Record Reviews

IMPROVISION QUARTET ~ ANONYM POLSKIE RADIO 2442 (Barcode: 5905610870560) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2020 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Polish Jazz Improvision QuartetFind albums by this artist, comprising of clarinetist Szymon KlimaFind albums by this artist, pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist. Whereas their debut album from 2017 “Free-Folk-JazzFind albums with this title” presented their interpretations of Polish Folklore, this time they offer interpretations of Polish music by anonymous composers from the Medieval period. The album presents seven tracks, with three of the tracks credited to Wania, one to Klima, one to Kowalewski, one co-credited to Klima and Wania and finally one left uncredited, referring to the title. The music, although based on some melodic / composed themes, is mostly Freely improvised, leaving the challenge of identifying the original music to the listener, if need be. The performances are all, no surprisingly, phenomenal, and I personally have a great affinity to the clarinet playing by Klima, who is certainly one of the most underappreciated Jazz players on the Polish scene. Of course Wania is a magician whose piano parts keep the music wonderfully together, and the rhythm session drives it intelligently forward. This is “well organized” Free Jazz, which makes perfect sense for the entire duration, challenging the listener but staying coherent and brilliantly focused. It took a while for this music to be released, as it was recorded in the midst of the pandemic, but it makes me very happy to see it finally out. This is the first Jazz album featuring Klima released on a Polish label, since his previous recordings were released by the wonderful Slovak HevhetiaFind albums on this label label, now sadly dormant. If anyone deserves more exposure, it is definitely him, Chapeau bas to Polskie RadioFind albums on this label label for releasing this superb piece of music. Overall, this is a challenging but highly intelligent example of Polish Free Jazz, which deserves to be heard by all followers of the genre worldwide. Brilliant musicianship, musical depth and a true feast to the ears!

Updated: 08/12/2023Posted: 08/12/2023

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IMPROVISION QUARTET ~ FREE-FOLK-JAZZ HEVHETIA 0159 (Barcode: 8588005258227) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish ensemble called Improvision QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of clarinetist Szymon KlimaFind albums by this artist, pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist. The album presents six improvisations based on Polish musical Folklore, arranged by the quartet. The album offers an unprecedented high quality recording sound, definitely one of the best I came across this year (2017). The music, as already mentioned above, consists of Free Form improvisations based on Polish Folklore songs, some of those being well known and others completely obscure. The quartet offers a remarkable ensemble work, which presents a coherent and clear artistic vision, consistently developed throughout the album, deeply rooted in Free Jazz / Improvised Music tradition, but also astonishingly minimalistic, focused and full of breathing space. There is a beautiful atmosphere of relaxation and complete lack of pressure to state anything beyond the necessary. In some respects this album is the continuation of the "Lutoslawski RetunedFind albums with this title" album recorded three years earlier, but the statements are much bolder and refined this time. The individual contributions by these virtuosi musicians are all absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The minimalistic approach allows for many solo / duo / trio and eventually also quartet statements, which expose each of the participants in complete "nakedness". Not surprisingly they all manage to come victorious from the challenging circumstances, which present to the listener some of the best moments these musicians ever put on record. Wania´s contributions are definitely stellar and for me personally probably they are his best playing ever so far. His wondrous ability to say so much with just a few touches of the keyboard is simply miraculous. But Klima, Kowalewski and especially Jarosz also contribute amazing moments, with the latter producing some of the most amazing percussive effects I had the pleasure to hear. This is definitely one of the finest hours of Polish Jazz in 2017, although it will probably not achieve the praise it deserves, as usual on the Polish scene, where often some pretty dismal albums get all the distinctions, prizes and attention. Well, life is not fair and people are stupid and deaf. This is an amazing album from start to finish, which redefines the contemporary Free Jazz idiom, again emphasizing the fact that sublime things in Jazz happen only in Europe. One needs to be born in Poland and suck the Polish Culture from one´s mother´s breast, to be able to play like that and create music like this one. Luckily the Art aesthetic is universal and anybody on this Earth of ours, with some soul and musical ears should be able to enjoy this music on the deepest level. Absolutely brilliant!

Updated: 03/11/2017Posted: 03/11/2017

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SZYMON KLIMA ~ FOLWARK HEVHETIA 0166 (Barcode: 8588005258395) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz quintet led by clarinetist / composer Szymon KlimaFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Dariusz RubinowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jakub MizerackiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jakub MiarczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six pieces, which are all interpretations of Polish Folklore in the widest meaning of the idiom, including even Polish Hassidic music, and also include some improvised and inspired motifs created by the quintet members. In 2017 Klima, as a member of the Improvision QuartetFind albums by this artist, released one of the best Polish Jazz albums of that year, the fantastic "Free-Folk-JazzFind albums with this title", and this album is in many respects a continuation of the same approach, although the sound is somewhat different. Instead of the wonderful piano parts, which placed the music closer to the Free Jazz milieu, on this album the guitar takes the music more into Free Rock direction. But the basic characteristics of the previous album, which are above all about the intimate conversations between the musicians and the mutual development of ideas, are still here. The individual contributions by all the quintet members are all superb, and the virtuosic statements chase each other as the music moves forward. Solos, duos, trios and full quintet parts move in and out in a magical flow, which is unstoppable. There is accord and contrast, harmony and discord, all making perfect sense. The "sweet" mellow clarinet sound and the harsh distorted guitar din are able to coexist in perfect coherence and musical logic. The rhythm section is brought up to the level of the other instruments and becomes an integral part of the music, especially in the heat of the group improvisation parts. It seems that Polish Jazz manages time after time to create innovative and challenging statements when re-examining and re-approaching the Polish Folklore musical tradition, which is broad and rich, probably more successfully that similar attempts on other Jazz scenes around the world. This album is another example of the inspiration that Polish Folklore is able to arouse, stimulate and inspire, taking the amalgamated result into unpredicted and previously uncharted territory. Overall this is yet another highly successful and rewarding musical experiment by Klima and his cohorts, which delivers excellent music and challenging, but highly rewarding listening experience. For Polish / European Jazz connoisseurs this is a golden nugget and a must have in every serious / advanced Jazz-World Fusion collection. Hats off!

Updated: 30/04/2018Posted: 30/04/2018

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