Record Reviews

AGA DERLAK ~ PARALLEL NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Aga DerlakFind albums by this artist, recorded in a septet setting with trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist, drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist and vocalist Basia DerlakFind albums by this artist. The septet is further expanded by the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by Aga Derlak. Following two albums recorded in a classic Jazz piano trio setting, this album is a giant step forward (pun intended) in Derlak’s career, which takes her right into the “serious” league, with complex compositions and elaborate arrangements for an ensemble of eleven musicians, all of which requires not only a lot of work and talent, but also courage to undertake such an adventurous and risky enterprise. I am happy to say that despite my initial concern, she manages to pull it off without a hitch. The music is quite diverse and moves between song oriented parts with the vocals up front, extended instrumental passages spiced with soloing, orchestral movements with the strings parts dominating the proceedings, in short an ever changing stream of aural explorations, which keeps the listener on edge. Aga’s piano is omnipresent, supplying the harmonic and melodic compass to the entire enterprise and she solos sparingly, which is not surprising, considering how much is happening on this album almost at any moment. She weaves beautiful, romantic melodies, which are ideal for the songs (the lyrics of which remain uncredited), which are beautifully performed by Basia, who also offers some lovely vocalese parts, which are used somewhat in the background in instrumental capacity. The brass players offer some excellent soli, with Malek being as always the romantic heartbreaking champion, and the saxophonists moving more into somewhat more advanced Jazz areas. The rhythm section is as perfect as can be, despite the fact that I personally have a problem with the dry and muffled sound of the drums (not the playing, just the sound), which unfortunately seems to be the latest fashion, but of course this is a minor issue and a matter of taste. Overall, this is a wonderful Jazz album, which offers a capsule of contemporary European Jazz aesthetics, with great instrumental work, vocals and string arrangements, all coherently combined and balanced, and of course a set of great compositions. Hats off Aga for your vision and the stamina to make it happen. You have earned my respect and the well-deserved position on the Polish Jazz scene, which nobody can deny.

Updated: 19/08/2023Posted: 19/08/2023

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ SNY DEBIES 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 - 2004 Released: 2004 This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / arranger Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and talented representatives of the young generation of the local Jazz scene. Born in the southern Polish province of Upper Silesia, Karnas graduated form the Jazz Institute at the Katowice Academy of Music, where a large percentage of the young Polish Jazz musicians get their initial graduate education. His debut album "ReinkarnasjaFind albums with this title", released in 2000, created quite a stir on the local scene and immediately established him as one of the most significant newcomers. He is accompanied on this album by a superb team of excellent players: pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist (who plays the Fender electric piano here rather than his usual acoustic piano), guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. In addition several guest artists also participate: legendary veteran saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist (a future close collaborator, who also hails from Silesia), vocalist Patrycja GolaFind albums by this artist and congas player Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist. The album consists of twelve pieces, ten of which were written (music & lyrics) by Karnas, one was co-written by Karnas and Oles and one is a standard. Karnas wrote all the arrangements, which are quite unusual and beautifully atmospheric. Of course Karnas´ vocal performances are the focal point of the album, but his ability to involve all these wonderful players to become an integral part of the overall result is absolutely astounding. Szukalski plays wonderfully here, but for me Tokaj and his incredible electric piano phrasing are the cherry on the cake. Karnas is a unique vocalist, a power of Nature. Although many of the tricks of the trade he so skillfully utilizes can be traced back to other great vocalists, like the great Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist and the Polish diva Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, but he is truly original. First and foremost he completely disregards any conventions, allowing himself a total freedom as far as his vocal expressions are concerned. Regardless if he sings lyrics, vocalese, scat or just utters sounds from his throat, there are no rules involved. His pronunciation of the lyrics is completely off the wall and probably would give his primary school Polish language teacher a heart attack, but the effect is overwhelming. He also twists the melody any way he wants and his disregard of "proper" timing is simply scandalous; and yet all these elements put together create an amalgam, which is just so beautiful and intelligent, that any experienced music connoisseur simply melts away. Vocal Jazz or more exactly interesting and challenging vocal Jazz is unfortunately a rarity on contemporary Jazz scene and therefore any Artists of the level presented by Karnas is a most welcome addition. People who truly love music will love this music immediately and unconditionally. Not to be missed!

