Record Reviews

DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ DOMINIK BUKOWSKI & PROJEKTOR ALLEGRO 010 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with an excellent ensemble which comprises of saxophonists Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist and Lukasz PoprawskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist, drummer Hubert ZemlerFind albums by this artist and Pawel GrabowskiFind albums by this artist who employs live electronics. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Bukowski except for one track being co-credited to Grabowski, which is a soundtrack to a short film, which is also included as part of this enhanced CD. The music is absolutely stunning, typical melancholic Polish Jazz at its best, with beautifully woven melodies, which are then developed by the ensemble to form serene soundscapes, many of which could serve as soundtracks of imaginary movies, not only the last track on the album, which is a soundtrack in reality. Bukowski emerges from the very first moments of this album as an important composer, which of course would be reconfirmed time after time in the years that followed this recording. The personal contributions by the musicians involved in making this album are all first class. Bukowski deliberately takes a step back and solos rather sparingly, but when he takes the lead his performance is mesmerizing. Most of the solos are performed by Staroniewicz, who is definitely one of the best players in the country with an incredible melodic lyrical tone and virtuosic improvisational qualities. Lemanczyk, again one of the finest players in Poland, does his bass magic like a dream. Zemler plays carefully and intelligently in the background in order to keep the delicate balance this music so much depends on intact. The electronic / sampled ornamentations are all non-obtrusive and well suited to the atmosphere of the music, fitting very well into the overall ambience. Overall this is a superb debut and a fantastic Polish Jazz album, which is mostly overlooked in retrospect, definitely deserving an honorable place on the short list of best albums recorded during the first decade of the 21st Century. Those fans of Polish Jazz that missed getting it at the time: it´s never too late for great music!

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DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ SIMPLE WORDS SOLITON 354 (Barcode: 5901571093543) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the fourth album as a leader by Polish vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, one of the most prolific and sought after musicians in his country, with an impressive record both as a leader and a sideman and certainly a great master of the neglected vibraphone. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Bukowski, performed by a quartet which also includes the Indonesian pianist Sri HanuragaFind albums by this artist, legendary bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist. Bukowski consistently produces excellent music showcasing both his talents as an instrumentalist and his abilities as a composer of witty, intelligent and beautifully melodic tunes, and this album is no different in any respect. The music flows seemingly effortlessly from the opening chords till the last note, full of lyrical statements, changing tempi and featuring many breathtaking solo spots. The decision to use the piano, which is a novelty as far as Bukowski´s groups are concerned, introduces a much broader harmonic spectrum and a more contemplative mood than his earlier albums, which featured reeds or brass. Of course vibes and piano have to be carefully balanced not to crash with each other, but this quartet manages to overcome this obstacle immaculately. The individual performances are, as expected, flawless and highly professional. Bukowski´s vibes are always right on, preserving the bells of heaven quality, which he manages to maintain for many years. The young and energetic pianist has an excellent technique and does a perfect job both accompanying the vibraphone parts, which is by far nor easy, and shines brightly on his own parts. Lemanczyk is, as always, simply divine, with his strong and precise virtuoso bass lines carrying the music on a magic carpet. Jarosz is always a solid player, keeping time and managing not to become too obtrusive in the delicate balance between the other members of the quartet. Overall this is another addition to Bukowski´s already sizeable and meaningful legacy, which just got expanded by another important jewel. It´s good to see that he manages to change and develop without loosing his basic qualities but not resting comfortably in one niche, which vibraphone players unfortunately often do. This is perhaps not revolutionary or highly innovative music, but it is perfect in what it does and should be treated as such. Hopefully we won´t have to wait another four years or more for the next project and album. As usual, respect Maestro!

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DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ SUFIA FSR 2016/07 (Barcode: 5905279364110) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the fifth album as a leader by the Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, one of the most respected and prolific figures on the Polish Jazz scene. The album was recorded live in a quartet setting, with American trumpeter Amir ElSaffarFind albums by this artist, Polish bassist Adam ZuchowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight tunes (one split into two parts), five of which are arrangements of traditional melodies and three are original compositions by Bukowski. The music is a Jazz-World Fusion project, which amalgamates the Folklore roots of Polish and Middle Eastern music, or more specifically the Arabic maqam system, which lately has been discovered by many Jazz improvisers all over the world. The maqam is remarkably open system and as such an ideal basis for improvisation, which is clearly demonstrated on this album. Both the traditional pieces and the original compositions get a similar treatment, which creates a remarkable coherency and consistency, which this album manages to uphold for its entire duration. The involvement of ElSaffar is of course the decisive factor, which makes this album tick. His knowledge of Arabic musical forms makes him an ideal partner side by side with Bukowski, who after all is originally rooted in different musical environment. Without him this project might have proven to be too ambitious for the Polish musicians working on their own. Of course ElSaffar´s virtuosic trumpet performances based in the Jazz idiom are another strong virtue of this project. His santur solos are also some of the highlights of the album. Bukowski wisely lets ElSaffar to take upon himself most of the soloing and in general the leading of the music, as he is the bridge between the two worlds. Bukowski and the rhythm section take a step back and play along the trumpeter, contributing amicable support, both harmonically and rhythmically, which is especially impressive considering how difficult the odd and irregular Arabic rhythms usually are for people living outside the region. Zuchowski and Dobosz wisely take the rhythmic level of the music into a free form and less regular rhythmic environment, skillfully avoiding the traps of the tricky Arabic patterns as such. Their contributions are excellent all the way through and truly admirable. Bukowski, as usual, contributes some superb vibraphone vistas, somewhat subdued and modest, but always elegant and highly aesthetical. His original compositions fit the concept of the album ideally and the vibraphone / trumpet collaboration is tasteful and unique. This album, diametrically different from the other projects he is involved in, proves his diversity and open-mindedness. Overall this is definitely one of the most interesting Jazz-World Fusion albums recorded by Polish Jazz musicians in a long time and deserves all the compliments bestowed upon it already, which I fully support. Bukowski has been a sure "bet" ever since he arrived on the scene and this album places him also in the "full of surprises" category, which is pretty rare. Hats off, Dominik!

Updated: 16/12/2016Posted: 16/12/2016

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DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ TIMES GET CHANGED ECNALUMBA (Barcode: 5907476693314) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent representatives of Poland´s Baltic seashore scene. Bukowski´s output over the years is quite prolific and impressive, but stylistically it is mostly associated with lyrical and melodic Jazz, whereas on this album he presents a brass oriented Hard Bop setting with a distinct "retro" sound and brass dominated arrangements. The album consists of eight original compositions, all by Bukowski (assumedly as credits are not mentioned on the album´s cover). The music is performed by a sextet, which besides Bukowski includes also trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, trombonist Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lukasz PoprawskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. It was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist with excellent results, as usual. The music is dominated by the brass section and Bukowski plays solo sparingly, which altogether reflects his position as a leader of this session in the composer´s and arranger´s seats rather than upfront as an instrumentalists. That unselfish decision is of course praiseworthy and also creates a superb ensemble sound, which is after all one of the centerpieces of the Jazz experience. Needless to say the individual performances by all the participants are above reproach. The brass players perform numerous excellent solos, the vibraphone lays out the harmonic parts and the excellent rhythm section moves the music forward with considerable drive but without being overbearing. In retrospect this is a remarkable album, well worth discovering and re-visiting. It is sadly rarely mentioned among the important Polish Jazz recordings, although it definitely deserves an honorable mention, as it is quite different from most other albums recorded in Poland in the first decade of the 21st Century. It is definitely worthy a place in any Jazz connoisseur´s collection and a proud item in Bukowski´s already remarkable legacy.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

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DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ TRANSATLANTYK SOLITON 887 (Barcode: 5901571098876) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with younger musicians: trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam ZuchowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine pieces, seven of which are original compositions by Bukowski, one is co-composed by all four members of the quartet and one is an arrangement of a composition by Polish Classical Music composer Andrzej PanufnikFind albums by this artist. The music on this album was inspired by the human experience of emigration, of leaving someone´s home and country and moving to another place, a process millions of Poles went through in modern history for a variety of reasons and as a result of economic, political, religious and personal pressures. This, Bukowski´s sixth album as a leader, repeats the lineup of his previous album "SufiaFind albums with this title", with Miszk replacing Amir ElSaffarFind albums by this artist and the rhythm section remaining in place. Miszk, who makes an impressive mark on the local scene lately, is in charge of most of the solo parts, as expected. The music continues the path set by Bukowski many years ago, which is based on the characteristic Polish lyricism and melancholy, but keeps changing and developing from one album to the next. The recording of the preceding album made a distinctive mark on Bukowski´s music with the inclusion of odd time signatures and strong World Music influences, which are also present here. But the music is in general more daring and adventurous, which can be perhaps credited also to the presence of the young players. The challenging task of creating a "concept album", which presents a coherent sequence of compositions with a common context uniting them, is achieved here remarkably well and the atmosphere of "storytelling" is felt distinctly, emphasized by the inclusion of the spoken word parts. The feeling of uncertainty, fear and outlandishness is present very vividly, expressing the mental state of émigrés, surly at the early stages of their new lives, but often lastingly. Therefore this album deserves a somewhat different perspective than a purely musical creation. Overall this is a momentous piece of Art, powerful both musically and as a document of human emotional states, which deserves a serious and attentive listening. Although the texts are almost exclusively in Polish, their meaning is universal enough to be felt without actually understand the verbal context. As someone who went through the process of emigration I can of course relate to this album more directly and emotionally than those who didn´t experience emigration in person, but I am sure that the power of this music is completely universal. Thank you Dominik for this wonderful gift of music and human sensitivity!

Updated: 28/04/2019Posted: 28/04/2019

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DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ VICE VERSA SOLITON 125 (Barcode: 5907577112530) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet format with two Finnish musicians: saxophonist Joonatan RautioFind albums by this artist and drummer Ville PynssiFind albums by this artist and his faithful companion since many years bass virtuoso Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, three each by Bukowski and Rautio and one by Lemanczyk. Although well within the Jazz mainstream, this album simply fulfills all the basic requirements expected from a superb Jazz production: beautiful melodies, excellent improvisations, superb teamwork and a crystal clear sound quality. Bukowski, as evident from his numerous other recordings, is the top vibraphone player on the Polish scene and his eloquence is simply astounding, as are his composing skills. Lemanczyk, one of my favorite Polish Jazz bassists, is also perfect all the way through. His sense of melody and understanding of the role of bass in a Jazz ensemble is second to none. The two Finns, although still relatively young, display here first class musicianship and in the case of Rautio also great compositional talent. Overall this is a first-class mainstream album, which makes no compromises whatsoever, keeping the music swinging and melodic and yet full of elegance and flair. This music has, perhaps unintentionally, a certain "retro" flavor, taking an experienced listener back to the 1950s and the Cool era, when the music was all about good taste and beautiful ladies. Of course any Jazz connoisseur should simply love this stuff to bits, as this music is so likeable that it makes you press the "repeat" button of your player instantly. Thank you guys for this little gem! This album is now four years old and one can only hope that we won´t have to wait much longer for another Bukowski recording, what do you say Dominik?

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DOMINIK BUKOWSKI / DOMINIK KISIEL ~ DELTA SCUTI GO NORTH 01 (Barcode: 5901157049445) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz duo comprising of veteran vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and a representative of the young generation of the Polish Jazz scene, pianist / composer Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions co-credited to the duo members. The music is very contemplative and sonorous, which combined with the dense sonic aura produced by the vibraphone / piano combination immediately signals to the listener that his full attention is absolutely required. Perhaps the simplest description would be to say that this is “serious” improvised music, almost on the same level as the so called contemporary Classical music, often with the same level of complexity. Obviously this music transcends any stylistic definitions, as well as most known precedents, which means that not only is it completely innovative, but also intrinsically “progressive”, which can be only said ever so rarely about music made today. The creation of this musical experiment by musicians originating in the Jazz idiom is even more surprising to be honest, as Jazz tends to be highly dominant and rarely allows any escape route. Nevertheless, following Bukowski’s development over the years, it was always very apparent that his way of musical thinking is hardly confined to established dogmas and thinking “outside of the box” should not be surprising in his case. It is great to see that Bukowski managed to draw Kisiel so completely into this concept, especially in view of the incredible interplay between the two musicians, which often sound almost supernatural. The duo’s performances sound as if performed by a four-hand / one head creature, not by two separate entities. As the title suggests, this is a true interstellar drive ;) Overall, this is an astounding album, a brilliant illustration of the “Art of the Duo” idiom and a groundbreaking achievement of contemporary Improvised Music / Jazz-Classical Fusion or whatever one wishes to call it. It is definitely the most outstanding album originating from the Polish Jazz scene this year (2021). For listeners searching for new directions in Jazz, this is something they should not miss. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 03/09/2021Posted: 03/09/2021

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PRZEMEK DYAKOWSKI ~ LUDMILA ALLEGRO 047 (Barcode: 5901157049476) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a sextet setting with saxophonist Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, organist Artur JurekFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian KreftFind albums by this artist, and featuring the vocalist Joanna KnitterFind albums by this artist. The album is a tribute to the Polish vocalist Ludmila JakubczakFind albums by this artist, who died tragically in 1961, being just twenty-two years old, and presents Jazzed up interpretations of songs from her repertoire. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz / Swing idiom, perfectly executed by this excellent and highly experienced team. Knitter also delivers her usual soulful and warm vocals, which are always great fun to hear without being a tad pretentious. The main purpose of this album is to bring back some first class songs created by best Polish composers and lyricist at the time, which lost nothing of their charm and quality over time, emphasizing the old saying that “they don’t write songs like this anymore”, which is sadly more and more truthful as the time flows by. Overall, this is a nice, pleasant and somewhat educationally nostalgic album by a first class group of Polish Jazz musicians, which is a great fun to experience and reminiscence about the good old days. Warmly recommended to listeners who like their Jazz to Swing ;)

Updated: 10/08/2023Posted: 10/08/2023

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PRZEMEK DYAKOWSKI ~ SWING! ALLEGRO 032 (Barcode: 5901157049322) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is a live recording of a concert that celebrated the 80th Birthday Anniversary of the veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist. The music, recorded at Radio Gdansk, was performed by a group of Dyakowski´s friends, which included, in addition to him of course, vocalist Joanna KnitterFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Artur JurekFind albums by this artist (who also arranged all the songs), bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. A few guest musicians also took part in the proceedings. The album presents eight songs (and a bonus track with vocalese by Hanna BanaszakFind albums by this artist), seven of which are originals: two each by Staroniewicz and Knitter, and one each by Dyakowski, Bukowski and Mackiewicz. Knitter also wrote the lyrics (in English) to all these original songs. The last song is a standard. The music is exactly what the album´s title promises: a set of songs kept within the mainstream Jazz tradition, all of which sound as if they were well known Jazz standards, which of course means that they are all beautifully crafted to the highest standard. The performances are also excellent, executed with flair and obvious professionalism, spiced with many beautiful solos. The relaxed atmosphere and good sound make the music flow smoothly from one song to another, with an overall effect of joyous occasion and great fun had by all the musicians present Knitter manages to pass the test of singing in English, which usually has a disastrous result on Polish Jazz albums. Her pronunciation, although obviously non-English, is charming enough and highly musical, which makes the overall result comparable to other great non-native English language singers. Her singing here and her warm timbre fit the general concept of the music like a glove. Her lyrics are also quite excellent, so she comes out of this recording definitely on the winning side. Overall this album is definitely as good, if not better, than most American mainstream / Swing albums, and the original music herein is way better, which of course means that Polish Jazz is not inferior anymore to anything from across the pond.

Updated: 12/02/2016Posted: 12/02/2016

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ELEC-TRI-CITY ~ DEPTH OF FOCUS SOLITON 707 (Barcode: 5901571097077) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble Elec-Tri-CityFind albums by this artist, which comprises of bassist / keyboardist / composer Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist (who plays his electronic vibraphone called xylosynth) and drummer Grzegorz SyczFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, seven of which are by Mackiewicz and the remaining three are one each by the other ensemble members. The album continues the path set by the debut and presents a superbly elegant Jazz-Rock Fusion, based on beautiful melodic compositions, which serve as vehicles for extended improvisations by the ensemble members. The music brings fond memories of what Fusion was at its early days, when it was all about the music and not about technical, but boring proficiency show-offs by mediocre musicians. Each and every one of the tunes on this album is a wonderful piece of stylish music, which stands very well on its own. All four members of the ensemble are experienced musicians with impressive personal record and the music they play here is evidently a labor of love and joy of playing. There is plenty of superb guitar, synthesizer, bass and drum solos to keep every Fusion fan happy. Overall this is a very enjoyable and yet exceptionally musical and elegant album, which is a true joy to listen to from start to end; one of those pieces of music that can simply "make your day". Warmly recommended!

