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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(0-58) ~ TRYBY 0-58 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 This is the third album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist and her second recording with the group (0-58)Find albums by this artist, which paired her as a co-leader with guitarist / composer Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist. The group also included accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. The album includes eight original compositions, seven of which are by Grzywacz with lyrics by Stanko and one is an instrumental by Lemanczyk, where Stanko uses wordless vocalese only. Musically the album is a striking amalgam of cross-genre explorations, which could be labeled as Jazz-Rock Fusion, but in truth comprises of many other musical influences and sources, from French musette via alternative Rock, RIO, Fusion, Prog and probably quite a few others, all resting firmly in the Jazz tradition. The eclecticism is not only part of the composition but is also reflected in the entirely unusual overall sonic atmosphere, which moves between the accordion inspired jubilation to dark, melancholic and deeply lyrical pieces, especially those featuring Stanko with Grzywacz on acoustic guitar and supported by the incredible bass lines by Lemanczyk and percussive ornamentation by Jahr. The album offers so many incredible musical moments that by and large the listener has barely time to enjoy one piece of music and is immediately thrown into completely new surroundings. The level of performances on this album is simply astounding. Stanko, as usual, presents the lyrics with a theatrical sensitivity and the instrumentalists magically perform a set of chameleonic tricks, changing moods and tempi on the fly, often using those strange odd meters, which make music exciting. The decision to use the accordion is a blessing as this fantastic instrument is able to produce a variety of sounds, so sweet and natural, that no synthesizer can ever come close to. Paciorek is obviously a Master and his solos, as well as his accompaniments are a real joy. Grzywacz is a versatile player with great technique and sensitivity, which is quite evident here and his solos are a classic examples of what Jazz / Fusion guitar playing should be all about. Lemanczyk is a true giant, and his strong acoustic bass lines on this album often sound as if produced by a bass guitar, which is quite incredible, Jahr is an excellent drummer and his all-around experience playing in many different musical areas makes him an ideal contributor on this recording. In retrospect it appears that this is definitely one of the best offerings of the Polish Jazz / Fusion scene in the first decade of the 21st Century and it certainly deserves much more attention and praise than it originally gained at the time of its release. Seemingly out of print, perhaps a reissue us in order? Delightful stuff!

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AD SHAVE ~ AD COMPLEMENTUM SOLITON 880 (Barcode: 5901571098807) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist, which compliments (as the title suggests) his debut album entitled "Ad ShaveFind albums with this title", released this time under the Ad ShaveFind albums by this artist moniker rather than under his own name. It was recorded with an excellent team of Polish Jazz musicians which include saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist, pianist / accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and several other musicians appearing on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, seven of which are composed or co-composed by Golicki, one each is composed by Paciorek and Lemanczyk and one is a Classical piece. The music is a wonderful collection of beautiful melodies, arranged mostly in a smooth Jazz-Rock Fusion mode and superbly performed by all the musicians involved. Although not innovative as such, the music is simply perfect in what it stands for and a schoolbook example of contemporary Fusion, which concentrates on excellent compositions and skillful arrangements rather than exploring endless instrumental doodling. The album is a most enjoyable ride, full of excellently weaved melodies, exciting soloing and a coherent "good time" approach, which is a breath of fresh air as far as most contemporary Fusion is concerned. Personally I had a great time listening to this music, which although seemingly pretty straightforward, does not make any compromises as far as aesthetic values are concerned and is an example of good taste and first class craftsmanship both on the compositional and performing platforms. Warmly recommended to Jazz-Rock Fusion fans, which prefer depth to flashy showmanship!

