Record Reviews

BASTARDA ~ ARS MORIENDI LADO ABC C/31 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the 2nd album by Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist comprising of clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Olga MyslowskaFind albums by this artist appears on one track. The album presents ten tracks, which are the group’s interpretation of Medieval music connected with death rituals. Some of the tracks are by unknown authors and others are by Spanish composer Cristobal de MoralesFind albums by this artist, French composer Guillaime Du FayFind albums by this artist, Dutch composer Josquin des PrezFind albums by this artist and Italian composer Constanzo FestaFind albums by this artist. The music and the trio arrangements are absolutely brilliant from start to end, and although appropriately somber, the music is full of beautiful melodic lines and poignant atmosphere. Although seemingly minimalist in scope, the three instrumentalists are able to create a wide scale of emotions and profound harmony, due to their virtuosity and incredible sensitivity. Already at that early stage in the recording career of the trio it was obvious that Bastarda are a completely unique and original musical unit, which was further proved by their extraordinary recordings, which followed. After the first two albums, which dealt with Medieval music, Bastarda extended their activities into Jewish, Portuguese, Slavic and other World Music traditions, always with great thoughtfulness and sublime aesthetics. Overall, this is an absolutely astounding album, which brings Medieval music up to date, sounding as fresh as humanly possible. Everything recorded by Bastarda is a true treat, but this album is especially wonderful, with the trio members often sounding like an entire Heavenly orchestra. A true treasure! Side Note: I have been looking for a copy of this album since the day it was released, i.e. for almost five years, finally managing to find a copy courtesy of my Friend Magda WiklinskaFind albums by this artist, the lady behind the Polish For TuneFind albums on this label Records label, whom I thank for her detective skills and dedication.

Updated: 07/05/2024Posted: 07/05/2024

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BASTARDA ~ NIGUNIM MULTIKULTI MPT 016 ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the 3rd album by the Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist comprising of clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist. A choir participates on one track. The music was recorded live and the sound quality is a bit iffy at times. The album presents nine tracks, all traditional melodies arranged by the trio. Following the pattern established by the two earlier albums, the trio re-examines music originating a few Centuries earlier, this time Jewish Hasidic music created by members of the Hasidic movement established in the 18th Century. Deeply rooted in Jewish mysticism the Nigunim (from Heb. "lenagen" to play) are pieces based on simple melodic themes sung and / or played repeatedly with varying intensity and prompt the performing participants to enter an ecstatic state of mind, seeking contact with the omnipresent God. Each of the many Hasidic "courts" had its specific collection of Nigunim and some of the ones interpreted here originate from the Modzitzer "court" founded in the Polish village of Modzitz (Pol. Modrzyce) and headed by the generations of Taub family Rebbes. Bastarda interpret the Hasidic music very closely to its original source and spirit, and except for the instrumentation, which of course is very unique and beautiful, very little improvisation or other "foreign" musical elements are used. The emphasis is on a more melancholic melodies and minimalist approach, highly respectful of the original. Overall this ´"solid" and faithful modus operandi is highly effective and avoids the disastrous "Klezmer" attitude, which might have turned this, almost sacred music, into a pastiche. I am not sure if this specific treatment of the Nigunim is able to convey in full the actual spirit of the music, as initially intended, but using the Biblical proverb "The work of the righteous is done by others´", I can assume that the beauty of this music ant its universality will find new audiences thanks to this album, which is always a positive thing. Overall this is, as usual with Bastarda, a highly aesthetic and spiritual experience and the fabulous performances overcame any minor reservations. The album is highly recommended to serious music lovers not familiar with Jewish music, as this might serve as a wonderful introduction, albeit not on the trivial route.

