Record Reviews

JANUSZ MUNIAK ~ QUESTION MARK (POLISH JAZZ VOL.54) MUZA 1054 (Barcode: 5907783420542) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1978 Released: 2007 This is the debut album as a leader by the great Polish saxophonist / composer Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, one of the forefathers of modern Polish Jazz. His legacy includes the membership in such legendary Polish ensembles as those led by Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist as well as leading his own groups. He is accompanied here by his quintet, which includes pianist Pawel PerlinskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marek BlizinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej DechnikFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy BezuchaFind albums by this artist, all excellent players themselves. Muniak has a completely unique, natural style of improvisation, which is passionate and highly expressive, putting him somewhat aside in a class of his own besides the other distinguished Polish saxophonists, like Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist for example. His compositions incorporate beautifully Polish folklore and the Jazz tradition, often unintentionally, but always brilliantly. This is on of the strongest albums in the legendary Polish Jazz series, which is a very high distinction by any standard. This is a must to lovers of Polish and Eastern-European Jazz and a timeless masterpiece.

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S.P.P.T. CHALTURNIK ~ CHALTURNIK (POLISH JAZZ VOL.95 DELUXE) MUZA 1095 (Barcode: 5907783420955) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 Released: 2007 This wonderful album is the debut recording by the S.P.P.T. ChalturnikFind albums by this artist ensemble, invented, founded and led by saxophonist / composer / bandleader Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggest, the idea behind this ensemble is all about humor in Jazz, a relatively rare attitude in modern Jazz but something quite common in traditional Jazz. The ensemble consisted of the crème de la crème of the Polish Jazz scene: saxophonists Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, tuba player Zdzislaw PiernikFind albums by this artist, pianist Jan JarczykFind albums by this artist (replaced by Tomasz OchalskiFind albums by this artist on two tracks), bassist Bronislaw SuchanekFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy BezuchaFind albums by this artist, with the leader playing saxophone and a "mouth synthesizer" (i.e. a comb) and contributing four of his original compositions. The rest of the music comes from various sources, including even one theme by Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist (obviously a tongue in cheek towards modern Jazz). Although the humorous approach to the music is easily detected, the perfect performances and the wonderful arrangements turn this album a true gem. These great musicians prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that sometimes it pays to take a slightly relaxed approach to music. Great stuff!

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