Record Reviews

INGA LEWANDOWSKA ~ PRZEBUDZENIE SJ 051 (Barcode: 5902596066611) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2018 - 2019 Released: 2020 Although hardly a newcomer on the Polish Jazz scene, this is the bona fide debut album by vocalist / composer / lyricist Inga LewandowskaFind albums by this artist. Recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Przemyslaw RaminiakFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist – a formidable team by all means. The music also features the Baron Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist, led and conducted by Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original songs, all composed by Lewandowska and featuring her lyrics, as well and ten poems and numerous paintings also by her, included in the lavish digibook packaging of the album. It is not surprising that the album firmly belongs to the Polish Jazz & Poetry idiom, since Lewandowska´s earlier recordings were also strongly connected to literary / poetry subject matter. She continues this heartfelt affiliation splendidly also herein. The songs are all absolutely wonderful, offering modern Jazz without compromise and shortcuts, melody based and precisely arranged, but in many respects also unconventional and innovating, still within the mainstream but obviously at the very edge of the idiom. Not surprisingly the Polish melancholy is omnipresent, but not overbearing. Surprisingly Lewandowska utilizes a significant amount of vocalese in addition to straightforward singing of the lyrics, which transports this album somewhat away from a traditional vocal Jazz album. Her highly theatrical delivery of the texts, full of wonderful mannerisms that seem to pop out of nowhere, but make perfect sense time after time, is really refreshing. As a result the vocals become as much an instrument performing side by side with the four instrumentalists, with the vocals standing "separately" on their own. Her vocal abilities and surprisingly "youthful" timbre, which creates a charming contrast to the content of the lyrics, ale absolutely delightful. The four instrumentalists are all Masters of the trade and they manage to utilize their experience and talents to suit this music ideally. Schmidt torches the air with his trumpet soloing, Raminiak lays out layers of delicate harmonic accompaniment and most of the time stays in the background. Soloing sparingly. Piasecki is a pillar of stability and precision, keeping the music chronometrically in time and swinging, whereas Berny brilliantly ornaments the proceedings with his percussive paraphernalia, rather than just keeping the time. The string arrangements are no less brilliant, very delicate and sophisticated, adding another layer of sound and harmony, which takes the music far and beyond. Overall this is a wonderful album, long expected and deserving a lot of praise in view of its qualities, which arrives late, but the awakening (pun intended) is never too late, and in these gloomy days of despair and desolation, is a true ray of sunshine. Well done Milady, Godspeed!

Updated: 29/10/2020Posted: 29/10/2020

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INGA LEWANDOWSKA ~ CHOPIN SONGS OP. 74 SOLITON 1313 (Barcode: 5903684233137) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz vocalist Inga LewandowskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with local Jazz musicians: trumpeter Jan ChojnackiFind albums by this artist, pianist Przemyslaw RaminiakFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam WajdzikFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine of the seventeen songs composed by the Polish National composer Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, collected together as Op. 74, with lyrics by various Polish poets. The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, as offers a splendid sound quality. This album is in fact a “remake” of an album Lewandowska recorded some twenty years earlier with pianist Kuba Stankiewicz, entitled “Chopin Songbook Op. 74”, which offers a 2CD bi-lingual version of this material, but this recording offers a completely new arrangements and instrumentation, in addition to twenty years of experience, and as such is a valid attempt. Of course my opinion about serious molestation of Chopin’s music by Polish Jazz musicians are still sound and valid, but again, since this is something that was done already, at least it can’t add any harm. As perilous as this material might become, all in all I quite like this album. Lewandowska has an idiosynchratic voice, which takes a while to get used to, but her vocalese and the vocal gymnastics she performs here are quite impressive, which keeps the listen in suspense. Her articulation and theatrical pronunciations are great fun and she obviously knows what she wants. For example, on the last track of this album she sings accompanied only by the bass, and still manages to hold the melody and improvise, like a pro. The instrumental work is as perfect as one might wish for, with Chojnacki ornamenting the proceedings with his trumpet solos and Raminiak’s accompaniment being right on at all times, with several great solos added as well. The rhythm section adds a supportive pulse and as already mentioned the bass also plays splendidly along with the vocals. Overall, this is a very pleasant and splendidly executed album, which should keep all Vocal Jazz fans happy, not to mention the many Chopin a la Jazz fans out there, who never seem to get enough. Although the lyrics are in Polish, this is of secondary importance here. Have fun and enjoy!

Updated: 03/02/2023Posted: 03/02/2023

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MARK LOTZ TRIO ~ THE WROCLAW SESSIONS AUDIO CAVE 2019/006 (Barcode: 5905669566759) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by a trio led by veteran German (resident in Netherlands) flautist / composer Mark Alban LotzFind albums by this artist with Polish bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded during an impromptu recording session, organized while Lotz gave master classes in Wroclaw. The album presents nine tracks, six of which were recorded by the trio and three by a duo of Lotz and Piasecki due to Bulinski´s illness. Two of the tracks are composed / co-composed by Lotz, two others are co-composed by Lotz and Piasecki and five are Jazz / Pop standards. Although by and large based on composed themes, the music is mostly improvised and offers an informal, free spirited atmosphere, which is quite enjoyable in view of the tendency to take Jazz way too seriously and in a cerebral fashion, forgetting about the intrinsic spontaneity it is supposed to be based on. Despite the obvious age and experience differences between Lotz and the two Polish Jazz youngsters, the trio manages to achieve a coherent and quite inventive cooperation and the result is surprisingly pleasing. The flute is a sadly neglected instrument in Jazz and therefore hearing great flute performances is always a joyful experience for yours truly, especially since it happens to be one of my favorite instruments. The album´s liner notes mention the legendary Dutch flautist Chris HinzeFind albums by this artist, one of the great European Jazz pioneers since the late 1960s and a superb player / composer, which of course bring on fond memories. Lotz has an impressive recorded legacy, which sadly I am not all too well familiar with, but his biography and interest in World Music is certainly reflected in the music present on this album. Overall this is a document of a moment captured in the studio, which is definitely worth investigating, even if it does not offer any grandiose revelations. It is honest, well played and interesting Jazz music, spirited and enjoyable, which obviously deserves to be captured for posterity. An absolute must for Jazz flute connoisseurs, obviously!

Updated: 27/04/2019Posted: 27/04/2019

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TOMASZ PRUCHNICKI ~ GNOMONIKA JB 018 (Barcode: 5900308517185) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist Tomasz PruchnickiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Marek KadzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. It presents ten selections, five of which are original compositions by Pruchnicki, four are his arrangements of Polish Folk songs and one is a "paraphrase" on a standard. The music is modern mainstream Jazz, with focus on the re-working of folkloristic themes in a Jazz form, which is a distinct Polish Jazz sub-genre, usually producing very interesting results, like the ones herein . Even in the original compositions by Pruchnicki it is possible to discover some basic Slavic elements and the typical Polish melancholy, which has almost no parallels anywhere else. Overall the level of the music is very high; both as far as the original compositions or the arrangements are concerned, full of stylish melodic and harmonic vistas and aesthetic elegance. The personal performances are all excellent, with the leader being up front most of the time and the guitar staying respectfully in the background, which works very well for this specific music. In addition to his saxophone parts Pruchnicki also uses very effectively the ocarina, which plays the traditional role of the flute, and adds some electronic effects, which bring the sound of the album up to date. The guitar adds a supportive harmonic layer and manages to fill the space effectively. The rhythm section does a fine job supplying the steady base and supporting the soloists amicably and capably. Some of the rhythmic patterns are quite tricky, but the rhythm section has no trouble taking care of them. It is a pity we had to wait for so long for the debut album by Pruchnicki, as he definitely has his very personal approach and voice, which is absolutely worth following. This is a very mature, balanced and excellently executed debut album, which hopefully will be followed by more recordings in the not too distant future. In the meantime we can savor this solid and inspired musical offering. Well done indeed!