Updated: 15/05/2024Posted: 22/07/2020

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BASTARDA ~ NIZOZOT AUDIO CAVE 2023/003 (Barcode: 5908298549612) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the 8th album by Polish Jazz-World Fusion trio BastardaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist. In this album Bastarda returns to the Jewish / Hassidic music, which was always one of the central motifs of the ensemble’s source of inspiration. The 3CD album explores the traditional Nigunim (wordless melodic themes), with each CD presenting the specific tunes associated with one of the many Polish Hassidic houses / clans, in this case Modrzyc, Szapiro and Koznic. The CDs present nine, seven and six tracks respectively. It is quite obvious by now, that Bastarda is the most original interpreter of the Hassidic music tradition in Poland, not only because of its ingenuity and highly aesthetic approach, but first and foremost due to the heartfelt interest in that music, the deep level of understanding of its spiritual and emotional sense and the respectful treatment of that tradition. It is often not enough to be a highly skillful and talented musician in order to interpret musical sources on the proper level of emotional involvement and intellectual depth, as is evident in the music present herein. Despite the fact that Bastarda play just three instruments, their music manages to sound way beyond the capabilities of just those instruments, laden with unconventional usage of their sonic characteristics, harmonies and resonance. Aided by the superb sound recording quality, depth and resolution, the music becomes much more voluminous and resounding, which results in a highly unusual and overwhelming sonic experience. It is truly uplifting to hear that Bastarda not only keeps the Hasidic music tradition alive, but in fact manages to insert a completely new life into it, taking it intro contemporary music environment and expanding it into new spiritual spheres, which is especially felt on the third CD. Overall, this is a magical, thrilling musical experience, which is way beyond any attempt to be described verbally and must be experienced sonically, and then spiritually, in order to be fully appreciated. Bastarda manage again to create a treasure trove of musical beauty, that is unconventional and exquisite, standing highly above most other attempts to interpret Hassidic music, and in fact most other music making as well. Chapeau bas!

Updated: 15/05/2024Posted: 28/04/2023

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BASTARDA / ALEKSIC / PODRUMAC ~ LILITH ABI AUDIO CAVE 2023/014 (Barcode: 5908298549759) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the 9th album by Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of clarinetists Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist, this time recorded with two female Serbian musicians: violinist Katarina AleksicFind albums by this artist and vocalist Branislava PodrumacFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are arrangements of traditional lullabies, each originating from a different global location. As usual with Bastarda projects, the music is exquisitely put together, with great care and aesthetic values at the epicenter, and brilliantly performed by the trio members and their guests. The theme of the mythological female figure of Lilith, a night she-demon, marks the common denominator of the lullabies, which originally were intended to protect the children from evil during their sleep. The serenity and tranquility of lullabies are of course their common characteristic, regardless of geographical location, as is plainly evident herein. Bastarda, yet again, prove their extraordinary chameleonic ability to find an ideal application of their instrumental approach to the central theme of the project, and although they are not the composers, the music becomes entirely theirs, ideally suiting their idiosyncratic approach, the individual instrumental contributions and above all the resulting outcome, which is entirely fascinating. The two guests are seamlessly integrated with the trio and add even more depth and beauty to the project as a whole. The violin parts and above all the vocals spice the atmosphere with worldly scents and Folkloristic nuances, all with balance and good taste not to disturb the delicate atmosphere of the entire project. The music is of course complex, multilayered and sophisticated, blending influences form many Cultures, creating an incredible musical / ethnic tapestry of great beauty and depth. It might require several listening sessions to appreciate and comprehend all the elements, but ultimately offers a deeply rewarding listening experience. Overall, this is another Masterpiece by Bastarda and their guests, which is an absolute must for connoisseurs of profound music, which combines a multitude of elements and demands an ability to amalgamate many threads in parallel, in order to create a magnificent fabric of sounds and emotions. It seems that Bastarda are simply unstoppable in their commendable task to keep their listeners astounded time and time again. Thank you my Friends!

