Record Reviews

JAKUB GUCIK ~ IN SILVA IPT 2 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is a spectacular debut album as a leader by Polish cellist / composer Jakub GucikFind albums by this artist. The music is performed in its entirety by utilizing multi channeled cello tracks and subtle electronic effects (like looper). The album presents seven original compositions, all by Gucik. Although being a solo cello album, the sound Gucik achieves is quite orchestral, where the cello is being used both as a soloing / lead instrument, but also producing choral string orchestra layers and even the rhythmic layer, all in a most ingenious way. A listener not aware of the fact that this music was produced by one instrument would have never guest it. The marvels of contemporary sound creating possibilities are certainly used here in a most effective way. The music amalgamates a plethora of different influences: Classical Music of course, encompassing anything between medieval madrigals to Edgar VareseFind albums by this artist, György LigetiFind albums by this artist and beyond, but also Improvised Music, Ethnic mysticism, cinematic and serial music. But fear not, this music has a strong melodic basis and is surprisingly and marvelously romantic, which in this case means that Avant-Garde does not have to be offensive or obtrusive. One has of course admire Gucik´s guts to undertake such perilous project, which in spite of its limited, if not minimalistic range of resources, aspires to produce a novel and quite bold statement. Congratulations for making it all work. This album could reach a relatively wide audience as the music is universal enough to interest cross-genre fans coming from quite different regions of the musical spectrum. Both Improvising Music connoisseurs and contemporary Classical Music buffs should feel very comfortable within this realm, which to be honest happens quite rarely. Overall this is a striking and highly interesting album, which manages to be innovative without actually inventing anything radically new and just playing around with a mixture of techniques, proportions, sounds and colors of sound, creating a highly cohesive aesthetics in the process. This is definitely a most welcome breath of fresh air, so much needed in these dreary times.

Updated: 11/06/2021Posted: 01/07/2020

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JAKUB GUCIK ~ VASTITAS BOREALIS IPT 4 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish cellist / composer Jakub GucikFind albums by this artist, following his debut released earlier in 2020, this time recorded completely solo cello, without any electronics. The album presents ten tracks, named after features of Martian landscape, all assumed to be by Gucik (although nothing is specifically mentioned on the album’s artwork, which is as cryptic as the music). The music is quite fascinating, although solo cello can by trying for even the toughest listeners. With the minimalist and quite meditative character of the music, it requires patience and concentration, but eventually is very rewarding. Obviously Gucik is very courageous to expose himself in such “naked” environment and such unconventional music, and Avant-Garde is supposed to be groundbreaking, which in this case fully justifies the circumstances. The ten tracks offer pre-composed structures, which are then improvised upon and explored, although not in the conventional Jazzy approach, but rather extensively using contemporary Classical Music toolbox, or spontaneous invention. There are some elements of serialism and minimalism of course, but nothing justifies the classification of this music as belonging to a specific genre. It is first and foremost something created by Gucik’s inner feelings and associations, being of course quite remarkable, as such. This is a very personal and delicate music, which requires total submission on both emotional and cerebral plains, in order to “get” this music in the first place and then enjoy it, for what it is; repeated listening sessions might prove to be necessary. Overall this album is a bold, risky statement, which deserves praise both for its originality and intrinsic beauty, which combined with the debut certainly marks Gucik as an Artist worth attentive following. Two hits in a row in one year do not happen that often these days.

Updated: 11/06/2021Posted: 11/06/2021

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