Record Reviews

KAJETAN BOROWSKI ~ TOTEM INETIVE 001 (Barcode: 190394260682) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Polish pianist / composer Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio setting with bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist; all three are representatives of the upcoming new generation of Polish Jazz musicians. The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Borowski, and one standard. The music is firmly positioned within modern melodic mainstream, with elegantly weaved tunes and spirited execution. Borowski displays the typical Polish sensitivities in his ballads, with tendency towards melancholy and lyricism, but on the up tempo numbers, he uses a much more energetic approach, with polyrhythmic Latin predisposition, somewhat similar to Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist´s Latin / Spanish period. Sometimes I wonder if the only music young Polish pianists listen to is Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist and Chick Corea. Technically all three players are beyond reproach; Borowski uses powerful chords and delicate glissandos with the same skill and sensitivity, Dworak plays clear and supportive bass lines, including occasional beautiful solo parts and Maslowski drives the music steadily forward, without being overly intrusive, with just occasional overzealousness on the cymbals. Their performance as a trio is very good, with obvious affinity and respect towards each other. This is a kind of album, which does not attempt to step beyond presenting a solid piece of mainstream Jazz of the best caliber and as such does not include any surprises or explorations beyond the obvious. But within the entire scope of the Jazz idiom such albums are also needed and appreciated, and when they offer music of such quality, as this one, all is well. Overall this is an excellent debut effort, definitely worthy of praise and encouragement, and obviously promising great things in the future. Therefore it is highly recommended to all Polish Jazz followers and particularly to piano trio lovers. The album was recorded at the RecPublica Studios and offers a superb sound quality.

Updated: 18/06/2016Posted: 18/06/2016

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BARTOSZ DWORAK ~ LIVE AT RADIO KATOWICE PRK 0130 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz violinist Bartosz DworakFind albums by this artist recorded live with his quartet which also includes pianist Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. They perform six compositions, two of which are original compositions by Bartosz Dworak, one is by Piotr Matusik, two are by Polish Jazz composers Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist and Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist and the remaining one is by Joey CalderazzoFind albums by this artist. Bartosz Dworak is the winner of the 1st International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin Competition, which took place in Poland in 2014 and is considered as one of the top young Polish Jazz violinists who continue the glorious legacy of Jazz violin in Poland established by such luminaries as Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew Seifert, Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist, Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and others. From the very first notes of this record it is pretty obvious that Dworak is a Polish violinist, as he has the same unmistakable "Polish sound" that characterizes his predecessors and other contemporary Jazz violinist in the country. In his case this specific sound, which floats somewhere between Slavic folksy fiddle and virtuosic lyricism is clearly identifiable. And of course there is the individualism and the virtuosity, which are obviously in their early stages but already clearly noticeable. From the strength of the two original compositions it is immediately apparent that Dworak should concentrate on playing his own material. His interpretations of the compositions by other musicians are less impressive, except that of his band mate Piotr Matusik. The entire quartet plays smoothly and dynamically, with the rhythm section supporting the two soloists with taste and elegance. Matusik is one hell of a player and steals a significant part of the show in his favor, deserving every bit of it. I´m waiting anxiously to hear his first solo album. Considering that this is a debut recording one can simply envy these young musicians their talents and obvious musicality. Hopefully Dworak will develop his skills as a composer and engage in more ambitious / challenging adventures when his career takes off, which will inevitably happen. In the meantime this is definitely a most impressive calling card.

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BARTOSZ DWORAK ~ POLISHED HEVHETIA 0091 (Barcode: 8588005257336) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the second album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Bartosz DworakFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes pianist Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs nine original compositions, four by Bartosz Dworak and five by Matusik. Several of these compositions already appeared on the quartet´s debut album, which was a live recording, and get here a more polished (tongue-on-cheek) version. Dworak proudly joins a long list of Polish Jazz violinists, which keeps growing as the years go by, and includes such luminaries as Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist, Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and young lions like Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist. This wonderful legacy can be of course quite overwhelming and daunting, but Dworak seems to have no inferiority complexes whatsoever and gallantly steps into their shoes, doing his own thing. Although Dworak is the leader of this quartet, the compositional and soloing duties are split quite equally between him and Matusik, who wrote about half of the music and plays superb piano parts, both supporting the violin parts and soloing himself. The rhythm section plays along with the two soloists supporting them amicably but staying mostly in the background, which in this specific music is probably all for the best. The music is all pretty straightforward melodic mainstream, although at some moments the quartet ventures, albeit only partly, into a less clearly defined set of parameters. Of course, as usual with Polish Jazz violinists, the music is soaked in melancholy and lyrical folkloristic undertones, which brings fond memories of the material recorded by those musicians listed in the second paragraph. All nine tunes are beautifully melodic, which surely opens this album to a very widespread range of audiences, even those beyond the Jazz idiom. In many respects this album could be considered as a debut, since the semi-formal live recording released earlier was really just a teaser of things to come. And as a debut it certainly is a very impressive effort, in every respect, which keeps the hopes for a new generation of Polish Jazz musicians in general and violinists in particular at their highest. Personally I simply can´t wait for the next album, which will be the decisive proof of maturity. In the meantime we can all enjoy this gem!