Updated: 15/05/2024Posted: 29/02/2024

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BASTARDA & CHOR UNIWERSYTETU SWPS ~ KOLOWROT AUDIO CAVE 2021/011 (Barcode: 5908298549421) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the 5th (second this year) album by the Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist comprising of clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist. This time they cooperate with the SWPS University ChoirFind albums by this artist, conducted by Ewa MackiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents just four lengthy compositions, named after the four seasons, composed by the members of the trio and based on Polish Folk songs related to the seasons as well as some medieval musical sources. The music is deeply spiritual, embossed with Folkloristic sources and East European mysticism, Jewish, Christian and Pagan, with only slight touches of Jazzy improvisations. Bastarda managed to develop over time its own musical language, which despite the minimalism dictated by just three instruments, seems to be completely unlimited in its power of expression. This album is more focused and therefore also more striking than their earlier recordings, and with the presence of the choir enables to create much greater dynamics and diversity than ever before. The resulting music offers an explosive emotional statement, which easily competes with symphonic pieces, both in richness and expressionism, which is truly astounding in view of the fact that is created by three acoustic instruments and human voices. The superb recording quality of this album is also an important factor in the entire equation. Bastarda seems to be unstoppable in their path to create one of the most unique musical landscapes in Europe, with constantly changing subject matter on one hand and new ways of squeezing the minimalist instrumental lemon to the max. It often seems that they already reached to peak of their creativity, but every new album proves the audiences wrong. The cooperation with the choir is a wonderful example of putting human resources together in a way where the instruments and the human voices coexist as one, without dominating or disturbing each other, in perfect harmony, both tonally and spiritually. Overall this is an absolutely brilliant album, definitely one of the best Polish albums released in 2021, completely unique and fulfilling. It stays beyond any stylistic classification or genre association and excels in its simplicity, directness and power of expressions like only very few other albums can. Perfect music to be listened to with the snow falling outside and the fireplace ablaze. Marvelous, simply marvelous!

Updated: 15/05/2024Posted: 19/12/2021

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BASTARDA & JOAO DE SOUSA ~ FADO AUDIO CAVE 2021/006 (Barcode: 5908298549292) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the 4th album by the Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist, founded by clarinetist / composer Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist with cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist. The trio is joined on this album by Portuguese (living in Poland) vocalist / guitarist Joao de SousaFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight classic Fado songs arranged in a most unusual setting. Fado, often jokingly called “Portuguese Blues”, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful distinctive European urban subcultural music genres, like the Greek Rebetiko, which combine deeply melancholic, often heartbreakingly so, themes with lyrics describing harsh personal or social realities. These genres developed in parallel to the massive urbanization of Europe, starting in the 19th Century, and were revived, gradually crossing from urban Folklore to an Art Form, with highly poetic lyrics and more complex musical themes, from the mid-20th Century. At first I was a bit hesitant about this album, since Fado is so deeply “Portuguese”, that it usually stays within the sphere of Portuguese performers, with rather few exceptions. However, I am happy to say that after listening to the album all my fears were proven wrong. The combination of de Sousa’s vocals (in Portuguese language of course) and the surprising and highly unusual instrumental accompaniment by the members of Bastarda works like a charm. The vocals are highly restrained and deeply melancholic, as expected in a Fado idiom, and with the originality of the language preserved (I’d really have a hard time to listen to Fado in Polish!) the proximity of the vocal layer was faithfully preserved. The instrumental arrangements are absolutely charming and stunning, completely abandoning the traditional Fado tradition as far as the instruments are concerned by paying tribute to the role of the usual guitar accompaniment, splendidly using the entire scope of tonal possibilities from the deep lows of the contrabass clarinet to the highs of the clarinet. Bastarda are true magicians as far as creating a kaleidoscope of sound layers, which harmonize perfectly. As such they are definitely one of the most unique musical outfits of the Polish scene in the last few years. Of course the most surprising element is the amalgamation of instrumental improvisation into the Fado idiom, which although subtle and cleverly concealed, adds superbly to the overall effect, taking the album under the wings of Jazz-World Fusion, albeit just marginally. Overall this is a magnificent album, full of wonderful musical melancholy and superb instrumental performances, which should fill the heart of all true music lovers with pure joy. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 15/05/2024Posted: 31/07/2021

