Record Reviews

(0-58) ~ DO DZIESIECIU OLO 003 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2001 This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist and her debut recording with the group (0-58)Find albums by this artist, which placed her as a co-leader with guitarist / composer Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist and bassist / composer Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist. The group also included accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist and alternating drummers Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album includes nine original compositions, four each by Grzywacz and Walicki and one by Stanko with lyrics all written by Stanko. Musically the album presents a process of searching after a unique identity, which takes the musicians exploring many different avenues, such as Blues, chanson, alternative Pop and of course Jazz. The songs are very diverse in their tempi, moods and melodic ranges and the album keeps changing quite dramatically between one song and another. Listening to the album is like embarking on a journey with destination unknown. On the whole the approach is acoustic and rather intimate. The instrumentalists perform splendidly, improvising extensively between the vocal parts. Grzywacz and Walicki both play some outstanding instrumental parts as do the guest soloists. Stanko is theatrical and somewhat reserved, perhaps still not aware or her formidable vocal ability, which will flower on her later recordings. In retrospect this is a very interesting document of the Polish Jazz scene at the turn of the Millennium. Obviously the young generation of musicians is looking for something different than the mainstream tradition and with Yass paving the way in the previous decade, everything is open and nothing is taboo any more. The album is unfortunately out of print since many years and it took me ages to track a copy down – lucky me!

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BAUER / BALDYCH / DUCHNOWSKI / KONRAD ~ TRANS-FUZJA FOR TUNE 0108 (Barcode: 5906395808069) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2016 This is a live recording by an ad-hoc quartet comprising of two Polish Jazz musicians: violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, a Classical cellist / composer Andrzej BauerFind albums by this artist and an electronic music composer / pianist Cezary DuchnowskiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform seven original compositions, three of which are credited to all four participants, being basically spontaneous improvisations, and two each are by Baldych and Duchnowski. The album was recorded four years before it was finally released. The music is a variety of contemporary Avant-Garde Classical Music, with includes a large degree of improvisation, but also other forms of Modern Classical composition. Although conceptually the music does not belong to the Jazz idiom per se, Baldych´s violin phrasing and Konrad´s rhythmic parts make the music to sound quite Jazzy, definitely more than probably initially intended, and simply transfers it safely into the Jazz environs. Although the music is pretty minimalistic and introvert, it is definitely interesting not only to the Avant-Garde connoisseurs but to a much wider circle of potential listeners, especially during the parts which display a melodic content and rhythmic stability, and as such are relatively easy to follow. Not surprisingly, the two pieces composed by Baldych are the most melodic and include, as usual in his works, huge doses of the typical Polish melancholy, which almost defines Polish Music as such. The level of execution is of course brilliant, again with the focus in Baldych´s exquisite violin virtuosity, but also due to the overall superb contributions by all the musicians involved. Bauer, who is of course a renowned cellist in the Classical field, gets a relatively limited opportunity to showcase his talents, but there is still enough of his presence herein to amaze and astonish. Konrad, who is one of top Polish Jazz drummers, exposes his versatility and wonderful ability to listen to his partners while driving the ensemble forward. Duchnowski adds some brilliant electronic effects and plays great piano licks. Overall listening to this recording is an uplifting aesthetic experience. Kudos, as usual, to For TuneFind albums on this label Records for releasing this unusual and obviously non-commercial music, which otherwise might have disappeared in the vaults of music archives, which never see the light of day, especially in view of the fact that this music such a great example of cross genre pollination and Jazz-Classical Fusion at its best.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 30/12/2016

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TADEUSZ BORCZYK ~ NO NAME FLOWER 030 (Barcode: 5904259357913) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 - 2010 Released: 2011 This is the second album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Tadeusz BorczykFind albums by this artist recorded over a period of several years in different studios (including the excellent Studio Tokarnia) with a changing lineup, which includes pianist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist, guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marek PodkowaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jaroslaw SpalekFind albums by this artist and drummers Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and Michal DabrowkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Borczyk. The music belongs to the melodic easier side of Jazz and Fusion, is well played and solidly composed, which means that although it is not very ambitious, it is altogether quite a pleasant listen. The problem with such recordings is of course their dangerous proximity to Smooth Jazz, which although in this case does not cross the line, is very close to it. All these compositions sound very similar to each other and are eventually quite unremarkable, which means that once the album is over one remembers almost nothing of the actual music. Borczyk plays a few nice bass solos, which are amongst the highlights of this album, and Smoczynski saves the day with his piano playing, which is the most constructive contribution on this album. A few other solo spots are also worth notice. The album has a very good sound quality, which basically means that fans of easy Jazz music, which is almost danceable, should have a field day with it. It is also ideal for driving. Altogether this is quite a nice album for people who treat Jazz as entertainment.

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RANDY BRECKER / WLODEK PAWLIK ~ NIGHT IN CALISIA LICOMP 014 (Barcode: 5903034005490) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the second album on which the legendary American trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist cooperates with Polish Jazz pianist / composer Wlodek PawlikFind albums by this artist, performing a Jazz suite composed by Pawlik. Their previous cooperation resulted in the album "Tykocin Jazz SuiteFind albums with this title", which was very warmly received by critics and audiences alike. This time they perform the "Night In CalisiaFind albums with this title" suite, which was commissioned by the Polish City of Kalisz to commemorate its 1850 Anniversary. The music is performed by Brecker, a piano trio led by Pawlik with bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and the Kalisz Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Adam KlocekFind albums by this artist. The suite is sub-divided into six sections, which together provide a continuous flow of integrated music. The suite is based on several melodic themes, which reappear throughout the sections, with some passages performed by the orchestra and others featuring the piano trio and the trumpeter. There are several extended solos, all executed perfectly as expected from such high-class musicians. The instrumentation and arrangements balance beautifully between the Jazz undercurrent and the orchestral parts, with naturally tend to sound more Classical in nature. The music is wonderfully lyrical and melodic, tranquil and serene most of the time, simply stroking the listener´s attention note by note. Brecker plays simply outstanding, with exceptional clarity and stability, which is extremely difficult. Pawlik fills the space with the melodic motifs, always attentive and gentle. The bassist displays sheer virtuosic qualities and a warm sound of rare beauty and the veteran drummer keeps time, when keeping time is needed and gently strokes the set during the more atmospheric passages. This is pure bliss. I suppose some listeners and Jazz connoisseurs might find this music to be slightly "sugary" at times. Well, perhaps so, but it certainly does not bother me at all. This is supposed to be a melodic, Jazz oriented amalgam of cross-genre explorations, well framed within the Classical tradition as well as the Jazz heritage. Pawlik is obviously a Master of his trade, which anybody listening to this recording must admit fair and square. There is a plentitude of wonderful Jazz / Classical interplays, which are intelligent, interesting and entertaining. The artistry involved both in the composition as well as the execution of this music is definitely praiseworthy. This album is highly recommended to listeners, who love the proximity of Jazz and contemporary Classical music, and who will find this work delicious at all times. Pawlik confirms his position as a major force on the Polish Jazz scene and listening to Brecker´s trumpet is always a pleasure. Well done!

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CEZARIUSZ GADZINA ~ MOSTY UNIVERSAL MUSIC POLSKA 602557812039 (Barcode: 602557812039) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is an album by Polish (resident in Belgium) saxophonist / composer Cezariusz GadzinaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a host of top Polish Jazz musicians, which includes trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist, percussionist Piotr IwickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist – a dream team by all respects. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Gadzina, all entitled "Bridge" in eight different languages ("Mosty" means bridges in Polish), symbolizing the connections between a plethora of genres and sub-genres present within the contemporary Jazz idiom. Gadzina is primarily familiar for his work in the Jazz-Classical Fusion field and his previous recordings, including the excellent "The Fifth ElementFind albums with this title", testify to his affinity to this particular field. However, this recording seems to leave Classical Music out of the formula, concentrating on the Jazz side of Gadzina´s personality. Stylistically the music sits well within the boundaries of modern mainstream Jazz language, offering excellent compositions and interesting arrangements, none of which are trivial or banal. The music is full of unexpected twists and turns, tempo changes and multiple themes, all within one composition, which of course makes listening to this music a real fun for true Jazz fans. The compositions are diverse enough to keep the listener interested and balance well between the beautifully melodic ballads and the up-tempo numbers. The individual performances are all top notch, as expected from these highly experienced musicians. Personally I love the prominent presence of the accordion, a much neglected instrument in Jazz, and the percussion ornamentations, which add another layer of rhythmic contents. But of course the trumpet solo parts, excellent saxophone work, pulsating bass lines and everything else are just right. The overall octet sound is not to busy and allows all instruments to be perfectly audible. Overall this is a great mainstream album, much more ambitious and advanced musically than the standard albums recorded in this genre. It is not about discovering any new territory, but offers novel approach to arrangement and very solid composition and performance standards. As such it deserves to be listened to and surely enjoyed as well.