Updated: 01/11/2016Posted: 01/11/2016

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RUTKOWSKI & KOSSOWSKA ~ BLUES ON THE BRIDGE LUNA 395 (Barcode: 5900672923957) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is an album by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Milosz RutkowskiFind albums by this artist and vocalist / harmonica player Beata KossowskaFind albums by this artist. They are supported by bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Krzysztof Puma PiaseckiFind albums by this artist appears as guest artist. Together they perform eleven compositions, all of which are originals by Rutkowski except for one Pop standard and one Polish Pop song. The music is a nice amalgam of Jazz and Blues, pretty unusual these days as the two genres have grown apart despite their common roots. The original compositions by Rutkowski are all excellent, with strong melodic content and perfect harmonic structure, as well as internal Groove and Funky feeling. The basic sound of the album is very Jazzy and the Blues seasoning is emphasized mostly by the harmonica and guitar parts and the vocals. The instrumental performances are all excellent from start to finish and the album is a great fun to listen to, beautifully balancing the sophistication of the Jazz ingredients and the emotional influx of the Blues. Personally I´m not really excited by the vocals and would have preferred this album in purely instrumental version, which would have made it truly exceptional, buy hey, that´s just me. Kossowska does however contribute some breathtaking harmonica parts. The young rhythm section does a perfect job and Piasecki burns with his electrifying solos. Overall this is a very enjoyable album, which maintains a classy approach to the Blues along with the basic Jazz attitude, which should easily satisfy connoisseurs of both genres. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 13/05/2017Posted: 13/05/2017

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BOOGIE SKIEDRZYNSKI ~ PASSED LINES SJ 064 (Barcode: 5902596066802) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Boogie SkiedrzynskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Bogdan SkiedrzynskiFind albums by this artist), recorded in a trio setting with bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz ManiakFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, nine of which are original compositions by the leader and one is a standard. The music was recorded at the excellent RecPublica Studios and engineered by Michal WasylFind albums by this artist, and offers a superb sound quality, The music is melody based and well within the mainstream Jazz parameters, but at the same time quite original and most importantly manages to avoid the incessant obsession of guitar players to utilize the Fusion vocabulary, which thankfully is entirely absent here. This is a “pure” Jazz guitar album, with a very personal attitude on every plane: melodically, rhythmically and conceptually. Skiedrzynski choses every note very carefully and sparingly, so there are no barrages of neck-breaking guitar pyrotechnics. Instead he delivers a coherent, balanced series of crystal clear notes and chords, sticking to the “less is more” principle, leaving a lot of space for the listener’s imagination to fill the blanks, which is extremely rare these days. The rhythm section plays brilliantly along, completely in sync with the leader, not disturbing the minimalist approach but supporting the flow of the music amicably and adding some solo parts, all performed with taste and elegance. The teamwork of the trio is truly praiseworthy. Overall, this is an excellent debut effort, which stands out from most guitar led recordings on the Polish Jazz scene, showing remarkable restraint, maturity and of course talent and imagination. This is an absolute must for guitar fans and perhaps also other guitar players to learn from, but all Jazz lovers and beyond should enjoy this album immensely. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 29/09/2022Posted: 29/09/2022