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BASTARDA & SUTARI ~ TAMOJ AUDIO CAVE 2022/008 (Barcode: 5908298549537) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 A short while ago I had the immense pleasure to guest the BastardaFind albums by this artist trio – clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist – as part of my Singer Jazz Festival in Warsaw. Their phenomenal performance at the Norzyk Synagogue was, as expected, immensely successful, followed by a standing ovation, which reflects the incredible talent of these musicians and their unusual ability to reach audiences, despite their music being highly sophisticated and often quite complex. This is already the 7th album by Bastarda, and their sixth release in a rapid succession of just six years. It is also their third subsequent collaboration project, which emphasizes their willingness to constantly expand their horizons into different musical territories. Following an adventure with Fado and Medieval Music, this time they cooperate with the female SutariFind albums by this artist duo – Basia SonginFind albums by this artist and Kasia KapelaFind albums by this artist – both vocalists and instrumentalist, and together explore the traditional music from the eastern Polish regions bordering with Belarus and Lithuania. The resulting music is, as usual, astounding in every respect. It reaches far beyond the folkloristic themes, on which it is based, and the sublime arrangements expand the overall sound into incredible vistas, completely unexpected and as expected (pun intended) breathtakingly penetrating. It seems that the instrumental contributions by Bastarda are somewhat in a background of the vocal parts, but in fact it is the collective effect of the vocals and instrumental improvisations, which create the powerful and effective totality, which benefits from both and is way beyond just the sum of its ingredients. Overall, this is another masterpiece in Bastarda’s recorded output, which puts them in a class of their own, not only on the Polish scene, but far beyond. The incredibly lucky combination of talent and the openness to music, in complete disregard of fads and fashions, marks them as an act worth following closely. God only knows what these guys are capable of on their next projects, and honestly I really don’t care, as it is a sure bet the result will be outstanding. Thank you, my Friends, for the music!

Updated: 15/05/2024Posted: 17/09/2022

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DORUZKA / FISCHMANN / NOVAK ~ GILGUL ANIMAL MUSIC 119 (Barcode: 8594211850261) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by the Czech Jazz trio comprising of guitarist / composer David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, flautist / vocalist / composer Robert FischmannFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Martin NovakFind albums by this artist. Three additional players participate on selected tracks: clarinetist / saxophonist Lubos SoukupFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist / saxophonist Marcel BartaFind albums by this artist and trombonist Stepan JanousekFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, which include a four-part suite and a three-part suite, six of which are traditional Jewish / Hassidic melodies arranged by Fischmann, four are original compositions by Fischmann, two are by Doruzka and one is co-composed by all three trio members. Jewish music has been an important source of inspiration in contemporary Jazz, which I had an opportunity to witness closely as the Musical Director of the Singer Jazz Festival hold in Warsaw during the last decade. Some of those attempts to combine the genres were truly inspirational and impressive, others often suffered from opportunism and chalturism due to complete lack of understanding of the Cultural background and spirituality of the Jewish and Hassidic traditions. I an extremely happy to see that this beautiful album belongs to the former category. The music offers an intimate, completely acoustic and delicate treatments of traditional material, intertwined with original compositions, which match the overall atmosphere and spirit of the entire project. Most of the tracks are performed by the trio, but five offer an extended sextet arrangement, which is somewhat more Jazz oriented than the rest of the pieces, but again stay within the intimate and highly lyrical mood. There is definitely a strong dose of Easter European lyricism and melancholy involved as well. Although there are plenty of individual solos, the music is definitely more about the concept and overall message than about display of instrumental virtuosity. Fischmann’s flute work dominates the proceedings, as the leading melodic compass, with Doruzka supplying the harmonic layers and soloing occasionally, and the wonderfully sensitive drumming by Novak keeps the music flowing gently but firmly from one tune to another. The album offers a written essay by Fischmann, which explains the sources and inspirations for the individual songs, as well as the religious concept of transmigration of souls, which gives the album its title, and which is not unique to the Jewish tradition, but plays an important role in some of the Hassidic streams. On a personal note, I’d like to mention that this music is somewhat in the same spiritual sphere as the music by the excellent Polish Jazz trio BastardaFind albums by this artist, which I wholeheartedly recommend. Overall, this is beautiful and deeply moving album, which deserves to be heard by all music lovers, also those beyond the strict Jazz circles. As usual, the superb sound quality and production by the Animal MusicFind albums on this label label is as perfect as one might hope for, for which I am, as usual, grateful. Grab a copy as soon as possible!