Updated: 15/12/2017Posted: 15/12/2017

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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.

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ ALMOST AFTER JAZZ FORUM 020 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 2000 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist recorded in a classic piano trio format with bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. It presents eight original compositions, all by Herdzin. At the time this album was recorded Herdzin was a regular member of the ensemble led by Polish Jazz veteran Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and his reputation as a rising piano prodigy was already pretty much established, but this recording also presents his talent as a composer. This is a classic piano trio album, in the tradition established decades earlier and polished to perfection by generation of legendary pianists and their respective rhythm sections. Therefore it´s extremely difficult to be original or groundbreaking in that specific niche, perhaps even more so than in any other Jazz endeavor. Herdzin doesn´t break any particular new ground here, but his passionate playing, accompanied by obvious virtuosity and brilliant technique, manages to create a most impressive piece of Jazz music and a remarkable debut effort. From the very early recorded projects Herdzin exposes a tendency for perfection, well reflected here. His control of timbre, tempo and tone are all excellent and the result sounds accordingly. Of course even the best pianist is only as good as his rhythm section allows and in this case his partners stand with him shoulder to shoulder, complimenting his efforts with superb companionship and affinity. Overall the trio effort is accomplished here to the fullest, and again, since this is a debut effort, the result is above the level of expectations in such cases. As a composer, Herdzin emerges here most dominantly as a weaver of great melodies, which fall nicely on the listener´s ears, but are in fact quite complicated and very well crafted. Most of his compositions on this album lack the typical Polish Jazz melancholy, which characterizes most of its output, but includes one heartbreaking ballad, which Herdzin uses skillfully to show his arpeggio skills. These pieces are mostly mid-tempo and transmit a happy, cheerful state of mind, which is a nice and refreshing change for once. In retrospect this is still a very nice album, which can be enjoyed both by Jazz novices and refined connoisseurs, each of them on a different level. Herdzin´s numerous talents as composer / arranger and a formidably multi-talented / ferociously busy Artist were yet to come at that stage. The album was released as an add-on to the European Jazz magazine Jazz Forum and was never released commercially. A reissue should definitely be considered, bringing this music to a much wider audience. A splendid piece of work by all means!

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ CAPACITY POLSKIE RADIO 1439 (Barcode: 5903034004936) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 Polish pianist / composer / orchestrator / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist is undoubtedly one of the most revered musicians on the local scene, incredibly prolific and omnipresent across the entire genre spectrum between Pop and Contemporary Classical music, with Jazz as his epicenter. Recent years found him frantically busy with so many non-Jazz projects, that it is heartwarming to see him return to the basic piano trio format, with bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, to confront his listeners directly, without the ornamentation of elaborate orchestral arrangements. Listening to this album definitely re-establishes Herdzin´s position as a piano virtuoso and the five original compositions present here (with one additional standard) again fanfare his compositional skills. Add to this the excellent sound quality and dynamic mastering and here you have a perfect piano trio album… and yet… after listening to it for a couple of times I discovered that I feel somewhat uneasy about it. Everything is simply too good, too perfect, too… everything. Like a cake, which is so sweet it is too sweet? It seems that Herdzin has a tendency to make things just perfect, which sometimes is simply overdoing it. To summarize, this is a beautiful, smooth, professional album, which most people will love to bits and rightly so. I love piano trios and this is a great piano trio! Have I been intellectually challenged? Not really, but the heck with it, good time was had by all.

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ DANCING FLOWERS FUSION 001 (Barcode: 5907564258012) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2001 Released: 2005 This album by Polish keyboardist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist presents yet another aspect of his seemingly universal musical personality. It is basically a Funk album, which consists of seven instrumentals and three songs, all composed by Herdzin. The arrangements, especially those involving the horn section, have some proximity to Jazz, but overall it is a Pop album with some Jazz-Rock Fusion elements. The music is performed by an excellent team, which includes guitarist Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassists Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist (in a rare appearance on bass guitar), Filip SojkaFind albums by this artist and Miroslaw WisniewskiFind albums by this artist and drummers Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist and Michal DabrowkaFind albums by this artist and horn players like saxophonists Michal KulentyFind albums by this artist, Marek PodkowaFind albums by this artist and Mariusz MelczarekFind albums by this artist and several others. The vocals are handled by three young Pop vocalists, two female and one male, all of them quite unimpressive The music is based on the American Funk model, which was developed in the 1970s / 1980s by a plentitude of mostly African American musicians, especially the archetypical Earth, Wind & FireFind albums by this artist, but also by many partly Jazz oriented artists like George DukeFind albums by this artist, Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist, Grover Washington, Jr.Find albums by this artist and even Miles DavisFind albums by this artist and Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist during some periods of their extensive careers. Herdzin presents his version of Funk, which is based more on the melodic content than the rhythmic progression and is therefore somewhat softened, or simply more European. Herdzin often states that anything he does is by no means inferior to whatever the Americans are doing, and to tell the truth he is often correct when saying so, but on the other hand as it was once so adequately put: "White Man Can´t Jump" and Funk is after all about "jumping" more than anything else. When asked if he ever played Funk, Herdzin can most certainly answer positively, following this recording. Overall this is a well done, pleasant album (except for the vocal tracks), which is ideal for driving on sunny days (pretty rare in Poland) with the volume up and a pretty blonde beside you. Enjoy!

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ FANTASY ON THEMES FROM IV STRING QUARTET BY GRAZYNA BACEWICZ / FAIRYTALE STORIES POLSKIE RADIO 1269 (Barcode: 5907812242695) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009 It seems that some Jazz musicians / composers, especially those with Classical Music education and training, are caught in a duality conflict between these two streams of artistic expression. After all the European musical tradition cultivated Classical music for centuries as a lofty and superior cultural form, leaving other kinds of music, like Folklore, Pop and later also Jazz to the masses. Since the late 20th Century Jazz managed to achieve some recognition from the Classical music elite, but is hardly commonly accepted on equal terms. Polish pianist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist belongs to that particular group, which is probably the reason why he tries to bridge his Jazz activities with Classical music, as demonstrated on this album, which presents two Jazz-Classical Fusion pieces composed by him. The first piece is a three parts fantasy based on the themes used in the 4th String Quartet by Polish 20th Century violinist / composer Grazyna BacewiczFind albums by this artist, who was an exceptionally gifted composer concentrating on music involving the violin, but wrote also full orchestral pieces. The fantasy is performed by a Jazz quartet, which includes Herdzin´s regular rhythm section: bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Michal KulentyFind albums by this artist. The Jazz quartet is accompanied by the Royal String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The second piece is an eight part cycle of miniatures performed in a duet setting with saxophonist Pawel GusnarFind albums by this artist. The problem with most such attempts is to combine Classical music with Jazz is usually twofold: to integrate the two into an organic amalgam and to maintain a balance between the conflicting nature of the two. Often those attempts fail on both counts or at least at one of them, becoming either Jazz & Strings or Classical music played by the saxophone. In this case is seems that Herdzin´s Jazz affiliation takes over, leaving the Classical component slightly in the background. Although the integration between the Jazz and string quartets is very smooth, the resulting music demonstrates a Jazzy "swing", which Classical music usually lacks. Whatever the music misses in adventurousness and novelty is well compensated by great melodies and slick arrangements. Nevertheless this is overall a very satisfactory effort, which surely deserves a wider audience than it initially achieved. Personally I prefer the intimate duets, which work better for me, but the whole record should prove interesting to most true music lovers. The performances are, as usual with Herdzin´s albums, spotless and inspired. All the musicians involved are highly talented and professional. Herdzin, as usual, manages to present one more facet of his bottomless box of tricks, which never ceases to amaze.

