Record Reviews

BIG BAND SLASKI ~ A WIDE SPECTRUM TEATR ROZRYWKI 002 (Barcode: 5902596066819) ~ POLAND ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by a new Jazz Big Band on the Polish scene, appropriately called Big Band SlaskiFind albums by this artist (Silesian Big Band), as it was founded in Chorzow (the town where I was born) and includes many of the musicians who graduated from the Katowice Music Academy, like trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist or saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, to mention just a few. The Big Band is led by its Artistic Director, trombonist / composer Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven compositions, one by Nagorski, one by trombonist / composer Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist, one by pianist / composer Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, who appears as a special guest on the album, two by American trumpeter / composer Tim WaltersFind albums by this artist and the remaining two by another American trumpeter / composer / arranger Michael Philip MossmanFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at Radio Katowice and offers a splendid sound quality and separation, which makes the music resound clearly and brightly. The music is all strictly within the mainstream Jazz idiom, offering melodic compositions arranged skillfully for the Big Band and performed spotlessly by all the musicians, featuring many splendid solo parts. Most of the music is pretty straightforward, except for the closing track by Tomaszewski, and is obviously dominated by the American Big Band tradition, which sounds somewhat outdated today, despite its slick and professional glamor. I would have expected from a contemporary Polish Jazz band to be somehow more aligned with the European approach to Jazz Big Bands, which is more daring and innovative, but all things considered and in view of the fact that Jazz Big Bands are such a rare phenomenon today, we should rejoice every time some new Big Band music is being created. Overall, this is a very pleasing and entertaining, almost danceable, Jazz Big Band album, which should make many enthusiasts of the genre happy. The music is accessible and the performances are highly spirited, which results is a most enjoyable listening experience. Hopefully the Big Band Slaski will be able to continue its activity in the uncertain, economically and otherwise, atmosphere that surrounds the music scene these days.

Updated: 28/12/2022Posted: 28/12/2022

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JAROSLAW BOTHUR ~ LILLA CHEZQUIZ JAZZ FORUM 050 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 - 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which also includes pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions by the leader and one composition by the American pianist / composer Phil MarkovitzFind albums by this artist. I somehow missed this album at the time it was released, but now, having listened to it, I am again completely blown out of my socks by the audacity of these criminally young musicians to produce such a brilliant debut album, a phenomenon happening on the Polish Jazz scene repeatedly and mercilessly. Nobody in the world, who knows anything about Jazz, would have believed these players are in their twenties and still students in a music academy (at the time this music was recorded). From the first note it´s pretty obvious that this album is something "different", which already is significant, as many Jazz albums have a tendency to sound alike. Both the way the music is performed and the actual compositions as strikingly unique, with a very specific chord changes and tonality. Bothur has a wonderful sound in his tenor saxophone and the quartet sounds overall superbly European, somewhat between Scandinavian spacing and Polish melancholy, even on the fast tempo numbers. Pluzek plays some tasty solos and accompanies intelligently and gracefully. I´d love to hear him leading a piano trio. The rhythm section is there all the time behind the soloists, steady as a rock and flexible like molten lava. The original music (and also the choice of the Markovitz piece, which is relatively little known) proves that the leader has a highly developed pair of ears and excellent taste as far as writing new music is concerned. As already mentioned, the chord changes he uses are intrinsically unlike most others found in other Jazz compositions, which is pretty cool. Overall a superb debut and another set of names to be added to the "watch" list for the future. Well done gentlemen!

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JAROSLAW BOTHUR ~ NIGHT WALKS JAZZ FORUM ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio setting with bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Bothur. The total playing time for this album is under thirty minutes, so it is an EP rather than a full CD. The entire approach of the album, stylistically, musically and sound wise is greatly surprising and travels back in time some three decades to the heyday of Polish Yass, characterized by a Punkish straightforwardness, "quick and dirty" sound and relative lack of sophistication, but highly emotional expressionism. Having said all this I find this album really fresh and direct, somewhat like a friendly slap in the face, which is extremely effective. Perhaps this is (as Yass was) a sign of rejection of the over-sophistication some of the contemporary Polish Jazz is suffering from. The music is all well put together and excellently executed, as expected, with focus on Bothur´s soloing. The rhythm section supports him amicably, keeping an energetic flow for the entire duration. Overall this is a surprising, highly emotional piece of music, which is a great listening experience, bringing Jazz to the very basic, almost animalistic elements, which have almost completely disappeared over time. Definitely a fresh breath of air!