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LESZEK KULAKOWSKI ~ COPY & INSERT SOLITON 733 (Barcode: 5901571097336) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is a live album by veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader / educator Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist recorded in a classic quintet setting with American (resident in Vienna) saxophonist Andy MiddletonFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr KulakowskiFind albums by this artist (Leszek´s son) and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform six original compositions, all by Leszek Kulakowski. The sound quality of the live recording is excellent. The music is all within the boundaries of contemporary modern mainstream Jazz, with melody based compositions which serve as basis for the quintet to carry the tunes in orderly manner and present individual solos. Kulakowski is a superb composer and his elegant tunes sound as if they originate from a collection of standards, but in fact are his originals. The performances are all spotless of course, as expected from these highly experienced and talented musicians. Middleton, who is also an educator, same as Kulakowski, has a wonderful tone and elegant flow, and his solos are a true delight. Malek is also a superb player and his phrasing is full of emotion and skill. Kulakowski is a very original pianist, who plays remarkably not only when soloing but also while accompanying his colleagues. Piotr Kulakowski is one of the best bassists on the crowded Polish Jazz scene and his pulsations are always right on the money. Sowinski is exactly the right drummer for this quintet, pushing the other players during the up-tempo numbers and gently paving the way during the ballads. In short a mainstream A-Team, which delivers nothing but the best. This album slaughters a few "holy cows", namely: "European musicians can´t swing", "Those who can´t play teach" and other popular misconceptions. Any true Jazz lover listening to this album should be completely satisfied in every respect. Side Note: Since a few years, every December, Leszek Kulakowski, Andy Middleton and me meet in Katowice to serve as jury members of the International Jazz Composition Competition, held at the local Jazz Academy (together with Jerzy JarosikFind albums by this artist, the head of the Jazz Department of the Academy and our host, and fantastic trumpeter / educator Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist). Over the years we not only forged a wonderful friendship between ourselves, discussed music and life for endless hours and of course managed to consume many a gallon of beer, vodka and eventually anything that is humanly drinkable. Who says Jazz is not a platform of friendship ;)

Updated: 12/01/2018Posted: 12/01/2018

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JERZY MALEK ~ BLACK SHEEP NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the eighth album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic Jazz quintet setting with saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, pianists Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist or Aga DerlakFind albums by this artist, bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Malek. Stylistically the music is all within melodic Jazz mainstream, close to the American Jazz tradition, quite atypical to the contemporary Polish Jazz scene, which is more modernistic and experimental. That said, the music is wonderfully crafted and perfectly executed by seasoned musicians and sound every bit as good as the best of what American Jazz has to offer, proving again that Polish Jazz deserves to be completely free from any inferiority complexes in comparison to what is happening across the pond. Malek has a brilliant ability to weave perfect tunes, all of which are well rounded and based on coherent melodic themes, especially so with his marvelous ballads. On the whole his compositions are truly classic examples of post Bebop idiom at its finest. Although not very innovative, this kind of music is still perfectly valid and has many followers the world over and albums like this are a perfect fit to their bill of fare. Of course Malek is also a wonderful trumpeter, with perfect skills and intelligence, which guides him to avoid empty flashy displays of technique. His playing is always soulful and heartfelt, and a true pleasure to listen to. The other quintet members are all seasoned veterans and even the young Aga Derlak, who plays on two tracks, does an excellent job and showcases the next generation of the Polish Jazz stars. Overall this is a perfect mainstream Jazz album in every respect, full of wonderful music and perfect musicianship, which should completely satisfy all connoisseurs of that idiom regardless of their geographical location. It is also an excellent example of the quality of Polish Jazz and the abilities of Jerzy Malek as a composer and a trumpeter, which he earned fair and square by hard work and a heap of talent. Well done!