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ JESTES SWIATLEM UNIVERSAL 602537293872 (Barcode: 602537293872) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 The Jazz & Poetry sub-genre is one of the pillars of Polish Jazz in particular, but also Polish Music in general, as it appears on the scene in many variations and crosses genre boundaries between Pop, Rock and Jazz since many decades. The abundance of great poets and poetesses as much as composers and performers, the intrinsic Polish lyricism and melancholy and the intellectual elitism of Polish Art evidently produce a fruitful ground for such meetings between words and music, which happen in the Polish Culture more often then anywhere else in the world. This album by celebrated Polish Jazz pianist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist is his contribution to the Jazz & Poetry legacy. It presents eight original compositions and one arrangement of a song by the Polish 19th Century Romantic composer Karol KurpinskiFind albums by this artist to the words of a late 18th / early 19th Century poet Franciszek KarpinskiFind albums by this artist, the father of Polish Sentimentalism. Of the eight compositions by Herdzin, one (the title track closing the album) is an instrumental and the others have lyrics by contemporary Polish poets: Konstanty Ildefons GalczynskiFind albums by this artist (one of my favorite Polish poets) and Kazimierz Przerwa-TetmajerFind albums by this artist. Herdzin assembled a dreamy team to record this music, which features him on keyboards and a plethora of other instruments, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks. The vocal tracks are sung by the legendary Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist, Dorota MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist and Grzegorz TurnauFind albums by this artist. Herdzin himself sings on one track and adds background vocals on two more. In spite of the truly excellent instrumental accompaniment and no less excellent vocals, the focus of this album is the original music, which spotlights Herdzin´s talent as a composer. Diverse and often even contrasting in the many tempi and cross-genre excursions, from deep lyricism to exotic World Music themes, this music remains constantly beautifully melodic and round. It fits the various poems used as the lyrics perfectly, which is always a great challenge for any composer. Even though Herdzin is still a relatively young musician, his enormous experience and his many talents come to full fruition herein. The instrumental work is pretty exciting as well, with Herdzin changing instruments more often that he changes his socks, playing all of them quite well, Kubiszyn playing some very nasty fretless bass parts that make the hair on your neck curl, Konrad keeps the entire ensemble rolling like only he can, and Napiorkowski adds some superbly tasty ornamentation. All three (or four in fact) vocalists are without reproach, with Jopek being (for me) divine as always, but the others not falling behind by any means. Turnau, who specializes in the Jazz & Poetry niche, sings most of the vocals, always with sensitivity and exquisite diction. So here we have it, another great album by Maestro Herdzin, whose inexhaustible energies know no limits. Jazz & Poetry buffs will of course love this to bits, but for any cultural music connoisseur this is a piece of music worthy admiration and a source of many pleasurable moments.

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ LIVE IN TYGMONT ALLEGRO 011 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2006 This album presents a live recording captured at the Warsaw´s Tygmont club by pianist / composer Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist and his trio, with bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The trio performs six compositions, four of which are originals by the leader and two are standards. The recording has a beautiful realistically captured live sound and an overall superb sound quality. People familiar with the Polish Jazz scene are surely aware of the fact that Herdzin is one of the busiest and most versatile musicians in the country, who left his mark on a large scale of different musical projects in Contemporary Classical music, Jazz and Popular music. His work as an arranger / orchestrator marks most of the great Pop albums recorded in the last two decades in Poland. Sometimes it seems as if there is hardly anything happening in Polish music, which does not involve Herdzin one way or another. Of course such omnipresence can be dangerous and lead to spreading the talents thin, but one must admit that everything Herdzin touches turns out well, which simply proves his incredible talent, versatility, stamina, perseverance and above all professionalism. To be fair one must remember that this album presents just one aspect of Herdzin´s activity, i.e. his work as a leader of a classic Jazz piano trio. During his career Herdzin recorded several albums in this format, and I must admit this is the favorite one for me. There are several reasons why I feel that way; firstly the material included herein presents a wide emotional range, from up-tempo numbers presenting Herdzin as a virtuoso pianist performing neck-breaking solos and up to deeply contemplative ballads, where the listener can hear Herdzin the atmospheric painter. Secondly the trio work, which is absolutely stunning, is a superb example of creative cooperation in real time, which after all is what Jazz is all about. The dazzling displays of piano bravura are brilliantly supported at all times by the rhythm section, which at the time of the recording was probably the best in the country. My deeply lamented personal friend Zbigniew Wegehaupt, who left us at a ridiculous young age a year ago, was undoubtedly one of the greatest bassists to emerge on the local scene and drummer Cezary Konrad, with whom Herdzin works often, is probably to top drummer of the second Jazz generation in Poland. This is a classic piano trio album in every respect, which should satisfy even the sternest and most capricious Jazz connoisseurs. Regardless if your champion is Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Bill EvansFind albums by this artist or Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist, you will find something here, which is of course first and foremost Herdzin´s statement, but sits firmly in the same state of mind that these great Masters bestowed upon us. A timeless jewel!

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ LOOKING FOR BALANCE UNIVERSAL 602527877860 (Barcode: 602527877860) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 Polish pianist / composer / arranger Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist is without a doubt not only the most versatile musician in his country, but also extremely prolific and obviously accordingly talented. He likes to work with as many different musical settings as possible, from a piano trio to large scale orchestral extravaganzas, seemingly with equal ease and success. This is one of such "out there" projects, which features Herdzin´s original music played by a Jazz ensemble and accompanied by a full scale string and woodwinds orchestra. The ensemble comprises of Herdzin´s regular trio, with bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, and three guests: guitarist Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist and Swiss harmonica player Gregoire MaretFind albums by this artist (of Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist Group fame), who is the featured soloist. The Sinfonia VivaFind albums by this artist Orchestra is responsible for the orchestral parts. The music belongs broadly to the Jazz & Strings format, which of course was tried many times before. The Jazz ensemble plays a set of very melodic, relaxed and lyrical compositions, taking solos in turn, with Maret being the principle soloist. The harmonica is relatively rarely used as a solo instrument in the Jazz framework and with the exception of a few known cases (most notably the Belgian Toots ThielemansFind albums by this artist) is usually associated with less challenging music. Of course in the hands (and mouth) of a very talented player it can sound quite virtuosic, as is the case here, but it adds another dimension of "sweetness" to the proceedings, which borders with overdoing it. Personally Baron´s contributions on this album are the most interesting, albeit being decisively too limited. The orchestral arrangements are elegant and kept in good taste, playing only the second fiddle (pun intended) in the proceedings. Although excellently played and masterfully arranged, they seem to be merely ornamentation, contributing little to the actual musical content other than setting an atmospheric background. There is definitely a fine balance and cooperation between the ensemble and the orchestra, but full musical integration is not achieved here, perhaps purposely. Herdzin of course proves that he can easily handle the orchestral arrangements any way he pleases. Overall this is a very nice album, which many listeners will find pleasing and enjoyable. For hardcore Jazz fans this might be a bit too sweet to swallow (especially those with diabetes like myself), but nevertheless it is professionally executed classy music, accessible to a wide audience, which definitely has its merits.

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KRZYSZTOF HERDZIN ~ THE BOOK OF SECRETS (POLISH JAZZ VOL.84) WARNER MUSIC POLAND 190295370787 (Barcode: 190295370787) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with American saxophonist Rick MargitzaFind albums by this artist, and Polish rhythm section: bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and a rather atypical clarinet quintet adding an orchestral dimension to the proceedings. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Herdzin, which according to him: "make up a closed narrative" or "a concept album". Followers of the Polish music scene are certainly familiar with Herdzin´s gigantic legacy amassed during his professional career since the mid-1990s, which includes twenty (this one included) albums as a leader, dozens albums as a sideman, numerous compositions in diverse genres, including Jazz, Pop and Classical Music, arranging, conducting, producing, playing a myriad instruments and a plethora of other accomplishments – for more details just read his biography on his website or his Polish Wiki entry – all this before reaching his 50th Birthday. There is no doubt that Herdzin´s biography is extremely impressive, or rather extreme in every sense, almost superhuman. Herdzin is an unusually talented and gifted musician, but personally I have always found his activities somewhat unfocused, lacking certain depth beneath all that glitter. His music and his playing are always "nice", polished, pleasant and nearly "perfect", but at the same time he seams to tease the listener boasting his aptitudes and most of all taking it (or himself) way to seriously. This album is a perfect example of Herdzin´s music in every sense. It is full of brilliant ideas, beautiful music, melancholy and lyricism, gleaming performances and everything that makes a listener schvitz. And yet once the music is over, the question "what was all that about?" arises almost instantly. And yes, the music is instant gratification incarnate: smooth, easy to swallow and scintillating, like a glass of champagne. With all the confusion these days about what is Jazz and what isn´t, I´d say that this album offers entertaining instrumental music amalgamating Pop with Jazz and Classical Music ornamentations, which is accessible to a wide audience. As to its lasting value, time will tell. I wish Herdzin for his upcoming Birthday another fifty years (and a Jewish 20% bonus) of health and productivity, and even if I don´t always appreciate his music I do appreciate his Sisyphean effort. May the Force be with you! Side Note The iconic "Polish Jazz" series of recordings, originally released between 1965 and 1989 by the Polish state owned record company Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label, which used the MuzaFind albums on this label label as its moniker, consists of seventy six LP albums. It presents the history of Polish Jazz recordings during that period, which includes some of the most important Polish / European modern Jazz milestones and reflects the extraordinary development of Jazz music behind the Iron Curtain. It is one of the most important historic documents of Polish Music and of course Polish Culture in general. The series had an eminent logo designed by Roslaw Szaybo and the albums were numbered sequentially from Vol.1 to Vol.76 accordingly. The album's artwork was wonderfully stylish and modernist, featuring the brilliant photographs and characteristic design by the legendary Polish Artist Marek Karewicz. Stylistically the series presented all Jazz genres, from Traditional Jazz to Avant-Garde / Free Jazz, which was extraordinarily liberal considering the cultural censorship imposed by the Socialist Regime. It suffered from some inconsistency, as far as the musical quality and aesthetics were concerned, as well as the internal "politics" of the Polish Jazz scene at the time, but in retrospect it achieved a spectacular overall result, unparalleled as far as consistently documenting a national Jazz scene is concerned. After the Polskie Nagrania catalogue was bought by Warner Music PolandFind albums on this label, the new owner started a reissue process of the Polish Jazz series, carefully remastered, repackaged and including extensive liner notes, which keeps the artwork as close to the original design as possible. So far forty four volumes of the original series were reissued. In 2016 Warner Music Poland decided to continue the original series by releasing new contemporary Polish Jazz recordings under the same format and even to continue the sequential numbering starting with Vol.77 – a decision I personally consider almost sacrilegious. Some things are simply untouchable, and the "Polish Jazz" series is surely one of those things. If Warner Music Poland wants to produce Jazz albums, which is always more than welcome, they could have started a new series, under a new title, rather than exploiting the reputation of the historic series. As a result, some artist whose albums are released as part of the new series might be led to expect instant gratification, fame and stardom, just for being an artificial part of a prestigious past, which of course is as bogus as it is sad.