Updated: 15/04/2020Posted: 15/04/2020

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JAZZ BAND MLYNARSKI - MASECKI ~ NOC W WIELKIM MIESCIE LADO ABC C/26 (Barcode: 9788326826047) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is a phenomenal album by the Polish ensemble called Jazz Band Mlynarski - MaseckiFind albums by this artist, co-led by vocalist / banjola player Jan MlynarskiFind albums by this artist and pianist Marcin MaseckiFind albums by this artist, which also includes three saxophonists / clarinetists: Tomasz DudaFind albums by this artist, Michal FetlerFind albums by this artist and Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, sousaphone player Piotr WrobelFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy RogiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine Polish songs, popular in the 1930s, predominantly composed and written by Polish Jews who were the core of popular music / cabaret / vaudeville in the swinging Warsaw, which had a large Jewish population at the time. All the songs were masterly arranged for the ensemble by Masecki. The music is a loving tribute to a period and a Culture that was wiped out off the face of the earth by the Holocaust, and later on by forgetfulness and ignorance, and as such it is an extremely important undertaking as far as preservation of the Polish / Jewish Culture is concerned. But of course the album is also a masterpiece of rejuvenation of musical tradition, bringing back to life the essence of early Swing, but also transforming the spirit of the music to contemporary idioms. Masecki´s arrangements, which are all far from being simplistic or trivial, brilliantly combine the tradition with modernism, and experienced Jazz connoisseurs will find plenty of unexpected hooks of his brilliance within the music. Mlynarski brilliantly revives the tradition of the crooners of the time, and his vocal theatrics are a delight, especially in view of the sense of humor his performances display. The rest of the musicians in the band all play brilliantly, bravely overcoming the seemingly simple music made devilishly difficult by the sophisticated arrangements. The use of the sousaphone in place of the bass is another bright idea, which contributes to the "vintage" sound aura. Since this album was released, the ensemble performs it live all over Poland with great success. I had the pleasure to hear one of the concerts and it was simply breathtaking and the reaction of the public was overwhelming. Evidently Culture is not dead yet, and people are still able to recognize it when they see / hear it face to face. Overall this is a superb album in every respect, taking the listener ninety years back into the past, using a musical time machine, into times long gone, but now not longer forgotten. This is a multilayered intellectual and emotional experience of rare quality and dedication. The album comes with extensive liner notes explaining the historical background of this music and a story about each of the nine songs. One can only wish that many such well prepared and devoted releases like this album could be made more often. Radiant stuff!

Updated: 31/03/2018Posted: 31/03/2018

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MOON HOAX ~ RANDKA Z ANDROIDEM CAPRICORNUS 003 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by Polish Fusion ensemble Moon HoaxFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist / composer Michal KarbowskiFind albums by this artist. The new lineup of the sextet includes trumpeter Klaudiusz KlosekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Filip OwczarskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jedrzej LaciakFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw BorowieckiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by the leader. The music follows to some extent the musical direction of the debut, recorded eight years earlier, moving between Jazz, Fusion and Brass Rock. The melodic compositions are spiced with diverse rhythmic patterns and the extended soloing allows all the ensemble members to show their individual abilities. The leader’s guitar sound is the most idiosynchratic element in the music, which sets it aside from most other Fusion efforts. The fact that the harmonic layer is supported by the vibraphone, rather than by the omnipresent keyboards, adds to the unique ambience the ensemble manages to create. The Brass Rock sound that characterized the debut is less emphasized on this album, with the brass instruments soloing in turn, but not supporting the music with background brass riffs all along the way, which loses some of the charm. Nevertheless, the music is still very enjoyable and the album offers an exciting listening experience, especially to Fusion oriented music fans. Overall, this is a very solid Fusion album, with exciting music and excellent performances, which should find every fan of the genre completely satisfied. Hopefully next time we won’t have to wait for another eight years for the next one.

