Record Reviews

ANDRZEJ PRZYBIELSKI ~ SESJA OPEN NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2011 The fact that this is the only recording session as a leader by the great Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist is truly shocking, especially since it was only released recently following his tragic and untimely death in February 2011. Although Przybielski took part as a sidemen in numerous Polish Jazz recordings, his tragic life story ridden by a plethora of personal issues (mental instability, drug addiction, sociopathic behavior and reclusion) is equivalent to the amount of misfortune found in a Greek Tragedy, making him a rare bird and an outsider, known almost exclusively only by other Polish Jazz musicians. And yet, he was a true musician´s musician, as his genius was usually appreciated only by those, who were able to understand how great his talent truly was. In retrospect Przybielski had only one peer on the Polish scene, the great Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, even if their respective careers were so diametrically different. Przybielski´s tone, phrasing, speed and inventiveness, clarity, consistency and versatility are so amazing, that (again in retrospect) his existence is not only Polish Jazz best ever kept secret, but a phenomenon worthy of a worldwide attention. This album, recorded almost by accident, was supposed to present Przybielski´s regular quartet led by him in the last years of his life with vibraphonist Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz NadolnyFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz DaronFind albums by this artist. However the vibraphonist could not take part in the session and was replaced at the last moment by saxophonist Yuriy OvsyannikovFind albums by this artist. The recording consists of eight original compositions by Przybielski, brilliantly executed by the quartet, mostly in a Free Jazz mood, but with clearly stated melodic themes and completely coherent rhythmic support, which keeps it well inside the realm of music most Jazz enthusiasts are able to enjoy. Of course "hearing is believing" in this case, so until you do you have to take my word for it – but it probably will be one of the best Jazz trumpet performances you ever experienced. Of course one mustn´t miss Przybielski´s "De ProfundisFind albums with this title" with the Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist (also released posthumously). I personally take a huge pride in the fact that Przybielski played on my production of "The Book Of JobFind albums with this title", which gave me the personal delight to watch him play at first hand. The album was released by a foundation, dedicating the proceeds to a production of a multimedia album about the life and Art of Andrzej Przybielski – only 500 copies of this album were pressed (´nuff said!).

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ANDRZEJ PRZYBIELSKI VOL.1 SJP 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a criminally overdue tribute album to the Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist (born 1944), who died in 2011, recorded by an ensemble which features six Polish Jazz trumpeters: Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist (born 1982), Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist (1972), Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist (1976), Tomasz KudykFind albums by this artist (1976), Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist (1985) and Maurycy WojcinskiFind albums by this artist (1988), i.e. mostly members of the middle aged and young generation of the Polish Jazz scene. The ensemble also features a rhythm section which comprises of guitarist Jakub KujawaFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz NadolnyFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz DaronFind albums by this artist. Together they perform four compositions by Przybielski and three collectively improvised pieces. The album also includes a conversation with Przybielski recorded in 2007 at the legendary Mozg club in Bydgoszcz, Przybielski´s home town, which also includes fragments of his performances. The recording and the release of this album was the initiative of Fortuna, who felt an obligation to document and commemorate Przybielski´s contribution to Polish Jazz, which is of course highly praiseworthy. However it is difficult to ignore the fact that Przybielski died a dissolute, lonely, sick, neglected and forgotten man, which left a huge black stain on the Polish Jazz scene. Not less significant is the absence on this album of the top Polish Jazz trumpeters of his generation, which painfully emphasizes the fact that Przybielski never received the recognition he so much deserved from his contemporaries and was mostly adored and respected by musician much younger than himself. His life´s story is a classic epos of Avant-Garde being denied recognition at its peak only to be recognized in the aftermath. Personally I had the pleasure of knowing Przybielski and working with him on several projects in the 1980s, being immediately convinced that he is the most interesting Polish Jazz trumpeter on the local scene at that time. My admiration for his work never ceased, being only rekindled following the tragic news of his death. With all respect to the actual music present on this album, which is very good, it is only secondary to the very existence of this project. Thanks and salutations are of course due to Fortuna and the many people who made this project possible and which, as the Vol.1 suggests, will be continued in the future. There are many fascinating moments on this album, some superb trumpet passages and solos, great group improvisations and so on. The musical concept is however a bit unclear, as far as I am concerned. Also the idea of six trumpeters playing together, as potentially interesting as it might appear is less effective in reality in my opinion. Perhaps a collection of pieces featuring prominently just one trumpeter or at most two, playing in turn might have been more effective? But these are just matters of personal taste. Of course all these trumpeters can play and they do play well, but as far as a tribute is concerned, the music is supposed to be spiritually convergent to the music of the subject to whom the tribute is dedicated, which, as already mentioned above, is not really apparent herein. But all things considered, this is a very important album, not only for its music but primarily for what it symbolizes, for its historical importance and for the example it sets. As such it is undoubtedly a major event and a great success!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 15/11/2016

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ANDRZEJ PRZYBIELSKI VOL.2 SJP 004 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is second volume of the wonderful project which pays tribute to the great Polish Jazz trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, who died in 2011. Six relatively young but already established Polish Jazz trumpeters: Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist, Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist, Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist, Tomasz KudykFind albums by this artist, Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist and Maurycy WojcinskiFind albums by this artist and a rhythm section comprising of guitarist Jakub KujawaFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz NadolnyFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz DaronFind albums by this artist perform five pieces, three of which are original compositions by Przybielski, one is a long improvised piece (over half an hour in duration) and the last is the bugle call of Bydgoszcz, the home town of Przybielski. A DVD filmed during the premiere of the first volume of this album is also included. The music is of course a continuation of the content of the first album and readers wishing to read more about the historical background and Przybielski´s contribution to Polish Jazz are invited to read my review of that album and other albums by Przybielski. By a weird coincidence I am writing these words just a few days following the death of Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, the Polish Jazz Colossus. The many parallels, stylistically and otherwise, and of course great differences between these two trumpeters is one of the most fascinating stories of Polish Jazz, definitely worth a book on the subject. Beyond the music per se, these two albums are an important glimpse into Polish Jazz history and an effort to bring Przybielski into the awareness of the Polish Jazz fans, which he sadly almost completely missed during his lifetime. They also show the will of the young generation of Polish Jazz players to continue the tradition and remember the idiom´s heroes. For Polish Jazz fans this is definitely something they should have in their collections. Hats off to all the people who contributed to this project and made it happen.

Updated: 01/08/2018Posted: 01/08/2018

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