Updated: 23/02/2020Posted: 23/02/2020

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WITOLD JANIAK ~ CINEMA MEETS JAZZ NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 - 2013 Released: 2013 This is the third album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Witold JaniakFind albums by this artist, and his debut recording in the piano trio format. There are actually two different trios present on this album, one with bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and the other with bassist Andrzej ZielakFind albums by this artist and drummer Kamil MiszewskiFind albums by this artist. All the tracks were recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, which guaranties the highest sound quality. The album includes nine tracks, all of which are, as the title suggests, famous movie themes arranged by Janiak for the piano trio. Playing cinematic music in a Jazzy manner is of course a treacherous ground, since such projects have been attempted numerous times in the past, and by the absolute top Jazz players all over the world. Therefore the idea is hardly innovative or original and anybody attempting such a project has to be prepared to offer some bonus values, like extraordinary virtuosic performance or highly inventive arrangements. Sadly this album offers none of the above. Of course Janiak and his rhythm sections are skilled players with years of experience behind them, which results in excellent performances, but the music lacks sparkle and inspiration. This is painfully evident on the trio´s interpretation of Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s theme from Rosemary´s Baby, which has been performed incessantly by other Polish Jazz musicians. Overall the album presents some pleasant and well played piano trio Jazz, but fails to cross over into prominence.

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WALDEMAR KNADE ~ STORIES NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish violist / keyboardist / composer Waldemar KnadeFind albums by this artist, recorded with some long-time musical friends mostly from the Polish Avant-Garde Jazz and Rock scene, such as vocalist / lyricist Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, guitarist Lukasz FijalkowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, bassists Michal RybkaFind albums by this artist and Bogdan MizerskiFind albums by this artist, vocalist Ewelina WizentasFind albums by this artist and turntablist DJ Paulo B.O.K.Find albums by this artist The album presents seventeen relatively short tracks, all composed and some co-composed by Knade and the participating musicians, with the vocal tracks featuring lyrics mostly written by Skolias. The music is a fabulous atmospheric / ambient trip, full of mysticism and emotional tension, with subtle melodic themes, which are often more subconscious than actually specifically stated. Jazz, theatrical recitation, ambient electronic music and some Funky pulsations are all amalgamated into a diabolic / angelic magic potion, which the listener is treated to while submitting his mind to the music. There are many instrumental gems spread along the way, with Mazzoll improvising sublimely on bass and metal clarinets and Knade fiddling away enchantingly, and with divine vocal practices by Skolias and Wizentas, which are no less that blood curdling. Whether deeply religious or profoundly atheistic, which of course is entirely up to the listener, this music is simply way too engaging to be ignored emotionally. I see so often the phrase “spiritual music” being endlessly abused and misused by music critics, but in this case this is simply no other but spiritual music. I find it truly inspirational, encouraging and even life / sanity saving to see that people still engage in creating music like this today, when crawling through musical slime is the norm. Listening to this music is simply a deeply healing experience. Overall, this is an exceptional, highly spiritual piece of Avant-Garde Jazz, performed by some of the best Polish Jazz and Avant-Garde musicians, which delivers a fresh, exhilarating and completely unique aural experience of epic proportions. I am eternally grateful to all the participant and proud to be able to call some of them my Friends. I can only hope this music could be heard by every person on this crazy planet.

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

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WOJCIECH KONIKIEWICZ ~ ANOTHER FORM OF COMMUNICATION ARTING ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1993 Released: 1993 This is a beautiful and sadly little known album by the Polish Jazz pianist / composer Wojciech KonikiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions by Konikiewicz, performed on piano solo (the two opening tracks) and in a trio setting (the remaining four tracks, recorded live) with the wonderful late bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, recorded at the Warsaw Music University. The album was released first as an exquisitely packaged promotional gift by the prestigious Paris based communication and design firm Arting, which is today a highly sought-after collector´s item, and which I was honored to receive from the Artist himself. Later on it was released commercially in Poland by Koch, but is of course completely gone from the market. The album presents the gentle / lyrical side of Konikiewicz, who weaves beautifully melodic themes and improvises at length, slowly developing his ideas and exposing fragment after of his inner soul to the listener. The album completely lacks any attempts of flashy display of technique or self-centered showmanship, and is simply all about the music and its sound and feeling. The trio tracks are a superb example of the classic piano trio format, with all three musicians listening to each other with obvious sympathy and respect. Personally I feel that these tracks are also some of the most beautiful pieces Wegehaupt ever recorded (and I know all of his work intimately), with fabulously crafted solos, full of finesse and emotion, being another added value of this project. He was definitely, in the words of Konikiewicz, a great poet of the bass. In retrospect I can say that the fact that this music in unavailable to the Polish Jazz connoisseur is a crying shame. All those forgotten albums truly deserve a proper reissue, as they are beyond a shadow of a doubt, part of the Polish Jazz legacy, which deserves to be cherished and preserved. It today´s "one minute attention span" world, pieces of art like this one are simply islands of sanity.

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CEZARY KONRAD ~ ONE MIRROR… MANY REFLECTIONS SELLES 0182 (Barcode: 5908260401825) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1999 Released: 2000 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s top drummers since many years, recorded with a core trio consisting of himself, bassist Piotr ZaczekFind albums by this artist and guitarist Darek KrupaFind albums by this artist, which is extended by additional players up to a quintet on some tracks with the addition of saxophonist Marek PodkowaFind albums by this artist and two keyboardists: Zbigniew JakubekFind albums by this artist and Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist. The album includes nine original compositions, all by Konrad. Most of the music on this album is closely associated with Jazz-Rock Fusion, obviously influenced by the work of Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist and his groups. The electric fretless bass and synthesizers and of course the sound of the guitar imitate almost exactly the sound of European Fusion popular during the 1990s. The compositions are all quite interesting, with nice melodic themes and interesting harmonic approach, but overall the music is not remarkable enough to leave a deep impression, certainly not leaving a lasting impression. The personal contributions are all quite excellent, with all the participants obviously being highly skilled musicians. There are some impressive solos and the overall level of playing is certainly satisfactory. Surprisingly the highlight of the album is the acoustic piano performance by Mozdzer on the only track, which is actually not a Fusion piece. In retrospect, the album definitely sounded better at the time of its recording than now and does not withstand the tides of time well. This is unfortunately the fate of most Fusion albums, which proved to be mostly repetitive and derivative, with a very few exceptions.

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KOSTOV / PANTA / KONRAD ~ CONVERSATIONS NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5907222840009) ~ BULGARIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the Jazz trio consisting of Bulgarian (resident in Munich) pianist / composer Konstantin KostovFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen compositions, five of which are originals by Kostov, four are originals co-composed (improvised) by the trio (called Conversation I to IV), one is by Konrad and the rest are Jazz standards of Classical compositions arranged by Kostov. The music is beautifully melodic and lyrical, kept mostly well within the modern mainstream idiom, except for the improvised and the solo piano pieces, but the exquisite rapport between the trio members and their obvious virtuosity create an elegant and highly expressive classic Jazz piano trio performance, which is simply perfect from start to finish. Kostov has a wonderful touch on the piano keys, delicate and sophisticated, but very convincing. Obviously influenced by Classical Music, his silky flow and elegant arpeggios are simply irresistible. Panta and Konrad are both superb musicians, with many years of presence on the Polish Jazz scene, both having played with all the top Jazz players in the country. Their contributions on this album are all, as expected, top class. It seems that the Jazz piano trio format serves as an inexhaustible setting for Jazz and despite thousands of piano trio recordings in existence, the listener can still find something that is fresh and unusual, searching and demanding. For Jazz piano trio lovers this album is a classic must have!