Updated: 12/05/2017Posted: 12/05/2017

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ELEC-TRI-CITY ~ ELEC-TRI-CITY BITTT 002 (Barcode: 5907632690072) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz-Rock / Funk ensemble Elec-Tri-CityFind albums by this artist, formed by bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist and including also the excellent veteran vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz SyczFind albums by this artist. As the word-play title suggests, the band members originate from the country´s Tricity on the Baltic Sea. Several guest musicians participate on the album, most notably the keyboards wizard Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist. The album includes seven original compositions all by Mackiewicz. The music lies well within the boundaries of the Jazz-Rock Fusion / Funk variety, but presents an up to date version of the idiom and even tries to expand its boundaries by adding somewhat more electronic ambience and more advanced harmonic structures as well as more ambitious improvisations than usually utilized by musicians operating within these genres. The compositions are surely better than most sketchy melodic lines usually used in Funk over a repetitious rhythmic pattern. In short this music is a breath of fresh air as far as Funk & Co are concerned. The individual contributions are all beyond reproach, which is not surprising considering the obvious abilities of the musicians involved. Mackiewicz plays some pretty "nasty" bass lines, which can wake up the dead, Bukowski and his xylosynth (xylophone-synthesizer) produces superb atmospheric sonic layers and inspired solos, Wadolowski adds a gutsy, Bluesy guitar sound and Sycz keeps the entire shamadan moving forward straight to the listeners guts (or heart). Even Mozdzer plays here considerably more imaginatively than on his solo albums lately. Overall this is an excellent album as far as Funk is concerned, elegant and entertaining and above all great fun. I enjoyed every minute of this music, which is definitely more suitable for warm climates. Thank you guys for bringing some joy to life!

Updated: 12/05/2017Posted:

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MARCIN GAWDZIS ~ SHADOWS OF AUTUMN SOLITON 305 (Barcode: 5901571093055) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet format with saxophonists Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej SadowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. The album includes seven compositions, six of which are Jazz standards and one is an original composition by Gawdzis. The format is, as expected, a straightforward mainstream Jazz, which basically offers the "more of the same" formula of this format, which was previously used countless times earlier. Of course all these musicians are perfectly well trained professionals and their playing is spotless and even inspired at times, but the question is why listen to this specific album as opposed to countless others exactly like it? Let´s leave the Americans to keep repeating themselves ad nauseam with their mainstream Jazz and look for something at least slightly different? But all things considered this is after all a very good mainstream album, which will surely keep listeners of such music very happy. Gawdzis has a nice round tone and plays solidly, without taking many risks or offering bravado displays. Bukowski, who is the most interesting player in this quintet, displays his usual virtuosity, but the battered standards don´t leave him with many options to show up his true abilities. The rest of the guys schlep on happily and without much effort. Not really my cup of tea, as this is nice, but banal music as far as I´m concerned, but I´m sure many other listeners will be able to enjoy it.

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KASIA KADLUBOWSKA / DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ TRANSIENT DUX 1221 (Barcode: 5902547012216) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2012 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish marimba player / composer Kasia KadlubowskaFind albums by this artist recorded in a duo format with renown Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, two of which are original compositions (one each) by Kadlubowska and Bukowski and the rest are by contemporary Classical composers like Terry RileyFind albums by this artist, Philip GlassFind albums by this artist, Steve ReichFind albums by this artist, Arvo PartFind albums by this artist, Eric SatieFind albums by this artist and American marimba player / composer Paul SmadbeckFind albums by this artist. As the names of the composers suggest, the music is mostly contemporary Classical Music, with belongs to the Minimal Music idiom. Although most of the music was not originally written for marimba or vibraphone, it was arranged and transcribed for these instruments by Kadlubowska and Bukowski. Marimba and vibraphone, although both percussion instruments, are of course capable of playing melody and harmony, which means that the music offers a lot of melodic content, kept within the limitations of Minimal Music, which calls for slowly developing themes and cyclic repetition. It can be quite demanding on the listener, who is not a priori a fan of the genre, but it is great for relaxation and meditation, in addition to its strictly musical values. Both Kadlubowska and Bukowski play with incredible feeling and obvious virtuosity, and despite the intrinsic lethargy of the music, the albums offers a diversified listening experience to open-minded listeners. Minimal Music has its fans around the world and enjoyed a peak of popularity during the New Age explosion between the 1970s and 1990s, but a steady interest in it remains in the Classical field over the years. Bukowski’s appearance on this album, which is rather unexpected since his main field of activity if Jazz, proves his diversity and well schooling, as well as highly aesthetic approach to music in general. The two original composition stand proudly shoulder to shoulder with the well-known Classical material, adding another level of credibility to this album. I have no idea why it took seven years for this album to arrive on my operating table, but as usual better late than never, as it is definitely worth exploring and a great fun to listen to.

Updated: 23/05/2021Posted: 23/05/2021

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DOMINIK KISIEL ~ STOP ALPAKA 015 (Barcode: 308175527859) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut solo piano album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original “improvised compositions” by Kisiel, grouped into three one part pieces and two three-part pieces. Kisiel made an impressive entry into the Polish Jazz scene about five years ago, recording several excellent albums as a leader and sideman and making a rapid progress from mainstream oriented projects into more sophisticated, even Avant-Garde vistas, which are most impressive and mark him as one of the young musicians to be watched carefully. This album follows the a.m. development trend faithfully and takes Kisiel further into the borderline between contemporary Classical Music and Jazz, analogous to his ambitious duo project “Delta ScutiFind albums with this title” with Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist. The music eschews clearly stated melody lines and offers a flow of notes expressed by continuous arpeggios, which are more about dynamics and expressions than the melodic / harmonic development. The intensity of the music is somehow reminiscent of the piano works by Sergei RachmaninoffFind albums by this artist, with a somewhat updated piano technique of course. Despite the fact that the music is improvised, it offers remarkable coherence and continuity, and even without stating explicit melodic themes it creates an impression of being “subconsciously” highly melodic. The entire album sounds like one continuous piece of music, which seems to be “unstoppable” and demands to be heard continuously. Although the music lasts only thirty-three minutes, the emotional and intellectual intensity demanded to listen to it attentively is overwhelming and leaves the listener highly charged. Overall, this is one of the most potent pieces of music I came across in a very long time and although I have listened to it several times, it obviously still hides many wonderful discoveries in its depth. It is a most remarkable piece of creativity, a true musical deliverance from the mundane non-Culture that surrounds us today and a proclamation (no less) of things to come. Regardless of its cross-genre characteristics, it clearly emerges as a prophecy of music merged into “one” higher consciousness of Artistic expression.