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TOMASZ WENDT TRIO & ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ BEHIND THE STRINGS SJ 018 (Barcode: 5912596066207) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist presented in a trio setting with bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. The trio is accompanied on several tracks by the excellent Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Vocalist Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and pianist Lukasz DamrychFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all composed and beautifully arranged by Wendt. What might appear on the surface as another "Sax & Strings" Smooth Jazz project turns out to be a brilliant musical enterprise, which offers superb Mainstream Jazz music, which has depth and meaning. The compositions are all wonderfully solid and coherent, full of typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, and all skillfully arranged for this unusual setting. The music is diverse and rich in harmonic layers and rhythmic patterns, providing a fascinating journey to the listener, which is moving from one climax to another. Wendt plays expressively and his improvisations perfectly suit the musical boundaries, being interesting and complex but not crossing the line into becoming too intricate for a mainstream Jazz enthusiast. The rhythm section supports the leader amicably, with Piasecki filling the bottom pulsations which make this music swing and Bulinski setting the pace with his skillful and highly original drum parts. The Atom String Quartet does exactly what it is famous for, i.e. plays some superb string ornamentations and in the process produces breathtaking violin solos. The album is a wonderful example of good taste and elegance. The proportions between the saxophone, rhythm section and the string quartet are beautifully balanced, magnificently recorded at the RecPublica Studios and engineered by Lukasz OlejarczykFind albums by this artist. Overall this is a gem of an album for fans of sophisticated mainstream Jazz, which offers an unusual instrumental setting and great compositions, superb arrangements and perfect execution; in short some of the best Polish Jazz has to offer. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 25/03/2017Posted: 25/03/2017

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ZAWARTKO / PIASECKI ~ LEC GLOSIE NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz duo comprising of vocalist Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist and bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist, recorded with other top Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist, pianist Artur TuznikFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marek KadzielaFind albums by this artist, drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight compositions (one repeated twice as intro and outro) which include Classical and Folklore pieces and two original compositions, one each by Zawartko and Piasecki, also inspired by external sources. The concept behind the music is the amalgamation of Folklore and Classical Music with Jazz, which of course has been already attempted numerous times before, but in this case the selection of the music, the arrangements and the entire production of the project, which were entirely in the hands of the duo, as well as the superb execution of the music by the excellent team generate a wonderful and entirely successful outcome. Zawartko sings occasional lyrics but mostly uses vocalese and her voice is by and large used as another instrument within the instrumental environment. Piasecki plays brilliant bass parts and naturally gets more exposure than bassists usually get in ensemble projects. The rest of the instrumentalists, mostly veterans of the scene, perform accordingly, without a hitch. Overall this is an excellent piece of music from start to finish, intelligent, elegant and highly sensitive, tastefully conceived and brilliantly executed, in accordance to the usual high standards of the Polish Jazz scene. I have no idea why this album landed on my desk years after it was released, but better late than never. Highly recommended!

Updated: 25/05/2019Posted: 25/05/2019

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ZAWARTKO / PIASECKI ~ WAGABUNDA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz duo comprising of vocalist Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist and bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist, recorded with other Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonists Tomasz PruchnickiFind albums by this artist and Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist, pianist Robert JarmuzekFind albums by this artist, multi-instrumentalist Wojciech LubertowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all co-composed by the duo. Returning after seven years, which passed since their debut album was recorded, the duo continues exactly where they left off, creating a beautiful amalgam of Jazz with Folkloristic themes, which span the Eastern World from Middle East and up to Asian planes. The wonderful melodic themes are richly encrusted with Jazz improvisations and exotic instrumentation, creating a most pleasant listening experience. Zawartko uses her voice like an instrument and becomes in integral part of the overall sound, rather than a soloist, although she does sing lyrics occasionally as well. Piasecki plays superb bass parts, which are the driving force of the album, Jarmuzek supplies the harmonic layers, the sax players add fiery soloing, Palka carries the polyrhythmic pulsations and Lubertowicz is in charge of the exotic sounds of the duduk and percussions, all working together to achieve the sensation of a dreamy flying carpet ride. Of course such Jazz-World Fusion albums have been recorded many times before, this one simply has everything working for it and offers such universal aesthetics, that it can be enjoyed and loved anywhere on this planet. Its subtle Polish roots become only audible in the melancholic melody themes, but even melancholy can be felt equally anywhere on this small globe we share. The long wait for the sophomore effort by the duo proved to be worth waiting for and it is a delightful album by every standard. It’s time to enjoy the music and hopefully we won’t have to wait for the follow up for another proverbial seven years. Thank you for the music and well done!

Updated: 18/08/2021Posted: 17/08/2021

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