Updated: 04/05/2019Posted: 04/05/2019

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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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MARCIN GAWDZIS ~ MIND RECOVERY SOLITON 892 (Barcode: 5901571098920) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with other veterans of the Polish Baltic Jazz scene: pianist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist (mostly known as an accordion virtuoso), brilliant bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Gawdzis. The music is a highly melodic mainstream Jazz, somewhere between Bebop and Hard Bop, but with the usual Polish twist, adding elements of Slavic melancholy and lyricism. Al the melodies are wonderfully crafted and harmonically coherent, serving as excellent examples of contemporary Jazz firmly based in the classic Jazz tradition. If blind tested this album might be easily mistaken as a Blue Note session from the 1960s, and I mean this as a compliment. All four instrumentalists present a proficient technical level and a high sensitivity, which is obviously world class in every respect. Gawdzis has a clear and precise tonality and his solos are perfectly structured. Paciorek is the romantic of the four and his harmonies are always where they belong and his solos are heartbreaking. Lemanczyk, as always, pours his heart out and his bass lines are elegant and sophisticated, as expected from one of the top bass players in the country. Sowinski plays delicately, in accordance with the character of the music, staying mostly in the background, but his presence is felt in the places where a rhythmic support is needed. Polish Jazz scene is famous for its young generation of superb Avant-Garde / modernist trumpeters, which is truly amazing in every respect, but there are still several excellent conventional players, like Gawdzis, who also deserve the attention of Jazz fans; this album is definitely the proof of such well deserved attention. Overall this is a splendid mainstream Jazz album with excellent compositions and admirable performances, which should be interesting to every Jazz connoisseur on this globe. Very well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 03/05/2019Posted: 03/05/2019

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ DANCES POLONIA 133 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1997 Released: 1997 This album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist summarizes many years of his career by concentrating on one of the most important characteristics of his music: the symbiosis of Jazz and World Music, or more precisely Jazz and folklore, as represented by dances from different regions. The album comprises of fourteen original compositions by Namyslowski, all of which are based on specific dance rhythms, like tango, waltz and samba or Polish folk dances like mazurka, kujawiak and oberek. Several of the compositions included on this album are new arrangements of compositions recorded and released previously over time. The music is performed by a quartet, which besides Namyslowski, who plays saxophone, flute and trombone (his original instrument) includes also pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassists Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. Three additional players expand the lineup to a septet: accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, violinist Maciej StrzelczykFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. A Cuban percussion group guests on one tune (obviously the samba). Namyslowski´s ability to compose melodies, which fit the various rhythms and meters, including some very odd meters indeed, is absolutely phenomenal. This album is full of such clever tunes, which happen also to be delightful and sound completely "easy" in spite of their complex and capricious nature. The actual performance is of course first-rate, as always with ensembles led by Namyslowski, who is very strict and meticulous as far as playing is concerned. In many respects this is the most unconventional album ever recorded by Namyslowski in which Jazz plays still a central role, but is intertwined with the folkloristic elements so tightly, that is sounds often like a soundtrack to a documentary produced by National Geographic. Jazz connoisseurs will find this album absolutely charming in every respect, even though it covers musical ground not habitually associated with Jazz. It might be very difficult to find, but I urge every Polish Jazz enthusiast to lay their hand on a copy of this gem. Listening to this music is such a great fun!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ 3 NIGHTS POLONIA 174/176 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 1999 This album by Polish Jazz Colossus saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist documents a live recording captured during three consecutive nights at the legendary Warsaw Jazz Club "Akwarium". Accompanied by his regular (at the time) quartet, with pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist, as well as guest musicians: trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist, Namyslowski played a different program each night, which comprised entirely of his original compositions, twenty three of them in total. Although not intended as such, this recording is a sort of retrospective, both for Namyslowski the composer and Namyslowski the player. Approaching the age of sixty Namyslowski celebrated four decades of activity on the local and international scenes: recording some of the Polish Jazz milestone albums, grooming generations of Jazz musicians and playing countless concerts, an impressive record, which only very few other musicians share with him. Among the compositions performed one can find a few of his early tunes, going over thirty years back before the date of this recording, as well as some recently composed ones. The three nights seem to have quite a different character, although it´s difficult to guess if that was intended. The first night is all up-tempo tunes, performed by a septet with strong presence of the percussion, which spices the music with a Cuban feel. The second night is more modern mainstream, performed by a sextet and the last night is the most adventurous, with odd meters and World Music influenced compositions, which are often Namyslowski´s trademark. Overall the quality of the compositions and the performances are of course excellent. Namyslowski always knew how to pick up his group members, almost always from the ranks of one young generation after another. Walicki and Grzyb represent the youngest (at the time) generation and both prove to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the veterans. Herdzin, who played for several years with Namyslowski in the late 1990s, was still relatively unknown at the time (in the years to come his career was about to literally explode) and is the most interesting soloist on this album except the Boss of course. The guest players are all well known and their contributions are professional, but not very inspiring, except perhaps for Paciorek, who is so original that his playing is always fascinating. In the long discography by Namyslowski, this is perhaps not one of his milestone recordings, but in retrospect it definitely reflects his exceptional abilities as a player, composer and bandleader. The sound quality of these live recordings is spotless and has a warm aura and superb presence. This is a must have for the many Namyslowski fans and Polish Jazz buffs in general!

