Record Reviews

ATOM ACCORDION QUINTET ~ ATOM ACCORDION QUINTET REQUIEM 120 (Barcode: 5902547013411) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Polish ensemble Atom Accordion QuintetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of accordionist Rafal GrzakaFind albums by this artist and the renowned string quartet called Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Together they perform four contemporary Classical compositions by young Polish composers: Mikolaj MajkusiakFind albums by this artist, Piotr WrobelFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof Lenczowski and Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist. While the works by the Majkusiak and Wrobel are single-piece compositions, the work by Lenczowski is a four-part Quintet and the work by Kolodziejczyk is three-part suite. The album was released simultaneously on two Polish labels: RequiemFind albums on this label Records and DUXFind albums on this label Records As much as I appreciate the need to expose young composers, which this album is all about, somehow I felt a bit disappointed when the music was over. Contemporary Classical music can be, and often is challenging and groundbreaking but this album has little of these qualities. The sound of accordion and a string quartet works together well but was already explored before, and although the musicians are top class, but the music itself just fails to make a strong impression. Even the music by Lenczowski, who writes wonderful music in the Jazz idiom, somehow does not present his usual excellence here, being simply too conventional, even if it is beautifully melodic and gracefully melancholic. An example of the lack of originality is the very last track on this album (by Kolodziejczyk), which sounds almost exactly like music by Astor PiazzollaFind albums by this artist with string quartet. Somehow the entire album invokes a kind of a déjà vu symptom. The album is supposed to offer, according to the enclosed booklet, an amalgam of Classical Music, Folklore and Jazz. There is Classical music in abundance, there are some Folkloristic motifs, but there is certainly no Jazz at all, as there is obviously no improvisation involved since all the music is strictly written. This of course is not a problem by itself, but simply an unnecessary confusion. Obviously the album has its positive sides as well: a profound European aesthetics, wonderful performances by all five musicians, who are obviously virtuosic players, an excellent recording and sound quality and elegant packaging that includes informative bilingual liner notes. Overall this is a well done and original presentation of contemporary Polish Classical Music, which can be enjoyed by many Classical Music connoisseurs anywhere in the world and serve as a wonderful calling card of Polish Culture.

Updated: 22/11/2016Posted: 22/11/2016

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ ATOMSPHERE KAYAX 087 (Barcode: 5907678818454) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the 3rd album by the Polish string quartet called Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and successful music ensembles on the local scene in the last half-decade, which comprises of violinists Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. Recorded a couple of years after its predecessor, this album, spread over two CDs, presents twelve new original compositions (five by Lenczowski, two by Smoczynski, two by Lubowicz, two by Zaborski and one co-composed by all of them), two compositions by Polish contemporary Classical composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist (arranged by Lenczowski) and finally one by legendary Polish Jazz violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist (arranged by Smoczynski). Musically this album more or less follows the same pattern already established by its predecessors, with the quartet walking the rope between Jazz influenced pieces and more "serious" Classically influenced pieces, somehow managing to keep the two quite diverse trends to merge and coexist. They are all obviously extremely talented musicians and composers, virtuosi performers and great entertainers, but at this point of their existence the question if their novelty and extraordinary abilities are enough to keep them going? Perhaps the decision to release a double album was a bit hasty as the material, as good as it is, is certainly not diverse enough to justify a two CD extravaganza. Perhaps a single CD of more simmered down, distilled and self-censored material would have worked better? On the other hand these young people have obviously a lot to say and feel an urge to share their musical discoveries with a large audience, which is perfectly fine. They can, after all, play extremely well and the string wizardry is always exciting. Personally after listening to this double album several times I still can´t grasp exactly why I feel a bit disappointed? Perhaps the feeling of déjà vu is to blame; in any case I am sure that many listeners will find this album very satisfying. I still hope these young people have more in them that shown herein.

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted:

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ ESSENCE REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2022/24 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022 This is the 8th album by Polish ensemble Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, a string quartet comprising of violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, which is the world leading string quartet combining Jazz and Classical Music. The album presents ten original compositions, all by the quartet members, composed between 2010 and 2016. The album was not released through common distribution and can only be obtained during the quartet’s concerts or bought directly from the label that released it. The album is a kind of summary of the quartet’s decade long activity and presents mostly compositions, that were already recorded by the quartet on their earlier albums, like “PlacesFind albums with this title” and “AtomsphereFind albums with this title”, except three compositions that appear here for the first time as quartet performances, all newly arranged and performed with the benefit of a decade of experience and afterthought. There is no doubt that Atom String Quartet managed to establish a unique position for their music not only on the Polish scene, but internationally as well, primarily because it unites four exceptional instrumental virtuosi, who are able to interact telepathically, but also because of the incredible level of compositions these four individuals are capable of creating. If this is not enough to make them stand out, they also manage to combine the worlds of Jazz and Classical Music in such brilliant way, that it sounds like a natural amalgam of the two quite distant universes. Classical structures and harmonies swing perfectly to Jazzy rhythms and phrasing, and every note falls exactly in its perfect place. It is also important to emphasize the great respect the members of the quartet treat Polish musical tradition with, both Classical and Folklore, shades of which are clearly perceptible within their music. The Polish melancholy and sublime lyricism are felt strongly throughout this music, and they are heart melting. Overall, although the material on this album is not new per se, and is a kind of “best of” compilation (well, an oxymoron of sorts, as it is already the best), it offers absolutely wondrous music and heavenly performances, which can move the souls of stones. I cannot imagine any music lover on this globe to stay emotionless when this music is playing, so although it’s not going to be easy, grab a copy of this treasure!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 24/03/2022

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ FADE IN KAYAX 050 (Barcode: 5907678818096) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz string quartet called Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, comprising of violinists Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, which introduced a novel and revolutionary concept on the local scene combining the Classical Chamber music tradition and Jazz. The violin has been used in Jazz over the years, although not nearly often enough as this noble instrument truly deserves, but a concept of a string quartet which plays improvised music is actually pretty rare and has but a few parallels worldwide. The album was recorded live at Polish Radio Katowice and presents ten compositions, one of which is a standard, two are arrangements of compositions by the Godfather of Polish Jazz Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and the rest are original compositions: two each by Lenczowski and Zaborski, one each by Lubowicz and Smoczynski and the remaining one co-composed by Lenczowski and Smoczynski. The initial impact of this music is quite overwhelming, especially to listeners who are familiar with Classical music or Chamber music in particular, in parallel to their Jazz exposure. The string quartet is the "holy grail" of Classical music and such unconventional usage of the quartet as heard herein is truly surprising at first. But as the music takes the listener further and further into this unique world of sound, a transformation occurs from surprise and awe into joy and delight. Hearing a string quartet swing is an unearthly experience, recommended to every Classical music lover. Of course all four individual members of the quartet display virtuosic abilities and their combined performance is nothing short of amazing. Since they don´t play Classical Chamber music it is impossible and improper to compare them to those quartets which do so. Atom String Quartet is a class in itself and until another quartet arrives doing what they do, which is highly improbable, they are safe from comparisons. Since the music is mostly original, the quartet also has a lot to offer on the compositional platform, which is yet another aspect of their strength. They manage to bring forward a diverse scope of musical influences in their original compositions, not only from Classical music but also from Jazz and even Rock (Lenczowski is also a gifted Jazz-Rock / Fusion guitarist), which make their program interesting and full of unexpected surprises. There is no doubt that this is an exceptional album, which breaks new ground and opens new possibilities and yet comes from deep respect of existing musical tradition. Events like this are very rare and therefore they should be celebrated accordingly by all music connoisseurs. One can only hope that this music will reach listeners beyond the local Polish scene, as it so much deserves.

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ PENDERECKI FILHARMONIA SZCZECIN 008 (Barcode: 602508182679) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 Despite the fact that the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist is one of the most household names on the Polish music scene in the last decade since their inception in 2010, this is surprisingly only the 6th album released under the quartet´s moniker. However, the still relatively young members of the quartet: violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, already amassed a most impressive recording legacy of over thirty albums, covering a broad stylistic range, in which they participated either individually or collectively, and which is a most impressive achievement for just one decade by any standard. The essence of the Atoms (as the quartet is fondly referred to by the locals) is perhaps mostly characterized by the dichotomy (imaginary of not) between their Classical roots and other musical idioms, Jazz in particular, in which they were involved with so far. This album is not their first encounter with contemporary Polish Classical Music of course and followers of the Atoms are already familiar with their treatments of works by Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist, but at the same time also with their interpretations of music by Polish Jazz Giants such as Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist or Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, not ignoring the original compositions by the quartet members, which often dance on the thin wire stretched over the chasm dividing "serious" music from the rest of the world. Polish Jazz and the musicians involved with the genre display an obvious obsession with Polish Classical Music, by far more evident and noticeable than any other local European Jazz scene. One might speculate if this is a result of the inferiority complex, which many Jazz musicians suffer from, cultivated by the music education establishment ruled by Classical Music fanatics, or by the love of Polish musical tradition (your guess is as good as mine), but the fact is that the amount of Polish Jazz albums dealing with music of Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist (just as an example) is staggering if not to say ridiculous. Maestro Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist is of course quite a different pair of galoshes; his brilliant music is always challenging and intricate, and the fact that some of the Polish Jazz musicians are willing to tackle this difficult subject is a proof not only of their phenomenal technical / virtuosic skills but more importantly their intellectual faculties. The first serious and a most passionate treatment of Penderecki´s work was undertaken in the recordings by Polish Jazz pianist Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. PianohooliganFind albums by this artist), such as "Experiment: PendereckiFind albums with this title" or "24 Preludes & ImprovisationsFind albums with this title", and this album is a most welcome follow up on the same ambitious path. The music selected for this album concentrates mostly on early works (from 1950s and 1960s but also more recent compositions), chamber and solo pieces for wind instruments and the lovely music composed for the 1965 Polish movie "The Saragossa Manuscript" (which I remember seeing in the cinema accompanied by the leading actor Zbigniew CybulskiFind albums by this artist, who smuggled me in – I was under aged then). All the string arrangements were done by the quartet members of course. The decision to concentrate on the early works, which obviously are less Avant-Garde oriented than the Maestro´s later compositions, and also less grandiose, is one of factors contributing to success of the project. Obviously the huge scale orchestral works would have been almost impossible to transcribe onto the string quartet format, or perhaps the Atoms plan further explorations of Penderecki´s music, which will cover later works. The future will tell. One might ponder if this music has any relationship to Jazz? Well, on the face of it, there is very little, if anything, that might strike a Jazz fan as "familiar". The arrangements are kept well within the Classical Music idiom, staying authentic and close to the source, with no obvious improvisation element, which is considered crucial for Jazz. But when examined more closely the music is definitely Jazzy in spirit even if less so in body, which means that this music crosses the genre boundaries in the listener´s head rather than within the recorded notes. Confused? Great! Overall, this is definitely a beautiful piece of Art, divinely conceived and executed by Masters of the trade. Sublime music and musicianship of the highest class and above all uncompromising and challenging and yet accessible to any open minded music lover. Of course one expects nothing less from the Atoms these days, which is the price to be paid for Fame and Glory. As somebody who stood behind these wonderful musicians from day one and every step of the way, it is enormously satisfying to see them being able to grow continuously and stay forever restless. God speed!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 21/09/2019

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ PLACES KAYAX 049 (Barcode: 5907678818089) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the 2nd album by the Polish Jazz string quartet called Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, comprising of violinists Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, which introduced a novel and revolutionary concept on the local scene combining the Classical Chamber music tradition and Jazz. Following the debut album recorded live, this is their first studio effort and it includes ten pieces, with just one originating outside the quartet (Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist´s "Spain"); the rest are all originals: four by Lenczowski, two by Zaborski, one each by Lubowicz and Smoczynski and the remaining one co-composed by Smoczynski and Lenczowski. The album was recorded at the Polish Radio studios in Warsaw and mastered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist at his Studio Tokarnia, as usual with spectacular sonic results. Following the spectacular debut, which took the local scene by surprise, the approach on this album is quite different. This album is much more concentrated on the compositions rather that the virtuosic performances and the element of novelty which dominated its predecessor. The album presents a "concept" of the relationship between music and the place it originates from, trying to show the different and the similar at the same time. Therefore many folkloristic themes from all over Europe appear here as part of the milieu, including of course the beautiful Polish melancholy, which is omnipresent in music originating from Poland. This World Music tendency takes this album a bit further away from Jazz, at least conceptually. As expected, the individual performances are nothing short of sublime, and the entire album is a deeply moving listening experience. However, listeners familiar with their debut might miss the "spark" and "spontaneity", which was so evident there and which were replaced here by careful planning, maturity and eloquent elegance. It is therefore almost impossible to compare these two albums, as they in fact present the different facets of the same group. Listeners longing for the lively approach of the debut will have to see the group live or perhaps wait for the next live recording. For me the most important and meaningful aspect of this album is the progress in the quality and strength of the compositions, which start to become identifiable with the ensemble, which of course is an important step forward. Once the quartet develops its true individual musical identity (overcoming the fact that the music comes form four individual members), they will reach the apex of their development. For now we are presented with another excellent album by one of the most intriguing music ensembles in contemporary music, which is definitely not only a great listening experience but also a victory of quality and intelligent music over our mundane "cultural" encounters in real life. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted:

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ SEIFERT ZBIGNIEW SEIFERT FOUNDATION 1 (Barcode: 5907222048009) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the 4th album by the prominent Polish string quartet called Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, this is a tribute to the iconic Polish Jazz violinist / composer Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, presenting ten of Seifert´s original compositions and one composition by Lubowicz, inspired by a Seifert composition. Of the eleven pieces on the album, eight are performed by the entire string quartet, one is a duo performance by Zaborski and Lenczowski and two are solo violin performances, one each by Smoczynski and Lubowicz. The Polish Jazz violin school is experiencing a tremendous renaissance in the last decade or so, with renewed interest in the violin as a Jazz instrument and numerous young players popping out like mushrooms after the rain, all in a frenzy of recording and concert activity. The biennial International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin Competition also adds to the overall effect. The life and career of Seifert, tragically cut short by illness, is an important founding stone of modern Polish / European Jazz, and the admiration of his music is fully justified not only by its legendary status, but most importantly by its superb musical depth. For someone familiar with Seifert´s music, like me, the string quartet arrangements of his music sound somewhat eccentric, at least at the first encounter. Hearing this music without its rhythmic layer, which was always very important in Seifert´s case, takes time to get used to and requires patience and open mindedness. The intricate aspects of the music and its aesthetic idiosyncrasies are far from being trivial and in their transformed appearance are even more elusive and multifaceted. In short the quartet´s interpretation of Seifert´s music is definitely challenging and less immediately striking than the original, which obviously enhances the entire experience of listening to this album. As expected, the music is executed with the outmost care and sheer virtuosity, which easily explains the revered status of the quartet. Both individually and as an ensemble, Atom String Quartet are simply magnificent from start to finish. This album, in view of its challenges and rigorous outline, proves to be the quartet´s best recording to date as far as I am concerned. The limitations created by the repertoire turned out to be an asset and the quartet emerges victorious from the obvious challenge. Overall this is a magnificent album, which deserves repeated listening and can definitely be considered as a commendable tribute to Seifert´s music and his legendary legacy, full of love and respect beautifully combined. Hats off gentlemen!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 06/07/2017

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ UNIVERSUM WARNER MUSIC POLAND 5054197808319 (Barcode: 5054197808319) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2024 This is the 9th album by Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (ASQ), which comprises of violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents four string quartets, each of which was composed by one of the quartet members. Although the music is strictly composed, the spirit of it reflects the unique attitude of the quartet, which constantly floats between composed and improvised music, creating a well-earned association with Jazz-Classical Fusion, which is omnipresent on this album as well. Followers of the quartet’s thirteen years long recording legacy will probably not be surprised by the music this album presents, despite the fact that it consists of four full-length string quartets, signaling a Classical connection of unprecedented scale and scope. But in fact the music is completely and utterly unique and way beyond what one expects to hear in a Classical string quartet, even in the contemporary / modern ones. The spirit of freedom, fantasy and wild imagination prevails for the entire duration, refusing to stick to any “rules” prescribed by Classical Music theory, including even a strong notion of improvisation, if not de facto then surely in spiritu. The music, with its wonderfully rich melodic content and fascinating diversity, serves as ideal vehicle to showcase the incredible virtuosity of these musicians, both as individuals and even more importantly as a collective ensemble. The perfect balance they manage to achieve at all time, the interplay and collaboration, are all absolutely breathtaking, which results in ASQ achieving the well-earned position at the absolute worldwide top of string quartet Artistry. The music offers an incredible richness of Polish musical traditions, both Classical and Folkloristic, which are reflected throughout. Deep lyricism and underlying melancholy are spiced with rhythmic modernism and harmony, and although the music was composed by four quite dissimilar composers, it works perfectly together, keeping the listener on edge with dramatic passages and underlying tension. Overall, this is another brilliant addition to the ASQ recording legacy, which holds a unique position on the Polish / European music scene, clearly marking their position at the very top. Although the music is strictly composed, it holds for me clear elements of Jazz, such as swing and freedom, which are omnipresent in their music since its inception. Superbly recorded, breathtakingly performed and overwhelmingly beautiful, this is a musical nectar of the Gods.

Updated: 01/03/2024Posted: 01/03/2024

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ATOM STRING QUARTET / NFM LEOPOLDINUM ORCHESTRA ~ SUPERNOVA NFM 48 (Barcode: 5902176502447) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the 5th album by the Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. On this album they cooperate with the NFM Leopoldinum OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Christian DanowiczFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live and presents eight tracks, seven of which were composed by members of the quartet and one was composed by Hanna Kulenty-MajoorFind albums by this artist. The music follows the pattern, which the quartet already perfected in the past, combining composed classical oriented music with a degree of improvisation during the performance. It is sound-wise one of the most “strictly” classical albums recorded by the quartet so far, but the compositions, as usual, travel wide and far from the accepted norms and patterns of Classical Music, offering new aesthetic approaches, uneven rhythmic meters and unconventional harmonies, which are of course the quartet’s trademarks. The level of performance by the quartet and the orchestra are absolutely breathtaking and the complex and highly sophisticated music sounds completely coherent and approachable thanks to these outstanding musicians. The music is certainly demanding to some extent, and might perhaps require more than just one listening session to get into, but the effort is certainly worth it, as this is surely some of the most innovative and artistically pleasing 21st Century music that I had the pleasure to listen to. The level of interplay between the quartet members is one of their greatest merits, and here it is enhanced by collaboration with the orchestra, which also works like magic. Overall, this is another brilliant piece of music created by the Atom String Quartet, which, as all of their other albums, is a must in any serious music collection, as they are completely unique and innovative. In just over a decade the ASQ managed to record an enormous amount of superb music, unparalleled on the World scale. It is a pity this album is rather difficult to find ant it took six years to arrive on my desk – but as usual, better late than never, as it was absolutely worth the wait!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 27/06/2024

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ATOM STRING QUARTET / SZCZECIN PHILHARMONIC WIND QUARTET ~ KARLOWICZ RECOMPOSED FILHARMONIA SZCZECIN 015 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the 7th album by the Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, recorded in cooperation with the Szczecin Philharmonic Wind QuartetFind albums by this artist, dedicated to the compositions by Polish Classical composer Mieczyslaw KarlowiczFind albums by this artist, concentrating on his songs for voice and piano, which he composed to poems by Polish Romantic Poets and poets of the Young Poland movement like Kazimierz Przerwa-TetmajerFind albums by this artist. The eleven songs presented on the album have been arranged and / or “recomposed” by the members of the Atom String Quartet: violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. The beautifully melodic and deeply romantic original music by Karlowicz, which is saturated with Polish Folklore, was transposed quite dramatically into contemporary musical environment, brilliantly using the balance between the string quartet, which improvises and plays polyrhythmically, and the wind quartet which faithfully represents the original compositions, allowing the string quartet members to create the magic, which they do ever so gracefully. The arrangements and the performances are all brilliant from start to finish, creating a superb listening experience, which the Atom String Quartet followers expect time after time and which so far the quartet managed to deliver without a hitch, which by itself is an unprecedented success. Although the music on this album has only limited direct links with Jazz, the spirit of Jazz is of course present here, as on all their albums, with the spirit of Freedom and Creativity at the helm. It is quite an unusual album in their recording legacy, but on the other hand there is no such thing as a “normal” album when the Atom String Quartet involved. Overall this is a masterful piece of Polish / European music, which pays tribute to the Cultural legacy and manages to remain contemporary and up to date. Brilliant music and breathtaking performance skills leave absolutely no prisoners. Hats off!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 08/07/2021

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GRAZYNA AUGUSCIK ORCHESTAR ~ INSPIRED BY LUTOSLAWSKI FOR TUNE 0044 (Barcode: 5902768701470) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This extraordinary album is a superb example of intelligent contemporary music, which is completely unlimited by the imaginary bounds set up by genres and other labeling concepts. Polish vocalist Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist embarked on this ambitious project with the help of some of the most important musicians on the Polish scene, who cover a wide scope of stylistic spheres including Classical Music, Folklore and Jazz, all of which have been already visited by her during her prolific career. The music combines Polish Folk songs and the work of the esteemed Polish modern Classical composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist, which were based on or inspired by Polish Folklore. Lutoslawski, like all the composers living and working behind the Iron Curtain, was forced (directly or indirectly) by the regimes ruling Eastern Europe at the time, to include folkloristic motives in his compositions, often completely artificially and against all aesthetic or compositional reasoning. The refusal to do so would effectively mean an artistic ban by the authorities and in extreme cases political persecution. The compositions included here were created by Lutoslawski in the 1950s, the most oppressive period in the Socialist era, and for many years thereafter were considered as his less important and definitely less appreciated works. However, in retrospect the composer´s genius obviously overcame the obstacles and this music turns out to be a completely relevant component of his grand legacy. Auguscik combined forces with the brilliant keyboardist / composer / arranger Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, who was entrusted with the enormous task of arranging all the music, both the Classical and Folklore pieces, and than participate in the recording, as well as being the sound engineer, since the recording took place in his now legendary Studio Tokarnia, with spectacular sonic results, as usual in his case. In many respects this album is as much a credit to Auguscik as it is to Jan Smoczynski. The research of the Polish Folklore as well as the leadership of the ensemble performing the folk songs was left in the hands of violinist Janusz PrusinowskiFind albums by this artist. Overall twelve musicians take part in the entire project in addition to Auguscik, who sings the lead vocals: the Jan Smoczynski Trio (with bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist, drummer Tomasz WaldowskiFind albums by this artist and vocalist Sylwia SmoczynskaFind albums by this artist), the Janusz Prusinowski Trio (with clarinetist Michal ZakFind albums by this artist, percussionist Piotr PiszczatowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Piotr ZgorzelskiFind albums by this artist) and Poland´s most celebrated string quartet, the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). The album comprises of twelve pieces (and a radio edit bonus), ranging from "pure" folklore songs, which were the original songs upon which Lutoslawski based his compositions, to more arranged pieces of folk songs and Lutoslawski´s pieces performed by the ensemble and finally to a quite Jazzy songs based on folkloristic motifs. In spite of the variety and wealth of the musical material the album creates a coherent and aesthetically pleasing outcome, which is a music connoisseur´s wet dream. The beautiful arrangements, passionate performance and depth of respect for the Polish musical tradition and legacy are all combined herein with truly spectacular results. Auguscik takes a step back from the limelight on this album, preferring to play the role of an integrator rather than the leading person. She sings beautifully, as always, but with less spectacular attitude, almost leaving out completely her Jazzy improvisations and vocalese acrobatics, which are her trademarks. This is a very courageous artistic decision, for which she deserves a lot of respect. There is no doubt that this is definitely one of the most important and beautiful albums released in Poland in 2014, a "complete" multi-layered, multi-faced effort involving the talents of many wonderful musicians and setting a golden standard for future projects, which will be very difficult to match end even more so to rise above. Polish music scene and Polish Culture is glorified by this project, which should make all Poles proud. Being realistic, however, it will probably reach only e very limited scope of listeners, which of course is tragic. My deepest thanks to everybody involved in this project for the pleasure it causes to this humble listener.

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BESTER QUARTET ~ PIAZZOLLA ANGELS FOR TUNE 0153 (Barcode: 5906395808687) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the twelfth album (second on For TuneFind albums on this label Records) by Polish ensemble Bester QuartetFind albums by this artist, formed in 1997 by accordionist / composer Jaroslaw BesterFind albums by this artist as Cracow Klezmer BandFind albums by this artist. The current lineup also includes violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist (see Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist), bassist Maciej AdamczakFind albums by this artist and drummer Ryszard PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, eight of which are compositions by Astor PiazzollaFind albums by this artist and one by Carlos GardelFind albums by this artist, the most famous Tango singer of all time and composer of several famous Tangos. All the music is arranged by Bester. Considering the fact that all eleven albums recorded by Bester before this one were one way another connected to the Polish “Jewish” / “Klezmer” tradition, the sudden move towards the Argentinean Tango is quite a surprising one. In the liner notes of the album Bester describes his long fascination with the music of Astor Piazzolla and, as far as I understand, it was the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which made him realize it is now or never to turn his dream into reality. Since I am pretty familiar with many interpretations of Piazzolla’s music, especially those by musicians connected with Jazz, I am happy to say that Bester manages to avoid the worse possible traps connected with such projects. First and foremost, the refuses to mimic or copy Piazzolla’s music and try to sound like a genuine Tango musician, which of course is simply impossible. He takes a lot of liberties with the original music, admittedly all in in good taste, transporting it into much more European Jazz flavored environment and even a modest smile. The resulting music is obviously clearly infused with Piazzolla’s spirit but has its own aesthetics. Although Bester’s accordion sounds still similar to the sound of the bandoneon, the violin parts are full of European lyricism deeply rooted in Classical music, and the rhythm section adds the Jazzy spice to the proceedings, which is completely absent in the Tango idiom, which uses guitar and piano all absent here. Even the “Funky” mandolin works fine ;) Of course one might question these liberties, but as long as Bester is not claiming to play like Piazzolla, but only submit to his magic and insert his own interpretation, for me these liberties work well and are not offending or sacrilegious. Combined with the superb musicianship this album boasts with, I’d say that there is very little of “not to like” here. Piazzolla’s genius is so overwhelming, that it manages to withstand much more abusive treatment than what was applied here. Overall, this is a pleasant, beautifully played and recorded tribute to one of the greatest geniuses of 20th Century music, which comes here with a Polish “twist”, which I find quite entertaining and tasteful, and which is surely one of Bester’s best achievements so far.

Updated: 15/12/2021Posted: 10/12/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CUP OF TIME ~ PLAYS NAMYSLOWSKI DUX 1101 (Barcode: 5902547011011) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This album by Polish ensemble Cup Of TimeFind albums by this artist, which comprises of four classically trained musicians: flautist Ryszard BorowskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Agnieszka CyprykFind albums by this artist, accordionist Rafal GrzakaFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist (of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist fame), is a tribute to one of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist. The ensemble, founded in 2008, is associated with the Jazz-Classical Fusion, or what they describe (incorrectly of course) as "third stream", which tries to incorporate classical music approach with Jazz compositions, but is involved with other types of music as well. This album presents thirteen compositions, eight of which are by Namyslowski, including some of his iconic tunes, representing his career over time. Of the five additional compositions, two are folk tunes, one is composed by Polish composer Grazyna BacewiczFind albums by this artist and the remaining are one each by Lenczowski and Borowski. Namyslowski himself plays saxophone on those five tunes, which are not his compositions, transforming the quartet into a quintet. Although personally I´m quite fond of Jazz-Classical projects, this one sadly falls into the category of good ideas that eventually simply fail to deliver. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why, but the beautiful music of Namyslowski, which is magical in the Jazz environment, loses most of its magic and charm when transformed into seemingly elegant and polished classical setting. This newly created version of the music simply lacks the essential qualities which characterize Jazz, even when combined with other musical genres, the most important of which is of course swing. This music simply does not swing at all, and if it ain´t got that swing… Of course the quartet members are all first rate musicians and the album is well recorded, but even Namyslowski´s saxophone parts, which are wonderfully played as usual, don´t manage to break the spell of estrangement and certain sterility that dominates these proceedings. Even a glass of red wine did not help – this music, as far as I am concerned, if not fun to listen to nor is it intellectually challenging enough to be enjoyable. But of course other listeners might think differently.

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AGA DERLAK ~ PARALLEL NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Aga DerlakFind albums by this artist, recorded in a septet setting with trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist, drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist and vocalist Basia DerlakFind albums by this artist. The septet is further expanded by the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by Aga Derlak. Following two albums recorded in a classic Jazz piano trio setting, this album is a giant step forward (pun intended) in Derlak’s career, which takes her right into the “serious” league, with complex compositions and elaborate arrangements for an ensemble of eleven musicians, all of which requires not only a lot of work and talent, but also courage to undertake such an adventurous and risky enterprise. I am happy to say that despite my initial concern, she manages to pull it off without a hitch. The music is quite diverse and moves between song oriented parts with the vocals up front, extended instrumental passages spiced with soloing, orchestral movements with the strings parts dominating the proceedings, in short an ever changing stream of aural explorations, which keeps the listener on edge. Aga’s piano is omnipresent, supplying the harmonic and melodic compass to the entire enterprise and she solos sparingly, which is not surprising, considering how much is happening on this album almost at any moment. She weaves beautiful, romantic melodies, which are ideal for the songs (the lyrics of which remain uncredited), which are beautifully performed by Basia, who also offers some lovely vocalese parts, which are used somewhat in the background in instrumental capacity. The brass players offer some excellent soli, with Malek being as always the romantic heartbreaking champion, and the saxophonists moving more into somewhat more advanced Jazz areas. The rhythm section is as perfect as can be, despite the fact that I personally have a problem with the dry and muffled sound of the drums (not the playing, just the sound), which unfortunately seems to be the latest fashion, but of course this is a minor issue and a matter of taste. Overall, this is a wonderful Jazz album, which offers a capsule of contemporary European Jazz aesthetics, with great instrumental work, vocals and string arrangements, all coherently combined and balanced, and of course a set of great compositions. Hats off Aga for your vision and the stamina to make it happen. You have earned my respect and the well-deserved position on the Polish Jazz scene, which nobody can deny.

Updated: 19/08/2023Posted: 19/08/2023

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CEZARIUSZ GADZINA / ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ THE FIFTH ELEMENT TAK 15002 (Barcode: 5905669373005) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This album presents a meeting between Polish (resident in Belgium) saxophonist / composer Cezariusz GadzinaFind albums by this artist and Poland´s premiere string ensemble, the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eleven pieces, seven of which were composed by Gadzina, three are co-composed by all five participating musicians and one was composed by Lenczowski. Gadzina has been active for years on the Jazz-Classical Fusion field and therefore the music on this album is exactly his "cup of tea". The association with Atom String Quartet is of course ideal for such kind of project. The music, which is beautifully melodic, mostly full of the archetypal Polish melancholy and lyricism, is a superb example of the cross-genre approach to music, combining elements of Classical harmony and arrangement, Jazz improvisation and Folkloristic musical themes. Most importantly, this is one of the cases where all these elements amalgamate completely naturally, in contrast to many similar projects where they are forcefully and clashingly put together. Gadzina and the "Atoms", as they are often referred to on the Polish scene, seem to be fused together into a symbiotic ensemble. The soprano saxophone is tonally pretty close to the string instruments and fits the bill ideally. There is also an obvious camaraderie between the musicians, which can be felt in the relaxed and cooperative atmosphere, which is reflected by the music making, This album is full of unexpected twists and turns, unusual sounds produced by the instruments and above all by the obvious level of talent and dedication by the participants. In many respects this is one of the highlights of the "Atoms" recorded legacy so far, stronger and more cohesive than some of their quartet recordings. Whatever the listener chooses to hear in this music: the contemporary Classical elements, the fascinating musical layers or the Jazzy improvisations, or perhaps all of those and more, this is definitely an excellent album which should satisfy even the most demanding connoisseurs. I can therefore do nothing else but to recommend it wholeheartedly!

Updated: 19/02/2016Posted: 19/02/2016

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LUKASZ GOREWICZ ~ THE STRING OF HORIZONS BIG FLOW 02 (Barcode: 5904730520010) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is a very interesting solo album by Polish violinist / composer Lukasz GorewiczFind albums by this artist, a prolific figure on the local scene primarily known as a member of the Ecstasy ProjectFind albums by this artist ensemble, but also as author of and participant in many other ventures. On this album, which is performed solely by Gorewicz playing all the instruments, he presents nine original instrumental pieces, the last of which is added as a bonus track. The music is a beautiful mixture of diverse influences, ranging between Classical Music, improvisation and Ambient atmospheric vistas, resulting in a very introvert, deeply melancholic and minimalist pieces, which develop slowly and create a deep sensation of tension and even apprehension, in spite of their subdued intensity. In many respects this music sounds like a soundtrack of an imaginary horror film. Gorewicz plays mostly the violin, which is the most dominant instrument on this album, but he also uses the piano to create a frame of reference for the prolonged violin improvisations and electronics to create some rhythmic patterns and to extend the sonic range of the overall result. This music needs quite a lot of concentration and attentive listening to expose all of its depth and hidden beauty. Although it tends to create a sensation of standstill and little development, in fact it moves along at all times, even when frequently slowed down and almost silenced to a whisper. This technique, which involves playing with the dynamics and changing the tempi, is extremely effective, although not always easy to follow or to enjoy at first. This album is definitely one of the most ambitious and original statements on the Polish musical scene of 2015, but its complexity and intrinsic oddity will make it difficult to achieve a wide popularity, which is sadly the story of all valuable creations. Nevertheless Gorewicz manages to make an uncompromising personal statement, which is here to stay and proves his maturity and obvious talent both as a virtuosic violinist and notable composer. Although every Polish violinist who uses improvisation is almost automatically adopted to the famous Polish Jazz violin school, personally I think Gorewicz, except for the slight similarity to Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, is not a typical Jazz violinist but rather a member of a new Polish Jazz violin school, which is much closer to Classical Music, like the two violinists of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist for example. Overall this is an album definitely worthy of exploration and should delight ambitious music listeners, who have enough patience and open mindedness to embrace it.

