Record Reviews

TOMASZ STANKO ~ MATKA JOANNA ECM 1544 (Barcode: 731452398628) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1994 Released: 1995 Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, one of the great Lions of European Jazz, now in his fifth decade of the tireless journey dedicated to discovering uncharted territory. Despite his advanced age, his powers as a player and composer seem to be ever growing and in contrast to Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, with whom he is often compared (a comparison, which in most cases makes no sense whatsoever) he still retains the position of the main soloist on his albums and his compositions are more detailed intricate than ever and as much melodically and harmonically advanced as always. This incredible album, finds Stanko again in the company of Swedish musicians: pianist Bobo StensonFind albums by this artist and bassist Anders JorminFind albums by this artist and surprisingly in first-time cooperation with British drummer Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist – probably the greatest living drummer on this planet, who unfortunately records ever so rarely. This is the first of the two albums Stanko recorded with this quartet. The album is dedicated to the Polish film director Jerzy KawalerowiczFind albums by this artist, whose film "Matka Joanna Od Aniolow" (1961) was a groundbreaking masterpiece of the Polish post-WWII cinema. The music was composed mostly by Stanko, but also co-composed by the quartet members and includes one composition by Oxley. This is one of the last albums, on which Stanko´s compositions are very sparse and the music is mostly freely improvised. The quartet is perfect together, with Stenson and Jormin fitting the bill perfectly, being both greatly gifted players. Oxley, as usual, is simply outstanding, ornamenting the music with his idiosyncratic approach to rhythm and the role of percussion in Jazz, but keeps his outbursts well in the overall framework of the music. This is phenomenal music, some of the best ever made on this planet, and if anyone tells you differently, he´s simply deeply confused. An absolute must!

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