Record Reviews

CHICK COREA / ORIGIN ~ LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE STRETCH 9018 (Barcode: 013431901822) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 1998 Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s acoustic sextet OriginFind albums by this artist was formed in late 1997 by expanding his acoustic trio (Avishai CohenFind albums by this artist – bass and Adam CruzFind albums by this artist – drums) with the addition of trombonist Steve DavisFind albums by this artist and two reeds players Bob SheppardFind albums by this artist and Steve WilsonFind albums by this artist. After a brief period of rehearsals and one club performance the band was booked to play for six nights (two sets each night) at the NY Blue Note club, which was to be the band’s official premiere. All the music played at Blue Note was recorded, initially mainly for the sake of documentation, but upon listening to the results Corea decided to release this album, which presents just a taste of what happened there. A much more comprehensive recording project, capturing three entire nights (6 sets) was released as a 6 CDs set under the title “The Complete 1998 Live At The Blue Note RecordingsFind albums with this title”. Origin proved to be indeed an “origin”, a new beginning for Chick, who hasn’t led an acoustic sextet for over 20 years. It served as a perfect vehicle to develop and present a set of new compositions, which show an older and seasoned Jazz Master at work. The music is complex, somewhat dark, serious and multi-layered, requiring attentive listening. In many respects it often resembles some contemporary Classical Music influences. The players have plenty of space to develop both individual and collective extended improvisations, which of course are quite brilliant. Corea is not featured as the main soloist and steps back to become just one of the band’s members. All the music presented on this album, except for one standard, was composed by Corea, who re-examines his life’s achievements here, moving skillfully between his various musical activities, as diverse as Latin music and Free Jazz. All together this is a splendid example of modern Jazz at it’s best, with great music and excellent playing all the way. Corea’s fans don’t need any encouragement here and others should definitely investigate.

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ FILM STORY KSQ 003 (Barcode: 5903796604016) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist recorded with his “regular” American trio: Polish (resident in US) bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and American drummer Tina RaymondFind albums by this artist. American guitarist Jordan BerliantFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Bob SheppardFind albums by this artist guest, each on one track each. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Stankiewicz. It is hardly surprising to see Stankiewicz returning to cinematic music, even if this is only hinted by the album’s title, considering the fact that he dedicated a very significant part of his career in the last decade or so to interpretations of cinematic music written by composers of Polish / Jewish origin, who achieved fame in America, such as Victor YoungFind albums by this artist, Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist and Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, a process to which I had the privy of watching closely and even contribute to some extent. The music on this album, although completely original, bears the same characteristics of the cinematic music, that gave the world a huge part of what is now considered as the Jazz standards. Stankiewicz has the same magic ability to write heartfelt, often heartbreakingly romantic melodies, which become immediate classics, or standards so to say. There must be something Polish, if not genetically at least culturally, in the ability to create such music, time after time, without being corny, trivial and repetitious, and Stankiewicz manages to do it repeatedly. The same applies to his playing, which combines brilliantly delicate touch of the keyboards and precise minimalism, which create optimal expression. Watching Stankiewicz perform is almost artistically sensuous, as he makes love with the instrument every time he touches it and sometimes even when he doesn’t. Supported by Oleszkiewicz, who is undoubtedly on the greatest bass players around, and Raymond, who is extremely supportive and considerate, the trio flies through the material with grace and elegance, which is rarely encountered these days. Overall, this is a Masterly piece of music, which combines deeply moving compositions with brilliant performances, creating together an immediate classic Jazz piano trio recording, which is irresistible to any true Jazz lover on this spinning globe of ours. This is true Polish / European Jazz at its very best, which eschews pose and gimmickry and astounds with its musical truth. This is simply beyond recommendation…

Updated: 27/11/2021Posted: 27/11/2021

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