Updated: 19/09/2018Posted: 19/09/2018

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MICHAL KULENTY ~ DUSZA W USZACH POLSKIE RADIO 1835 (Barcode: 5907812248352) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2016 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Michal KulentyFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quartet setting with pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and accompanied by the Polish Radio OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Herdzin. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Kulenty and all arranged by Herdzin. The album was recorded four years prior to its release. The music is all very melodic and well structured, only marginally belonging to the Jazz idiom, being much closer to Popular and light Classical music, especially in view of Herdzin´s elaborate, but sugary arrangements. Although Kulenty improvisations are at the centre of the listeners attention, they are somewhat watered down by the orchestral accompaniment with an overall Smooth Jazz ambience. Kulenty´s wonderful tone and phrasing, which awarded him the nickname of "saxophone poet" due to his superb feeling and lyricism, are indeed pure delight. The album offers many wonderfully lyrical moments, appropriate especially for the less strictly Jazz oriented audiences, and is highly professionally executed and recorded, which overall produces a very pleasant listening experience. Tragically the release of this album almost coincided with Kulenty´s premature death in January 2017, which was a great loss to the local Jazz scene.

Updated: 31/03/2017Posted: 31/03/2017

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ANDRZEJ KURYLEWICZ ~ TRIO POLSKIE RADIO 0226-0227 (Barcode: 5901448112261) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2000 Released: 2007 The legendary Polish Jazz pianist / composer Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist is one of the godfathers of the great Polish Jazz movement, starting from the 1950s. Sadly his role is often almost forgotten and certainly much less appreciated that that of his counterpart pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, who managed to achieve some international exposure and prominence. Kurylewicz is a formidable force and his skills as pianist / composer / arranger / conductor are truly admirable. He also composed music for cinema, theatre and TV as well and contemporary Classical music. Unfortunately his recorded legacy of Jazz performances is rather limited and therefore the outmost importance of this superb album, which documents his return to Jazz piano after several years of absence, with his brilliant trio with bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. These absolutely stunning recordings present the trio playing a set of original compositions and standards, played with finesse and taste completely unmatched. Of course the age and experience of the veteran musician have a lot to do with this (he was almost 70 by the time of this recording) but the talent and above all his incredible feel for Jazz, melody and improvisation, which are simply beyond what most other musicians have to offer. In his own compositions Kurylewicz is deeply rooted in the Polish musical tradition, which incorporates folklore and Classical music. His interpretation is typically European; elegant, sophisticated, clever and moving and this music simply uplifts the listener to another plane. The album also includes several video clips taken during the recording sessions of this album, which are also a great pleasure to watch. In short this is a great example of Polish (and European) Jazz at its finest moments, which should be treasured by Jazz connoisseurs around the world. A must!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.36 POLSKIE RADIO 2422-2423 (Barcode: 5907812247720) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 - 1995 Released: 2023 This is the thirty-sixth installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings of that period. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The music on this album presents radio recordings of live performances by one of Godfathers of Polish Jazz, saxophonist / composer / bandleader Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, who sadly departed recently (February 2022), paying tribute to his artistry. Namyslowski was active on the scene since the late 1950s and his music embraced diverse environments, playing Jazz in all its forms and idioms, between Traditional Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion. The 2CD album presents nineteen tracks recorded between 1974 and 1995 which are a wonderful collection spanning his various activities. Namyslowski composed all but one of these tracks. The first four tracks on CD1, recorded in 1974, feature a quintet with saxophonist / flautist Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, pianist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel JarzebskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The next four tracks on CD1, recorded in 1975, feature a sextet with saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, Karolak, Jarzebski, drummer Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jerzy BartzFind albums by this artist. The first four tracks on CD2, recorded in 1992, feature a quartet with pianist Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The last seven tracks on CD2, recorded in 1995, feature a quintet with the same lineup as the quartet above, with the addition of trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist. The fact that five of the musicians playing on this album (Namyslowski, Muniak, Karolak, Szukalski and Wegehaupt) are no longer with us is a sad reminder of the phenomenon of the first generation of the Polish Jazz scene disappearing. The series, which was brought back to life after three years of absence, offers an upgraded packaging, which finally offers bi-lingual liner notes, fitting the importance of this music. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. Overall this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan should consider as a must.

Updated: 25/03/2023Posted: 25/03/2023

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ THE LAST CONCERT POLONIA 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1991 Released: 1992 This is a brilliant album by veteran Polish saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, one of the pillars of modern Jazz in his country. A superb player and a gifted composer, Namyslowski first as a member of the Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s group and later as a leader of his numerous ensembles created excellent music and served as a model to generations of Jazz players in his country. This album, one of very few live recordings by Namyslowski, was captured at Warsaw´s Jazz Jamboree festival and features one of the strongest quartets Namyslowski ever led, with pianist Janusz SkowronFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Violinist Maciej StrzelczykFind albums by this artist joins the quartet on a couple of tunes. All seven compositions performed are by Namyslowski and portray his wonderful sense of melody, polyrhythmic approach and tendency to incorporate World Music elements in his music. Two of the tracks are over 10 minutes long, which allows plenty of space for extensive improvisations. I have no idea why this album is entitled "The Last ConcertFind albums with this title" (perhaps this was the last concert with this particular quartet?), as this certainly wasn´t Namyslowski´s last live performance and he´s still playing brilliantly twenty years later, to the delight to his many admirers and fans, as well as writing great music. For lovers of Polish Jazz, this is an absolute classic, which should be a part of any decent Jazz collection. Highly recommended!

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LUKASZ PAWLIK ~ LONELY JOURNEY PAWLIK RELATIONS 011 (Barcode: 5901289325103) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish keyboardist / composer Lukasz PawlikFind albums by this artist, recorded with saxophonist Dawid GlowczewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The polish team is joined by American guitarist Mike SternFind albums by this artist on one track and trumpeter Michael Patches StewartFind albums by this artist on three tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Pawlik. The music is a slick, melodic Jazz-Funk / Groove / Smooth Jazz, similar to countless other albums of this sort. It is very well performed by all participants, who are true pros, and makes your feet tap, but once it´s over there is nothing left. The compositions are all pretty good, but again, hardly remarkable or memorable. Why on earth would a talented Polish young musician play music, which others (yes Americans) have been playing ad nauseam since the 1970s, not moving an inch forward in the last almost 50 years. Admittedly the Polish team is in every respect as good as their American counterparts, so what? Although this kind of music has its followers, which of course is fine, this is only very marginally, if at all, Jazz and should not be labeled as such. Overall this is a good Funk / Groove album, very well played, which lovers of the genre should enjoy in full, but definitely not something a Jazz connoisseur would listen to. And yes, Stern´s solo is as good as one might expect ;)

Updated: 12/03/2016Posted: 12/03/2016

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WLODEK PAWLIK ~ STRUNY NA ZIEMI POLSKIE RADIO 1395 (Barcode: 5907812243951) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is a beautiful album by Polish pianist / composer Wlodek PawlikFind albums by this artist, which presents a Jazz & Poetry project dedicated to the poetry of Jaroslaw IwaszkiewiczFind albums by this artist, one of the most renowned 20th Century Polish literary figures, although quite controversial on the convoluted Polish political landscape. Pawlik created sixteen musical settings to poems by Iwaszkiewicz, which are executed by a fabulous cast which includes vocalists Lora SzafranFind albums by this artist and Marek BalataFind albums by this artist, actor Robert WieckiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist, drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and percussionist Mikolaj WieleckiFind albums by this artist. The Jazz & Poetry idiom has always been one of great fortes of Polish Jazz and the beautiful Polish poetry seems always to magically inspire musicians and makes them to come up with their best work. This album is another example of this phenomenon and it is absolutely wonderful from start to finish. Pawlik seems to be completely comfortable with the short "song" oriented environment and weaves a series of beautifully melodic, expressive and impressive pieces, which are certainly among his strongest manifestations as a composer. The vocals and recitation are also superbly executed, with Szafran demonstrating again that she has but a few equals. A pity she does not record more, as her singing is always a source of heavenly pleasure. The instrumental quartet performs spotlessly, with Pawlik sensitive and lyrical phrases amicably and masterfully accompanied by the excellent rhythm section. Overall this is a classic example of the Jazz & Poetry idiom, which glorifies the Polish Culture in the best possible way. The combination of words and music is probably the most powerful tool to bring the best out of the Artists and the listeners. Of course the lyrics in Polish seemingly limit the audience to the Polish speakers, but honestly this album can move the hearts of listeners who do not understand a word of Polish by the sheer magic of its intelligence and intellectual content. Strangely this album made very little impact on the Polish scene at the time of its release. Some people probably can´t bury political hatchets even when it comes to Culture…