Updated: 13/04/2016Posted: 13/04/2016

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AGNIESZKA HEKIERT ~ STORIES UNIVERSAL 028947651475 (Barcode: 028947651475) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 Polish Jazz vocalist / composer Agnieszka HekiertFind albums by this artist, who combines the careers of a vocalist and a successful vocal coach for TV reality shows, released this album eight years after her last release called "Night And Day SwingFind albums with this title", which she recorded with the pianist / composer Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist and his trio. In the meantime she also recorded the "European ImpressionsFind albums with this title" album with my dear friend, the great Polish saxophonist / composer Leszek ZadloFind albums by this artist, which unfortunately remains unreleased so far. From that session she carried over the Bulgarian pianist / composer Konstantin KostovFind albums by this artist (who studied with another friend of mine, the Russian pianist / composer Leonid TschischikFind albums by this artist, now living and teaching in Germany), who is her closest collaborator on this album. The other musicians, who constitute the piano trio on this album, are bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Guest appearances also include Herdzin on flute (yes I smiled too), vocalist Kuba BadachFind albums by this artist and the superb Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The album includes twelve songs, four of which are Kostov / Hekiert originals, another four are by Hekiert or feature her lyrics, one is a standard, one is a song by StingFind albums by this artist, another one by Polish vocalist KayahFind albums by this artist and the last of mysterious Far East source (sic!); overall quite a mishmash of styles and influences, which are unified by the arrangements (the arranger is not listed) and excellent performances by the piano trio. Kostov is a brilliant player, which is evident both on his solo spots and his skillful accompaniment, and so are of course veterans Kubiszyn and Konrad. Hekiert is a talented vocalist, singing lyrics and vocalese with obvious ease and technical proficiency. Most of the vocals are in Polish, which of course is highly commendable, with few exceptions, which are unfortunately less impressive. Overall the vocal parts are kept within very safe limits of mainstream Jazz, which is somewhat lacking, as she obviously could have taken a few more risks and less obvious choices. Perhaps the fact that the album was released by Universal signifies an attempt to produce a much wider accessible music? In any case compared to some truly exciting vocal albums released in 2012 in Poland, this one sadly does not challenge any of them. Connoisseurs of vocal Jazz will find this a pleasant listening experience, with excellent instrumental parts and professional vocal performances, no less and no more.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

RENATA IRSA ~ CZERWONA SPODNICA SOLITON 1190 (Barcode: 5903684231904) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2019 - 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by Polish vocalist / songwriter Renata IrsaFind albums by this artist recorded with a spectacular team of Polish Jazz musicians, which include the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, pianists Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, Artur JurekFind albums by this artist and Canadian John RoneyFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaroslaw StokowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Grzegorz LewandowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarists Maciek PyszFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof PaulFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Piotr SzlempoFind albums by this artist and Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist. Actor Miroslaw BakaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents twelve songs, eleven of which are original compositions by Roney (2), Jurek (3), Jurek & Irsa (4) and Miszk (2) and one is a standard. Irsa wrote the lyrics to the original songs, all in Polish except one in English. The album, from the very onset, is absolutely amazing, offering a dazzling amalgam of superbly composed songs and brilliant, highly intelligent, witty and humorous, and above all very personal lyrics, which can hardly be found within the Polish Jazz vocal scene lately. Although Irsa’s lyrics are not poetry per se, at least not formally, I personally think they are, and therefore the album easily falls within my favorite Jazz & Poetry idiom. What is poetry after all if not an expression of deeply personal observations, captured in a frame of words, and these lyrics do exactly that. It is a rare occasion when a collection of songs on an album consists of a coherent continuity, with each of the songs fitting perfectly to the ones preceding and following it, despite the diversity of stylistic approaches and arrangements, but Irsa manages to pull this off as well. There are no weak songs here, and each one seems to be simply irreplaceable. The vocal abilities Irsa displays here are also quite remarkable. She floats somewhere between singing and reciting the lyrics, with every syllable and every word clearly articulated and audible, and the whole always telling a story, which is believable and deeply personal. Well, these are her lyrics after all, and she knows exactly what to do with them. Accompanied by a collection of seasoned Jazz musicians, who know exactly how to play the right notes every time, she does not have to worry about what is happening behind her and is able to concentrate on her vocal parts. Her delivery is often wonderfully “old fashioned”, which is meant as a compliment here, with a close association to cabaret and on stage coquetry, and which is all charming. Combined with the excellent sound quality this album offers, it is an unadulterated piece of joy. Even the album’s elegant artwork and booklet with the lyrics are carefully designed and fit the entire picture perfectly. Overall, this is a wonderful album, exceptionally put together and performed, and a blissful reminder of what Jazz vocals can deliver, when properly done. These songs go directly to the listener’s heart, and are perfect sonic companions for rainy days. Sadly, this is one of the very few Polish Jazz vocal albums released this year that make any sense. Definitely a ray of hope and a superb listening pleasure, which could prove to be a best friend in days of need. Wholehearted recommended of course and hats off Milady for this gift of music!

Updated: 30/12/2021Posted: 30/12/2021

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BODEK JANKE ~ SONG 2 NOT ON LABEL 4260014871218 (Barcode: 4260014871218) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish (resident in Berlin) Jazz drummer / composer Bodek JankeFind albums by this artist recorded in an international quartet setting with Namibian vocalist / guitarist Shishani VranckxFind albums by this artist, Estonian pianist Kristjan RandaluFind albums by this artist and British bassist Phil DonkinFind albums by this artist. The excellent Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist provide the string parts and world class guests: American saxophonist Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist and German trumpeter Sebastian StudnitzkyFind albums by this artist appear on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, five of which are originals (two by Janke and three by Vranckx) and the rest are arrangements of Pop songs. As the title suggests, this album is a continuation of its predecessor called "SongFind albums with this title" released a couple of years earlier. Although basically a Jazz album, the concept it presents is a mixture of inventive and ambitious arrangements of well known Pop songs and original compositions, with the emphasis on transforming the music into way more complex setting than its origins. Not surprisingly, since the leader is a drummer, the most striking feature of the music is a completely idiosyncratic rhythmic / polyrhythmic approach, which takes the music into an entire new dimension. The instrumental performances by all the participants on this album are simply phenomenal. Bodek is the rhythmic machine, which drives the entire ensemble, but the superb piano parts and excellent support by the bassist create a most impressive ambience of pulsating / vibrating musical unity, which sparks with originality. Vranckx adds her warm and somewhat mystical vocals, which bring the depth of African music into the proceedings. The guest stars add the proverbial cherry on top, carefully trying not to steal the show and respectfully naturally expand the ambience. The string arrangements deserve a special mention, not only because they are brilliantly executed, which is hardly surprising, but mostly due to their perfect fit to the core of the music, and not just an artificial ornamentation. Overall this is a most unusual and highly fascinating album, which requires repeated attentive listening sessions in order to truly expose its hidden treasures. It offers strikingly unusual arrangements and brilliant performances, full of aesthetic sophistication and reflecting the best European Jazz has to offer. This music should find a wide range of listeners, who are sure to enjoy its beauty, both within the circles of Jazz connoisseurs and beyond. Wholeheartedly and highly recommended!

Updated: 08/04/2020Posted: 08/04/2020

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ANNA MARIA JOPEK / BRANFORD MARSALIS ~ ULOTNE AMJ 001 (Barcode: 5906395769315) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 - 2017 Released: 2018 Every new release by the Polish Diva Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist is a celebration of Culture and a major musical event on an international scale, especially so when it involves a revered Jazz superstar like saxophonist Branford MarsalisFind albums by this artist. Jopek, famous for her consistent independent Artistic vision, managed to create her own universe, where she does not need to compare or compete with the rest of the world, which enables her complete freedom of expression and self-determination, which only very few Artists worldwide were able to achieve over time. Recording an album with Marsalis was a dream, which Jopek held on to since the time she heard him playing with StingFind albums by this artist, which of course was a huge influence on every true music lover at the time. The incredible chemistry that Sting and Marsalis demonstrated was an extremely tall order to follow, but Jopek never eschewed a challenge and this album proves that the realization of that dream was indeed worthwhile waiting for. The album was recorded during two separate recording sessions, twenty one months apart, which considering the busy schedule that Jopek and Marsalis are both entangled in, is not as surprising as it might sound. The somewhat esoteric group of musicians includes percussionist Mino CineluFind albums by this artist, pianists Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist (who was also in charge of arrangements and conducting) and Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Piotr NazarukFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Polish Folklore Guru Maria PomianowskaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents ten tracks on the "formal" first CD and four additional tracks (one of which is an alternate version of a track on the album) on the "bonus" second CD. The songs are mostly originals, written by Jopek or co-written with her spouse Marcin KydrynskiFind albums by this artist, one song is by Herdzin, one by Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist (see below), one by Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (SkaldowieFind albums by this artist) and one by Harry KandelFind albums by this artist with the rest being originally traditional Polish Folklore songs. Musically the album marks a return to Jopek´s established modus operandi, which combines Polish Folklore and original songwriting, spiced with Jazzy arrangements and of course dominated by her highly original expressionism. The music is deeply soaked in Polish lyricism and melancholy and her decision to sing in the Polish language emphasizes these elements even further. Marsalis plunges into this Slavic environment with vigor and determination, as if Eastern European sensitivities were his second nature, which is quite remarkable. It proves not only his openness and ability to embrace diverse Cultures, but also his incredible musicality, which enables him to feel completely at home in this Slavic musical setting. It also proves, perhaps more importantly, that music is universal, as is human soul, and ethnic boundaries can be crossed and amalgamated on the collective plane. Jopek, Marsalis and all the musicians involved in the recording of this album are of course veteran professionals in addition to their individual Artistic abilities, which results in the music being perfectly and incredibly sensitively executed. This music requires total dedication and every single note played by every musician at every given moment must be precisely articulated to achieve the desired effect. Luckily this team rises to the challenge admirably. The delicate and wonderfully written string arrangements performed by the Atoms add a superbly "angelic" aura to the overall sound and the folkloristic elements by Nazaruk spice the proceedings splendidly. Marsalis plays a series of breathtaking solos throughout the album, exactly as expected of course and Jopek, as always, manages to create goose bumps all over the listener´s body regardless if she sings lyrics or awe-inspiring vocalese. When selecting the material for this album, Jopek requested the permission of Tomasz Stanko to use his beautiful ballad "A Farewell To MariaFind albums with this title", originally used in the soundtrack of a movie of the same name, as she was sure Marsalis would be able to embrace the lyricism of this incredible melody and create a marvelous solo while performing it. She was right of course and this track is definitely one of the highlights of this album, and at the same time it constitutes a mournful tribute to Stanko, who passed away before the album was released. Another interesting piece is the excellent arrangement of the classic Harry Kandel (born in Lwow) Klezmer tune "A Night In The Garden Of Eden", which features Jopek´s hair-raising vocalese. Of course Klezmer music has always been an integral part of the Polish Folklore tapestry, in which the Jewish contribution was invaluable. Overall this album is a Masterpiece from start to finish, which is no news to the numerous Jopek´s fans. There is not one moment on this album, which is not inspirational and eloquent, heartwarming and heartfelt. Both deeply Polish and at the same time universally appealing this music knows no stylistic or Cultural boundaries. It is beautiful and sensitive and at the same time deeply emotional, soul-searching and introspective. In short, this album delivers everything one expects to hear when Great Artists are involved. Thank you, as always, my Dear!

