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  | OLES BROTHERS / CHRISTOPHER DELL ~ KOMEDA AHEAD
FSR 2014/01 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014
It is extremely difficult to communicate anything truly innovative about Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s music. Since the tragic death of the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz over four decades ago, his enigmatic compositions have been the subject of a vast number of recordings in Poland as well as other countries, where his music was discovered. These recordings cover every Komeda compositions in every possible instrumental settings and stylistic sub-genre, ranging from works of pure genius to unspeakable pastiches. Therefore one should not be surprised by the fact that Jazz connoisseurs approach every new recording of Komeda´s music with extreme caution.
Bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and his twin brother drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist have paid their dues on the European Jazz scene since the onset of the 21st Century, slowly climbing to the well earned position of one of the top European Jazz rhythm sections. But they are also both formidable composers and activist, spinning a web of international contacts and collaborations, many of which resulted in recording of a succession of fabulous albums over the time. One of such meetings was with the German vibraphonist / composer Christopher DellFind albums by this artist, which led to this Komeda project to be commissioned by the Berliner Jazzfest in 2011, where it was debuted in November of that year.
The concept behind this project was to show Komeda as a composer of complex, expanded musical forms, as reflected by the four long tracks on this album, as well as a weaver of concise magical melodic miniatures, as those presented by the four short tracks. These two facets of Komeda´s work have never been presented earlier as complimenting each other.
The actual performance of the music is also completely unique and innovative. First there is the overall low key, low volume, completely acoustic approach, with each and every note being a crucial piece of the complete puzzle. Secondly there is the minimalism, a reserved approach stating that "less is more" and emphasized by the intrinsic inner calmness of the vibraphone, probably the most delicate and intimate instrument at our disposal. There is not a single note here that sounds redundant or unnecessary. And lastly there is a gorgeous freedom of expression, which is the predominant factor of this music, unrestricted by melody, harmony or rhythm. The Komeda fans will have no trouble to hear the familiar themes in this music, but at the same time they will be able to hear those themes stretched and expanded into previously untraveled territories.
It seems that Oles Brothers & Christopher Dell managed to achieve the goal of discovering and exposing more of the eternal beauty and charm hidden in Komeda´s music, and we, the listeners should be grateful for such discoveries. This music, with its elegance and eloquence, is a superb example of what Culture is all about.
Side Note: The above are the original liner notes, which were supposed to accompany the music as initially intended. However, as it often happens, the somewhat convoluted fate of this album´s release resulted in selecting different liner notes sometime along the line. Since I deeply love the music, as evident in my writing above, I feel that publishing them here is appropriate.
| | Updated: 02/01/2017Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | OLES BROTHERS / CHRISTOPHER DELL ~ GORECKI AHEAD
AUDIO CAVE 2018/005 (Barcode: 5905669566544) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018
This is an album by twin brothers: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, who are synonymous with the Polish Jazz since the break of the 21st Century, recorded with German vibraphone virtuoso Christopher DellFind albums by this artist, with whom they cooperate since many years. As the title suggests, this album is dedicated to the trio´s interpretations of music by the great Polish contemporary Classical Music composer Henryk GoreckiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven of Gorecki´s pieces, performed by the trio, and is appropriately entitled "Gorecki AheadFind albums with this title", following the trio´s previous album "Komeda AheadFind albums with this title" dedicated to the music of Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist.
The first public performance of some of the pieces present on this album happened just a day before this music was recorded, during the trio´s concert in the Nozyk Synagogue in Warsaw, which was the opening concert of the 4th Singer Jazz Festival, of which I am the Artistic Director. Towards the end of that concert, which presented the material recorded on "Komeda Ahead", I was suddenly notified that I need to go and open another concert in another venue, which would make it impossible for me to properly close the trio´s concert. In an instantaneous decision I asked the trio to just go on and play until my return, which they graciously, albeit with some surprise, agreed to, and of course since the Gorecki project was to be recorded the next day, they indeed continued the concert playing the music one can now hear on this album. I was then taken by the Chief of Security of the Festival rushing across Warsaw ignoring red lights and travelling against the traffic direction, opened the other concert and safely returned to hear some closing moments of a Gorecki piece and then had the pleasure to formally close the concert with the entire audience participating in a standing ovation, which lasted for many minutes.
Of course this album is anything but another typical Jazz-Classical Fusion project. Oles Brothers and Dell are way beyond the usual triviality and shallowness that often characterizes such projects and their attitude towards the music of other composers, both in the case of Komeda and now Gorecki, is to completely absorb and naturally transform their music into a new dimension, which becomes as much theirs as it originally was the composer´s. Even in a case when the listener is familiar with the original music, the trio´s interpretations take him into a completely new universe, where the original music is completely altered harmonically and rhythmically.
This album is another masterpiece, which expands the Oles Brothers´ and Christopher Dell´s long list of achievements, which covers the entire rich tapestry of contemporary Jazz, completely ignoring genre borders. The music is demanding and requires attentive listening, but at the same time it is immensely rewarding and aesthetically fulfilling, something that Culture should always strive to do. I feel happy to be able to call these musicians my friends and following their careers has been always an absolutely delightful and educational experience.
This album is an absolute must to every sophisticated Jazz, but not only, connoisseur, who looks for deeply emotional and intellectual experience every time music is in the air! Superb stuff!
| | Updated: 24/04/2018Posted: 24/04/2018 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN / CHRISTOPHER DELL ~ FRAGMENTS & MOMENTS
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2007 Released: 2012
This is a limited edition album celebrating the tenth anniversary of musical cooperation between Polish Jazz musicians: bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist and German clarinetists Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. The album also features the German vibraphonist Christopher DellFind albums by this artist and together as a quartet they present eight original compositions: four of which are credited to all quartet members, two are by Jorgensmann and one each by the Oles brothers.
The album follows the pattern set by the three earlier albums recorded by the Oles Brothers with Jorgensmann, but is also somewhat more "conventional" in a way, with clear melody lines and beautiful serene atmosphere, which turns the listening to this album into a truly relaxed experience. Jorgensmann plays beautifully, as always and the rhythm section accompanies him with superb sensitivity, with the bass taking the lead from time to time as well. Dell is the least dominant participant, which is pretty understandable considering the long and established understanding between the other three musicians, but his solos are perfectly suitable for the music as is his accompaniment behind the clarinet.
Overall this is another example of the great music the Oles Brothers are always involved with, and a document of a fruitful musical cooperation between European musicians. Full of great music and perfect delivery this album should satisfy even the sternest Jazz connoisseurs and provide a listening experience worthy of being revisited.
| | Updated: 03/01/2017Posted: | CD-R 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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