Record Reviews

FRANTISEK BALES ~ BASNE MUZICKE HEVHETIA 0253 (Barcode: 8588005259491) ~ SLOVAKIA ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Slovak keyboardist / composer Frantisek BalesFind albums by this artist and his ensemble, which also includes vocalist Matus UhliarikFind albums by this artist, bassist Vladimir MacajFind albums by this artist and drummer Juraj SusanikFind albums by this artist. Numerous guest musicians participate on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, nine of which are based on poems by six celebrated Slovak poets set to music by Bales, which of course make this a Jazz & Poetry project. The opening track is a poem by Bales dedicated to the poet Pavol Orshagh HviezdoslavFind albums by this artist, with three of his poems included on this album. Two of the poems are translated into English and the others are performed in Slovak language. The music is perfectly suited to the literary context, with basic classic Jazz piano trio environment, richly decorated by the more elaborated instrumental pats provided by the guests. The atmosphere is typical of Eastern European lyricism, based on wonderful melodic themes, which are mostly melancholic and lyrical. The entire production and the arrangements create a solid, coherent Jazz & Poetry experience, which although losing some of its charm due to the language barriers, still manages to achieve its basic goal of combining music and texts into a result, which is stronger than just the sum of its ingredients. There is plenty of genuine modern Jazz spirit and excellent soloing here to satisfy every Jazz lover on the planet, with the bonus of some splendid poetic presence for those, who can understand the language. But the vocals are very enjoyable just on the musical level, so the language barrier can be ignored with some flexibility. Overall, this is a beautiful Jazz & Poetry album, an idiom which is not only more popular in Eastern Europe than anywhere else, but also usually more Artistically accepted as an integral part of the Jazz scene. For the idiom lovers, this album works regardless of the language barriers, and is therefore highly recommended. Since some of the poetry included herein was excellently translated into English, poetry lover might want to explore that avenue as well. Definitely worth being discovered and thanks to my Friend Jan SudzinaFind albums by this artist, owner of the HevhetiaFind albums on this label label, for producing this little gem.

Updated: 05/05/2023Posted: 05/05/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ANNA GADT ~ RENAISSANCE HEVHETIA 0143 (Barcode: 8588005258005) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Anna GadtFind albums by this artist, which presents her interpretations of Polish Renaissance music by such composers as Waclaw z SzamotulFind albums by this artist, Mikolaj GomolkaFind albums by this artist, Jan z LublinaFind albums by this artist and Mikolaj z KrakowaFind albums by this artist, who all lived and composed music in the 16th Century. The fourteen pieces presented on this album include also three short improvisations and three original compositions by Gadt. On the album Gadt is accompanied by only two musicians: accordionist Zbigniew ChojnackiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist (of RGGFind albums by this artist fame). The music was recorded at the fabulous Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usually spectacular sonic quality. The music features mostly vocalese, with just a few fragments of lyrics, which of course means that Gadt´s voice is the centerpiece of this project. Her control of the vocal range and her improvisational abilities are astounding. The overall musical effect is not easy to be absorbed by the average listener, as it requires patience and understanding of both ancient music and Jazz, which is definitely far from being trivial. Those who can truly appreciate this highly unique undertaking will be rewarded by immense emotional and aesthetic gratifications. The conscious decision to appear with minimal instrumental support is also an extremely courageous one, but luckily Gadt found two most sympathetic cohorts. Chojnacki is a Master accordionist and his instrument is able to create sonic vistas which move between the mighty church pipe organ to a wooden flute. His virtuosity is simply completely exceptional. Gradziuk, who is one of the most versatile and sensitive drummers on the Polish Scene, also contributes formidable support to the vocal parts. Together the three musicians are able to create a much bigger effect than just the sum of their contributions. Overall this is a most ambitious and praiseworthy effort, which combines paying tribute to the Polish Culture from the past and its development in recent times. The obscure Renaissance Music, known only by a few selected scholars, gets an exposure, which hopefully will result in more people discovering it. Gadt´s contribution to the Polish Vocal Jazz School is fully noted and sealed by this release, being fully deserved. Well done Anna! Kudos to Jan SudzinaFind albums by this artist and his HevhetiaFind albums on this label label for supporting Polish Jazz so enthusiastically, which is of course very neighborly of him. Keep it up!

Updated: 23/02/2017Posted: 23/02/2017

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JORGOS SKOLIAS / ANTONIS SKOLIAS ~ KOLOS HEVHETIA 0101 (Barcode: 8588005257428) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is a wonderful duo album by Polish vocalist / composer Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist and his son Antonis SkoliasFind albums by this artist, who sings and plays drums and percussions. Together they perform nine original songs, all co-composed by the father / son team, which feature lyrics in the Greek language. Three of the songs have lyrics by the Greek poet Konstantinos Petrou KavafisFind albums by this artist, who lived in Alexandria, Egypt, and who is now recognized as one of the finest Modern Greek poets. Another four songs originate in songs Jorgos remembers from his childhood. Jorgos Skolias is one of several musicians active on the Polish scene, who belong to the Polish Greek community, members of which arrived in Poland as political refugees escaping the persecutions following the end of the civil unrest in Greece after WWII and the defeat of the communists in 1949. Poland, a "young" socialist country at the time, opened its doors to the Greek exiles and they became integrated within the Polish society, producing such great musicians as Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist, Milo KurtisFind albums by this artist, Konstanty JoriadisFind albums by this artist and others. The album is a bold statement of originality; featuring just vocals and percussion where the limitations seem insurmountable, and yet the duo manages to create a fully fledged bona fide magical musical environment, which seems completely natural and misses nothing. Of course Jorgos Skolias is a phenomenal vocalist, a fact known to all his followers since many years, who is able to use his vocal chords in ways nobody else tried before. His ability to create wordless vocalese is a class in itself and he is able to carry a melody like an entire set of instrumentalists. In some ways this album is another facet of his work with the Oles Brothers and their trio called Sefardix, which features vocals supported solely by a rhythm section, which also works out fabulously. It is quite impossible to label this music stylistically, and perhaps this quality is one of its strengths. There are Folkloristic elements here, but also improvisation, Rocky rhythms, Jazz & Poetry manifestations and a whole bunch of other elements, all beautifully amalgamated into a musical experience, which is fascinating from start to finish. Skolias manages to create aesthetic tension and his deep throaty voice has simply no parallels. Kudos to Jan SudzinaFind albums by this artist and his fabulous HevhetiaFind albums on this label label for releasing this music, which has no chance in a commercial environment in spite of its intrinsic values; this tribute to the Greek and in fact the entire Mediterranean group of cultures shows the diversity of the European Culture and the magnificent ingenuity of musicians, who are able to completely ignore imaginary boundaries. This is definitely a unique gem, which will award its listeners a stunning experience, full of surprises and delightful thrills.

Updated: 12/04/2016Posted: 12/04/2016

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