Updated: 08/12/2018Posted: 08/12/2018

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KLIMA / WYLEZOL / KOWALEWSKI ~ LUTOSLAWSKI RETUNED HEVHETIA 0114 (Barcode: 8588005257664) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz trio comprising of clarinetist Szymon KlimaFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist and bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist. Veteran Polish Jazz musician Piotr Baron guests on one track playing bass clarinet. The album´s music was all composed by the contemporary Classical Polish composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist, and includes his five dance preludes (composed in 1954 as a five-parts suite) and a sixth unrelated composition, which was initially published under a pseudonym. What prompted to rearrange (or retune) these composition for a Jazz environment was probably the Lutoslawski Year celebrations in 2013 (his 100 Birthday), which were a big cultural event in Poland and brought the composer to the attention of a much wider audience, including many young Jazz musicians. As a result a long list of Polish Jazz albums, like this one, paid tribute to the great composer; for example "Inspired By LutoslawskiFind albums with this title" by Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist, "BukolikiFind albums with this title" by High Definition QuartetFind albums by this artist, "AtomsphereFind albums with this title" by Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist and many others. The dance preludes suite, which was originally composed for clarinet and piano, was later twice (1955 and 1959) re-orchestrated for larger ensembles, but Klima based his Jazzy approach on the original intimate version, which remains intimate under the new arrangement. As almost always with Lutoslawski, his music is deeply rooted in the Polish Folklore, and these "dances" all bear resemblance of the characteristic folklore melodies and harmonies, at least to people who are acquainted with that music. Klima, both as arranger and player, oscillates between the Classical and the Jazz idioms, as his clarinet tone and phrasing are almost completely Classical whereas his improvised parts are of course Jazz related. Of course Wylezol and Kowalewski are bona fide Jazz musicians, and their contributions have a decisive weight to turn this music into a wonderful Jazz-Classical Fusion. The intimacy of this music, the virtuosi performances, the elegant and respectful treatment of the original inspirations all add up to a superbly balanced and delightful musical adventure, which should prove pleasing and satisfying to all connoisseurs of good music. Hopefully some of the listeners will try to find out how the music sounds in its original Classical incarnations, and perhaps venture into more fabulous music created by Lutoslawski, other might wish to explore other recordings by Wylezol and Kowalewski, also released by the excellent HevhetiaFind albums on this label label. If so everybody wins, both of the Classical and the Jazz enthusiasts. This album is a great example of a cross-genre exploration, which treats the origins with respect and love, creating a new, perfectly valid amalgamation, which manages to preserve the aesthetics of its origins. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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JOACHIM KUHN NEW TRIO / ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ KOMEDA ACT 9972 (Barcode: 614427997227) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by German Jazz pianist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist and his (not so) New Trio with Canadian bassist Chris JenningsFind albums by this artist and drummer Eric SchaeferFind albums by this artist and the Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and violinist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album is dedicated to the music of the Godfather of Polish modern Jazz, pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live at the Berlin Philharmonic, and presents nine tracks, eight of which are Komeda’s compositions and one is a composition by Joachim Kuhn, dedicated to the memory of his older brother (and my Dear Friend) clarinetist / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, who sadly departed almost exactly a year ago. The seeds of this album were planted almost sixty years ago: in December of 1965, the twenty-one years old Joachim Kuhn was invited to take part in the most important East European Jazz festival at the time, the annual Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw, where he performed with his trio. Kuhn, who still lived in East Germany (DDR or GDR) at the time, was considered a prodigy and a rebellious pioneer, playing Free Jazz / Improvised Music, which for some strange combination of political circumstances, was allowed at the epicenter of Eastern Block’s stern Cultural censorship and oppression, similar in many ways to what happened at the time in the neighboring Socialist States, as far as Jazz Music was concerned. In Warsaw, Kuhn met many Polish Jazz musicians, most importantly Krzysztof Komeda, who also performed at the festival with his quintet. Komeda invited Kuhn to attend the recording session for his epic debut album “AstigmaticFind albums with this title”, which was held a couple of days after the quintet’s appearance and recorded at the same Philharmonic Hall. As a result, Kuhn was among the first people to hear the album and even to discuss the music with Komeda shortly after it was recorded. Less than a year later Kuhn would join his older brother in West Germany and later move to Paris and Komeda would leave for Hollywood, where his cinematic career promised to explode, only to be dead, following a tragic accident, by April 1969. Their musical paths never crossed again but, as said earlier, the seeds of this album were planted. The link to the Atom String Quartet, Poland’s most versatile, inventive, prestigious and unique string quartet, is also obvious, following the duo album recorded by Joachim Kuhn and Mateusz Smoczynski in 2019, called “Speaking SoundFind albums with this title”, which evidently planted another seed. I have repeatedly criticized the almost brutal, often opportunistic misuse of Komeda’s music and memory by numerous musicians over the years, which not only did not pay tribute to Komeda’s Genius and revolutionary contribution to European Jazz, but in some cases tarnished it completely. Therefore, it gives me deep pleasure to say that this album beautifully fills all the requirements to serve as an appropriate tribute to Komeda and his legacy. The carefully selected material depicts both the revolutionary aspects of Komeda’s Avant-Garde approach to Jazz, but also reflects his wonderful lyricism and deep Polish melancholy, which are the base of most of Komeda’s cinematic music. The album offers the entire content of “Astigmatic” (three compositions) and the "Roman II" piece as examples, which reflect the former as well as the beautiful ballads from the soundtracks of Roman PolanskiFind albums by this artist’s movies like “Rosemary’s Baby” or “Knife in the Water”, which reflect the latter. The idea of using a string quartet as part of the arrangements of Komeda’s music seemed extremely risky at first, especially being exposed in the past to some horrific attempts in that direction, but upon hearing the result my instinctive reservations melted without a trace. Obviously adding individual string instrument soloing is much more straightforward, but Kuhn’s arrangements skillfully utilize the entire quartet to enhance the dramatic effects of the music. Nevertheless, it takes the extraordinary skills of all four “Atoms” to achieve such a level of fusion, like what can be witnessed herein, which emphasizes their unique capabilities. It seems that Kuhn manages to sound more like Komeda would have liked to sound himself. Komeda’s virtues as a composer and visionary overshadow his role as a piano player and he lacked perhaps the virtuosity and spark as a pianist, which Kuhn certainly has plenty of. As a result, Komeda’s music on this album sounds in many respects more invigorated than ever before, perhaps even elevated to another level by sheer concentration of musical talent and sincerity, which dominates this album. Since I have had the pleasure of hearing every album Kuhn ever recorded, I must say that this album is not only one of his best ever, but also one of his most wholehearted ones. It certainly is a kind of a life circle closure for Kuhn, although I do wish him many more years of successful career and happy life. Overall, this is a monumental recording for the true Jazz enthusiasts and lovers of the genre. Polish Jazz fans will find here an exquisite reminder of their beloved and legendary pioneer, German Jazz fans will discover a little known chapter in Kuhn’s life, which left a significant mark on his future career, European Jazz lovers will find here everything European Jazz stands for: versatility, innovation, pursuit of excellence and aesthetics and true love of all forms of music, and finally for all Jazz lovers, a beacon of true talent, which is eternal and omnipresent. This is an absolutely essential piece of music in every serious music collection!

Updated: 04/08/2023Posted: 04/08/2023

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LESZEK KULAKOWSKI ~ LOOKING AHEAD FOR TUNE 0043 (Barcode: 5902768701524) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 In the last few years preceding the release of this album celebrated Polish Jazz pianist / composer Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist concentrated on producing large orchestral works, which had either no direct connection to Jazz while pushing the boundaries of contemporary Classical idiom or floated somewhere within the Jazz-Classical Fusion, combining the two genres. Therefore this album comes as most welcome return to his Jazz roots. Recorded in a sextet setting with German trumpeter Christoph TitzFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tomasz GrzegorskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr KulakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist, the album presents nine original compositions, all by Leszek Kulakowski. Kulakowski was always first and foremost a superb song-weaver, which is very evident on this album from start to finish. The various melodies are the deepest root of this music, which then gets expanded into the modern mainstream language, floating gently and elegantly from one tune to another, caressed and pampered on its way by the musicians, who add their individual touches. There is plenty of freedom and breathing space within this music to inspire a relaxed, moderate approach by the players, which proves to be ideal in this context. Of course certain traces of Classical compositional tricks and arrangement devices can be picked up by the experienced listeners. The overall atmosphere of this recording is reminiscent of the Scandinavian sound, more so than to the usual Polish Jazz recordings. A certain ECM-ism can also be detected. The individual contributions by its participants are another forte of this album; everybody´s playing sounds truly inspired here. Titz is a wonderful trumpeter, who somehow never really gets the credit for his work that he usually deserves. His performances on this albums rank among his best work done on record, and although his phrasing derives from other great European trumpet Masters, his deep lyricism and feel are uniquely his own. The most surprising and at the same time impressive soloist on this album is the young cellist Krzysztof Lenczowski, whose name pops up on the local scene with a feverish frequency and in some most unexpected places, in addition to his regular work with the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist. Kulakowski relays on his solo parts in several of the compositions presented here, and his decision to engage Lenczowski in this project pays off splendidly. Grzegorski and Kulakowski also play some excellent solos in the various tunes, which perhaps are less spectacular but no less expressive and supportive in the common effort invested to create this music. The rhythm section is extremely supportive throughout and plays with precision and sensitivity, exactly when and as needed. In many respects this is probably the most "conventional" album released by the For TuneFind albums on this label label so far and it´s good to see that the people running the label have no preconceptions overshadowing their judgment and recognize great music even if it is decently (but not to conservatively) dressed. It´s good to see Kulakowski playing and composing Jazz again, especially when the music is as good as what we can hear on this album. Chapeau bas indeed!

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KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI ~ LOST JOURNEY REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2021/17 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz cellist / composer (and now also guitarist) Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, primarily known as a member of the superb Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, but with a rich and exciting recording legacy of dozens of albums by top Polish artists. This album finds him in an exciting organ trio format with the wonderful organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartek StaromiejskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Lenczowski. The music is absolutely delightful, like a ten-course meal in a tree-star Michelin restaurant. Each and every of those compositions is completely different and the diversity is simply astounding, including Classical Music, Rock, Prog, Fusion, World and other influences, skillfully exploited to create a dazzling kaleidoscope of sounds. It is hard to believe that all this music is performed by just three instrumentalists, which emphasizes their individual skills and talents. Lenczowski is a brilliant cellist of course but here he demonstrates amazing scale of different sounds he is able to create on his cello. Galas, whom I have been following closely for a few years now, is a stunning talent, able to express a myriad of feelings using the keyboards. Staromiejski adds his robust drumming to drive the music steadily through the rapid turns and twists and frequent mood changes with sensitivity and skill. It is very difficult to accurately define this music stylistically, and for luck of a better term, it would probably be best described as Jazz-Rock Fusion, although that might not do the music justice, as it is way more rich in textures than what usually passes as Fusion. The leagues of Prog fans should also feel perfectly comfortable with this music, as in fact should all lovers of ambitious melodic music, full of surprising vistas and virtuosic performances. There are very few musicians today, who can match Lenczowski’s compositional ingenuity and chameleonic cross-genre and cross-idiom approach. A retrospective glance at his recorded legacy so far is already highly impressive, and one can never guess what he will come up with next – which of course is one of his many virtues. Overall this is an absolute gem of an album, which a great appeal to all Artistic souls out there, of all ages and all musical affiliations. I can’t imagine anybody not loving this music, and if they don’t I am really sorry for them…

Updated: 01/04/2021Posted: 27/03/2021

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KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI ~ RZECZY OSOBISTE REQUIEM 169 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second solo album by Polish cellist / composer Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist and his first solo cello recording. Lenczowski is primarily known as a member of the celebrated Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, but he is often involved in other projects as well. The album presents eleven compositions, including three originals and one improvised piece, and the rest are his interpretations of Jazz, Pop and Classical standards, both international and of Polish origin. This eclectic collection of musical sources serves Lenczowski well, since a solo cello album is a trying experience both for the artists and the listeners. It allows Lenczowski to display his diversity and obvious technical proficiency, as well as to create a multi-faced portrait of his talents. As the album´s title suggests ("Personal Things" in Polish) he selected this time a gathering of pieces that he likes, rather than offer a novel musical concept. This bold decision might result in criticism from some "critics", but Lenczowski is obviously way beyond that by now. The album is a very pleasing listening experience, changing moods and stylistic approaches constantly. The very personal interpretations are often quite removed from the origins, which of course is all for the better. What Lenczowski is saying here is that genres are simply points of reference and music is one. It either works and manages to move the listener or doesn´t work, regardless of the genre; a statement I also adhere to. Overall this is a very unusual, highly personal statement by a superb musician, who wishes to share his personal musical preferences with his listeners, rather than venture into a specific musical venture. Beautifully played and full of elegance and sensitivity, it is a little gem one can return to when the world seems bleak and gloomy. The album is warmly recommended to appreciative listeners, who are tired of flashy and empty statements and need something to hold on to, which is unpretentious and genuinely embracing.

Updated: 27/07/2018Posted: 27/07/2018

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KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI ~ UNICORN REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2023/31 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the 4th album as a leader and second solo album by Polish cellist / composer Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, who plays many different instruments herein, like violin, guitar, percussion instruments and of course cello, which were recorded on separate tracks and finally overlaid to create a group / orchestra sound. The album presents five tracks, all original compositions, three short ones, appropriately called “Prelude”, “Interlude” and “Postlude”, and two lengthy pieces, both about twenty minutes in duration. Lenczowski, primarily known as a member of the celebrated Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, is a versatile and completely cross-genre musician, who shuns from none of the many music genres, and stunningly excels in them all, as evident on his numerous recording with the Atoms and his appearances as guest musician on albums by other musicians, and of course his albums as a leader. The music is as cross-genre as imaginably possible, with beautifully romantic and lyrical themes, strong emphasis on improvisation and some World Music elements, all combined intelligently and skillfully, resulting in a splendid musical tapestry, which makes perfect sense and offers beauty and highly aesthetic approach to composition and performance in one. The two main pieces, called simply “Chapter One” and “Chapter Two”, are in fact two cello concertos, which remain so far unrecorded, and still wait for their full scale realization, performed here by the virtual one-man Lenczowski orchestra. Both are, not surprisingly, absolutely stunning pieces of music. But all the five pieces, combined, are a perfectly coherent and deeply moving piece of music, which, at least for me, are simply irresistible in their beauty and elegance. Overall, this is another brilliant album by Lenczowski, whose trademark is a quality symbol of the highest standard. I had the pleasure the observe his development since the very beginning of his career as a recording artists, and he never failed my highly demanding expectations even once, which is truly remarkable. Thank you for the music, my Friend, and I wish many, many more listeners will find it as delightful as I do!