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BARTOSZ DWORAK ~ REFLECTION HEVHETIA 0171 (Barcode: 8588005258401) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the third album by young and upcoming Polish Jazz violinist / composer Bartosz DworakFind albums by this artist, recorded with the same quartet that was featured on the two earlier recordings with pianist Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four by the leader, two by Matusik and one co-composed by Dworak and Matusik. The music continues the path set by Bartosz Dworak´s earlier recordings, presenting highly melodic and very lyrical compositions, kept well within the mainstream Jazz convention, with strong Polish Folkloristic influences. The music is slightly more open this time, with a lot of breathing air, which allows the rhythm section to become fully involved in the improvisational process, and as a result enables the listener to appreciate the splendid bass parts played by Jakub Dworak and tasteful drumming by Madej. But the soloing and front position is of course reserved for Bartosz Dworak and Matusik, who take care of the melodic contents. Dworak uses the synthesized violin on a couple of tracks, which adds another variation to his sound. The compositions by Dworak are more up tempo and have a distinct Rocky character, whereas those by Matusik are more romantically inclined which balances the overall content of the album and keeps the listener interested. All these four young musicians perform splendidly throughout, which of course is quite usual for young Polish Jazz musicians, who are well schooled and experienced, today better that ever before. Overall the album is a very solid and well balanced effort, which offers beautiful music and superb execution from start to finish and should satisfy most Jazz enthusiasts, especially Jazz violin connoisseurs. It does not break any new ground as far as Jazz or Jazz violin is concerned, but offers a splendid listening experience, which is definitely worth investigating.

Updated: 27/04/2018Posted: 27/04/2018

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F.O.U.R.S. COLLECTIVE ~ TREEZZ SJ 010 (Barcode: 5912596066092) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by a young Polish Jazz ensemble F.O.U.R.S. CollectiveFind albums by this artist, formed in 2010. The current quintet lineup was completed when the trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist joined the existing members: saxophonist Stanislaw PlewniakFind albums by this artist, pianist Michal SalamonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, five composed by Salamon and four co-composed by Salamon and Plewniak. The music is immediately recognizable as "spanking new", full of energy and vigor, which often characterizes the young Polish Jazz generation. Although kept well within the mainstream / melodic idiom, the music demonstrates a wide range of stylistic approaches, touching upon Jazz-Rock Fusion, classic modern Jazz and amalgamating World Music elements. But most importantly the level of the compositions is absolutely outstanding. Every tune on this album is a little gem, with a beautiful melody line, flowing structure and an ideal vehicle for improvisations. The individual performances are also first class; Salamon plays delicate acoustic piano and funky electric, Plewniak is especially effective on the soprano and the rhythm section does exactly what is right at all times, driving the music forward and providing the pulse which is an essential ingredient of this music. Schmidt, who is the most experienced player in the ensemble, sounds also invigorated in this setting and delivers some scorching trumpet solos. As a debut this is quite an achievement in any sense. Superb music, great playing, talent, determination and musical intelligence are all clearly visible here and hopefully this is just the first stem in a long a successful future career. Well done amigos!