Updated: 18/01/2022Posted: 18/01/2022

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NEW BRAND QUINTET ~ NEW BRAND QUINTET BLUES&JAZZ 003 (Barcode: 5908254159886) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz quintet called New Brand QuintetFind albums by this artist, led by veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist and four younger musicians: saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Tomasz BialowolskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six classic American Jazz standards. The choice of the participants and the choice of the material are well suited together, as these musicians have all been linked to the Polish Jazz mainstream, which cultivates the Bebop and Hard Bop tradition on the local scene. The musicians are all well-schooled and experienced, which results in a faithful reproduction of the traditional sound and feel of the music, which changed very little in the last seven decades. There is of course nothing innovative in this music, but it is well played and of course mainstream Jazz is still a legitimate Artform, which many, mostly American Jazz musicians dedicate their lives to. It has become less popular on the European scene in time, but that does not mean that it disappeared from the surface. Bebop and Hard Bop are still the heart of the Jazz tradition and learning that tradition is part of the basic education each Jazz musician should go through during his musical path. If this album proves anything, it is first and foremost the fact that the Polish Jazz scene, including the new generation, should not feel any inferiority complexes in comparison to their contemporaries across the pond. These young players know the tricks of the trade and can play shoulder to shoulder with anybody on this planet. Overall, this album should keep mainstream Jazz fans happy, regardless of their age or origin!

Updated: 12/04/2024Posted: 28/08/2021

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PAWEL PALCOWSKI ~ INFLUENCES SJ 060 (Barcode: 5902596066765) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by the leader. Palcowski faithfully continues the direction set by the debut, playing wonderful mainstream Jazz, which originates in the Bebop tradition perfected in America in the 1950s and 1960s. His trumpet playing is getting better all the time and his performances here bring fond memories of such greats as Lee MorganFind albums by this artist or Kenny DorhamFind albums by this artist. Except for the use of electric bass and piano, which perhaps is a mistake if authenticity was the aim, the music sounds like something recorded sixty or more years ago, which in this case is not a criticism, but rather a compliment. It is important to preserve the tradition and when that is done as tastefully and elegantly like on this album, it is truly commendable. All the musicians involved are obviously highly talented and well-schooled, which is plainly evident from their performances herein. The presence of the veteran drummer Arek Skolik also adds to the general feel of a Bebop party. Overall, this is a great album of traditional mainstream Jazz, updated by the excellent new compositions, which all sound like taken from a “Real Book”, which is a great compliment to the composing talents of Palcowski. I doubt if there are many albums of such quality recorded these days across the pond, which of course means that the young Polish Jazz musicians really can compete with anybody – “Polak Potrafi” ;)

Updated: 11/02/2022Posted: 11/02/2022

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PIOTR RODOWICZ ~ RAZEM NA TEJ ZIEMI SOLITON 1008 (Barcode: 5903684230082) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr RodowiczFind albums by this artist recorded with a bunch of "friends" like pianist Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist, flautist Ryszard BorowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, guitarist Mark WaggonerFind albums by this artist and drummer Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original pieces (one in two versions), seven composed by Rodowicz and three by Holownia. The music is all strictly melodic mainstream Jazz, on the lighter side of the idiom, but the compositions are solid and well crafted, and in the hands of these veteran performers they are all also splendidly executed. Although this is not the kind of Jazz I tend to listen to on an everyday basis, I firmly believe that it is a legitimate part of the genre, especially since it is accessible to a much wider audience than just the hardcore Jazz buffs. As long as the music has an intrinsic artistic value, is honest and professionally executed, it is fine with me, regardless of what the Jazz snobs my say. Overall this is a lightweight, pleasant listening experience, with Jazzy flavor and a solid entertainment value. Recommended for listeners with such inclinations!

Updated: 10/09/2020Posted: 10/09/2020

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AREK SKOLIK ~ PLAYS MINGUS BLUES&JAZZ 001 (Barcode: 5908254159664) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio setting with saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist and bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Patrycja ZarychtaFind albums by this artist sings on one track. The album, as the title suggests, presents six compositions by Charles MingusFind albums by this artist, which are interpreted by Skolik and his crew. The music, as described by Skolik in the album´s liner notes, is a spontaneous jam session based on compositions by Mingus, recorded live in the studio. There is not much one can add to this description honestly, as the music is completely straight ahead, except perhaps for the fact that it is performed by a saxophone trio, but that is nothing extraordinary these days. This album might have been recorded five decades earlier, and no one would be able to tell the difference. All three players are highly professional and fluent and the execution is beyond reproach, as good as any American mainstream Jazz combo is able to perform, except that this is a Polish Jazz trio and one really expects to hear something beyond ordinary when Polish musicians are involved. Bothur has a wonderful tone on his tenor saxophone and his improvisations are inspired, Jaros plays excellent support behind the saxophone and Skolik is obviously a very sensitive drummer, playing both rhythm and melody, but there is nothing here that wasn´t heard already. Overall this is a nice mainstream Jazz album, which Bebop lovers should enjoy anywhere in the world, but which does not break any new ground. Recommended to Mingus aficionados!

Updated: 12/04/2024Posted: 08/04/2017

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