Updated: 13/05/2024Posted: 13/05/2024

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DAWID LUBOWICZ ~ HUMAN FATE REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2024/40 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2014 This is the 3rd solo album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in quartet setting with keyboardist Jakub LubowiczFind albums by this artist (his brother), bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, one of which is a four-part composition, seven of which are original compositions by Dawid Lubowicz and one is by Jakub Lubowicz. Dawid Lubowicz is primarily known as a member of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, Poland’s famed Jazz-Classical Fusion ensemble, which produces exemplary and innovative music, which flirts with Classical form and Jazzy improvisation. This album, however, is quite different form that facet of Dawid’s activity. For the first time it features him playing the mandolin in addition to the violin, and the music is more relaxed, beautifully melodic and closer to mainstream Jazz approach. It also touches upon Pop and World Music genres, but basically is as cross-genre as one might imagine. This new stylistic direction does not mean that the music is less sophisticated or classy, but simply signifies that it is somewhat different from what listeners of Dawid’s earlier work might expect. All four musicians are top notch and highly experienced performers, which is evident for the entire duration of the album. Dawid gets the center stage, as expected, but everybody gets to display their chops and the almost completely acoustic sound, which is well balanced and round, creates a pleasant, fluid listening experience. I highly value the directness, honesty and unpretentious openness that this album offers, which sometimes manages to deliver more aesthetic value than hyper ostentatious efforts, which often cover for the lack of contents. Of course Dawid’s virtuosic parts are not absent and Kubiszyn’s amazing bass soli spice the proceedings highly effectively. The mandolin parts work splendidly as well, adding another touch to the overall sound. Overall, this is another splendid piece of music by Dawid Lubowicz, who never fails his followers. Although perhaps more accessible than his “usual” outings, it lacks nothing to satisfy the taste buds of music connoisseurs. The music is as universal as music can be, so National or stylistic boundaries are completely meaningless herein.

Updated: 18/11/2024Posted: 18/11/2024

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DAWID LUBOWICZ ~ INSIDE ZBIGNIEW SEIFERT FOUNDATION 5 (Barcode: 5907222048054) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the eagerly awaited and highly anticipated debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, primarily known as a member of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist (who also plays flute and accordion), bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Jacek KotlarskiFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist guest each on one tune. The album presents nine compositions, eight of which are originals by Lubowicz and one is by Polish Classical composer Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist. Musically the album is quite surprising, especially in view of extensive recorded legacy Lubowicz created with Atom String Quartet and other projects. The compositions are all exquisitely melodic, melancholic and delicate, seemingly "simple" in their scope, leaving the complexity to be expressed via the performance layer rather than making the music less communicative. Such honesty and straightforwardness is an extremely rare quality among Jazz composers these days, which mostly adhere to the notion that music has to impress by its "cleverness" and "intricacy", neglecting the "simple is beautiful" ideal, which Lubowicz is able to bring to perfection herein. Another significant aspect of this music is its strong connection, almost umbilical, to Polish Folklore, and especially to the music of the Polish Highlanders, which is of course native land of Lubowicz. The ties to folkloristic themes are quite subtle at times and need a trained ear to be recognized, but they are preset almost continually as part of the aesthetic climate this album offers. The inclusion of the Szymanowski composition also refers to the composer´s fascination with the music of the Highlanders. The decision to use Herdzin as part of the team might seem surprising at first, as Herdzin is rarely used as a sideman these days and his role is usually much more dominant. But in retrospect Lubowicz made the ideal decision, as Herdzin has very few equals when playing "pretty" is in order. He is a master of sweetness and romanticism and his work on this album is simply perfect in every respect. Kubiszyn is a Master and every album he is on is blessed by his presence. His acoustic bass pulsations and fretless solos are all breathtaking. Zyta is the metronome man, always ideally on time and with the right intensity, even if he is playing just in a duet setting with Lubowicz. Kalwak transforms the single tune he is on into a gleaming magic pearl, full of sensitivity and intrinsic beauty, using his unique "touch". And Lubowicz? Oh well Lubowicz is a Monster, a quiet, gentle Monster, mind you, but a true virtuoso, who plays music rather than showing his chops, always elegant, stylish and graceful, creating an irresistible urge to embrace everything that his vibrating strings are able to create. Overall this is a most impressive debut album and the only regret about it is that we had to wait for it for so long. But now, that it is finally out there, don´t hesitate and grab it ASAP and I guarantee you won´t regret it. The album is exquisitely packaged and offers a superb sonic quality, which should make the decision to get a copy even easier. The album was released by the Zbigniew Seifert FoundationFind albums on this label, run by the unwearied Aneta NorekFind albums by this artist, who deserves our gratitude for keeping the Polish Jazz violin tradition flourishing.

Updated: 22/06/2018Posted: 22/06/2018

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DAWID LUBOWICZ ~ STORIES REQUIEM / OPUS 2022/75 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the 2nd solo album by Polish violinist / composer Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in an unusual setting of violin duo, with Argentinian, resident in Poland, violinist Christian DanowiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are original compositions by Lubowicz. Lubowicz, primarily known as a member of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, Poland’s Jazz-Classical Fusion ensemble, is by now well recognized first-class violinist and composer of his own right. On this album the music is primarily within the Classical vein, at least at the first encounter. But as the music develops, there is plenty of World Music influences, both Polish lyricism and melancholy and other livelier streaks, all subtly incorporated into the music. Although the music is obviously strictly written, the performances, especially the exchanges within the duo, offer some improvisation. As expected, the music is brilliantly performed and superbly recorded, which results in a most pleasurable ambience and aesthetic atmosphere, which keeps the listener enchanted for the entire duration. Lubowicz masterfully sculpts the miniature melodies, which are adorned by the duo’s virtuosic touches, as if dressed up in delicate musical satin-like fabric. The music crosses centuries between Baroque and Modernism, Tango and Polonaise but ever so smoothly and cleverly avoiding any clashes or clichés. Overall, this is a delightful, highly unusual piece of music, which manages to eschew precise classification, but delivers a solid dose of heartwarming, sophisticated and emotional experience, which should keep all connoisseurs of truly gorgeous music happy for a long time.

Updated: 02/01/2025Posted: 02/01/2025

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NIKA LUBOWICZ ~ NIKA`S DREAM FOR TUNE 0065 (Barcode: 5902768701654) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer Nika LubowiczFind albums by this artist, who is accompanied by a very impressive group of musicians, which includes her siblings: violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist (Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist) and keyboardist Jakub LubowiczFind albums by this artist, cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist (also Atom String Quartet), bassist Marcin MurawskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Marcin UlanowskiFind albums by this artist, percussionist Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Artur GierczakFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. Veteran pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of tracks. The album presents nine tracks, three of which are standards, two are by Dawid Lubowicz, another two by Krzysztof Lenczowski and yet another two by Nika Lubowicz herself. All songs feature English lyrics except for the last track which has lyrics in Polish. From the very first notes of this album it´s plainly evident that this is no ordinary vocal Jazz album. The arrangements, which in most cases feature either the violin or the cello up front alongside the vocal parts, replace the usual "vocals with piano trio" setting. The arrangements also include other unusual lineups, keeping the listener on his toes at all times. The overall atmosphere of this album is all about the essence of music, freely crossing genre boundaries, comfortably and elegantly touching upon mainstream Jazz, ethnic music, Pop and Soul with the same artistically predetermined frivolity. I even have to agree with all the compliments listed in the album´s liner notes authored by Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, which happens extremely rarely. Nika Lubowicz uses her vocal abilities wisely and intelligently, switching between lyrics and vocalese with grace. Her vocalese parts are in fact way more impressive than her actual singing lyrics, which as always in such cases suffer from the English pronunciation, being far from ideal. The closing track sung in Polish is a sore proof of this. Luckily her singing lyrics are altogether just a minor part of the entire endeavor. I have not timed the album but about half of the album´s duration is instrumental, which is highly unusual for albums involving vocals, and which is a very courageous and in this case extremely tasteful decision. This is the second album in the "pink" (Jazz vocals) series by For TuneFind albums on this label Records, and it is again a big time winner. Albums of such quality and obvious aesthetic approach are extremely rare and the fact that at least once a year they do materialize makes life worth living, at least for people who love music. This is definitely a most impressive debut and so far the best vocal Jazz album released this year on the Polish Jazz scene. Well done girl!

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MALGORZATA MARKIEWICZ ~ BRING THE LIGHT REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2020/07 ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 Although her career goes back over two decades, this is finally the debut album by Polish vocalist Malgorzata MarkiewiczFind albums by this artist. It was recorded with the vocals supported by a basic trio consisting of keyboardist Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal BryndalFind albums by this artist. In addition a string quartet, which is 3/4 of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist (Malgorzata´s husband) and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist) and violinist Marta ZalewskaFind albums by this artist takes part in the recording as well as eight other musicians playing / singing on selected tracks. The album presents twelve original songs, nine of which were composed by Markiewicz (two co-composed with others) and three were composed by Gabriela KapczukFind albums by this artist. She also wrote three of the lyrics and co-wrote one with the rest being by different authors. Six of the songs feature lyrics in Polish language and the other six feature lyrics in English. The album is elegantly packaged and offers the lyrics, arty photographs and stylish design. The songs are all typical contemporary Polish Pop, very melodic and solidly written but slightly samey. The album offers a modern production and sound, which I personally don´t appreciate very much. But the instrumental arrangements, with just a tinge of Jazz here and there, and the playing / singing are absolutely perfect and professional. If not for the Polish lyrics, this album might have been mistaken for an American album, which proves that the Poles can beat the Americans at their own Smooth Jazz production game, but as such does not offer much originality. With that said, Markiewicz proves she can write great tunes and sing them with true feeling, even in English, which most of her local vocal colleagues fail at badly. It is obvious that a lot of thought and work was invested into creating this album and the result is highly entertaining and offers a great listening experience, which Pop and Smooth Jazz listeners should enjoy immensely. Overall this is an excellently produced and beautifully performed album, full of great tunes and typical Smooth Jazz feel, which should make aficionados of that genre perfectly happy.

Updated: 09/01/2021Posted: 25/03/2020

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MACIEJ MIECZNIKOWSKI & KRZYSIA GORNIAK ~ TRIBUTE TO NAT KING COLE DUX 1237 (Barcode: 5902547012377) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is an album by Polish vocalist / guitarist Maciej MiecznikowskiFind albums by this artist and female guitarist Krzysia GorniakFind albums by this artist, who present their interpretations of eleven songs associated with the legacy of American singer / pianist Nat King ColeFind albums by this artist. The pair is accompanied by veteran Polish Jazz rhythm section: bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam LewandowskiFind albums by this artist and the excellent Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Miecznikowski sings the songs in a very straightforward manner, very closely to the original performances. His English pronunciation and accent are bearable, but not ideal of course, part of the usual insurmountable problems that Polish vocalists face while singing English lyrics. He uses his smooth baritone voice with skill and intelligence and all in all his vocal performances are fine, but not exceptional and surely not extraordinary. The string arrangements are also pretty mundane, kept well in the background and adding very little to the overall effect. Of course Atom String Quartet is a superb ensemble, but here their role is severely limited, not to say a stronger word. The rhythm section does its job amicably, but again there us very little it can actually contribute within this concept. The only ray of sunshine on this album is the incredible guitar work by Gorniak, who really shines from start to finish. She plays a real Jazz guitar, something almost completely absent on today´s scene with all the guitarists playing Fusion or God only knows what, but surely not Jazz guitar. In short there is almost no reason to listen to this album other than to listen to some great guitar parts, since what is the sense in listening to pale versions of songs when one can hear the originals? A decent album, that´s what it is ;)

Updated: 12/05/2017Posted: 12/05/2017

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DOROTA MISKIEWICZ ~ PIANO.PL UNIVERSAL MUSIC POLSKA 602557206852 (Barcode: 602557206852) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is a live recording of a gigantically ambitious project conceived by Polish Jazz vocalist Dorota MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, which pays tribute to the Polish Jazz piano school, which spans several generations and is a sublime example of Polish / European Jazz tradition. The album presents twelve songs, one original by Miskiewicz and eleven "Polish standards" composed and written by the best Polish composers and lyricists, each performed by Miskiewicz accompanied by a different pianist and on eight of them also accompanied by the renowned Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The list of the pianists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz: Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, Lutoslawski Piano DuoFind albums by this artist, Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist, Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist, Piotr OrzechowskiFind albums by this artist, Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist, Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, Grzegorz TurnauFind albums by this artist (who also briefly sings) and Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (Dorota´s Father) guests on one song. The DVD (filmed during the concert), included in the package, adds the concert´s intro, outro and a couple of songs not included on the CD. I am happy to say that I managed to have a more modest (with just three pianists) version of this project perform at the 2018 Singer Jazz Festival, which was extremely successful. As expected, all the performances are absolutely wonderful, a typical example of European haute Culture, where music, words and stage performance are combined to deliver an overall experience, which is more than just a sum of its ingredients. The album moves between Jazz & Poetry and highly lyrical popular music, all expertly arranged and brilliantly executed, especially in view of the fact that it was captured live. This album delivers exactly what it promises: an extraordinary panorama of Polish Jazz piano, full of elegance, virtuosity and flair. Miskiewicz moves with ease from one song to another, with a chameleonic change of moods and emotions, as appropriate for a great performer. For lovers of Polish Jazz in general and Polish Jazz piano in particular, this album is a superb introduction to the subject. Even for listeners beyond the Polish language sphere, this music easily penetrates and language barriers and should be completely accessible to every music lover.