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FLASH! ~ BUJAKA W GUMIAKACH HEVHETIA 0211 (Barcode: 8588005258944) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish trio The Flash!Find albums by this artist, founded by saxophonist / composer Slawomir PezdaFind albums by this artist with bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian OlszewskiFind albums by this artist. On this album they are joined by Boston based guitarist Dustin CarlsonFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven pieces, six of which were composed by Pezda and one is by the American duo Lightning BoltFind albums by this artist. The music is a further exploration of the concepts described in my review of the debut album "SilaFind albums with this title" and manages to produce a completely original "wall of sound" Punk Jazz, which is as much controversial as it is fascinating. It is difficult to decide if the musicians are mocking contemporary Pop, Rock, and even Jazz in its ridiculous crudeness and oversimplification, or they are just pissed off and want to relieve some bad vibes, but the overwhelming effect is certainly achieved. Of course it is plainly obvious that these guys are brilliant musicians, no kidding there. To make things clear everything here is perfectly planned and executed with the attention to the minute details, so obviously nothing was left to chance. The sheer audacity and the amount of ideas are simply staggering. In any case any attempt do describe this music in words is simply futile and nothing will replace the exposure to the actual aural content. The attitude brings fond memories of the early experiments of Polish Yass movement, when quite a few of such original creations were produced, but on today´s Polish music scene The Flash! are sadly almost completely lonesome. It is remarkable to see (or rather hear) how well Carlson fits within this madness; he is truly a spiritual kin to the members of the trio and manages to complete and expand the diversity of the sound without changing the basic attitude and direction, which is truly amazing. Obviously not for everyone, but personally I love this music to bits, every second of it. The Rock genes in my musical personality are vibrating happily and my Zappaesque aesthetics of "don´t care what you think" are fully satisfied! This is brilliant stuff!

Updated: 07/11/2020Posted: 07/11/2020

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FLASH! ~ SILA HEVHETIA 0144 (Barcode: 8588005258012) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Polish trio The Flash!Find albums by this artist, which consists of saxophonist Slawomir PezdaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian OlszewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Pezda. The music is a very surprising twist of Punk / Rock / Jazz power trio approach, very similar to the stuff done by Scandinavian trio The Thing. Pezda´s solid tunes are structured and melodic enough to be easily followed and serve as a basis for his lengthy improvisations. The bass uses electronic fuzz and distortion to produce a very thick and loud sound and the drums are primarily used to supply a straightforward steady beat. The overall idea is to sound as loud and uncomplicated as possible, providing a hypnotic and easy to follow grove, although the saxophone improvisations are far from simplistic. It is difficult to guess if the band recorded this album as a cynical exercise to ridicule some of the contemporary directions in Jazz, which tend to castrate the music from its artistic values and its power, or perhaps this is a serious protest against the musical establishment, hypocrisy of the Art world and other social dilemmas. Whatever the motivation might be, this is a very strong statement, which is difficult to be ignored. Some of the Polish musicians who established the Yass movement in the 1990s might smile and say to themselves "we have already tried this ages ago", but in all fairness this music has perhaps some of the Yass attitude, but musically it is quite different and often much more ambitious. Pezda´s performances on this album are a unique example of treating the saxophone as a Rock instrument, similar to what was quite natural in the early 1960s as part of the Rhythm And Blues and Big Beat music, and than completely disappeared. This album is definitely worth hearing and experiencing (watch the volume!) and it is difficult to predict how it will be accepted by the Jazz audiences, but it´s pretty easy to guess that the young generation should love it, as it usually loves everything that is loud and projects anti-establishment (in music this time). Congrats to the band for being unconventional! I had a great fun listening to this stuff!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 13/01/2017

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YUMI ITO ~ STARDUST CRYSTALS UNIT 4946 (Barcode: 7640114799464) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish (Mother) – Japanese (Father) (resident in Switzerland) vocalist / composer / lyricist Yumi ItoFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international eleven piece band, which also includes Polish (resident in Germany) vibraphonist Izabella EffenbergFind albums by this artist and bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original pieces, all composed and arranged by Ito, six of which feature her lyrics (in English) and two are instrumentals. The music is multi-layered and utilizes complex instrumental arrangements, which from the very onset of the album clearly state that this is a serious and extremely elaborate piece of music. The overall sound is strongly influenced by contemporary Chamber Music, featuring a unique lineup of vocals, string and woodwind trios, harp, vibraphone and a bass / drums rhythm section, which only very rarely can be found within the Jazz idiom. Ito brilliantly utilizes the many hidden possibilities of such a large ensemble to beautifully ornament and enhance her vocal parts, keeping the instrumental parts somewhat in the background behind her vocals and yet fully audible for the listener to enjoy their wonderful support. Ito presents an entire spectrum of vocal abilities, which includes recitation, singing lyrics, improvising using vocalese, etc. all tastefully and masterly executed with great respect to the entire framework of her compositions and the vocal tradition, which is truly cross-genre, but always perfectly aesthetically rounded. The instrumental work by the ensemble members is all superb, and although there is relatively little soloing per se, there are multiple mini-solo parts of delicate nature. But more importantly the ensemble work, which is by all means demanding, is perfectly executed, full of mutual respect and fragile interplays, including the rhythm section wonderfully chronometric, but highly imaginative support. Overall this is a superbly composed and executed piece of Artistic music, which is a true joy to listen to, a uniquely genuine and mysterious kaleidoscope of sounds and ideas that is mind-boggling and utterly relaxing at the same time. This is definitely one of the most interesting albums that arrived on my desk in 2020. You certainly made good young Lady! Hats off!