Updated: 10/10/2016Posted: 10/10/2016

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ANNA SERAFINSKA ~ GROOVE MACHINE POLSKIE RADIO 1662 (Barcode: 5907812246624) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is a live radio recording by veteran Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter / educator Anna SerafinskaFind albums by this artist with her group called Groove MachineFind albums by this artist, which consists of mostly younger musicians: keyboardist Rafal StepienFind albums by this artist, guitarist Andrzej GondekFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The group also includes a couple of female backing vocalists. The album includes ten pieces, nine of which are originals on which Serafinska contributed the music or the lyrics or both and only one is a standard. The group´s name conveys exactly its musical direction, which is Funk, Soul-Jazz and Groove, without exception. Although marginally Jazzy, this music is quite excellent at what it stands for and does not fall behind similar efforts recorded anywhere else in the world, US included. The band plays with a superb feel and groove, as expected, driven by the excellent rhythm section of brilliant Baranski and veteran Konrad, who never fails regardless the musical environment. Keyboards and guitar, which provide the melodic content as well as atmospheric ornamentation, are also spotless and inspired. The tasty hints of ambient and electronic sounds by the keyboardists bring the overall sound up to date sounding completely contemporary. Serafinska, who sings in Polish and English, does a good job, obviously technically proficient and with a lot of feeling and understanding for this kind of music. However, her voice lacks any distinctive elements and is simply unremarkable. But the lack of luster is definitely a minor drawback and overall she really does an excellent job here both as a performer and composer / lyricist. This is what it is – good time music, which manages however to preserve musical quality, aesthetics and integrity. With excellent sound quality and truly entertaining contents this is definitely worth listening to, especially while driving a convertible on a see-side road. Groovy indeed!

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ANNA SERAFINSKA ~ CHOPIN TRIO ART HORSE 001 (Barcode: 5908254159701) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the sixth album by Polish vocalist Anna SerafinskaFind albums by this artist, this time recorded in a trio setting with pianist Rafal StepienFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album presents eight interpretations of pieces composed by the Polish composer Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, two of which have been complimented with lyrics. Serafinska´s previous albums have all been only marginally Jazz oriented, dominated by Pop, Soul and Groove, which makes this her most ambitious endeavor to date. Additionally, considering the fact that Chopin´s music has been the subject matter of a multitude Polish Jazz (and non-Jazz) albums over the years, including such lofty vocal interpretations like those done by the NOVI ensemble, attempting to tackle this subject seems a priori highly risky. I am happy to say that the album turned out to be a nice surprise in contrast to the initial reservations. Serafinska uses the full range of her voice here for the first time on record, reaching operatic ranges and performing spiraling vocalese parts which are able to break glass. Her vocal improvisations are Jazzier than at any time before and the intimate, minimalistic trio format works out splendidly. The music is non-trivial and sometimes even quite complex and the entire project has a much more aesthetic ambiance than ever before. Spiced with a subtle dose of good humor, it is simply great. The vocals / piano / drums trio is highly unusual and takes time to get fully used to, but it is very effective musically, with Stepien laying down the melodic / harmonic background and Konrad performing a myriad of percussive pyrotechnics, both of them supporting the vocalese / vocals amicably. The resulting sound is innovative and intriguing, which in general is pretty rare these days. Of course as a result of this ambitious and sophisticated approach the music becomes less acceptable and requires more attentive listening than Serafinska´s earlier efforts. Overall this is a very surprising and unexpected outing, better that anything Serafinska recorded earlier on and disclosing her abilities in new areas. By selecting the right partners and choosing the new format she redefined her artistic environment very successfully. Both Chopin and Jazz lovers should find this album intriguing and challenging, but at the same time highly entertaining. Well done indeed!

Updated: 24/10/2017Posted: 24/10/2017

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ NORTHERN SONG INTRO 004 (Barcode: 5907592167034) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1993 Released: 1993 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. It presents nine tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Stankiewicz and two are standards. Stankiewicz started his career in the mid 1980s as a member of Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist´s group at the time, recording with him two albums. In the late 1980s he studied at the Berklee Collage of Music in Boston and upon his return to Poland formed the quartet which recorded this album. Over time he established for himself a leading position on the local Jazz scene as composer, arranger, performer and educator. This album presents melodic mainstream Jazz, executed with flair and perfection by a quartet of highly talented and experienced players, who continue the tradition of Polish Jazz established three decades earlier with a mixture of American Jazz tradition at its best and European lyricism and elegance combined into an irresistible swinging and sparkling Jazz presentation. The individual performances by all quartet members are truly outstanding. Miskiewicz plays with his usual fluency and melodic smoothness, which makes him one of the best players on the scene. The rhythm section is also right where it belongs, with the bass supporting the melody lines on one hand and stating the rhythmic pulse on the other and the drums keep perfect time without being obtrusive. But it is Stankiewicz, who is at the center of the listener´s attention, both as a player and a composer. His beautiful tunes sound remarkably "familiar" even at the first encounter, which of course is a sign of perfect harmonic balance and melodic excellence that characterizes all great Jazz pieces. His piano playing is another proof of his sublime sensitivity and feel for Jazz, which is immediately apparent. It is hardly surprising that this album won the "Album of the Year" title at the time of its release, over twenty years before these notes are being written. In retrospect it is quite clear that great music ages well, and this album sounds as relevant and exciting today as it did at the time it was recorded. Although it is rooted in the mainstream tradition, it presents the best side of the tradition, which is simply eternal. Listening to this album should be pleasurable to every true Jazz connoisseur, anywhere on this planet, as it is simply one of those gems that are always worth revisiting.

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KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ AQUARIUS: THE ORCHESTRAL SESSIONS STM 006 (Barcode: 602577499500) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the 9th album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, recorded with her more or less regular musical companions: vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Violin virtuoso Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of tracks. Additionally the Sinfonia VivaFind albums by this artist Orchestra, conducted by Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the orchestral arrangements, provides the orchestral accompaniment. The album presents ten songs, three of which were written by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, two by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, four are Jazz standards and one is a Polish cabaret song. Musically this album is a direct continuation of Stanko´s previous album "Novos AnosFind albums with this title", which was characterized by a distinct Bossa Nova flavor, which is also present here. The same idea of presenting well known songs in a very personal interpretation applies also here. The superb instrumental work by the excellent musicians who accompany the vocalist, are enhanced here with the addition of the orchestral arrangement, wonderfully and cleverly put together by Herdzin. Altogether the instrumental work on this album is every bit as impressive as the vocal parts. Bukowski uses the vibraphone and the marimba like a snake charmer, adopting his solos to every tune. Wadolowski plays quiet acoustic guitar parts but also excellent electric solos and consistently proves that he is one of the top guitar players on the local scene. Lemanczyk, as usual, keeps everything under control with his caressing bass lines, which fill all the spaces. Konrad is steady like the Rock of Gibraltar, and his delicate, but firm drum parts, which are the heartbeat of the music. Herdzin´s arrangements deserve praise not only for their sophistication, but more importantly for their incorporation within the overall framework of the sound, staying respectfully in the background and ornamenting the sonic whole rather that dominating it. Stanko, as usual, balances between singing lyrics and vocalese, in order to keep the things interesting. Her sensuous and dreamy voice is charming as always, and she is not trying to sound like anybody else simply being herself, a quality I always admired in her career. Her understanding of the fact that there is nothing wrong with singing standards, as long as the result is both musically solid and uncompromising, is a key ingredient of her musical mission. Overall this is a beautiful album full of superb music and outstanding performances, which can be enjoyed by a wide spectrum of Jazz listeners, from complete beginners to experienced connoisseurs, with each one being able to find something that touches them. Thank you again, my Baltic Siren, for sharing your musical heart with me and everybody else who will listen to this music and enjoy it. You are the one and only, as always!