Updated: 14/09/2018Posted: 14/09/2018

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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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WLADYSLAW SENDECKI / ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ LE JARDIN OUBLIE / MY POLISH HEART NEU KLANG 4198 (Barcode: 4012116419832) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by the Polish (resident in Germany) pianist / composer Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, who is accompanied by the highly esteemed Polish Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). The album presents ten compositions, five of which are original composition by Sendecki, two were composed by his brother Stefan SendeckiFind albums by this artist, one was composed by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, another one by Polish Classical composer Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist and finally one was composed by the German composer Wolf KerschekFind albums by this artist. Three of the compositions were arranged by the great British composer / arranger Michael GibbsFind albums by this artist. The music focuses on relatively little known facet of Sendecki´s activity and is mostly dedicated to contemporary Classical music, with relatively limited Jazz references. The piano / string quartet setting suits this musical direction ideally of course and the chamber atmosphere prevails throughout. The piano concerto "My Polish Heart" was composed especially by Kerschek for Sendecki and was performed by him with the NDR Big Band, of which he is the resident pianist. The intimate version of this wonderful piece present here includes only part of the entire composition, but reflects the spirit of the work perfectly. All the pieces on the album are full of the characteristic Polish melancholy and lyricism, which can be found in all Polish music regardless of the genre: Classical, Jazz, Rock or Folklore. The most Jazz oriented piece on the album is of course the "Komeda Hommage", which is a medley of two Komeda´s compositions, brilliantly combining the Jazz and Classical idioms thanks to the unique arrangement by Sendecki and the Atoms and taking a form of a beautiful suite. This album requires very serious listening with attention to details and patience, as it offers a wealth of musical thrills in every aspect. The compositions, arrangements and performances are all loaded with deeply emotional content and are full of virtuosic performances, which are very difficult to be absorbed all at once. Each listening experience promises new discoveries of course. Overall this is a wonderful album full of great music, which offers a Jazz-Classical Fusion of the highest caliber. Lovers of Polish music, regardless of style and fashion, should be delighted by what this album has to offer.

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

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MATEUSZ SMOCZYNSKI ~ ADAM`S APPLE WARNER MUSIC POLAND 5021732288127 (Barcode: 5021732288127) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 - 2022 Released: 2024 This is an album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Chopin University Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Rafal JaniakFind albums by this artist. The album presents two extended pieces for violin and orchestra: the five-part concerto for violin and orchestra composed by Smoczynski in 2018, entitled "Adam’s Apple”, and the four-part concerto for violin, rhythm section and Symphony Orchestra composed by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist in 1974. The rhythm section comprises of pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist. In the album’s liner notes Smoczynski credits the influence of Seifert on his musical development from his early age and the more recent influence of the American composer John AdamsFind albums by this artist, and explains how the album’s title refers both to the Biblical story and the composer’s name. The music is every bit as brilliant as one might expect, in every sense. Placing both these violin concerti side by side, presents a wonderful opportunity to observe the development of the Jazz-Classical Fusion genre over the forty-four years’ time gap, as well as stylistic differences and approaches between the two composers. Considering the fact that this is the first time the Seifert’s concerto is released on record, this album is already a sensational occasion for celebration. Not less important is the opportunity to have such ambitious music recorded and released, which sadly is rather uncommon in the world ruled by commerciality and questionable aesthetics. As such, this album is an absolute gem, offering a wonderful opportunity to hear such a delightful music and at the same time playing tribute to the memory of Seifert, who was undoubtedly one of Polish Jazz most prominent figures. The performances by Smoczynski, the Orchestra and the rhythm section are stellar in every sense, which is hardly surprising, considering the fact that these are some of Polish Jazz top Artists. Listeners familiar with the local scene are of course aware that Smoczynski is a member of the fabulous Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, Kurkiewicz and Miskiewicz are members of the Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist Trio and Wania is one of the most revered Polish Jazz pianists. One can hardly wish for a better team. Overall, this is a superb example of the highly artistic level of the Polish Jazz scene, which often sees local musicians undertaking very ambitious projects, like the music on this album, with full support of the local recording industry and fellow musicians from across the genres. For Jazz-Classical Fusion lovers, this is as high as the genre soars. Not to be missed!

Updated: 28/12/2024Posted: 28/12/2024

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MATEUSZ SMOCZYNSKI ~ BEREK UNIVERSAL 602557610710 (Barcode: 602557610710) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album as a leader by Polish violinist / composer Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, recorded again in a quintet setting with guitarist Konrad ZemlerFind albums by this artist, his older brother pianist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, one of which is repeated twice, seven of which were composed by Jan Smoczynski, two were composed by Mateusz Smoczynski, two were co-composed by the Smoczynski brothers and one is credited to all five members of the quintet. The album was recorded in the legendary Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan Smoczynski, with spectacular sound fidelity. In the last decade Mateusz Smoczynski, both as a solo artists and member of the already legendary Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, has been consistently paving his way to the Top of the Polish Jazz violin school, which has very little competition in any other part of the world. That top, extremely overcrowded by young musicians, is simply exploding with talent and incredible dexterity, to the delight of Jazz lovers, both in Poland and the world over, and is just one of the symptoms that characterize the Polish Jazz scene in general. On this album Mateusz Smoczynski does not have to prove anything anymore, and therefore he is able to concentrate on his total delivery of the music, his personal style and the finesse of his skills. The exquisite compositions by Jan Smoczynski suit ideally his expressive style and their intrinsic elegance and lyricism, as well as superb Swing are simply ideal vehicles for the music to come forward. Of course he is splendidly supported by the members of the quintet, all of which are Top Polish Jazz players with extensive experience and outstanding talents. The almost completely acoustic sound of the album allows for delicate and intricate interactions between the musicians, full of mutual respect. The round sound of the quintet, and the blooming sound quality, create a wonderful aural experience, which should leave no listener cold. The music is a wide amalgam of many influences, none of which are particularly dominant, but to a sensitive ear are obviously audible, such as some Classical stylistic hooks, Polish Folklore motifs, tribute to past Polish Jazz violin legends, and many others. Of course these elements are perfectly well balanced and manage to create a new entity, which simply speaks for itself. Overall this is a "perfect" album, one that has nothing that should be changed or added to it in any sense. It is beautifully performed and offers wonderful music, full of European aesthetics. There are no false pretences, no exhibitionism and no boring derivative fillers, just honest, straightforward great music from start to finish. So far definitely one of the best offers in 2017 that landed on my desk (or in my ears). Chapeau bas!

Updated: 25/05/2017Posted: 25/05/2017

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MATEUSZ SMOCZYNSKI ~ EXPRESSIONS TMP 002 (Barcode: 5905912553239) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 This is the second album as a leader by the young Polish Jazz violinist / composer Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. Recorded with a superb quintet, which includes his brother Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist on piano, guitarist Konrad ZemlerFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist, the album presents his talent and obvious virtuosity to the fullest extent. Of the ten compositions included on the album Jan contributed four, Mateusz one, Wojciech another four and the last is credited to all quintet members. The music is modern Jazz, which has solid roots in Jazz mainstream, but is open to glimpses of Free, which is not surprising since Mateusz points out John ColtraneFind albums by this artist as a major influence. Of course he also continues the Polish Jazz violin tradition, naming Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist (who in turn was also strongly influenced by Coltrane) as another direct influence. However, attentive listening to his brilliant solos brings also memories of the other great Polish violinist, like Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist and Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist and of course the French giant Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist. Since recording this album, Mateusz recorded another superb album (again with his brother Jan) in a trio setting ("Simultaneous AbstractionsFind albums with this title"), participated in a Zbigniew Seifert tribute album ("A Tribute To Zbigniew SeifertFind albums with this title") and recorded with the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist. All these projects are impeccable pieces of intelligent, rewarding and highly aesthetic music and it seems that Mateusz is heading to the very top of the local (and perhaps also international) scene. The album was recorded in the Studio Tokarnia owned by the Smoczynski brothers, and engineered and mastered by Jan. From several other Polish Jazz recordings I´ve heard, which were recorded there, one can hear that this is probably the best recording studio in the country and Jan (in addition to his musical abilities) as a great sound engineer. Well, it´s always a pleasure to give credit, where credit is due, as in this case. Altogether this is brilliant piece of music, which any Jazz connoisseur anywhere should cherish. Most warmly recommended!

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MATEUSZ SMOCZYNSKI ~ METAMORPHOSES ZBIGNIEW SEIFERT FOUNDATION 4 (Barcode: 5907222048030) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the fourth album by Polish violinist / composer Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and his debut solo violin recording. The album, recorded at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music, presents thirteen compositions, four of which are parts of a violin sonata No.1, which gave the album its title. Smoczynski is the composer of eleven of these compositions, one composition is by his older brother Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and one is by Mark SummerFind albums by this artist, the cellist and co-founder of the legendary Turtle Island QuartetFind albums by this artist. The closing piece of the album, called "Midnight Psalm", was inspired by the Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist composition "Evening Psalm". During the last decade Mateusz Smoczynski consistently paved his way to the top of the Polish violin scene, creating a remarkable collection of recordings as a leader, as a sideman and as member of the revered Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist and winning the second edition of the Zbigniew Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition in 2016, an incredible achievement for a musician in his early thirties; all this on a scene which is bursting with talent and fierce competition. This album is undoubtedly Smoczynski´s most ambitious undertaking to date, both as a player and a composer. Moving away from the home base of the Jazz idiom, the music on this album is obviously much more related to the contemporary Classical idiom, although the improvisation is still an integral and important ingredient. The compositions also bear close relation to Polish Folklore and Classical Music, soaked in typical melancholy and lyricism, which characterizes most of Polish music. From the very onset of the music Smoczynski´s virtuosity becomes immediately apparent and the entire duration of the album is an ecstatic journey on the cascade of violin magic, which he manages to keep flowing relentlessly. Unrelated to the actual tempo of the compositions, the flow and energy is always there and the pure tones and clarity of every note are remarkable. Although not a Jazz album per-se, this music should be of interest to a wide range of music lovers, obviously those who also love the violin. This music is demanding and requires attention and patience, but all great music puts forward similar challenges, and this one is no different. It will probably take several listening sessions to wholly comprehend the depth of this music, but the effort is definitely worth it! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/01/2018Posted: 12/01/2018

