which contains Jazz interpretations of music by Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, a subject that has been completely exhausted in the last two decades, producing a plethora of such albums of very unstable quality. Chopin of course perfected the musical form of the mazurka (Polish folk dance) and composed 69 mazurkas for piano solo, which are today an integral part of the Polish / European Classical music heritage. Dutkiewicz decided to approach the subject completely differently by composing a series of pieces, which have been largely influenced by Chopin´s work, but are also quite different. In a manner similar to Chopin, Dutkiewicz incorporates other Polish folk motifs, like the oberek and the kujawiak, and on top adds the Jazz and Blues touches, which of course have nothing to do with the original inspiration. The resulting amalgam is truly charming and wonderful, providing the listener with a continuous listening pleasure. Composing this music and performing it with such flair and elegance place Dutkiewicz again amongst the top Polish Jazz pianists. One can only hope for more such displays of his many talents in the future. This album is a must for solo piano buffs and Jazz-Classical Fusion connoisseurs, providing repeated discoveries with each listening session. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 08/05/2017Posted:

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ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ ~ NIEMEN IMPROWIZACJE PIANOART 5907760035011 (Barcode: 5907760035011) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2009 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic Jazz piano trio setting with bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist (bassist Daniel BielFind albums by this artist plays on one track) and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist as his partners. The music, as the title suggests, is a tribute to the legendary Polish singer / songwriter Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist and presents ten instrumental arrangements of songs from Niemen´s repertoire, eight of which were also composed by him and two which were composed by others. The album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist with spectacular sonic results Niemen was always associated with Jazz and was a pioneer of the Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion movement, but he actually never quite crossed over into Jazz, and this album does it for the first time. Niemen´s songs, stripped of their dramatic vocals and poignant lyrics, can be hear here for what they really were; a superb amalgam of Blues soaked Rock, Rhythm And Blues, Soul, Groove and Folkloristic themes, which are all obviously quite timeless. Dutkiewicz took quite a risk here, as transforming Niemen´s music into a swinging Jazz environment might have trivialized it or even turned it into grotesque muzak. Luckily all this was cleverly avoided by the intelligent arrangements and highly sensitive performance, which simply transformed the music into a completely different plane. Many musical Icons seem to be simply untouchable, and most attempts, which try to utilize or update them, fail miserably. This is a rare example of a successful attempt of transplanting iconic music to a new environment without destroying the original. The trio´s performance is of course spotless, as nothing less should be expected from musicians of such class. The players concentrate on playing the music and there are no lengthy individual solo sports, which would be quite inappropriate here, but a wonderful togetherness and concise delivery. Intelligence, sensitivity and grace are the name of the game and the music is never trivial or banal. Listeners familiar with Niemen´s original performances of these songs will find this album quite fascinating of course, when trying the find the parallels and the divergences. But even people who never heard of Niemen (obviously beyond Poland´s borders) should find this to be an excellent piano trio album worthy of repeated listening.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

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ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ ~ PRANA PIANOART 5907760035042 (Barcode: 5907760035042) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, who is back in a classic piano trio format with bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight compositions, seven of which are originals by Dutkiewicz and one is an adaptation of a folk tune. The album was recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, which of course guarantees excellent sound quality. Dutkiewicz has an impressive resume and his contribution to the Polish Jazz scene is of course invaluable. He played for many years with the late saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski, recording with him several albums. One of the tunes on this album is dedicated to the memory of Szukalski. The music Dutkiewicz presents on this album is very contemplative and more lyrical than usual in his case. There is also a great affinity with the Blues, a genre which is definitely one of his deepest musical sources of influence, which he openly refers to on this album, something that is rarely done by other contemporary pianists. A couple of tunes on this album re-visit the preceding album called "MazurkiFind albums with this title", presenting music inspired by Polish folklore. Overall this is a consistently interesting selection of beautifully melodic pieces, which are performed with great sensibility and finesse. As far as personal performances are concerned, there are no surprises herein. Dutkiewicz is an excellent pianist by any standard and his performances here are superb from start to finish. The rhythm section is also stellar, providing just the right support whenever needed and presenting both first class professionalism and mutual respect between the leader and themselves. In short this is an instant "classic" and piano trio connoisseurs should find it simply irresistible. Let´s hope that the same kind of prana (life force) that allowed Dutkiewicz to create this little gem will stay with him for many years to come. Well done indeed!

