Record Reviews

JERZY MILIAN ~ OPTIMA FIDE GAD 208 (Barcode: 5903068123108) ~ POLAND ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1968 - 1970 Released: 2022 This is the eleventh installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from the late 1960s and early 1970s, done in Brussels, with Belgian (Radio & TV) BRT Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Etienne VerschuerenFind albums by this artist and the BRT Jazz ComboFind albums by this artist conducted by Freddy SunderFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions by Milian and one arrangement of a Classical piece by Polish composer Stanislaw MoniuszkoFind albums by this artist. The compositions include a concerto for vibraphone and Jazz Orchestra and a suite, which gives this album its title. This album is a companion release to the seventh part of this series called “CirculationsFind albums with this title”. The music is a wonderful orchestral Jazz, which at the time was considered as part of the searching Third Stream, which was supposed to merge Jazz and contemporary Classical Music, as initiated by the American composer Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist in the late 1950s and had many sympathizers among leading American Jazz musicians in the 1950s and 1960s, but never became part of the mainstream of Jazz per se. Milian did not follow the Third Stream conventions by the letter, but his complex compositions and Jazzy improvisations by the orchestra on top of the scores can be without doubt associated with the idiom. In some respects, Third Stream was an attempt to Europeanize American Jazz and failed mostly due to the basic cultural incompatibility between mainstream American Jazz and sophisticated European contemporary Classical music, which Americans rejected but some Europeans (Milian included, but also the great Polish composer Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist and many others) embraced warmly. Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid half a Century later, as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully melodic, in some cases incorporating Polish Folklore sources, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created. The BTR Jazz Orchestra included many excellent instrumentalists, who performed the difficult music without a hitch. Overall, this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz enthusiasts this album is an absolute must!

Updated: 09/10/2022Posted: 09/10/2022

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend