Record Reviews

OLGA BOCZAR MUSIC ESSENCE ~ LITTLE INSPIRATIONS NOT ON LABEL 001 (Barcode: 5905279086005) ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2013 - 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish vocalist / flautist / songwriter Olga BoczarFind albums by this artist, recorded with her ensemble called Music EssenceFind albums by this artist, with core members: keyboardist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Andrzej GondekFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. In addition several other musicians also participate on selected tracks, including bassist Krzysztof PacanFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Dominik GawronskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist and several background vocalists; altogether quite a formidable team. The album presents ten original songs all composed by Boczar and with lyrics mostly written by her as well. Only two of the songs feature lyrics in Polish and eight have English lyrics. The music was recorded in three different studios, including the Studio Tokarnia where Smoczynski also served as the sound engineer recording the rhythms section tracks. In spite of the fact that the album features some very prominent Polish Jazz musicians, it is by no means a Jazz album. Except for a few piano solos, the album presents a singer / songwriter Pop / Rock effort with slight Jazzy accents mostly present in some of the arrangements. There is of course nothing wrong with that, but promoting and marketing this album under a Jazz moniker is a conceptual mistake. The music is a collection of mostly low key melancholic melodies, which all sound a bit similar and leave no lasting impression. Everything is "nice" and "smooth", but there is no excitement, zest or attempt hit the listener between his eyes. Boczar´s voice and delivery don´t help much either, as she has a limited range and sings in the same narrow spectrum using repeatedly the same mannerisms, regardless of the text she is singing. Except for a few vocalese attempts, the rest is rather unexciting. And on top of this all these there is the problem with lyrics in English, which sound pretty inappropriate. In contrast, plainly audible, the two songs sung in Polish sound infinitely better. The instrumental work is all quite all right, but again lacks any spark. The arrangements are all rather trivial, and the potential of such mighty team of musicians seems completely wasted. Except for the already mentioned piano solos, there is no attempt to put some excitement into this music. Overall this is all professionally done, but sadly completely uninspired. This album has a potential on the Polish Pop market, if promoted properly. It might even win a Fryderyk award next year, as anything can happen there, but hopefully not in the Jazz category. And before an outcry of angry responses accusing me of ruining young people´s careers erupts again, let me emphasize that this is just my private, subjective opinion, which has absolutely no bearing on anybody´s fate.

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GRZEGORZ LESIAK ESSENCE / PIOTR DAMASIEWICZ ~ ON THE WAY L.A.S. 006 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album recorded live by the trio EssenceFind albums by this artist, led by Polish guitarist Grzegorz LesiakFind albums by this artist with Spanish bassist Alex ReviriegoFind albums by this artist and drummer Vasco TrillaFind albums by this artist, which was expanded to a quartet with the addition of Polish trumpeter Piotr DamasiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents four lengthy tracks and was released on the L.A.S.Find albums on this label label, owned by Damasiewicz. The music is completely improvised and offers a sonic / atmospheric experience, excluding any conventional melodic continuity, which of course is not unusual for Improvised Music. However, for listeners familiar with such intense sound explorations, it proves to be highly fascinating. The musicians utilize unconventional approach to their instruments, which often sound completely not as they are “supposed” to sound, especially so in case of Lesiak and Damasiewicz, who also adds some vocal layers. For Damasiewicz this recording is a step aside from his “back to nature” sonic excursions, which he developed in the last few years, taking him back to his Free Jazz / Improvised Music period from a decade or so ago, but with a much more introvert and intimate approach, with the “less is more” attitude in the helm. Lesiak is the biggest surprise herein, leaving the role of the Fusion guitarist and leader of the excellent TatvamasiFind albums by this artist ensemble if favor of this highly improvisational environment, although early signs of the forthcoming transformation were already evident on the last (so far) album by the ensemble “The Third Ear MusicFind albums with this title”. Overall, this is a fascinating piece of Improvised Music, strictly for the connoisseurs of the idiom, but full of great ensemble playing and striking individual contributions by all four participants. This is “something else” by every standard, and fearless explorers of the sound space are wholeheartedly invited to take a plunge!

Updated: 10/09/2023Posted: 10/09/2023

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