Updated: 23/03/2024Posted: 02/04/2019

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KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ KROPLA SLOWA STM 004 (Barcode: 5907592141010) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / lyricist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, and her most ambitious undertaking to date, as it presents her in the Jazz & Poetry setting, which is always very demanding and perilous. The album comprises of ten songs; four of which have lyrics by the Nobel Prize laureate poetess Wislawa SzymborskaFind albums by this artist (who died in 2012), two with lyrics by poetess Halina PoswiatowskaFind albums by this artist (who died in 1967 at a ridiculous young age of 32), one with lyrics by poetess Dorota SzattersFind albums by this artist (a contemporary lyricist living in Silesia, the southern part of Poland), one with lyrics by the poet Tomasz JastrunFind albums by this artist (well-known for his involvement with the underground literary movement during the Socialist regime) and the last two with lyrics by Stanko herself. Of the ten songs, seven were composed by vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, two by Stanko and one by bassist / composer Paul RutschkaFind albums by this artist, who is Stanko´s nephew. The songs are performed by Stanko, who is accompanied by a core trio, which includes Bukowski and the wonderful rhythm section of bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. In addition several excellent musicians participate as guests adding their contributions to one or two of the songs, those being: saxophonists Maciej ObaraFind albums by this artist and Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jacek KrolikFind albums by this artist, percussionist Miroslaw HadyFind albums by this artist, Indonesian pianist Sri HanuragaFind albums by this artist and bassist Paul Rutschka. A string quartet is also utilized on a couple of songs. The presence of so many musicians creates a much diversified album, with each of the songs being quite distinct and different sounding instrumentally, which enhances the listening experience and allows for unexpected vistas. Of course the diversity does not disturb the general atmosphere of the album, which is wonderfully lyrical and introvert, as are most Polish Jazz & Poetry albums. For listeners familiar with the Polish scene, this album immediately brings on a need to match it up against the recent work by Polish Jazz vocalist Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist, which is conceptually and spiritually in the same aesthetic sphere of influence. In fact this album is incredibly akin to Zaryan´s latest album. One can only speculate as to how much of this proximity is intentional, but probably very little. It is more likely a result of the characteristics of both Polish Jazz and Polish Poetry being so dominant, with the distinctive rhythm of the language, its "playability" and inherent musicality, which contributed to this close encounter. Of course these albums are also wonderfully different, which creates a joyous opportunity to love them both. Stanko should be praised for sticking with her mother tongue, against the temptations of "international potential", which brings many Polish singers to try their luck with texts in English. Every music connoisseur understands that vocalists are at their best when singing in their natural language, and of course even more so in case poetry is used. Stanko´s interpretation and articulation of the poems is warm and wonderfully round, expressing her deep engagement with this project. The music is also excellent, and although melodic, it proves to be quite challenging at times, with twisted progressions and unusual harmonic structure. Listeners, who are not familiar with the Polish language, will still be able to enjoy this album immensely, just listening to Stanko´s vocals as another instrument in the ensemble, carrying the melody. The overall level of performances is truly amazing. The vibraphone and marimba are difficult instruments, especially for the less experienced listeners, but Bukowski manages to use them subtly, often staying low-key and wonderfully supportive towards the vocalist. Lemanczyk plays absolutely stunningly, with his virtuosic bass lines carrying the music like wind over water. Konrad, a well-respected veteran, is the ensemble´s chronometer, without actually playing the beat, masterfully ornamenting the music with his percussive touches. The guest musicians all contribute in their relative fields of expertise. The leading Lady is firmly expressing the lyrics and yet creating a brilliant atmosphere of fragility and insecurity, as appropriate in such context. A job well done indeed! I admit falling in love with this album immediately. Those sensitive, intelligent and brilliantly talented women always capture my musical heart filling it with passion and sweet delight. Age, experience and cynicism simply melt away. The only gentlemanly thing left is to thank Stanko for creating this heartwarming peace of musical delight and wish her God´s speed. I´m already longing for the next one!

Updated: 23/03/2024Posted:

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KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ SECRETLY STM 001 (Barcode: 5905912559279) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the fifth album by Polish singer / songwriter Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, who this time sets aside her own music and pays homage to the songwriting talents of Brit Peter GabrielFind albums by this artist. Gabriel, who came to fame as the eccentric, theatrical and quite over the top charismatic front man of the legendary proggers GenesisFind albums by this artist, calmed down considerably after he opted for a solo career, which in retrospect was a smart move, both artistically and commercially. Over time Gabriel recorded an impressive number of albums, containing mostly his self-penned material, which overall is excellent Pop music in today´s standards, gaining acclaim by critics and fans alike. For her album Stanko selected eight songs, seven of which are Gabriel´s creations and one, which was covered by him on his eights studio album "Scratch My BackFind albums with this title", and was originally written by Stephin MerrittFind albums by this artist, front-man of The Magnetic FieldsFind albums by this artist. She is accompanied by a dreamy quintet, which includes trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetists and flautist Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist, veteran drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and her regular cohorts vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist extraordinaire Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist. On the non-Gabriel song she sings a duet with singer Mieczyslaw SzczesniakFind albums by this artist, who appears as a guest. Jazz tributes to Pop artists are a perilous path, often leading straight off the cliff and I must say that this album is one of the very few such attempts that actually work, which already is a success. What makes this music work is mostly the fact that Stanko as a performer and Bukowski / Lemanczyk as arrangers (although not credited as such on the album´s cover, but audibly so) did not just perform a tribute to Gabriel´s music by covering the songs but in fact transformed the music, often quite dramatically, into a different platform, which has very little to do with the original Pop environment it was created in, and sits firmly in the Jazz idiom every step of the way. All the solos, the incredible work of the rhythm section and Stanko´s vocals are dripping Jazz honey every step of the way and I´d even risk speculating that many of Gabriel´s fans would not recognize some of the original songs under the disguise they appear here in. I dare say that I find it a pity Stanko did not take this project one step further, by translating the original lyrics into the Polish language, which would have made her vocal expression much more sophisticated and intense. Singing in a foreign language is an effort, which usually limits the vocalist by robbing them of their total attention towards the music, so necessary in order to create a perfect vocal delivery. Nevertheless this is a speculation and the album is definitely an excellent piece of music the way it was recorded. I have no idea if Gabriel ever heard this album, but I´m quite sure he´d approve and appreciate it, considering he´s one of the more open-minded and non-prejudicial heroes of the contemporary music biz (or whatever is left of it). This is definitely an album worth having and hearing again and again, in different moods and circumstances, as it is multifaceted and capable of uplifting the spirits repeatedly. There is something in there for a wide audience of music lovers, from Jazz buffs to Pop aficionados (providing they wash their ears first). Kudos Krystyna!

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KRYSTYNA STANKO / DOMINIK BUKOWSKI / PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ CUDA OGLASZAJA STM 002 ~ POLAND ~ Xmas Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is a wonderful festive season album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist and her regular partners: vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist dedicated to their arrangements of Christmas Carrols. Poland has a tradition of Christmas Carrols spanning back to the middle ages and including many original Carrols written in the Polish language. The nine Carrols selected for this album include both internationally known Carrols translated into Polish and original Polish Carrols. Jazz interpretations of Christmas songs and Carrols have been tried many times before, most of them being simply an opportunistic pastiche devoid of any artistic merit. However this recording is surprisingly touching and absolutely stunning musically. The intimate setting of a vocalist and just two accompanying instruments (well veteran drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist does play on one track) seem to be able to bring out the best of everybody on this album. Stanko delivers the lyrics with a heartbreaking honesty and sensitivity, Bukowski paints the melodies and colors the entire atmosphere with his mallets and Lemanczyk carries the music on the back of his incredible bass lines, steady as a rock and virtuosic like butterfly´s wings. The entire delivery is simply breathtaking and in retrospect one must see that Stanko´s sensitivity to the spoken word is at its peak here, ready to explode on her next solo project "Kropla SlowaFind albums with this title". The arrangements, which transpose the Carrols into the world of Gospel / Blues / Jazz are artistry in itself, and should be studied in music schools the world over. The most amazing effect of this album is the fact that it makes the listener actually listen to the lyrics. Most religious music is usually performed in a mantra manner, with the performer uttering the words without actually even trying to comprehend the meaning of the text, especially when it happens during a ceremonial act. I must say that although I have heard these Carrols countless times before, I actually listened to the words for the first time while listening to this album, and was quite surprised by their beauty. Regardless of the religious context, this is pure poetry full of longing for love, compassion, sympathy and understanding, which are universally human. I can´t think of a better Christmas gift to anyone, who loves music, especially if they understand Polish, but the beauty of this recording knows no language barriers and melts open hearts anywhere. A treasure!

Updated: 18/01/2021Posted:

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

TOMASZ STANKO ~ A FAREWELL TO MARIA (SOUNDTRACK) GOWI 12 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1993 Released: 1994 This is an album by legendary Polish Jazz trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, which presents the music used as a soundtrack of an obscure Polish TV movie "A Farewell To MariaFind albums with this title", directed by Filip ZylberFind albums by this artist. The music is performed by a large cast of top Polish Jazz musicians, like saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Janusz SkowronFind albums by this artist, bassists Andrzej CudzichFind albums by this artist and Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and others, as well as a string quartet. The album comprises of thirteen relatively short tracks, which appear within the film. The music is a wonderful example of the strength of Stanko the composer and is based around the leitmotif, which is, as always, a heartwrenching ballad that Stanko masterly created. But the album also includes several additional melodic and improvised pieces, which create a diverse and fascinating musical experience. In contrast to many soundtrack albums, this one works perfectly well by itself, detached from the cinematic layer. The performances are all top notch, again as expected, and in many respects this album firmly belongs to the mainstream of Stanko´s recorded heritage. It´s a great pity that this album so little known by Stanko´s fans and the fact that it is impossible to find a copy of this album is a crying shame. Grab it if you can find it!