Updated: 09/09/2021Posted: 09/09/2021

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LESZEK KULAKOWSKI ~ SLAP & CARESS MUSIC VOX 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 This is an excellent quartet recording by the Polish pianist / composer / educator Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist with the superb veteran vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr KulakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jacek PelcFind albums by this artist. The album includes nine original compositions, all by Leszek Kulakowski. Kulakowski is recognized as one of the most respected Polish Jazz musicians, with many achievements as a leader of his own ensembles, composer of Jazz and Jazz-Classical Fusion pieces and distinguished Jazz educator since many years. This album presents just one of his diverse activities in the field, i.e. small ensemble Jazz. The piano / vibraphone quartet, a sadly neglected lineup, opens up many possibilities of expression, which would be otherwise unattainable and Kulakowski makes the best out of this opportunity. The keyboards / vibraphone dialogue is the focal point of this music, which allows the melodic themes to be separately developed by both players simultaneously. The excellent rhythm section supports the soloists sympathetically and elegantly, maintaining the delicate balance between the foreground and the background. Overall the performances are first-rate and the level of professionalism is amazing, as expected. But of course the real forte of this album is the superb level of the compositions, which are all simply stunning. Kulakowski manages to construct his own language, which encompasses elements of Jazz and contemporary Classical idioms, even if those are somewhat hidden beneath the surface. These are hardly the average ditties, which often appear on Jazz albums only to disappear into obscurity soon after. They all have a character and maintain a level of intellectual curiosity, which deserves all praise. Kulakowski is often associated with the Polish Jazz legend Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist in many contexts. Although his compositions are not directly derived from Komeda´s legacy, they show the same conciseness and ability to condense a deeply emotional musical message into a seemingly simply melodic theme. And of course Komeda also had a vibraphonist in his early groups – the legendary Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. Capish? So here we have a beautiful mainstream Jazz album, which is full of great music, excellent performances and sophisticated, delicate scents of European Jazz at its best. Who can ask for anything else in these circumstances? Oh well, a bottle of good wine would be nice…

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PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ FOLLOW THE SOUL ALLEGRO 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 Released: 2003 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist. It was recorded by several different lineups, mostly quartets, with the following participants: saxophonists Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist, Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist and Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist, guitarist Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. Of the seven tracks on the album, six are original compositions by Lemanczyk and one is a standard. The music is kept well within the modern Jazz mainstream, but the excellent compositions and performances create a superb piece of Jazz music, which should satisfy every sensitive listener. The use of the vibraphone instead of the usual piano gives the entire recording a "cool" ambience, which suits the music perfectly. The leader gets several solo spots, which emphasize his beautiful tone and sensitivity, rather than needless pyrotechnics. As usual with Polish Jazz albums, the music is the center of the attention, in spite of the truly excellent playing, which is beyond reproach from start to finish. The melodic content and the rhythmic structures are simply incredible and a source of real joy. Overall this album is a perfect example of what mainstream Jazz is all about and should be greatly enjoyed by any Jazz connoisseur anywhere in the world. Highly recommended!

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PIOTR LEMANCZYK ~ NAHA PEOPLE SOLITON 122 (Barcode: 5907577112233) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009 This is a wonderful album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with American trumpeter Tim HagansFind albums by this artist and Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist. On three tracks the lineup is expanded to a quintet with the inclusion of saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Lemanczyk. The music is a brilliant example of modern Polish Jazz at its best, with superb compositions full of lyricism and elegance, as always in the case of Lemanczyk. Although within the mainstream idiom, the compositions allow for a degree of Freedom, which allows the soloists and the entire ensemble to float around the harmony and the rhythmic patterns, adding an element of surprise and curiosity. Although at the time of writing the album is nine years old, it sounds completely fresh and lost absolutely nothing of its vitality. The individual statements are all excellent, as appropriate for musicians of this class. Hagans plays amazing staccato phrases and his clear tone and articulation are exemplary. I am pretty sure that the unusual lineup and Lemanczyk´s brilliant compositions are able to squeeze more out of him than his work within an American environment, which explains why he tends to play extensively with Europeans. Bukowski stays mostly in the background, although of course his playing always deserves to be up front, setting the harmonic layer for the music. His almost brotherly cooperation with Lemanczyk is an obvious bond of respect and complementation. Jonkisz elegantly drives the quartet / quintet with a firm hand and a gentle, respectful attitude of a true. Sikala adds some superb soloing on the tracks he is featured. Lemanczyk´s playing is of course excellent as always, both as part of the rhythm section and as a soloist, and this album, as all his recordings, show why he is considered one of the absolute top Polish / European bassist. His compositions are equally impressive, beautifully woven and always coherent, with a touch of elegance and flair that only the most skillful Jazz composers are blessed with. Overall this is, in retrospect, a classic Polish Jazz album, which deserves much more respect and attention that it received at the time of its release. Wholeheartedly recommended for all Polish Jazz fans and European Jazz connoisseurs, as an essential piece of the puzzle called Polish Jazz!

Updated: 17/06/2018Posted: 17/06/2018

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SZYMON LUKOWSKI ~ HOURGLASS HEVHETIA 0136 (Barcode: 8588005257930) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / clarinetist / composer Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with Austrian (resident in London) guitarist Hannes RieplerFind albums by this artist, and Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, six by Lukowski and one each by Bukowski, Riepler and Urowski. From the first notes of this album it is obvious that the young musician made a giant step forward both as a player and a composer in comparison to his earlier recordings. Supported by a formidable team of highly talented musicians, Lukowski delivers a wonderful collection of excellent tunes, all beautifully played by him and his cohorts. The elegant arrangements, which feature the superb talents of Bukowski on vibes and marimba and great guitar playing by Riepler, all contribute to the elegant flow of melody lines, amicably supported by the rhythm section. Although the music is still very "conventional" and well within the Jazz mainstream idiom, it is able to shed off the trivial references to years of Jazz tradition, which have been abused and misused for decades. This music flows smoothly and elegantly, keeping the listener attentive. Lukowski uses several types of saxophones and the bass clarinet to produce diverse and interesting tonal ornamentations which serve the music to the max. The music was wonderfully recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usual spectacular sonic result. The clarity of the sound and the superb separation of the instruments make listening to this album an audiophiles´ orgy. Overall this is a great mainstream Jazz album, which offers excellent music and first class performances, which should satisfy all connoisseurs and still deliver something previously unheard. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 27/05/2017Posted: 27/05/2017

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SZYMON LUKOWSKI ~ SZYMON LUKOWSKI QUINTET SOLITON 338 (Barcode: 5901571093383) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet format with trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej SadowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album features seven original compositions, five by Lukowski and one each by Sadowski and Gawdzis. This album presents the same lineup (except for the drummer) that recorded the album "Shadows Of AutumnFind albums with this title" by Gawdzis, and unfortunately presents the identical worn out mainstream Jazz formula, that contributes neither intellectual nor aesthetic challenge to the listener, sounding very much like American Jazz recorded a few decades earlier (and that is not meant as a compliment). The compositions are unremarkable and the playing, except for Bukowski, who is always highly professional, uninspired. I already stated what I think about this kind of music in my review of the a.m. album and there is nothing else to add. Some people like this stuff, but I definitely try to avoid it.

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JANUSZ MACKIEWICZ ~ FROGSVILLE ECNALUMBA 0002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2008 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist. It is a live recording, which also features saxophonist Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam CzerwinskiFind albums by this artist, all well seasoned players from the Polish Baltic Tricity scene. The quintet performs seven compositions, six of which are original compositions: four by Mackiewicz, one each by Bukowski and Herbasz and the last one is a Charles MingusFind albums by this artist tune. The music is all well within mainstream Jazz, but the excellent compositions and spotless execution turn it into a very pleasant listening experience, mostly low key and somewhat subdued. The music is definitely not trying to break any new musical ground, but it does represent highly professional well played contemporary Jazz, which is accessible to a wide Jazz audience and should satisfy most regular Jazz connoisseurs all over the world. In many respects this music has a nostalgic feel of the Bebop hay days as captured during the 1950s and 1960s on Blue Note, Prestige and other labels, but with a more contemporary sound quality. This album is definitely worth checking out, especially for Polish Jazz collectors, as it proves beyond any doubt that Polish Jazz musicians can play classic Jazz as well as the guys across the pond.

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted:

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BERNARD MASELI SEPTET ~ GOOD VIBES OF MILIAN FOR TUNE 0151 (Barcode: 5906395808663) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2021 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist and his septet, which comprises of four vibraphonists (Maseli, Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist, Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist) and a rhythm section (pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist), a classic “Summit” format, which I utilize since many years in my Singer Jazz Festival, and which was initially devised by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. The album is a tribute to one of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, a pillar of modern Polish Jazz and one of the greatest composers, especially of orchestral Jazz, on the European Jazz scene. It presents a live recording of a concert recorded a few years back, which offers seven tracks, six of which were compositions by Milian (one co-composed with Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, another iconic figure of Polish Jazz) and one composed by Pieszka. The sound quality and clarity is excellent. The artwork features Milian’s wonderful paintings, an Artform Milian embraced after retiring from active performing life, which are reproduces in full color, for the first time in the many years of For TuneFind albums on this label Records history ;) The lines notes by Krzysztof BalkiewiczFind albums by this artist are well written and informative. The music holds no surprises, perfectly executed by the professional team and beautifully weaved by the Master composer, with the expected focus on the vibraphone (and marimba) as the tool of delivery. The vibraphone is a very dominant instrument and the thought of four vibraphone playing simultaneously is pretty scary; fortunately, most of the time it is just one of the four vibraphones (or two of them) that plays at a given moment, which makes the music perfectly audible and balanced. Since the listener is not present at the performance, it would have been nice to have a list of who is soloing on which track, but credits aside, all the players do a perfect job, as does the excellent rhythm section, driving the music steadily and securely. Overall this is an important tribute to the composing Genius of Milian and a very pleasant listening experience. For vibraphone enthusiasts this is of course a true feast. Of course it is also a well-deserved tribute to Polish Jazz history. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 17/07/2021

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OFF THE RECORD ~ THE CALL OUT OF THE SHED ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by the European Jazz quartet Off The RecordFind albums by this artist, led by German guitarist / composer Ronny GraupeFind albums by this artist, which also includes Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, British bassist Phil DonkinFind albums by this artist and German drummer Oliver SteidleFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen original compositions, all by the leader, first five and last nine grouped into two “mini-suites” and one solitary tune separating them. Graupe first came to my attention as a member of the (then) new quartet led by Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist, which included two young German Jazz musicians. I followed his career via his later recordings for the excellent WhyPlayJazzFind albums on this label label, which documents the burgeoning young German scene, of which Steidle is also an important member. Bukowski is of course an old acquaintance and surely one of the very best European vibraphone players since many years. I am less informed of the activities of Donkin, although he seems to be frantically busy as well, but somehow his albums never reached me so far. The music is an excellent example of contemporary European Jazz, which is highly imaginative, exploring and inventive, rhythmically liberated and free-spirited, and yet completely coherent, and to some degree melody based. Guitar and vibraphone playing together always take me back five decades back to the prophetic Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist / Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist quartet recordings, which were Fusion precursors but never actually played Fusion per se, exactly what happens here. There is perhaps just a tinge of Fusiony moments, but none of its drudgery. The individual and group performances are of course stellar, but nothing less should be expected from these highly experienced musicians. Graupe made an excellent choice by taking Bukowski aboard, creating a magical amalgam not only of sounds but more importantly of ideas. The polyrhythmic pulsations delivered by the rhythm section fit this music like a glove and are a true delight from start to finish. Overall, this is European Jazz at its best, sophisticated and emotional, organized and free all in the best measures. This is definitely a piece of music modern Jazz lovers should put their hands on, with no regrets or hesitation whatsoever. Years of hard work and persistence pay off in music, and when combined with great amounts of talent, they work wonders.

Updated: 09/07/2022Posted: 09/07/2022

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ORANGE TRANE ~ FUGU SOLITON 347 (Barcode: 5901571093475) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the fourth album by the Polish Jazz ensemble Orange TraneFind albums by this artist, and the second album by its second incarnation now called Orange Trane Acoustic TrioFind albums by this artist, which consists of vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz LosowskiFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten tracks, nine of which are original compositions: seven by Lemanczyk and two by Bukowski, and one is a standard. The music of Orange Trane is a beautiful amalgam of Jazz, contemporary Classical and World Music influences, performed with incredible virtuosity and impeccable taste. Bukowski plays vibraphone, marimba and xylosynth – a synthesized version of the xylophone, Lemanczyk plays both acoustic and electric basses and Losowski plays a wide array of percussive instruments; together they create a magic atmosphere of intimate acoustic music which is full of mystery, with scents of ancient times and far away places. The whole album is like a soundtrack of an imaginary voyage, with each track enfolding a new panorama. The intimate acoustic setting emphasizes each individual sound and the sheer virtuosity of these performances, which are truly amazing. Personally Lemanczyk, who also composed most of the music, is the most impressive performer, with breathtaking solos and superb control of his instruments, but his colleagues also stand shoulder to shoulder with him, contributing equally well. Bukowski sets the main melodic themes, using a wide array of sounds between completely acoustic and electronically generated and Losowski drives the whole affair rhythmically, but gently enough to be in sync with the rest of the music. This is intelligent, delicate and elegant music, which is a true pleasure to listen to, and which stimulates the intellectual parts of the listener´s brain at the same time, a rare commodity these days. Although perhaps not groundbreaking, it is definitely graceful and unique, deserving to be heard by as many music connoisseurs as possible. Well done indeed!

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ORANGE TRANE ~ INTERPERSONAL LINES SOLITON 526 (Barcode: 5901571095264) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the fifth album by the excellent Polish Jazz ensemble Orange TraneFind albums by this artist, which consists of vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz LosowskiFind albums by this artist. On this album two players are featured as guest musicians: the British saxophonist Soweto KinchFind albums by this artist and the young Polish saxophonist Jakub SkowronskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven pieces, five of which are original compositions (four by Lemanczyk and one by Bukowski) and two are compositions by legendary Polish Jazz figures: Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist and Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist, included here as the band´s tribute to the older generation of Polish Jazz pioneers. The band continues its musical path faithfully, playing modern Jazz at the highest possible standard, characterized by the virtuosic vibraphone parts by Bukowski, no less virtuosic bass playing by Lemanczyk, who consistently delivers superb lines as only he can and is completed by the energetic and elegant drumming by Losowski. The addition of the two saxophonists expands the overall sound of the band, but does not change dramatically the character of the music. As usual, Lemanczyk also delivers his lovely compositions, which serve as ideal vehicles for the members of the ensemble to carry their individual statements. The collection of his compositions for Orange Trane, his solo albums and other recordings emerges as one of the most consistent bodies of Jazz compositions on the Polish scene, for which he deserves much more recognition than is actually awarded to him. The greatest asset of Orange Trane is the consistency of their work, which does not try to show off or amaze the listeners but rather concentrates on keeping the musical excellence and deliver honest, straightforward musical message. There is a certain minimalism and introversion involved in their musical delivery, which often emphasizes the "less is more" principle. Overall this is another great addition to the Orange Trane legacy, which over time achieved the symbol of quality, which does not disappoint. Well done gentleman, again!

Updated: 26/09/2016Posted: 26/09/2016

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S. E. A. TRIO ~ INFLOW VOICE MUSIC 1010 (Barcode: 5906489287466) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the debut album by S. E. A. TrioFind albums by this artist, comprising of three prominent Polish Jazz musicians: vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are original compositions, six by Bukowski and three by Lemanczyk. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to hear a vibraphone trio recording, which is a splendid occasion to explore this wonderful musical setting, with its naked minimalism and crystal clear sound. Bukowski could not have found a better rhythm section, since both Lemanczyk, which whom he records since decades, and Gradziuk, of RGGFind albums by this artist trio fame, are both superb instrumentalists, members of the very top of the Polish Jazz league. Their skills and talents are obviously perfect for this demanding task, as the fragile and intricate music is quite tricky. Stylistically the music lies somewhere between ECMFind albums on this label era Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist and the Third Stream efforts by Polish Jazz vibraphone pioneer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, revisiting the vibe (pun intended) of the “old days”, but without letting the nostalgia to cut any slack. The music is vibrant and fully alive, with all three instrumentalists displaying virtuosic fluency and up to date approach. As already mentioned above, Lemanczyk is a natural choice for this project, but it’s a nice surprise to hear Gradziuk so well behaved and at the same time inventive here, proving again what a great drummer he really is. Naturally, the spotlight is all on Bukowski as the soloist and main composer, but this album is an absolute team effort, as best Jazz albums always are. It is good to hear Bukowski in his natural habitat, doing what he loves, and keeping the smile on the listener’s lips at all time. Overall, this is a splendid, beautiful Jazz album, with vibraphone at the helm, which is sadly a rare outing these days, featuring three of the top Polish Jazz players, which of course guarantees quality and class, felt from the first stroke of the mallets. Wholeheartedly recommended and an absolute must for vibraphone lovers.

Updated: 09/05/2024Posted: 09/05/2024

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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 ~ EURODYKA STM 009 (Barcode: 5906489287343) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the 11th album by Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, recorded with a fabulous team of old and new friends, which include vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Paul RutschkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BakFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Mikolaj StankoFind albums by this artist. Norwegian trumpeter Arve HenriksenFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks, which he also arranged. Other guests include Portuguese vocalists Joao de SousaFind albums by this artist, Ukrainian vocalist Laura MartiFind albums by this artist and Hungarian clarinetist Daniel MesterFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, four composed by Stanko, one co-composed with Bukowski, four composed by Bukowski and finally one composed by Rutschka. Stanko also wrote all the lyrics for the vocal tracks, in two cases co-written by her vocal partners. The album continues a strong shift towards Jazz-World Fusion, with familiar Latin undercurrents, and even more remarkably towards vocalese, which is featured extensively on most of the tracks, to my personal delight. Since each of the songs is dedicated to a different European city, and combined with the album’s title, this is an obvious tribute to the European Culture, without any geographic / political boundaries, emphasizing the vast diversity on one hand and the common ground, on the other, which generates such a wonderful congruence. The music is perfectly suited for the purpose of the message, and amalgamates many Folkloristic influences, all wonderfully intertwined within the Jazz envelope. As already stated earlier, Stanko choses to sing a brilliant wordless vocalese as much as possible, which overcomes any linguistic barriers, and even when she does sing in Polish, the phrasing and musicality fits the universal aura of the music perfectly. Bukowski, who is a faithful musical partner of Stanko since many years, leaves a distinct mark of his ingenious musicality on the album, but all the participants contribute wonderfully, to create a serene but deeply cutting aesthetic experience, which this music generates. I have been following Stanko since the beginning of her career and her remarkable ability to re-invent herself time after time, intelligently, gently and lovingly is absolutely marvelous. This album is built from an infinite number is little moments, sounds, notes and silences, woven carefully by Stanko and her team, like only she can. She has never disappointed my sensitive musical taste buds, and this album certainly fits perfectly my feelings of respect and adoration for her many talents, as much as her personality. Overall, this is another highly successful, tasteful, sensitive and remarkable achievement by Stanko, who in many ways is a class of her own on the Polish / European vocal Jazz scene. This music is so universal, that any language barriers become completely meaningless and this music should be highly appealing to and Jazz lover on this planet and perhaps the whole Universe. Love you, as always!

Updated: 23/03/2024Posted: 23/03/2024

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KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ FALE STM 007 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the 10th album by Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist this time recorded in an intimate trio setting with two of her long-time musical partners: vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven songs, one of which was written (music and lyrics) by Stanko, six were composed by Bukowski and three by Lemanczyk featuring lyrics by Stanko and finally one is a Polish Jazz standard by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. The same trio already recorded an album once before, which produced the wonderful Xmas Jazz album "Cuda OglaszajaFind albums with this title". The minimalist setting of this album allows the listener to hear really closely the work of all three participants, who are equally featured and important herein. Although released under Stanko´s name, this is a completely integral work of the trio. Stanko, who has over two decades of recording albums behind her, proves again that she is one of the very top Jazz vocalists in Poland, and the years of experience are clearly evident on this album. Coming back to the stricter Jazz environment in comparison to her last two albums, which flirted with more popular forms (still being excellent of course), Stanko utilizes somewhat different approach on this album, uses vocalese and other vocal techniques and when singing lyrics she masterly improvises with intonation, intensity and pronunciation, all in a most charming way. Bukowski, as always, weaves some superb melodies, which although never simplistic or straightforward, are always full of delicate aesthetics and beauty. There is always a "story" behind his music and Stanko´s lyrics work perfectly with his notes. His vibraphone performances are, as always, absolutely perfect, and full of sophisticated dynamics and virtuosic technical ability. Lemanczyk is, again as always, simply stunning and his bass playing puts him at the very top of European bass players list today. Both his acoustic and electric pulsations are always perfectly rounded, sublimely musical and full of his very idiosyncratic approach to the role of the bass in Jazz. His compositions are also brilliant of course, as known to his many followers. A true musician´s musician, he is always a source of great pleasure, whatever the circumstances. Overall this is a brilliant album, full of superb music and outstanding performances, which happen relatively rarely, and a great example of Jazz vocals, close interplay and above all good taste and respect of Jazz aesthetics. It is a school book example of the genre and I hope the many aspiring young Polish Jazz vocalist will take time to listen to it and more importantly learn from it, avoiding the many traps they tend to fall in on their way. Personally I wish to thank the creators of this music for giving me such pleasure while listening to their work. As for Krysia; I long for a big hug, since it has been way too long since we met last. Love you!

Updated: 23/03/2024Posted: 18/01/2021

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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 ~ NOVOS ANOS FOR TUNE 0113 (Barcode: 5906395808151) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the eighth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, recorded with her regular wonderful Baltic crew which includes vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and guest Brazilian drummer / percussionist Ze Luis NascimentoFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist on three tracks. Together they perform eleven songs (one is repeated twice), six of which were composed by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, and the rest by different composers like Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Mongo SantamariaFind albums by this artist and others, all with a distinct samba and bossa nova character. All the songs use English lyrics. This album marks a significant diversion in Stanko´s career, which is usually focused on singing original material composed by her or her band members. When I visited her in Gdansk three months ago, not long after this album was recorded, she told me that this was a conscious decision to create an album which could be enjoyed by a much wider audience than her previous recordings, without compromising the artistic and aesthetic values. There is no doubt that she and her band managed to do just that. The album includes mostly very well known songs, which have been previously recorded many times by artists all over the world. This album offers however a slightly different approach, with the instrumental arrangements being much more Jazzy than similar efforts. The presence of Bukowski adds another dimension, normally not present on such recordings and the brilliant bass playing by Lemanczyk firmly places these interpretation within the Jazz idiom rather that the usual Pop or easy Jazz genre. Wadolowski adds some beautiful guitar parts, which are also quite different from the standard guitar parts used on samba albums and so does Gawdzis, albeit briefly. Of course having a Brazilian drummer / percussionist on boards ensures that rhythmically everything works perfectly. Stanko´s deep sensual voice is of course ideally suited for these songs, and her vocal theatrics fit the bill perfectly. Although her pronunciation is not exactly "perfect" English, it is not significant as these songs have been sung in English by Jobim himself, Astrud GilbertoFind albums by this artist and countless other non-native English speaking vocalist and a slightly foreign accent in this case is perhaps an asset rather than a weakness. Stanko of course has the perfect feel needed to perform these songs and does it with obvious passion and love. She uses superb vocalese parts in addition to the lyrics, which are truly delightful. For me the most touching song of the album is the intimate trio which finds Stanko supported just by vibraphone and bass, which is perfection itself. Stanko respectfully leaves a lot of space for instrumental parts, which is most appropriate. If this album will bring Stanko to a wider public attention, it will serve its purpose ideally. She deserves to be heard and adored by everybody as much as I do adore her, regardless what she does, not because she is my friend, but because she is a true Artist and a wonderful human being. Well done Krystyna, Dear!

Updated: 26/11/2016Posted: 20/11/2016

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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 ~ SNIK NOT ON LABEL 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the seventh album by Polish vocalist / composer / lyricist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, marking a new direction in her career with an ambitious exploration of her Kashubian roots combined with her already established Jazz accomplishments. The Kashubians are an ethnic minority living in the North of Poland (Pomerania), which uses a regional language formally recognized in Poland as an official language, being the only one of many other languages / dialects to be awarded such status. On this album Stanko is accompanied by a wonderful trio comprising of her regular cohorts: vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, legendary bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist. In addition several guest musicians are featured, including trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist. The album has thirteen tracks, four of which are parts of an improvised suite based on a legend written by Aleksander MajkowskiFind albums by this artist, a leading Kashubian literary figure before WWII. These four tracks are split throughout the first half of the album and are co-composed by the core quartet members. Of the remaining tracks three are traditional songs arranged by Stanko, another three are composed by Lemanczyk, two by Stanko and one by Bukowski. Stanko wrote the lyrics to all the songs composed by her and also to those composed by Lemanczyk and Bukowski. It becomes immediately apparent from the very start of this album that Stanko made a conscious decision to embark upon a new voyage, quite different form the Jazz & Poetry genre, that dominated her marvelous album "Kropla SlowaFind albums with this title" released a couple of years earlier. Although some of the songs present here, especially those composed by Lemanczyk, are somewhat similar in their lyricism and melodic qualities to the songs from the earlier album, the majority of the material and more importantly the overall feel and atmosphere are dramatically different, with the utilization of strong ethnic elements, both musical and verbal. It is quite obvious that Stanko wishes to present a tribute to her roots and expose the listeners to the mysticism and beauty of the Kashubian culture. The four parts suite also exposes her more improvisational nature, with so far had only limited exposure in her work, but which turns out to be quite fascinating. Stanko´s vocal performances are, as usual, wonderful throughout the album, exposing a wide rage of her sensual voice, from whisper and caress to energetic vocalese. She is in full bloom as a vocalist and has very few competitors on the Polish scene as of now. The instrumentalists are also superb from start to finish with Lemanczyk being simply sensational in every capacity, both as time keeper, melody supporter and creator of beautiful notes, all right on the spot. Bukowski uses his electronic instrument, the xylosynth, which enables him to produce a great variety of sounds often similar to those produced by a keyboard, but with a different attack, which add a lot of diverse sound colors to the proceedings. Jarosz turns out to be a sensitive and supportive drummer, who is always there, when needed. Sadly I must conclude my assessment of this wonderful album on a sad note; it seems that this one will not be received as warmly and enthusiastically as its predecessor, simply for the reason that it crossed the invisible line between sophisticated and elegant entertainment and Art. The listeners might, unfortunately, find parts of this album to be too strange and less accessible, as will probably some learned critics. All I can say at this point is: well done girl, kudos, ignore those ignoramuses and just do your own thing. And of course a big thank you!

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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:

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ A`FREAK-AN PROJECT ALLEGRO 021 (Barcode: 5901157049216) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is a very interesting concept album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, dedicated to African music. Staroniewicz assembled an unusual lineup, fronted by a four-saxophone brass section: himself on tenor, Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist on tenor, Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist on baritone and Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist on tenor and soprano saxophones. There are no keyboards, as appropriate for African music, which are replaced by typical African instruments like marimba and kalimba, with some vibraphone, all played by Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist. The rhythm section comprises of bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam CzerwinskiFind albums by this artist and two percussionists complete the lineup: Larry Okey UgwuFind albums by this artist and Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist. The album includes seven original compositions, all by the leader, and was recorded "live" in the studio. Rather than copying obvious African elements, Staroniewicz creates a set of compositions, which are African more in spirit than in form, a task which is most commendable and of course much more difficult. The brass arrangements sound similar to African Brass Bands, mostly those from Southern part of the continent, but what is most impressive, is that Staroniewicz presents Africa as a whole, with music influences originating from all the four corners of the Black Continent – North with its Middle-Eastern flavor, West with its typical rhythm signatures, East with its enchanting expressive melodies and South with its highly energetic, danceable spirit. The decision not to include keyboards, especially electronic ones, adds significantly to the authenticity and genuineness of the overall result. Although obviously a team effort, especially in light of the live recording circumstances, there are plenty of great solos by all the players involved. These are all experienced and talented musicians, mostly leaders of their own ensembles and the common strength of their conglomerated effort is quite impressive. One should note that although this is obviously a Jazz-World Fusion album, the ethnic elements are not dominating the basic Jazz feel and order of things here, which happens so often in this genre. After all these are European musicians, who grew up on European aesthetics and heritage, and for them pretending to be native Africans would be ridiculous. Therefore this subtle and intelligent approach is much more effective. In addition to the great musical content the album is also beautifully packaged and the graphic design of the digipak enclosure is simply wonderful and highly original, which proves how much thought and love went into making this album. Highly recommended to Jazz-World Fusion enthusiasts, who should enjoy this music wholeheartedly and repeatedly, discovering the many layers it has to offer. Nice stuff!

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ A`FREAK-KOMEDA PROJECT ALLEGRO 029 (Barcode: 5901157049292) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the second album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist and his A`Freak-aN ProjectFind albums by this artist ensemble, which consists of a four saxophones front line: Staroniewicz on tenor, Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist on tenor, Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist on baritone and Marcin JanekFind albums by this artist on soprano. The extended rhythm section includes vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist, drummer Roman SlefarskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Larry Okey UgwuFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album is dedicated to the music of Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and four of the six tracks presented here were composed by Komeda, and the remaining two are original composition by Staroniewicz, who also arranged all the music. The African influences on this album, similarly to its predecessor, are relatively subtle and are wisely intertwined with the Jazz content, being felt primarily on the rhythmic plane and the overall atmosphere of the music. As a result this music is still very much mainstream Jazz, and not overtly a Jazz-World Fusion, although African spirit is present during the entire proceedings. The arrangements of Komeda´s tunes work all very nicely, which on one hand proves that Komeda´s music is completely universal, and on the other that Staroniewicz and his colleagues do a great job here, lovingly and respectfully treating the creations of the great composer. The two originals by Staroniewicz ale also first rate tunes, fitting the overall atmosphere of the album. The four saxophones section plays both superb ensemble arrangements and inspired individual solos, which are a true delight. Bukowski is also excellent, as usual, as is the solid rhythm section, which simply does a perfect job here. The level of instrumental work on this album is highly professional and full of joy and elegance. Altogether this is a superb mainstream Jazz album, which features great music, intelligent arrangements and perfect execution. The almost impossible task of saying something innovative in relation to Komeda´s music was successfully achieved here as well. Therefore hopefully as many Jazz fans as possible will decide to check out this beautiful little gem and share its gift of music. Once again I´d like to say that the graphic design of this album, which continues its predecessor´s idea, is among the most elegant and eye-catching album designs on the Polish Jazz market.

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ NORTH PARK ALLEGRO 036 (Barcode: 5901157049360) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by veteran Polish saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist recorded in a classic quintet setting with vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist and Norwegian trombonist Erik JohannessenFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions all by Staroniewicz. The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and offers wonderful sound quality, as expected, and was released on AllegroFind albums on this label Records, an independent record label owned by Staroniewicz, which since over two decades releases Polish Jazz albums recorded by musician living in the Baltic Pomeranian region. The music, although melody based and mainstream oriented, offers a specific sound and atmosphere, which is somewhat similar to Scandinavian / Nordic Jazz and quite distant from typical Polish Jazz. The pianoless quintet, which uses vibraphone as the harmonic instrument and the presence of the dominant trombonist all have a decisive influence on the music, which offers a darkish, somewhat distant atmosphere and ambience, which is very effective. Combined with the characteristic compositions, which Staroniewicz is famous for since many decades, the music manages to create a unique and very startling overall impression. All five musicians are of course highly skilled professionals, who know exactly what needs to be played at any given moment and their interplay is absolutely perfect for this music, which needs attentive listening in order to get familiar with all its intricacies and has a distinctive effect of growing on the listener with consecutive listening sessions. Personally the impressive bass parts by Urowski as some of my favorite moments on this album, but to be fair it is full of great playing from start to finish. Overall this album is a wonderful example of the incredible diversity of the Polish Jazz scene, even within the mainstream genre itself. Staroniewicz, as usual, deservers praise for doing his own thing and ignoring fads and fashions. His lifetime commitment to excellence is admirable. This is highly interesting and challenging music, which deserves to be heard!

Updated: 22/03/2019Posted: 22/03/2019

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ STRANGE VACATION ALLEGRO 045 (Barcode: 5901157049452) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader / AllegroFind albums on this label Records label owner Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with the quintet featuring Norwegian trombonist Erik JohannessenFind albums by this artist and Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist. It follows the “North Park” album from 2019. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Staroniewicz except one by Johannessen. Staroniewicz managed to establish himself over the years as one of the most reliable Polish Jazz leaders, who is always surrounded by the best Jazz players on the Baltic Tricity scene, often cooperating also with musicians from other countries, as this album demonstrates. The music continues the aesthetic direction established by the debut album, with highly melodic and melancholic melody lines and restrained expressionism, emphasized by the presence of the vibraphone, which settles the overall ambience. The music returns to the atmosphere of smoky, dark clubs of the early days of Polish Jazz, which often also involved Scandinavian Jazz musicians, and explores odd rhythmic patterns and unusual harmonics. Overall, this is a highly elegant, mature and atmospheric album, based on elegant tunes and superb performances by experienced and sensitive musicians, everything a Jazz connoisseur might wish for. This is Polish Jazz at its best, timeless and universal, and still meaningful, respecting tradition but exploring its own space-time continuum. Very well done, as always!

Updated: 06/06/2022Posted: 06/06/2022

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ / A`FREAK-AN PROJECT ~ LIVE IN GDANSK ALLEGRO 038 (Barcode: 5901157049384) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2019 This is the third album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist and his A`Freak-aN ProjectFind albums by this artist ensemble, which is an octet featuring a saxophone quartet and an extended rhythm section: Staroniewicz on tenor, Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist on tenor, Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist on baritone, Marcin JanekFind albums by this artist on soprano, Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist on vibraphone, Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist on bass, Roman SlefarskiFind albums by this artist on drums and Larry Okey UgwuFind albums by this artist on percussion. The album, which was recorded live at Radio Gdansk, presents seven compositions, two of which are originals by Staroniewicz, four are by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and one is by McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, all arranged by Staroniewicz. This album is in fact a live version of the previous album by the ensemble from 2015, called "A`Freak-Komeda ProjectFind albums with this title", except for the Tyner track. Therefore basically everything I wrote about that album applies also here – just click on the link. As Staroniewicz says on the album´s artwork, this album is a great opportunity to compare the same music recorded in studio and live, which of course can be very different. The live concert setting offers much more dynamics and excitement and expanded improvisations, but is prone to minor "mishaps", which in retrospect are usually simply charming. Since the Komeda arrangements are really very special, I recommend to Polish Jazz enthusiasts to put their hands on this album as well and compare these versions with the studio ones, and enjoy a great live album with excellent musicians on board.

Updated: 14/01/2020Posted: 14/01/2020

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ ILLINOIS JACQUET IN MEMORIAM NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2017 As the title suggests, this is a tribute album to the great American saxophonist Illinois JacquetFind albums by this artist, recorded live by top Polish Jazz musicians. The album presents eight tunes recorded over a period of one year at the Gdynia Jazz club UCHO and two bonus tracks recorded earlier at the NOSPR concert hall in Katowice. The album features ten Polish tenor saxophone players, whose ages span four generations: Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, Michal Jan CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, Przemek DyakowskiFind albums by this artist, Tomasz GrzegorskiFind albums by this artist, Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist, Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist and Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist. They are accompanied by various rhythm sections comprised of organist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarists: Maciej GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist and Michal ZienkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummers: Eric AllenFind albums by this artist (an American in Gdynia who played with Jacquet´s quintet and Big Band) and Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. Two of the tracks are originals by Jacquet and the rest are standards. Although recorded live, the album offers excellent sound quality. The music is everything one might expect form a tribute album like this one: familiar tunes, superb playing and an obvious joy ride. This is Swing and Bebop at its best and the participants seem to have great fun but the performances are all professional and heartfelt. It is great to see four generation of Polish Jazz musicians cooperating on one stage and playing every inch as good as any American musician might do, again simply wiping out any inferiority complexes still present among Polish Jazz musicians and many Jazz fans in Poland. Mainstream classic Jazz fans all over the world should have a great fun with this music, as it is full of the Jazz spirit and offers a high standard of playing well beyond of what is present on similar album recorded over the pond. The entire project, including this superbly produced album with beautiful artwork and fabulous photography is an obvious labor of love and the people standing behind it deserve all the praise we can offer them, including buying the album. Great stuff!

Updated: 24/11/2019Posted: 31/07/2018

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ PRZYJACIELE GRAJA HAJDUNA ALLEGRO 023 (Barcode: 5901157049230) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2011 This album presents the live recording of a memorial concert dedicated to the Polish pianist / composer Janusz HajdunFind albums by this artist, who died a year before this concert took place. Hajdun composed music to more than a hundred films, including the short animated film "Tango", which was the first and so far only Polish film to win the Oscar in 1983, as well as many popular songs. His music was characterized by a distinctive swing and a Jazz spirit, and therefore it is only natural that the Polish Jazz musicians taking part in this concert would pay this loving tribute to the beautiful music composed by Hajdun, hoping to preserve it for posterity. The album presents thirteen compositions by Hajdun (in two cases co-compositions), all of which were beautifully arranged by the participating musicians and three of which include vocals sung by Wanda StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist. The instrumentalist are: legendary pianist Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Piotr NadolskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist, percussionist Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist and pianist Kuba HajdunFind albums by this artist (the composer´s son). The music is truly beautiful, full of the typical Polish lyricism, somewhat melancholic and even gloomy, but always absorbing and aesthetically perfect. There is more than a coincidental similarity to Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s cinematic work, which indisputably inspired Hajdun, as it did all Polish composers. Hearing all this music collected here makes a great impact as a sum total and emphasizes his incredible value as a composer and contributor to the development of Polish Culture. The performances are inspired and overall perfect, full of superb solos and excellent team work, kept in relative low-key, as appropriate for a memorial concert. Ranging from solo piano performances to a full-blown Jazz ensemble, things are definitely happening here, which should leave no listener cold. The fact that people pay tribute to their departed colleagues and mentors is heartwarming and commendable and when it is done with such love, dedication and talent, it becomes an unforgettable event. This is Polish Jazz at its best, and as such it deserves to be listened to with attention and open-mindedness. Taking care of the past and the heritage is every bit as important as taking care of the future, let´s not forget it.

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VAS / BUKOWSKI / SZMANDA ~ OPEN-CLOSED PRINCIPLE SJ 068 (Barcode: 5902596066994) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 - 2022 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by the trio comprising of Hungarian (resident in Poland) organist / composer Bence VasFind albums by this artist and Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Vance. The music was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokania and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, who owns the studio and is a fabulous organist himself, which of course guarantees a fabulous sound quality. The trio offers a unique aural experience and the unusual instrumental lineup, despite its minimalist setting, offers an almost orchestral sound, much denser and elaborate in textures than one might expect. Both the organ and the vibraphone are among my favorite instruments, so I obviously have no complains in that department, although aurally the matching of these two instruments might prove difficult. The compositions are less exciting and the feeling is that the music tends to linger somewhat longer than necessary, not really developing much after the melodic theme was introduced. Also the compositions are quite similar to each other, which offers little dynamics over the playing time of the album. Of course all three musicians are highly professional and capable of playing the music without a hitch, with most of the inventive soloing is taken over not surprisingly by Bukowski, who is a true Master of the trade. Szmanda, as usual, keeps the music swinging at all times. Overall, this is a nice, melodic Jazz album, which offers a rather unusual sound and instrumental blend, in a chamber like atmosphere, often close to Classical music. For fans of organ Jazz, this is certainly something they might like to look into.

Updated: 16/01/2023Posted: 16/01/2023

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MARCIN WADOLOWSKI ~ BLUE NIGHT SESSION ALLEGRO 028 (Barcode: 5901157049285) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz MackiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam CzerwinskiFind albums by this artist, all seasoned players from the Polish Tricity region. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Wadolowski. Wadolowski can be also heard as a member of Elec-Tri-CityFind albums by this artist and MoongangFind albums by this artist. The music is all very melodic and kept within the mainstream Jazz conventions. All the tracks are relatively short, creating a sort of "songs" album, although of course entirely instrumental, in contrast to a typical Jazz recording, which focuses on the improvisational skills. Wadolowski simply decides to concentrate on featuring his skills as a composer and presenting his music rather than his and his quintets performing talents. There is basically absolutely nothing wrong with such approach of course. Nevertheless the album features very talented and skilled instrumentalists and although the framework and time limitations of this album allow rather modest contributions, those are all executed perfectly. Staroniewicz is a marvelous player and so is Bukowski, who uses recently more and more the xylosynth (a combination of xylophone and synthesizer, which sound really more like a keyboard and produces some very beautiful moments. The rhythm section is also perfect for the job, staying mostly in the background but providing a solid support for the soloist and doing it with grace and elegance. As to the leader, personally I prefer his work in a more electric / Fusion / Funky environment than playing gentle almost acoustic guitar, which limits his possibilities or perhaps exposes more his technical weaknesses, but overall his performance is also quite satisfactory. All in all we have here a pleasant well played album, which should satisfy most Jazz connoisseurs, with a slight tendency towards melodic and less complex musical forms. This album is quite ideal for a lazy evening with a glass of a wonderful cognac or very old single malt on ice.

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