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ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ ~ TRAVELLER PIANOART 5907760035042 (Barcode: 5907760035042) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is seventh album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with his usual team consisting of bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Dutkiewicz. It was recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usual spectacular sonic quality. Dutkiewicz is certainly one of the most melodic / lyrical Polish Jazz pianist and his output so far evidently reflected these qualities. The music on this album, although continuing the same path in many respects, adds more freedom and wandering (traveling?) then ever before, or at least that is my impression of it. The melodic themes are as beautiful as always, but the pianist often takes the liberty of distancing himself form the strict melodic expression and ventures into more abstract territory, with many pauses and obvious self- examination while performing. This attitude is rather novel in his stylistic palette and of course most welcome, as the music becomes multi-dimensional and more multifaceted then before. Baranski and Zyta are a dream come true rhythm section, being completely symbiotic with the pianist all the way through, even when he takes unexpected turns and twists in the heat of his improvisations. Their support and contributions, which are an integral part of the music, are simply telepathic and esthetically perfect. Such perfect harmony and mutual cooperation happens only between the best musicians out there and this album is a wonderful example of such an occurrence. In perspective to his entire recorded output, this album is definitely a giant step forward for Dutkiewicz both as a composer and a pianist. The music is more complex and more open than before, full of creative searching and exploring, and his playing is more dynamic and less controlled than on any of his earlier recordings. It is great to see an experienced and highly respected musician still searching and developing, to the delight of his followers. This album makes me crave for the next album already, for which we won´t hopefully need to wait for years again. Hats off!

Updated: 08/05/2017Posted: 08/05/2017

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ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ TRIO ~ COMETS SING PIANOART 5907760035066 (Barcode: 5907760035066) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the eighth album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, this time recorded in a classic piano trio format with bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam ZagorskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by the leader. The music was recorded at the fabulous Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, and offers a superb sound quality. Dutkiewicz is one of those great Artists, who make sure that their Art can’t be taken for granted and this album is an elegant example of his modus operandi. The music is way more open and edgy than on any of his previous albums, and his romanticism and lyricism are more of an undercurrent rather than what happens on the surface. The resulting music is modern Jazz at its best, melody based but wandering freely on the chord changes and switching tempi unexpectedly, with the magnum opus eleven-minutes long opening track setting the example of the new concept. The roles of the trio members went also through a transformation, no longer being just a straightforward piano trio, but a triangle of mutual inspiration. Baranski, who plays with Dutkiewicz since the 2013 album “PranaFind albums with this title”, gets more exposure here than ever before, not only when soloing, but more importantly while accompanying the piano with his fat pulsations, that dominantly reverberate in the soundscape. The young Zagorski, the new member of the trio, is certainly a pleasant surprise, as he receives the formidable task to supply the complex rhythmic skeleton to this music, and which he manages brilliantly like a veteran pro. Dutkiewicz plays way more assertively than ever before, almost aggressively, but never really crosses the line of restraint and elegance. His statements are more concentrated and dense and he readily shares the burden of creation with his peers. As a result, he exposes here another facet of his musical persona, which of course make things way more exciting than hearing just another album by an Artist we are already familiar with. “This is just a corner, not the end of the journey” indeed – with many more corners to follow. Overall this is a brilliant example of modern Jazz, a superb piano trio masterpiece and an important giant step in the career, which Dutkiewicz keeps nourishing with every new release. This music not only fills your heart with joy and your brain with reflection, but is also aesthetically rounded, promising that the music we love is not really dying, although it seems like that most of the time. Thank you, my Friend, for such moments of delight.

Updated: 12/07/2021Posted: 12/07/2021

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JAZZ CHORAL / TOMASZ SZUKALSKI ~ BORZOMSKI WAWOZ / BODY AND SOUL (POLISH JAZZ VOL. 91 DELUXE) MUZA 1091 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1989 Released: 2006 This unusual and very interesting album by the superb Polish saxophonist / composer Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, who sadly died this year, presents him in a double setting: first as a guest artist accompanying the Georgian vocal group Jazz ChoralFind albums by this artist and than as a leader of his quartet, which includes also pianist Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej CudzichFind albums by this artist and drummer Marek StachFind albums by this artist. The album starts with six pieces performed by Jazz Choral; First three tracks are sung a cappella and the remaining three are performed with Szukalski and an unidentified rhythm section (piano, bass and drums). The vocal tracks are followed by three tracks performed by Szukalski and his quartet, two of which are standards and one is an original composition by the leader. Jazz Choral were a vocal group similar to the Polish group NOVIFind albums by this artist, which existed on the local scene twenty years earlier, and several other ensembles which based their performances on perfectly matched harmonies and swinging melodies. Their performance is spotless and quite virtuosic, with a nostalgic touch. Szukalski spices their music with excellent solos, which can only be constructed by a musician of his statue. The three tracks by Szukalski and his quartet highlight his incredible power as a player, clearly emphasizing his post-Coltrane legacy and incredible versatility. Listening to him play, now that he is gone, is truly moving to everybody familiar with the Polish Jazz scene. His premature death is a great loss! This album was recorded during the transition period between Poland finally freed itself from the Socialist regime, and was somehow "lost" in the turmoil. This reissue brings back to life a piece of music, which should not be forgotten. Definitely worth investigation!

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