Updated: 18/07/2017Posted: 18/07/2017

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ KARAMBOLA ALLEGRO 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 1999 This album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist was recorded with a septet, which also included trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, bassist Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist, drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist and Indonesian (living in Netherlands) percussionist Nippy NoyaFind albums by this artist. It includes seven compositions, five of which are originals by the leader and two are standards. It was also the first release on his own record label, called AllegroFind albums on this label Records, one of the first musician´s owned independent record labels in Poland, which just a decade prior to the release date of this album finally managed to shake off the Socialist regime. During that regime´s rule, which lasted for forty five years, all recordings in Poland were released only by the state owned record label, which single-handedly dictated which music saw the light of day and which didn´t. Of course as a result many great musicians, especially those with Avant Garde inclinations or anti-Government attitude, never received the opportunity to make an album. After the regime´s fall by the end of 1980s, the economic realities replaced the political censorship as a decisive factor as to which music will be released, and an independent, self owned record label is definitely the best solution. In retrospect Allegro Records managed to become one of the leading such labels in Poland, releasing consistently excellent material by the owner, his many friends and other Polish Jazz musicians. The music on this album presents a change of direction for Staroniewicz, as for the first time his great love for World Music is revealed in full. Strongly influenced by Cuban music and other South American musical accents, the music emerges as a superb amalgam of classic mainstream with these folkloristic elements. Beautifully arranged and perfectly executed, it is a non-stop delight from start to finish, with plenty of great soloing and excellent support by the rhythm section. The presence of Noya adds greatly to the overall sound and enhances the World Music feel. Although to a great extent sophisticated, the music sounds really "easy" and most of all danceable, which is a rare achievement. There is an incredible version of George GershwinFind albums by this artist´s "Summertime" here, which will make your behind vibrate. This is definitely an album every true Jazz connoisseur would love to have in his collection. I can´t help it but to recommend it wholeheartedly. Superb stuff!

Updated: 17/12/2018Posted:

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ QUIET CITY POLONIA 043 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1995 Released: 1995 This is an early release by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quartet setting with pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The album includes six original compositions, all by Staroniewicz, most of which are ballads. After listening to just a few opening notes it becomes immediately apparent that this is a Polish Jazz recording, as the music is full of the characteristics, which are unique to Polish Jazz: wonderfully lyrical melodies, folkloristic undertones, unusual meters and those unique harmonies, which only Polish Jazz musicians are able to invent. Also clearly apparent is the virtuosity of the participants, who in spite of their (at the time) young age sound as if they played Jazz for decades. Staroniewicz has a beautiful tone when playing his tenor saxophone, which resembles several of the great American saxophonists, but has more vitality and chutzpah. Jagodzinski is a fantastic player and this early recording already shows him in his full capacity. The rhythm section is also first class, doing a fantastic job supporting the two soloists both during the ensemble parts and solo parts. Although this is solid mainstream Jazz, it is full of intelligent moments and passionate performances, which take the music well beyond what is usually conceived as mainstream. Partly due to the leader´s superb compositions and partly to the musicians growing up absorbing the Polish Jazz heritage, which includes the innovations introduced by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, which were as much influential on Polish Jazz as John ColtraneFind albums by this artist´s legacy was on the global scene, this music is both a classic example of mainstream Jazz as much as an epitome of Polish Jazz. In retrospect I find myself returning to this album from time to time and although it is rarely considered as a Polish Jazz "classic", it is definitely so for me. Of course the fact that it was recorded almost two decades ago means absolutely nothing except for the fact that is seems to be getting better with time. The fact that Staroniewicz emerged eventually as one of the pillars of the Polish Jazz scene, not only as a player but also as a record label owner, concert organizer, etc. proves that he means business, which is always a great quality in people. So a "classic" for me, and if you get to listen to it – it will be also a "classic" for you!

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ZBIGNIEW JAKUBEK AFRO VIBE 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2013 - 2023 Released: 2023 This is a 2CD album paying tribute to Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer / arranger Zbigniew JakubekFind albums by this artist, a prominent figure on the Polish Jazz scene for many decades and member of such ensembles like Walk AwayFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist and others. Jakubek recorded many albums with the groups he was a member of, as well as a sideman in numerous projects with other top Polish Jazz musicians, but sadly never managed to record a solo album as a leader. Following his death in May 2023, guitarist / composer Marek RaduliFind albums by this artist, who was a close friend of Jakubek, undertook this splendid project to record an album with original music by Jakubek, with the help of many of the musicians Jakubek played with, such as bassists Michal GrottFind albums by this artist, Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist, Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, drummers Michal DabrowkaFind albums by this artist, Wojciech FedkowiczFind albums by this artist and Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents ten tracks (five on each CD), nine of which are original compositions of Jakubek and one is composed by Raduli, with lyrics by Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist). Seven of the tracks are based on tracks left by Jakubek, recorded as sketches / preparations for his solo album and other sources, two are taken from Walk Away albums and the last one, was written (see above) especially for this album. The music is all brilliantly melodic, with typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, excellently performed by all the participants and offers an excellent sound quality. Raduli’s guitar playing is absolutely sensational and his emotional involvement with this project is evident and his dedication to carry it out is exceptional. Overall, this is a brilliant tribute album to a great musician / composer, warmly remembered by his peers and friends, and the music offers some of the finest guitar oriented Jazz / Fusion music recorded in Poland. For the lovers of the genre, this album is an absolute must, but all Jazz lovers around the world should be able to appreciate the superb compositions by Jakubek and enjoy the music wholeheartedly. Hats off to those who contributed to make this project a reality!

Updated: 09/04/2024Posted: 09/04/2024

CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

WANDA WARSKA ~ DOMOWE PIOSENKI POLSKIE RADIO 1984-1985 (Barcode: 5907812249847) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 1964 - 2015 Released: 2016 This is a phenomenal collection of radio recordings by the iconic Polish Jazz vocalist Wanda WarskaFind albums by this artist, the wife of the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / trumpeter / trombonist / composer / arranger / conductor / bandleader Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, considering the criminally limited recorded legacy by Warska, in spite of her status and immense talent, she was perhaps overshadowed by the colossal figure of her husband and perhaps decided to support his career rather than develop her own. Whatever the reasons might have been, there is almost nothing available on the Polish music market that reflects her incredible artistry and this collection is a most welcome, albeit much belated, tribute to this Wonder Women! This 2CD album presents thirty seven stunning songs, all of which have two things in common: Warska sings them all and she wrote the lyrics to all of them, unveiling a part of her creative nature less know to the public. As if this wasn´t impressive enough, she also composed twenty four of these songs. Those she did not composed are mostly by Brazilian composers: Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, Vinicius de MoraesFind albums by this artist, Dorival CaymmiFind albums by this artist and Joao GilbertoFind albums by this artist, the Godfathers of Bossa Nova and modern Brazilian music (total nine songs). Warska started her career as a lyricist in 1964, when she translated into Polish the a/m Bossa Nova songs, which swept the Polish scene as they did all over the world at the time. The remaining four songs come from other sources and interestingly none of the songs on this album were composed by Kurylewicz. These songs were recorded during a number of recording sessions as follows: one song was recorded in 1963, five songs were recorded in 1964, seven songs were recorded in 1966, one song was recorded in 1971 and seven songs were recorded in 1972; on all of the above twenty one songs Warska is accompanied by various ensembles led by Kurylewicz, lineups of which are unknown. Thirteen songs were recorded in 2002 and one in 2004 with a quartet which included Kurylewicz on piano, guitarist Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Two more songs were recorded in 2015 (after the passing of Kurylewicz in 2007) with a trio featuring pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, Napiorkowski and Panta. The songs composed by Warska are all pearls of the Polish Jazz & Poetry idiom, full of that heartbreaking lyricism, Slavic melancholy and beautiful melodies, that only Poles are capable of weaving. Warska´s interpretations of these songs are absolutely divine, although she was always the absolute Queen of Cool, playing around with her beautiful voice and using cleverly the idiosyncrasies of the Polish language and diction, but eschewing theatrics and drama. This perfect minimalism is her trademark, and sets her apart from all other Polish Jazz vocalists, regardless of their age. In truth this album is a wonderful opportunity to compare Warska to her alter ego, the legendary Polish Jazz vocalist Ewa DemarczykFind albums by this artist, who also enjoys an iconic status based mostly on a very limited number of recordings done decades ago. Demarczyk and Warska are the two most important figures of the Polish Jazz vocal artistry, and they both remain unchallenged so far. Demarczyk, the absolute Drama Queen, is the devilish face of Polish Jazz vocals whereas Warska is the absolute angelic face of it. They compliment each other perfectly, like Yin & Yang and a prospect of seeing them both on one stage and / or the possibility of them making an album together gives me the Goosebumps. As usual in such cases, the lyrical content of this album is sadly limited to those listeners who understand the Polish language, however I´m pretty sure that the beauty and the power of these songs is much stronger than language barriers and all sensitive listeners anywhere on this planet should be able to enjoy this album immensely. As far as Polish Cultural Heritage is concerned, this is an absolute National Treasure, which deserves to be cherished and studied by young musicians in Poland, first and foremost by vocalists of course. For us, the humble admirers, this is an essential addition to our record collections, no questions asked. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Updated: 05/05/2016Posted: 05/05/2016

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend