Record Reviews

JAZZ CITY CHOIR ~ JAZZ CITY CHOIR AMI 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the excellent debut album by Polish vocal ensemble Jazz City ChoirFind albums by this artist, which comprises of nine female and male vocalists singing together arrangements of Jazz compositions in a new and unprecedented way. Although vocal Jazz ensembles, usually quartets, have a longstanding tradition in Jazz, and even in their native Poland (the superb NOVIFind albums by this artist quartet), there were very few attempts to take Jazz vocals to the full extent of choir level, like this one. Listeners familiar with this particular niche might remember the work of Singers UnlimitedFind albums by this artist, which also used a choir effect, but it was achieved by multi-tracking the four members of the ensemble, whereas here we have a genuine choir at hand. The album presents six compositions, four of which are Jazz standards arranged by Pawel ZielakFind albums by this artist, the choir´s house arranger, and two compositions created especially for the choir, one by its soprano singer Joanna KucharczykFind albums by this artist and another by composer Jan SanejkoFind albums by this artist, a young and very talented person worth watching!. Five of the six compositions feature a lead soloist, which in four cases is the choir´s music director and conductor Anna GadtFind albums by this artist and in one case the wonderful Polish singer Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist. Five of the compositions feature vocalese only and one – Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist´s "Spain" – features partly lyrics, written by Al JarreauFind albums by this artist and sung in English. The initial impact of this album is completely overwhelming; the power, complexity and inherent beauty of human voices harmonizing and building up multi-layered structures, multiplied by ten individual sound signatures, is breathtaking. Of course in time the initial shock gives way to a more articulate reception, but moving on into the music the stimulation of brain cells continues up to the moment when the very last sound resonates into silence. This is really something else… Of course a detached and coolheaded analysis reveals certain problems and imperfections, most serious of which is the dichotomy between the musical devices (in this case choral devices) used by the choir, which almost all originate in the world of Classical Music or even earlier musical forms like Medieval chants or early Church music. The transition of these devices into the world of Jazz has puzzled many composers / performers over the years, with varying results. Nevertheless, Jazz City Choir manages to swing at all times, which after all is the basic quality one expects from anything under the Jazz umbrella, even if their tools and paraphernalia originate in another world. Using lyrics, and especially in English, was a completely unnecessary move, exposing their weakest link, but considering it is a minor part of the entire presentation, it can be easily forgiven and hopefully forgotten. Overall this is a stunning debut and the thought what these people might come up with next is scary (in a positive way). I simply can´t wait! It´s an absolute most for anybody fond of vocal Jazz in all forms and shapes and of course for connoisseurs of the Jazz-Classical Fusion sub-genre. Respect!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ AUDIO BEADS BMC 199 (Barcode: 5998309301995) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the fifth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist and his first live recording. Recorded in Hungary and released on the excellent Hungarian BMCFind albums on this label label, the album captures Karnas accompanied by cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist, drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist and guest artist Hungarian cimbalom player Miklos LukacsFind albums by this artist. Together they perform just five extended pieces, one of which is a Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist song and the rest are originals co-credited to Karnas and Oles. The sound quality of this live recording is absolutely superb, which every single note being perfectly audible. Karnas presents a unique approach to Jazz vocals, which amalgamates lyrics, vocalese, scat, wordless chanting and spontaneous improvisation. He is always full of surprises and completely unconventional. His vocal modus operandi is based on techniques developed earlier by American Jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist and sounds similar to McFerrin´s early work, but of course is inventive enough to avoid being considered simply a replica of the original. Karnas is experienced and talented enough to keep his audiences mesmerized and his extended improvisations manage to sustain tension for prolonged periods of time, which of course is extremely difficult. As this live recording proves, he is a fascinating live performer and listening to him live is perhaps the best way to benefit from his many abilities. The accompanying musicians are all splendid players and provide excellent support for the vocalist all the way through. The cellist uses his instrument mostly as if it was an upright bass, almost never playing arco. He displays fantastic musicality and virtuosic control of the cello, being the primary partner of the vocalist and complementing him superbly. The drummer plays delicately, often using his hands and brushes, with of course is suitable for this intimate music-making experience. The cimbalom player sounds remarkably like a pianist, which although works well in this situation, is a pity, as it loses the wonderful "original" sound of the instrument, which surely might have added another interesting dimension to this already multifaceted music. Considering the fact that male vocalists are a rarity on the Polish Jazz scene (and in general), Karnas definitely deserves to be praised for filling this difficult gap. Constantly developing and expanding his vocabulary and technique he is definitely a talent to be watched and enjoyed. This album is certainly a splendid addition to his recorded legacy and a source of immense listening pleasure. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ BALLADY NA KONIEC SWIATA NINTH FLOOR 1002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 - 2005 Released: 2006 This is the third album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / arranger Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and talented representatives of the young generation of the local Jazz scene. Born in the southern Polish province of Upper Silesia, Karnas graduated form the Jazz Institute at the Katowice Academy of Music, where a large percentage of the young Polish Jazz musicians get their initial graduate education. His debut album "ReinkarnasjaFind albums with this title", released in 2000, created quite a stir on the local scene and immediately established him as one of the most significant newcomers. Stylistically this album is a direct continuation of its predecessor "SnyFind albums with this title", except for the fact that all the music was co-composed by Karnas and cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist (who also plays on the album) with lyrics by Karnas. The thirteen pieces are all relatively low-key, hence the reference to ballads in the title, although they have little in common with what is considered a ballad in classic Jazz other than the slow tempo. The accompaniment is also more subtle than on the previous album, with more ambient background sounds and less typical Jazz solos. Oles, who plays his cello mostly as if it was an acoustic bass, sets much of the overall sound and atmosphere. Other participants include saxophonist Radoslaw NowickiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist and electronic sounds creator Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist, and congas player Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist. In addition two guest artists also participate: pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist and guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist. Karnas apparently found in Oles an ideal partner in his search for a decisive stylistic crystallization, which is quite apparent here. His vocal explorations are less chaotic and outrageous, with spontaneity replaced by self-control and moderation, which of course does not make his music any less exciting. But this album is somewhat less accessible and immediately likeable that his earlier work, perhaps due to the depressing lyrical subject matter (end of the world), which is apparent not only in the lyrics but also in the somewhat gloomy melody lines. All in all this is definitely another excellent piece of musical artistry. Karnas is a unique voice and everything he recorded is worth the listeners´ attention, especially since vocal Jazz is such a neglected area dominated by mediocrity if not worse. Therefore this album stands out as a beacon of hope that not all is lost and the end of the world will have a wait for a while. Exciting stuff!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ KARNAS HEVHETIA 0050 (Barcode: 8588002496776) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / arranger Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and talented representatives of the young generation of the local Jazz scene. Separated by five years from its predecessor "Ballady Na Koniec SwiataFind albums with this title", this album is significantly different from his earlier work and presents several novelties as far as his recording career is concerned, for example the inclusion of songs not composed by him, usage of lyrics in several different languages, a new instrumental concept, etc. The singer is accompanied by a splendid quartet, which features pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Except for the bassist the other three musicians are long time collaborators on his earlier recordings. The presence of a bassist allows Oles to play his cello more in the way it was originally intended, as opposed to the earlier recordings, where it was mostly playing the bass parts. The album comprises of no less than nineteen tracks, some quite short (under a minute) and other fully developed and lasting around seven minutes. One song (Laurie AndersonFind albums by this artist´s "Langue D´Amour") appears four times in different incarnations and two other songs are reprised. Karnas composed or co-composed six of the pieces, four other pieces are credited to the band accompanying him, one is an instrumental composed by Tokaj and three are songs from the canonic Rock repertoire like StingFind albums by this artist´s "Roxanne", Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist´s "Black Crow" and the a.m. song by Laurie Anderson. It is immediately obvious that this is Karnas´ most ambitious album to date. The complexity and versatility of the material is overwhelming and music moving from one theme to another creates a charming flow, which makes the listener whish for it never to stop. Instrumentally this album, with Tokaj taking over the role of the main soloist, is finally perfect and Tokaj´s beautiful tango is the best original piece of music on the album. Oles finally shows what he´s made of and plays some amazing sounds. The vocal performances are also excellent, obviously more mature and relaxed than ever before. This time Karnas is pretty minimalistic, not trying to overemphasize his part and treating the entire project as a whole rather than another solo album. The group effort is definitely what makes this album tick so wonderfully and takes it a few notches up the scale. Overall this is a truly amazing vocal Jazz album, which plainly stands out as an artistic achievement, leaving most other albums of its kind way behind. Suffice to listen to the vocalist´s interpretations of the three well known songs, in order to appreciate his originality. Add to this the strength of his original material and Karnas emerges as an artist worth following and already leaving his mark on the contemporary scene, with very few contenders. An absolute must!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ POWER KISS HEVHETIA 0150/0151 (Barcode: 8588005258111) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the seventh album by Polish Jazz vocalist Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, this time recorded live during his 2016 concerts in China. The enclosed CD presents ten tracks, five of which are original compositions / improvisations by Karnas, one song (repeated twice) is by Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist, another song (also repeated twice) is by Laurie AndersonFind albums by this artist and one is a Michal TokajFind albums by this artist composition. Karnas is accompanied by a piano trio, which consists of Azerbaijani pianist Elchin ShirinovFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. The enclosed DVD presents mostly the same material included on the CD with a couple of alternate takes. Karnas is of course the most unique Polish Jazz vocalist and his music presents a completely individual approach, which is basically incomparable with anything else in the vocal department, not only in Poland but in the whole world for that matter. He hardly ever uses words (lyrics) and most of what he utters is virtuosic vocalese unrelated to any "real" language (although here he seems to make an effort to communicate with his audiences in Chinese). His inventive use of his vocal cords and his unearthly timbre, combined with superb instrumental work by his band members always create epic results, which are beyond what one might expect within the vocal Jazz idiom. It is absolutely amazing what these four musicians are able to achieve on stage, live and "naked". Karnas chose some of the absolutely best young musicians on the European scene, with the brilliant Shirinov creating all the melodic / harmonic background (and soloing spectacularly) and the rhythm section simply carrying the music all along on a rock-steady foundation and with exquisite inventiveness. Overall this is a stunning piece of music, which deserves to be taught in music schools not only for its musical qualities, but primarily for the freedom of creation it symbolizes like only very few other recordings do. Every true music connoisseur should find this album enchanting, even if not immediately likeable. Music of such quality requires total involvement, nothing less. It is great to see Karnas still able to move mountains, especially in view of his relatively sparse release schedule lately. All his albums deserve an honorable place in any serious Polish / European Jazz collection, and they are all a chronicle of an Artist, who does not rest for one moment, constantly searching for new territory and new forms of expression; a rare and precious quality for which he deserves all praise. Thank you for the gift of music!

Updated: 12/09/2017Posted: 12/09/2017

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ SNY DEBIES 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 - 2004 Released: 2004 This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / arranger Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and talented representatives of the young generation of the local Jazz scene. Born in the southern Polish province of Upper Silesia, Karnas graduated form the Jazz Institute at the Katowice Academy of Music, where a large percentage of the young Polish Jazz musicians get their initial graduate education. His debut album "ReinkarnasjaFind albums with this title", released in 2000, created quite a stir on the local scene and immediately established him as one of the most significant newcomers. He is accompanied on this album by a superb team of excellent players: pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist (who plays the Fender electric piano here rather than his usual acoustic piano), guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. In addition several guest artists also participate: legendary veteran saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist (a future close collaborator, who also hails from Silesia), vocalist Patrycja GolaFind albums by this artist and congas player Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist. The album consists of twelve pieces, ten of which were written (music & lyrics) by Karnas, one was co-written by Karnas and Oles and one is a standard. Karnas wrote all the arrangements, which are quite unusual and beautifully atmospheric. Of course Karnas´ vocal performances are the focal point of the album, but his ability to involve all these wonderful players to become an integral part of the overall result is absolutely astounding. Szukalski plays wonderfully here, but for me Tokaj and his incredible electric piano phrasing are the cherry on the cake. Karnas is a unique vocalist, a power of Nature. Although many of the tricks of the trade he so skillfully utilizes can be traced back to other great vocalists, like the great Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist and the Polish diva Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, but he is truly original. First and foremost he completely disregards any conventions, allowing himself a total freedom as far as his vocal expressions are concerned. Regardless if he sings lyrics, vocalese, scat or just utters sounds from his throat, there are no rules involved. His pronunciation of the lyrics is completely off the wall and probably would give his primary school Polish language teacher a heart attack, but the effect is overwhelming. He also twists the melody any way he wants and his disregard of "proper" timing is simply scandalous; and yet all these elements put together create an amalgam, which is just so beautiful and intelligent, that any experienced music connoisseur simply melts away. Vocal Jazz or more exactly interesting and challenging vocal Jazz is unfortunately a rarity on contemporary Jazz scene and therefore any Artists of the level presented by Karnas is a most welcome addition. People who truly love music will love this music immediately and unconditionally. Not to be missed!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ VANGA BMC 209 (Barcode: 5998309302091) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, recorded with his trio including bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist and Hungarian cimbalom player Miklos LukacsFind albums by this artist, who appears as a guest. The album was recorded live at the Opus Jazz Club in Budapest and presents nine tracks, most of which are original compositions by Karnas. Karnas is a unique phenomenon on the vocal Jazz scene, one of the most original Masters of the trade, who incorporates lyrics and vocalese in his personal style, which is unequalled by anybody else except perhaps Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist. He is a brilliant improviser and uses his voice like an instrument and hearing him performing is a life changing experience. His long time collaboration with the rhythm section present here explains why the trio sounds like one organic music making body, with the trio members communicating telepathically, which enables the neck-breaking difficult rhythmic patterns and topsy-turvy melody lines to sound completely natural and coherent. This live recording proves that he is able to re-create his amazing Artistry live without any studio trickery. For some strange reason this album failed to land on my desk until now, so I am happy to bridge the gap now, especially in view of the fact that it’s been five years since Karnas released his last album; definitely way too long! Overall, this is a brilliant album from start to finish, completely different from almost anything one might come across in Jazz in general and vocal Jazz in particular. Lovers of human voice and vocal Jazz will absolutely love this to bits. I really long to hear Karnas live on stage again, but a new album will do in the meantime. This gem is still available, so don’t even think twice.

Updated: 31/03/2022Posted: 31/03/2022

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SZYMON MAKOHIN ~ TRYIN` TIMES MUZA 1449 (Barcode: 5907783424496) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist Szymon MakohinFind albums by this artist, which was recorded in 2008 and waited for four years to finally see the light of day. It presents Makohin performing eleven Pop / Blues / Soul standards, beautifully arranged by pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, who leads the excellent quartet accompanying the singer, which also includes saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. On two of the tracks Makohin performs duets with female singers, the incredible Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist and Irena KijewskaFind albums by this artist. It seems that most Polish Jazz (and not only Jazz) vocalists consistently repeat the fatal mistake of trying to sing in English, which unfortunately in most cases, including this one, simply does not work. It becomes especially apparent in the duet with Zaryan, where the singer´s accent and phrasing contrasts with those of Zaryan, who is one of the very few Polish vocalists able to sing properly in English. Therefore, regardless of how good this album is on the instrumental level, the vocals are a priori an obstacle. Makohin has a very nice tone and obvious vocal talents, but his battle is lost the minute he opens his mouth. It´s a pity he didn´t follow in the steps of other Polish vocalists, like Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist for example. The selection of the material is also quite problematic, as all the songs have a strong common bond of sounding "sweet", with very little diversity, and none of them are challenging vocally. All these songs were performed brilliantly by their original authors, and this slightly Jazzed up version has very little added value. The only case of a Jazz standard present here is more a showcase of a brilliant bass accompaniment than vocal ability. Of course Tokaj and the quartet play spotlessly and brilliantly, as always. The instrumental work keeps this album alive and kicking, which in retrospect is a pity, since this could have been such a great album under different circumstances. However, considering this is a debut album, it should not be judged too severely; there is a lot of potential here and Makohin has a lot to offer, so I´m looking forward to hear his next album, hopefully in Polish this time. I certainly wish him all the best and keep my fingers crossed.

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MICHAL TOKAJ ~ THE SIGN HEVHETIA 0089 (Barcode: 8588005257312) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, one of the most well-regarded and respected musicians on the local scene, known primarily as accompanist, arranger and composer working with top Polish Jazz vocalists like Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist, Szymon MakohinFind albums by this artist, Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist and others, but also as member of distinguished instrumental ensembles led by Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist, Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, Czech bassist Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist and others. The album was recorded in the classic piano trio format, with bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist, the same lineup that recorded Tokaj´s debut album "Bird AloneFind albums with this title" a decade earlier. The music comprises of ten original compositions, nine of which were composed by Tokaj and the album´s closing track, which was composed by the great Polish bassist / composer Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist. The music is brilliantly performed by the trio, which displays not only superb instrumental abilities but more importantly remarkable affinity and interplay, which is hardly surprising considering the fact that they have been playing together for so many years. Tokaj´s piano playing here is somewhat different, as might be naturally expected, from his delicate accompaniments when playing along vocalists or other leading instrumentalists. It is much more assertive and focused, definitely more complex and adventurous, and yet still incredibly melodic, even during the condensed and expressive improvisational passages. Of course both Baranski and Zyta deserve all the compliments for their intelligent and sympathetic, as well as technically exquisite support. The music is a true delight from start to finish, a wonderful mixture of melody, lyricism and even romanticism combined with quite complex ventures into intensive improvisation and above all a lot of freedom and breathing space, which make this music crystal clear even during its most demanding moments. It´s pretty obvious that Tokaj´s gift as a composer and his incredible versatility earn his a well deserved position close to the top of the list of Polish Jazz composers. For me this is easily the best "piano trio playing original music" album recorded in 2014, which is quite a distinction considering how much great music is produced on the Polish scene every year. As usual in such circumstances both a wholehearted recommendation to the fans to grab this gem ASAP and a humble expressions of gratitude towards the musicians are in order. Very well done indeed Gentlemen!

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