Updated: 14/11/2020Posted: 14/11/2020

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YUMI ITO ~ YSLA ENJA 7831 (Barcode: 767522783124) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the fifth album by Polish / Japanese (resident in Switzerland) singer / songwriter Yumi ItoFind albums by this artist, one of the most exciting modern Jazz vocal discoveries in the last decade. The album was recorded in an intimate setting with Ito singing and playing keyboards with Polish bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and Spanish drummer Iago FernandezFind albums by this artist. Several other musicians guest on selected tracks, including Polish guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, who was her partner on her previous album. The album presents seven original songs, all composed by Ito, with six also featuring her lyrics and one being a wordless vocalese. The CD is lavishly packaged with a set of photographs and lyrics printed on a high-grade paper, as appropriate for a move to a major league of EnjaFind albums on this label Records – one of the most prestigious European labels. From the very first note of the album the listener is exposed to a magical aura of unique, delicate beauty, which last for the entire duration. The seven songs, although dominated by reflection and low-key introvert restrain, are quite different from each other and present the full creative power of Ito, who is able to write sublime melodies and tell a story, each very personal on one hand, and universal in its lyricism, on the other hand. The completely unique instrumental ornamentation, based primarily on the bass pulsations by Dworak, who does an amazing job here, and the dynamic, yet delicate drumming by Fernandez, with just some keyboard / synthesizer layers of sound here and there. This leaves the center stage for Ito’s vocal acrobatics, which are absolutely stunning but at the same time she can also be as delicate and romantic as a blossoming orchard. The music on this album is probably the farthest removed from what is considered as Jazz in Ito’s career. Still full of typical Jazzy undercurrents and rhythmic patterns, the central role of the bass, as well as the vocal improvisations, it also freely adopts other sources, mostly from Folklore and Pop, sometimes sounding somewhat similar to Kate BushFind albums by this artist at her absolutely best – which I mean as a great compliment here. Overall, this is a stunning piece of music, full of sublime musicality and exploding with talent, which in fact is hardly surprising in view of Ito’s earlier work and potential. The only small drawback is that the music lasts under forty minutes, and being so great one might have wished for so much more. But let’s be patient and wait for the next album by this young Artist, all made out of talent. Hugs and congratulations my Dear Lady!

Updated: 15/02/2023Posted: 15/02/2023

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WOJCIECH LICHTANSKI ~ IGA AUDIO CAVE 2019/002 (Barcode: 5905669566681) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the second album by the young and upcoming Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quartet setting with players of his generation: pianist Mateusz PalkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist, collectively called the QuestionsFind albums by this artist quartet. The album presents nine compositions, eight of which are originals by Lichtanski and one is a standard. The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and offers a remarkable sound quality, as expected. During the five years that separate this album from the debut Lichtanski recorded rather sparingly and as a result this album was highly anticipated. Happily he is able to fulfill the expectations, coming up a long way both as a saxophonist and more importantly as a composer. The music on this album offers a solid and coherent selection of excellent compositions, which are all within the modern mainstream idiom, but offer diversity and sophistication, and most importantly wonderful melodic themes. The treatment of the standard, which usually is a kind of filler on most albums, is absolutely sublime and constitutes one of the strongest statements on the album. From the early days of his career it was obvious that Lichtanski is an exceptional instrumentalist. Having matured and polished his chops, his saxophone playing a true delight, both technically and emotionally. But his most important forte is the wonderful tone he manages to produce both on the alto and soprano saxophones. It is sweat and mellow, but steady and firm at all times and makes him one of the most distinct voices on the young Polish Jazz saxophone scene, amazingly effective both as a romantic "crooner" and a scorching improviser. All three players accompanying Lichtanski are already established talents with respected recording legacy, so their superb performances are hardly surprising. Palka is a great pianist and his unexpected accordion contributions on this album are a nice touch. Dworak is a very supportive and creative bassist and does a superb job here. Dobosz, who also has an impressive record behind him, is a tad too busy on this album (my very personal feeling) and too high in the mix, but obviously a first class player. Overall this is a beautiful album, in many respects the true debut as far as Lichtanski´s career is concerned, which offers excellent modern Jazz of the highest standard, which should satisfy any true Jazz connoisseur on this planet. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 13/04/2019Posted: 13/04/2019