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CEZARY PACIOREK ~ EMIL: LIVE AT RADIO GDANSK SOLITON 944 (Barcode: 5901571099446) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz accordionist / composer Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist recorded live in a quintet setting with clarinetist Marcin JanekFind albums by this artist, violist Filip KowalskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The project is a tribute to the clarinetist / composer Emil KowalskiFind albums by this artist, who passed unexpectedly in 2008 and who was a lifetime friend and musical partner of Paciorek. Kowalski was a prominent Jazz-Classical and Jazz-World Fusion activist and a much loved personality on the Polish Baltic Tricity scene. The majority of the music on this album was composed by Paciorek but includes also two Classical pieces arranged by Kowalski and a medley of standards. The music offers a pretty diverse collection of melodic Jazz tunes with both World and Classical Music influences, as expected by the project´s objective, performed completely acoustically, offering a fresh and immediate sound rarely found on albums today. The sound of the live recording is clear and well defined, with the bass a bit too high and the drums too low in the mix, but nothing that would spoil the fun of listening to the music. The compositions by Paciorek are all solid, with a tinge of melancholy always present. The performances are professional, as expected from these experienced musicians, with Paciorek delivering his virtuosic solo parts, which are the heart of the entire project. But Filip Kowalski (the son of the late Emil Kowalski) and Janek also deliver some splendid soloing. The rhythm section is up to par with the three soloists and provides a steady, reliable and tasteful backing. Overall this is a nice collegial gesture which honors a memory of a friend musician, who deserves to be remembered, as much as a pleasant musical venture, which can be enjoyed by a wide audience of Jazz and around listeners.

Updated: 10/08/2019Posted: 10/08/2019

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ HAND-MADE ALLEGRO 005 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 Released: 2002 This is a beautiful album by Polish saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quintet, which is somewhat unusual, as it also includes accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, a rare combination these days. The other musicians are: guitarist Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. These are all excellent and experienced players, so the result is spotless on the technical front as well as very interesting from the musical standpoint. Staroniewicz has a wonderfully worm tone on his tenor saxophone and an unusually melodic approach, which does not diminish his improvisational qualities, which are truly impressive. The accordion adds a wonderful fuzzy "old time feel" to the entire session, and the Fusion guitar solos are a nice contrast. The music is mostly original with just two standards included for good measure. Overall this album is a lot of fun to listen to and a great proof that solid, melodic Jazz can be also of high quality and interest. Most warmly recommended to listeners who love their mainstream Jazz with a twist!

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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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LAURA CUBI VILLENA & ADAM WENDT ACOUSTIC SET ~ POR LA NOCHE SOLITON 757 (Barcode: 5901571097572) ~ SPAIN ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is an album by Spanish vocalist / lyricist Laura Cubi VillenaFind albums by this artist, recorded with the Polish ensemble led by saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, which also includes accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist (Pawel ZaganczykFind albums by this artist also plays accordion on one track), bassist Jaroslaw StokowskiFind albums by this artist and the Amber String QuartetFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original tracks all composed by Wendt with lyrics by Villena. Villena and Wendt collaborated already on the last album by Adam Wendt Acoustic SetFind albums by this artist ("Acoustic TravelFind albums with this title") which apparently worked well for both of them, leading to this full album recorded together. The music is only marginally Jazz oriented and offers a dominant Spanish / Latin flavor, using elements of Tango and other World Music motifs. The music is beautifully arranged and the instrumental performances are all excellent, as expected from these veteran pros. The accordion parts are especially beautiful, as are the heartfelt saxophone solos. Villena has a deep and sensuous voice, with a rasping coloring, and her delivery is ideal for the melodic contents and sounds authentic and striking. Overall this is a fine Jazz-World Fusion / Smooth Jazz offering, which does not compromise any musical qualities and offers first class entertaining. For lovers of Latin music and the Tango, this is quite a feast. This music, with the help of a good bottle of wine, is able to teleport the listener back in time to the streets of Buenos Aires, where the Tango used to be a way of life.

Updated: 16/06/2018Posted: 16/06/2018

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