Record Reviews

BALDYCH / HERDZIN / PIERONCZYK / SZTABA ~ GREAT ENCOUNTERS ANAKLASIS 075 (Barcode: 5907795210841) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 - 2021 Released: 2021 This is an album produced to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the PWM Edition (Polish music publishing house), which also owns the prestigious AnaklasisFind albums on this label record label. The album collects five musical pieces, which represent the cross-genre projects released by the label as part of its “Revisions” series. Those are mostly Jazz-Classical Fusion or Pop-Classical Fusion explorations, which were inspired by Polish Classical Music composers: Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist, Stanislaw MoniuszkoFind albums by this artist, Ignacy Jan PaderewskiFind albums by this artist, Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist and Henryk WieniawskiFind albums by this artist. Three Polish Jazz instrumentalists / composers: violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, as well as pianist / composer / arranger / conductor Adam SztabaFind albums by this artist, mostly associated with Polish TV and entertainment industry, were selected to create the music for this album. Herdzin is the author of two of these pieces and the others authored one piece each. The music is performed by Baldych, Herdzin, Pieronczyk and additional musicians: vocalist Igor HerbutFind albums by this artist, Moldovan cimbalom (hammered dulcimer) player Marcel ComendantFind albums by this artist, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist and the AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Marek MosFind albums by this artist. The music offers quite a diverse stylistic amalgam, dominated by the two pieces by Herdzin, which comprise almost half of the album’s duration, ranging from romantic easy listening Classical music to Jazz Avant-Garde and Avant-Pop. The level of the performances is absolutely superb and the music offers intelligent and highly aesthetic listening experience. Overall, this is another highly successful album in this wonderful series, and certainly something worthy of pursuing by the Jazz-Classical Fusion enthusiasts. Since these pieces do not appear on any of the albums released in this series, it is absolutely worth getting as well. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 31/03/2023Posted: 31/03/2023

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ADAM BALDYCH ~ LEGEND ANAKLASIS 020 (Barcode: 5907795211855) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Marek KonarskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Lukasz OjdanaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist, and Polish Classical violinist Agata SzymczewskaFind albums by this artist. The album presents compositions inspired by the music of Polish Classical violinist / composer Henryk WieniawskiFind albums by this artist, nine of which are original compositions by Baldych and one is variation on a composition by Wieniawski. The album was released by the prestigious Polish AnaklasisFind albums on this label label as part of its “Revisions” series. I have followed Baldych’s career closely since his arrival on the scene over a decade ago and even had the pleasure of writing the liner notes for one of his early albums, always believing in his extraordinary talent and proudly watching his amazing achievements over time. His participation in this prestigious series is therefore not surprising at all. The meeting of Jazz and Classical violins is not a completely novel idea of course, but in the past this happened mostly on the lighter side of the music spectrum (see kitsch), whereas here we witness a true connubiality of the two with no concessions whatsoever to the aesthetic meritum of the entire concept. Baldych’s compositions are sublimely melodic, absolutely soaked in the Polish lyricism and melancholy, not far in spirit from the music of this album’s patron. Therefore, the “inspired by” relationship is perhaps the most vivid of all the albums in this series. Even when the music ventures into a more Avant-Garde territory, it still firmly relates to the subject matter, not losing any of its melodicism of even lyricism. The members of the quintet stand up to the challenge with flying colors, providing a full-fledged harmonious base for the two violinist to play solos and duets at lengths. Ojdana, a brilliant Jazz pianist by any standard, is absolutely instrumental to the success of the whole project, showing wonderful restraint and profound understanding of his supportive role, but soloing with class and exceptional fluidity. Konarski adds his saxophone parts also extremely carefully and delicately, sounding somehow like another violin, as outlandish as this might sound. The highly proficient rhythm section is also completely enlisted to the cause, providing the ever so delicate Jazzy heartbeat to the proceedings. Almost anything said about the two violinist might sound completely superfluous, as they are both already established as Masters of their Art. It is very comforting that the initial fears and reservations proved to be completely baseless and everything worked out magnificently well. One can only hope that this duet will meet again soon, and judging by Baldych’s love of the duet idiom, my hopes are high. Overall, this is an absolutely marvelous album, one of the most natural amalgamations of Jazz and Classical Music I have encountered over the years. Everything here breathes music, elegance, dedication, good taste and impeccable performances. What a coincident that I should write these words on Valentine’s Day, as this album is so Romantic it simply melts one’s heart away. Thank you my Friends for another sublime gift of Music!

Updated: 14/02/2023Posted: 14/02/2023

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