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MICHAL WIERBA ~ BODY LANGUAGE FOR TUNE 0116 (Barcode: 5906395808168) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the Polish Radio in a quintet setting with saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist, drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist and percussionist Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, five of which are originals by Wierba, one is a traditional tune and three are standards (sort of). As usual with Wierba´s recordings, the music is definitely on the lighter side of Jazz, somewhere between mainstream Jazz and entertainment. His original compositions are well crafted, but do not represent a coherent stylistic consistency as of yet. This of course might be remedied in the future. The album is, however, excellently executed by all the participants, who are of course seasoned musicians with years of experience and numerous earlier recordings. Wierba is very skilled technically and plays with self confidence and vigor. Sikala is right on the money every time he takes a solo. The rhythm section provides amicable support and carries the music safely and steadfastly, albeit predictably forward. Personally I´m not a great fan of percussion, unless used in music where it organically belongs, so the percussion parts on this album add little to its value. Overall this is a very nice light Jazz album for listeners not necessarily associated with Jazz per se, but displaying some fondness of Jazzy oriented material that does not get to complicated. Definitely well played and entertaining, it might find many sympathetic ears.

Updated: 28/01/2017Posted: 28/01/2017

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MICHAL WIERBA / DOPPELGANGER PROJECT ~ ORANGE SKY CELESTIS 005 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist, known to local fans as the co-leader of a quintet with trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. This is a much more intimate project, basically a piano trio plus percussion and a female vocalist on three tracks. The participating musicians apart from Wierba are: bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist, drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist, percussionist Lukasz KurzydloFind albums by this artist and vocalist Patrycja ZarychtaFind albums by this artist. The album consists of ten tracks, five of which are Wierba originals, three are standards and one each is by Kurzydlo and Zarychta. Although Wierba is an excellent player by all standards, this album does him a terrible disservice. The music sounds like something played during a yuppie birthday party, always simplistic and pleasant, conformist and sugary sweet. Even the divine Jimmy RowlesFind albums by this artist´ composition "The Peacocks", played on solo piano like a Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist nocturne, sounds completely ridiculous. The vocalist sings in English (again!) and I don´t need to repeat what I think about that. Even the album´s liner notes credit the wrong tracks to their composers, at least in the case of the a.m. Rowles composition and the tracks timings are wrong like on the last track. In short anything that could go wrong here simply did go wrong. This record should have never been recorded, nor released. I´m not adding another word…

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IDA ZALEWSKA ~ STORYTELLING HEVHETIA 0118 (Barcode: 8588005257725) ~ POLAND ~ Blues Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Polish vocalist / songwriter Ida ZalewskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a quartet comprising of pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, who also arranged all the songs, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Damian NiewinskiFind albums by this artist, all of them representatives of the young generation of the Polish Jazz scene. The album presents ten original songs, six of which were co-composed by Pluzek and Zalewska, three are by trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist and one is by pianist Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist. Zalewska wrote the lyrics to seven of the songs and Joanna MajorkiewiczFind albums by this artist to the remaining three; five of songs have Polish lyrics and the other five have English lyrics. Although the album is somewhat jazzed up, mostly by the presence of the Jazz musicians, Zalewska is body and soul oozing the Blues, with her deep, sensual voice and vocal mannerisms all originating in the Blues idiom. There is none of the typical Polish lyrical melancholy and Slavic mysticism here (well almost); it is all one or another form of the Blues. Pluzek, as the composer, arranger and main accompanist took the bull by its horns and produced a diverse but consisted body of music, which is built around Zalewska´s capabilities. The instrumental work on this album is relatively modest, and except for Pluzek, who carries most of the weight on his shoulders, the rest of the quartet is rather subdued. Mika plays a few very nice solos, but on a Blues album one would expect a much more dominant guitar presence. The rhythm section has little more to do than to keep time, which they do pretty straightforwardly. Pluzek contributes some nice solo parts and serves the role of the accompanist amicably. Overall, although not really my cup of gumbo, this album is definitely something fans of Soul drenched American Blues will enjoy a lot. The biggest problem this album presents to me is with the lyrics: the English lyrics are fine but Zalewska´s pronunciation is a bit off, the Polish lyrics sound really unnatural in this environment and don´t fit the music very well. I guess Blues was not meant to be sung in Polish. Anyway these are minor points and I guess this music can do very well live, much better than in a sterile studio environment.

Updated: 28/02/2016Posted: 28/02/2016

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