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STRING BIG BAND ~ STRING BIG BAND POLSKIE RADIO 1634 (Barcode: 5907812246341) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 It takes a true musical "nut" (of the nicest sort), like The Polish pianist / composer / arranger / conductor Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist to come up with a project like this, which is designed to establish a new musical "genre" (or sub-genre) of chamber string music he defines as "string big band", a marriage between the European tradition of the string orchestra and the American Jazz Big Band. In order to prove his point, Herdzin took ten "classic" Jazz standards, some of which are closely associated with Big Band performances, others that aren´t, and arranged them for a musical collective, which brings together the sensational Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist) with Sinfonia VivaFind albums by this artist orchestra to create a large string ensemble equivalent to the size of a Big Band. Bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and vocalist Agnieszka WilczynskaFind albums by this artist (she sings on a couple of tracks only) also take part and the entire ensemble, conducted by Herdzin, which is appropriately named String Big BandFind albums by this artist. I must admit that before I listened to the music, just by looking at the CD and reading the texts, I was absolutely sure I´m going to hate this thing with vengeance. Boy was I wrong! It turned out to be one of the most uplifting pieces of musical delight I have heard in a long time. Herdzin somehow managed the impossible: he turned a potentially kitschy and schmaltzy musical idiom into absolute magic. I felt transformed back in time, about ninety years or so back in time, watching a Broadway stage performance at the peak of the Great Gatsby´s "Jazz Age", with tall women in tight lush dresses, glasses of champagne and all that Jazz! Pure Magic! Of course a big part of the success goes also to the wonderful performers; Atom String Quartet emerges as one of the most intriguing discoveries on the Polish scene in the last decade and the Sinfonia Viva orchestra, which Herdzin utilizes repeatedly as part of his projects, is definitely a group of most talented and worthy of admiration musicians. But Maestro Herdzin is definitely the main honcho, the inspirer and the chief (or perhaps chef) of this whole crazy happening. It takes a lot of courage and self confidence to undertake such a perilous venture and to emerge triumphant and victorious is simply phenomenal. This music can be enjoyed by almost anybody who has a working pair of ears on him, and it so multilayered and elegant that the more experienced and sophisticated the listener, the more pleasurable the experience becomes. Kudos Krzysztof, you really hit the jackpot this time! The live recording at the Polish Radio studio #3 in Warsaw has an unusually excellent, clear and vibrant sound quality, which enhances the whole album tremendously. The stars were definitely smiling at that project!

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO KOMEDA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 There is no doubt that the legendary figure of pianist / composer / bandleader Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, the Godfather of Polish Jazz, is still very much present on the local scene, more than forty years after his untimely and tragic death. Komeda´s charisma, mystique, prophetic vision and above all his extraordinary talent as a composer keep his legacy alive generation after generation, with his musical heritage being passed on to the upcoming young Polish Jazz artists, as an integral part of the modern Polish Culture. In the scope of those forty plus years since Komeda´s death the Polish Jazz scene produced a plethora of recordings, concerts, festivals and other events dedicated to his memory. As a result the idea of commemorating Komeda has been overexploited and often even abused by lesser quality attempts, which result in blemishing his memory rather than uphold it. Fortunately this album is definitely not one of those damaging efforts; on the contrary, it offers many new and fascinating discoveries, as well as thrilling interpretations by excellent musicians, which treat the music with respect and obvious admiration. The album includes ten Komeda compositions, performed by several different ensembles: pianist Janusz OlejniczakFind albums by this artist with Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WrombelFind albums by this artist and his quintet (drummer Krzysztof PrzybylowiczFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WrombelFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist) with actor Kamil MackowiakFind albums by this artist, the duo of saxophonist Andrzej OlejniczakFind albums by this artist and pianist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, the duo of tuba player Zdzislaw PiernikFind albums by this artist and synthesizer player Tadeusz SudnikFind albums by this artist and finally solo piano performances by Lena LedoffFind albums by this artist. Such diverse settings are an ideal vehicle to present the diversity of Komeda´s music and the endless possibilities, in which it can me expressed and interpreted. All the performances are truly superb, moving and deeply engaging and pay a fitting homage to Komeda´s heritage. My personal preferences are the trumpet pats by Maciej Fortuna, the incomparable piano playing of my friend Wladyslaw Sendecki and the solo piano pieces by Ledoff. But each and every musician participating in this recording deserves full admiration and respect. The quality of these live recordings in not ideal, but neither is life, so true music lovers can certainly live with it and enjoy it immensely. The most interesting two pieces on this album are the early Komeda Jazz & Poetry compositions to poems by Jerzy S. Sito, known mainly for his work as translator, who died in 2011. Komeda´s involvement with the Jazz & Poetry movement, presented by him during the 1960 Jazz Jamboree festival, is one of the most fascinating, but sadly neglected, milestones of his career. The two pieces were restored from Komeda´s notes by the great vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, who was a member of Komeda´s group in the late 1950s. Honestly that entire program simply screams for proper restoration work. Overall this is a superb piece of music, which is worthy of an honorable place in any serious Polish Jazz music collection and should be of interest to the many Komeda followers all over the world. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

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TOMASZ WENDT TRIO & ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ BEHIND THE STRINGS SJ 018 (Barcode: 5912596066207) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist presented in a trio setting with bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. The trio is accompanied on several tracks by the excellent Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Vocalist Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and pianist Lukasz DamrychFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all composed and beautifully arranged by Wendt. What might appear on the surface as another "Sax & Strings" Smooth Jazz project turns out to be a brilliant musical enterprise, which offers superb Mainstream Jazz music, which has depth and meaning. The compositions are all wonderfully solid and coherent, full of typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, and all skillfully arranged for this unusual setting. The music is diverse and rich in harmonic layers and rhythmic patterns, providing a fascinating journey to the listener, which is moving from one climax to another. Wendt plays expressively and his improvisations perfectly suit the musical boundaries, being interesting and complex but not crossing the line into becoming too intricate for a mainstream Jazz enthusiast. The rhythm section supports the leader amicably, with Piasecki filling the bottom pulsations which make this music swing and Bulinski setting the pace with his skillful and highly original drum parts. The Atom String Quartet does exactly what it is famous for, i.e. plays some superb string ornamentations and in the process produces breathtaking violin solos. The album is a wonderful example of good taste and elegance. The proportions between the saxophone, rhythm section and the string quartet are beautifully balanced, magnificently recorded at the RecPublica Studios and engineered by Lukasz OlejarczykFind albums by this artist. Overall this is a gem of an album for fans of sophisticated mainstream Jazz, which offers an unusual instrumental setting and great compositions, superb arrangements and perfect execution; in short some of the best Polish Jazz has to offer. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 25/03/2017Posted: 25/03/2017

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WORLD ORCHESTRA ~ LIVE IN GDANSK UNIVERSAL 028948107599 (Barcode: 028948107599) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2013 The World Orchestra is a brainchild of Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist, who managed to create an international ensemble of dozens of musicians from all over the world, which performs a sort of Jazz-World Fusion music, based on melodic themes with strong ethnic flavors. This album presents a live recording by the World Orchestra, featuring some world-famous World Music artists, like the Bulgarian kaval player Theodosii SpassovFind albums by this artist, Finnish kantele player Sinikka LangelandFind albums by this artist, the Bulgarian Voices AngeliteFind albums by this artist choir and many others. Polish artists included Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, pianist Marcin WasilewskiFind albums by this artist and a large orchestra; all in all 84 (according to the liner notes) musicians on one stage. They perform fourteen pieces, most of which were composed by Piotrowski, with a few exceptions. Although the logistics behind this project must have been staggering and the basic idea of combining musical cultures is definitely commendable, the overall result is very problematic. There is no common bond linking the different pieces together, no thematic thread, not even a loosely devised common denominator. As a result each of the pieces more or less works on its own, but is not connected to anything before and after it and the entire concert becomes a sort of tribute to different folkloristic themes, but not more. Although all the musicians involved are true masters of their respective trade, the lush orchestral arrangements and the ambience of Smooth Jazz floating above create a typical overproduced easy-listening music, which keeps the brain in a state of blissful lethargy. This kind of domesticated World Music is very popular since it is accessible to large crowds, who would definitely have a problem to stomach some authentic Folklore and need the sugary envelope to be able to swallow it. Of course one can wonder is this is the correct way to bring new musical thrills to people, but that becomes a question of moral / artistic choices. The CD is accompanied by a DVD of the same concert, which adds no additional music beyond the contents of the CD and is therefore completely redundant.

Updated: 26/10/2016Posted:

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MICHAL ZABORSKI ~ FEELING EARTH HEVHETIA 0189 (Barcode: 8588005258623) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2019 This is the debut album as a leader by the Polish violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist, mostly recognized as a member of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, recorded with a quartet, which also includes pianist Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal BryndalFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Zaborski and the music was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. With the viola in the lead, the quartet produces a noticeably "different" sound than one expects from a Jazz recording, and indeed this music, although Jazz oriented, includes also strongly noticeable additional influences, such as Classical and Folklore music, which are immediately apparent from the onset. The compositions are all deeply melancholic and mostly low key, emphasizing a strong melodic presence, with the themes stated by the viola at the beginning of each piece and than gently carried on by the fragile piano and viola improvised parts. The piano is a tad too busy at times, but not extravagantly so. The rhythm section keeps things to bare minimum, with the bass pulsating in the background and playing a few beautifully melodic soli and the drums steady and barely audible at times. And yet the music has an irresistible charm to it, a magical flow that keeps the listener mesmerized for the duration of the album, taking him from one piece to the next as if hypnotized. In spite of the minimalist outcome produced by the musicians, the music does not seem to be missing anything and is perfectly rounded and whole. The music is kept mostly on a relaxed level with little dynamics displayed along the way, which could be considered a bit indistinguishable, but easily forgiven. Personally I really enjoyed the music, although I suspect some listeners will find it a bit "too pretty" and altogether lacking the "kick" Jazz enthusiasts expect to hear in the music. There is no doubt Zaborski is a virtuoso and his performances here as every bit as strong as on his numerous earlier recording. His compositions are heavily influenced by Polish Folklore music and his Classical Music background, which he openly admits in his music, not trying to make it sound more Jazzy than it rally is. Overall this is a very unique album, different from most of the output arriving on the Polish Jazz scene, and also different from the material Zaborski records with the Atoms, showing another facet of his musical personality. A Gentle Giant by all means, who can weave beautiful melodies and share them with his listeners with obvious love and modesty.

Updated: 07/10/2019Posted: 07/10/2019

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ZAKOPOWER / ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ ZAKOPOWER / ATOM STRING QUARTET KAYAX 112 (Barcode: 5907678818737) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This album presents a live recording documenting a meeting between two Polish musical entities: The Folk-Rock group ZakopowerFind albums by this artist, which takes its name form the southern Polish town of Zakopane, the capital of the Polish Highlanders, and the Jazz / Classical Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s most revered and prolific music makers in the last decade. The album presents an instrumental introduction and eleven songs, almost all composed by Mateusz PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, the musical director of Zakopower. Although all the songs (except one) are original, the music is decisively influenced by the unambiguous Highlander´s Folklore. The music is overall a typical Folk-Rock Fusion, with more that usual intricate string arrangements and some improvised Jazzy passages, which don´t dramatically influence the stylistic color of the music as a whole, but do enrich it enormously. In spite of the very crowded stage (fifteen musicians) the music is perfectly recorded and the individual vocals and instruments are all perfectly audible. Aside from the beauty of the music and the exquisite execution, the album is also important for other reasons. First, musically, as it demonstrates the infinite ways in which cross-genre possibilities are not only possible, but can also be immensely successful. And second, culturally, showing that Folklore and other musical traditions can and should be carefully preserved for the sake of our children´s children´s children. The album is breathtakingly beautiful and deeply emotional, saturated in the sound of violins, those played by Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist of Atom String Quartet as well as those played by Zakopower´s leader Sebastian Karpiel-BuleckaFind albums by this artist. The Polish melancholy and lyricism are also present, as usual, this time in a Folk-Rock costume but no less effective. The Atom String Quartet´s contributions to this music are a brilliant example of their diversity and open-mindedness, which simply knows no limitations whatsoever - a truly great achievement on their part. Overall this is a highly sophisticated as well as deeply emotional album, which should satisfy the most demanding music connoisseurs of all genres. Musical bliss!

Updated: 29/05/2017Posted: 29/05/2017

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