Updated: 18/10/2023Posted: 18/10/2023

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HOLLAND BAROQUE / BASTARDA ~ MINNE PENTATONE 8717306260022 (Barcode: 8717306260022) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the 6th album by Polish trio BastardaFind albums by this artist comprising of clarinetist Pawel SzamburskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz PokrzywinskiFind albums by this artist and contrabass clarinetist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Holland BaroqueFind albums by this artist orchestra under the artistic leadership of Judith SteenbrinkFind albums by this artist (violin) and Tineke SteenbrinkFind albums by this artist (keyboards), which comprises (on this album) of nine violinists, a keyboardist and a guest reciter. The album presents nine tracks, two of which are credited to Bastarda, four to Judith Steenbrink, one is a Georgian chant and two are by early music composers. The album’s concept was inspired by the texts of the 13th Century female poet HadewijchFind albums by this artist, who lived as a Flemish beguine in Brabant. Her exceptionally expressive love poems are a unique Medieval literary phenomenon. The music offers a superb amalgam of cross-genre aspirations, combining ideally improvisation, Medieval and Baroque musical traditions and above all reflecting a spiritual connection between the seemingly separate worlds Bastarda and the orchestra belong to, but as usual in the case of the trio’s legacy, their chameleonic ability to adopt and integrate their music with the music of other musicians / ensembles, works like a dream. The Holland Baroque orchestra manifests a remarkable open-mindedness in this collaboration, especially as far as improvisation in concerned, since this project is largely improvised in many respects, both conceptual and musical. This praiseworthy flexibility enabled the wonderful symbiosis, which characterizes this beautiful piece of music, without any artistic compromises. Overall, this is a remarkable album, full of enchanting music, which bridges effortlessly across Centuries of music and Culture, preserving respectfully the original compositions and contemporary musical approaches, all perfectly performed with elegance and a wink of stylish aesthetics. Not surprisingly, the album offers also sublime sound quality and SACD audio. Bravo!

Updated: 31/05/2024Posted: 31/05/2024

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SUTARI ~ WIANO AUDIO CAVE 2023/006 (Barcode: 5908298549629) ~ POLAND ~ World Music & Folklore Recorded: 2013 - 2014 Released: 2023 This is a reissue / remaster of the debut album form 2014 by Polish female trio SutariFind albums by this artist, which comprises of vocalists / instrumentalists Basia SonginFind albums by this artist, Kasia KapelaFind albums by this artist and Zosia ZambrzuskaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks, all based on traditional Polish Folklore, with some original adaptations / additions by the trio members. Although Sutari was founded in 2012, I admit of being completely unaware of their existence until their appearance on the “TamojFind albums with this title” album by the BastardaFind albums by this artist trio. Their striking originality and unconventional approach to music in general and Polish Folklore in particular is truly astounding. Polish Folklore offers an endless wealth of multi-cultural sources, which developed over the Centuries, bringing many different Cultures together. It seems that many contemporary Polish musicians are discovering the treasures of the diverse Folklore traditions, like the recently reviewed Same SukiFind albums by this artist trio and quite a few others. Although obviously less popular than the dreadful contemporary Polish Pop, it is great to see that this music still finds a place in the heart of Poles, who respect their Cultural traditions. The music, although seemingly simplistic and lacking complex musical challenges, is in fact fascinating, especially when treated with a slight degree of humor and an attempt to show, that human life on the basic level, especially emotionally, did not change radically over time, still sharing the pains of love and other personal relationships, which are the subject of the Folkloristic material adopted by Sutari. The vocal harmonies of the trio members are the focus of this music and the instrumental accompaniment is rather secondary, but definitely unconventional, but that does not diminish the excellent end result. Overall, this is an exceptional example of a contemporary interpretation of Polish Folklore, which is vibrant and fascinating, and having this album back in circulation is definitely a field day. Kudos to Audio CaveFind albums on this label for bringing this music back to circulation, in style, as usual.

Updated: 12/05/2023Posted: 12/05/2023

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