Updated: 26/05/2019Posted: 26/05/2019

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JERZY MALEK ~ FOREVELLE KAYAX 103 (Barcode: 5907678818645) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the seventh album as leader by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with keyboardist Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist, guitarist Krzysztof LochowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Maciej KadzielaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. Together they perform seven original compositions, all by Malek. The music is typical melodic mainstream Jazz, full of distinctive Polish Jazz characteristics, like melancholic ballads, Slavic folkloristic harmonies and the overall atmosphere of poignancy, even on the up-tempo numbers. All the seven originals are solid compositions, elegant, well structured and aesthetically pleasing, especially so the ballads, which seem to be Malek´s forte. The execution is also top notch, with evident class and talent displayed by the musicians involved. Malek is an excellent trumpeter, with steady clear tone and brilliant phrasing, and his playing is a great example of the classic approach to Jazz trumpet, which is sadly not very appreciated these days. Kisiel plays beautiful piano lines both on the acoustic and electric instruments, contributing several nice solos and supporting the leader amicably. Lochowicz is a mystery as I could only hear him on one tune and there he was so back in the mix that he was totally lost. Swies, a veteran and brilliant bassist, is one of the top Polish players and every recording featuring his talents is already ahead just by his presence. Koryzno plays also very well, supporting the steady rhythmic patterns with confidence and skill, staying respectfully in the background. Overall this is a classic mainstream album, which features superb tunes and excellent execution, which should make every Jazz connoisseur in the world happy. There is no innovation or groundbreaking here, but not every Jazz album has to be about these elements. Playing solid, excellent mainstream Jazz like the one here is still Art.

Updated: 19/11/2016Posted: 19/11/2016

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JERZY MALEK ~ STALGIA KAYAX 077 (Barcode: 5907678818348) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with American saxophonist Stephen RileyFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and American (resident in Poland) drummer Eric AllenFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, seven of which are original composition by Malek, one is by Allen and the remaining one is a standard. The music is typical American mainstream Jazz, which stays at all times within the clearly defined Jazz conventions and therefore fails to break any new ground or sound contemporary. It might have as well been recorded a few decades ago and no one would have noticed the difference. Having said that, the original music is very well crafted and definitely deserving being heard. Nice melodies, perfectly executed by highly professional musicians, in short a perfect mainstream Jazz production, which many Jazz connoisseurs will undoubtedly enjoy to the max. The most important massage that comes across is that Polish Jazz musicians can play as good if not better than their American counterparts. The sound quality of the recording is nothing short of sensational. Malek is a superb trumpeter with a beautiful tone. I wish he would make at least some effort to shake off the restrictions he is so deeply entrenched in, and show his listeners something else for once. Paraphrasing on the "Holier than the Pope", this is a better mainstream American Jazz album than most Americans can record these days, but "The Times They Are A-Changin´"…

Updated: 18/09/2017Posted: 18/09/2017

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OLA MONKO ~ WHEREVER YOU ARE SOLITON 846 (Barcode: 5901571098463) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish pianist / composer Ola MonkoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and American (resident in Poland and married to Monko) drummer Eric AllenFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, eight of which are originals composed by Monko and one is a standard, all of which were arranged by Monko. The album offers a warm clear sound, which fondly resembles the famous Blue NoteFind albums on this label Records sound created by the legendary Rudy Van GelderFind albums by this artist. The music sits comfortably within contemporary mainstream Jazz, which is not surprising considering that Monko spent thirteen years living and playing Jazz in the US, where she was exposed to what the best American Jazz has to offer. Her compositions are all well built and offer solid melodies and coherent harmonic structures, which results in them sounding as good as any Jazz standard played today. All the members of the quintet are veteran players with years of experience behind them and as the result the music flows smoothly and elegantly from one tune to another and the album seems to be over in a flash. All three soloists contribute inspired solo parts and the rhythm section keeps the music streaming in an amicable fashion. Overall although not innovative as far as the Jazz idiom is concerned, this album offers splendid mainstream Jazz experience and presents an excellent collection of original tunes, which prove that the Polish Jazz musicians can play American mainstream as well as their counterparts across the pond and compose wonderful heartfelt tunes. For mainstream Jazz lovers this album is a gem from start to finish and a most pleasant listening experience. Congratulations go to Monko for finally making her statement, hopefully only the first of many. Go Girl!

Updated: 27/10/2018Posted: 27/10/2018

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RAFAL SARNECKI ~ THE MADMAN RAMBLES AGAIN FRESH SOUND 381 (Barcode: 8427328423816) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd album by the excellent Polish guitarist / composer / arranger Rafal SarneckiFind albums by this artist, following his outstanding debut released a couple of years earlier. Sarnecki manages to repeat the same level of freshness and quality, but the new album is different in many ways, mostly due to the fact that Sarnecki lived in NY for some time, absorbing some of the Big Apple´s influences, which are evident in the brass arrangements, Latin rhythms and overall sound of the recording. But fortunately this amalgamation of American influences did not replace his European roots, which remain intact, especially in his superb compositions. He composed seven of the eight tracks on the album and included one standard, same as last time. His musical cohorts consist partly of the same excellent musicians who recorded the debut album: pianist Pawel KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummers Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist (on six tracks) and Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist (on two tracks) (all five are members of the pianist´s Audiofeeling BandFind albums by this artist), strengthened by a brass section: US saxophonist / flautist Lucas PinoFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Jose Manuel Alban JuarezFind albums by this artist (despite the name he´s Polish) guests on two tracks. The sextet format allows Sarnecki to develop a much richer orchestration and complex arrangements for his superb compositions, which he does beautifully, carefully avoiding overdoing it, which is a rare and commendable approach. The performances are of course stellar and these young musicians bring a wide smile on veterans´ (like me) faces, seeing that Jazz has a future after all. What I particularly admire about Sarnecki is his ability to eschew the Fusion trap – he manages to keep this album 100% Jazz, which is extremely rare for guitar albums these days. The album was released on the Spanish Fresh SoundFind albums on this label label, which releases albums by young and promising Jazz musicians from all over the world, giving them a chance of international exposure, an admirable policy deserving support. Polish Jazz legend Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist gives Sarnecki some warm compliments on the album´s cover, and I´m only happy to concur with his opinion – this is definitely a great piece of music, which deserves repeated listening and an honorable place on the shelves of Polish Jazz discography. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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PAWEL TOMASZEWSKI ~ COINCIDENCE FILHARMONIA SZCZECIN 025 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with several leading Polish Jazz instrumentalists and the Szczecin Philharmonic Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Szymon BywalecFind albums by this artist. The album presents two suites, one two-parts and the other seven-parts, with the second being inspired by a film theme composed by Polish composer Wojciech KilarFind albums by this artist. The quartet comprising of Tomaszewski, saxophonist Marek PodkowaFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist play on the entire album, while marimba player Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, vocalist Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist and American guitarist Mark LattieriFind albums by this artist play on the first suite and trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist plays on the second suite only. The music is wonderfully melodic, full of typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, which characterizes both Polish Jazz and Polish Cinematic music at their best. The balance between the Jazz instrumental parts and the orchestral accompaniment and statements is absolutely perfect, and offers a pleasant cross-genre listening experience. All the musician are of course Masters of their relative areas, offering excellent soloing and ensemble performances. This delicate and mostly tranquil music is all about balance and harmonic cooperation, which means that there is no space for much individual statements, but rather a collective effort. Of course Tomaszewski’s piano work leads the music consistently all the way through. Overall, this is a very elegant and beautifully performed album, which offers music that is widely accessible to audiences from both Jazz and Classical Music circles. Tomaszewski is an excellent pianist and talented weaver of beautiful compositions, and all the musicians taking part in this project and the orchestra definitely fit the bill perfectly. Highly recommended!

Updated: 05/06/2023Posted: 05/06/2023

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ZBIGNIEW WEGEHAUPT ~ TOTA POLSKIE RADIO 1020 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 Polish bassist / composer Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist is a late bloomer. Although his phenomenal bass performances have earned him the title of the best and most reliable player on the local scene and a job as sideman in the consistently best ensembles over the years – a status many players would be proud and honored to hold – his career as a leader took a quantum jump only about four years ago with the release of his second solo recording, the eponymous Zbigniew Wegehaupt QuartetFind albums with this title. His debut album SakeFind albums with this title was recorded in 1983 – 21 years earlier. Since his ability as a player is already well established, Wegehaupt now concentrates on his composing duties. Since the last album unearthed some of his work, which was sitting in the drawer for a while, this new album is all about presenting his new compositions. It’s a real pleasure for me to admit that he stands up to the challenge with grace and glory. The album includes a set of great tunes, quite different from each other, but all prime examples of contemporary Jazz at its best. They are interesting on both the melodic and the rhythmic planes, with clever structures, which leave space for solos but emphasize the ensemble unity. The quartet, which performs the music, is a perfect vehicle for this music: Wegehaupt on bass, Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Marcin MaseckiFind albums by this artist on piano and the new member, Israeli drummer Ziv RavitzFind albums by this artist. Each of these players excels in his area: Malek has a beautiful tone and deep lyricism, Masecki is a phenomenal pianist with outstanding technique (both play on the previous album as well) and Ravitz is completely unique with his complex polyrhythmic approach, which extends way beyond keeping time. Although Wegehaupt is my friend, I’m confident that my assessment of this album is fairly objective and therefore I can easily – and with a clear conscience – recommend it to every Jazz lover around. Give it a try and see that great music is still being made today. Tota(l) satisfaction guaranteed!

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ZBIGNIEW WEGEHAUPT ~ ZBIGNIEW WEGEHAUPT QUARTET NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 Polish composer / bass player Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist (or Wege to his friends – born in the same Polish town like myself!) is one of the most distinguished jazz musicians in the country. In the last 20 years he’s been one of the most intelligent and reliable bassists in the country and a member of bands led by top Polish players like Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and many others. His flawless intonation and incredible swing served as a basis for countless recordings and concert performances. Unfortunately his recordings as a leader have been rather sparse and therefore this new album is a most welcome addition to his discography. For this album Wege formed a new quartet with 3 young and incredibly talented Polish Jazz players: Marcin MaseckiFind albums by this artist on piano, Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist on trumpet and Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist on drums. The music is a collection of Wege’s Jazz compositions from the past, which remained previously unrecorded. With the quartet as a vehicle the music is presented in full glory, flowing and swinging straight to the heart. This is modern Jazz at its best, full of beautiful melodies, superb expression and dramatic crescendos. The level of musicianship is truly astounding and it’s very hard to believe that such young musicians are capable of such mature statements. This is a great joy to see that the new generation of Polish Jazz musicians is living up to the expectations left by the glorious Polish Jazz tradition. Absolutely not to be missed!

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PIOTR ZACZEK ~ MUTRU ARMS 02 (Barcode: 5900238791013) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 This is the debut solo album by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Piotr ZaczekFind albums by this artist, recorded with several fellow musicians, such as saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, violinist Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Marcin GornyFind albums by this artist and Grzegorz JablonskiFind albums by this artist, and drummer Robert LutyFind albums by this artist. Two vocalists: Ania SzarmachFind albums by this artist and Kuba BadachFind albums by this artist take care of the vocal parts. The album includes fifteen compositions, thirteen of which are by Zaczek, one by Szarmach and the remaining one is a Pop song. The music is heavily oriented towards Fusion, Funk and Ambient, featuring the bass as a leading instrument. The musicians provide some exciting solos and vocals, but overall this is electric bass haven, and people who love the sound of fretless bass will definitely enjoy this album to the max. Zaczek is obviously a virtuoso and some of his licks are quite phenomenal. No wonder he is one of the most sought after session musicians in Poland. As much as I enjoy my Fusion and Funk, the Ambient soundscapes are less exciting, especially electronic programmed drums. Of course I realize they are an integral part of what Zaczek wanted to present here, and they are very well done, just that particular sound somehow doesn´t sit well with me. Several of the album tracks are plays solo by Zaczek, who plays basses, keyboards and programmed the drums, others are performed by a duet, trio etc. There is enough diversity and certainly a lot of excellent performances to make this a nice album to listen to. Of course this is on the lighter side of Jazz and geared mostly towards Fusion fans, which are the natural habitat for this music. Of course bass players should be fairly warned that hearing this album might be very frustrating for some of them ;)

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IDA ZALEWSKA ~ STORYTELLING HEVHETIA 0118 (Barcode: 8588005257725) ~ POLAND ~ Blues Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Polish vocalist / songwriter Ida ZalewskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a quartet comprising of pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, who also arranged all the songs, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Damian NiewinskiFind albums by this artist, all of them representatives of the young generation of the Polish Jazz scene. The album presents ten original songs, six of which were co-composed by Pluzek and Zalewska, three are by trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist and one is by pianist Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist. Zalewska wrote the lyrics to seven of the songs and Joanna MajorkiewiczFind albums by this artist to the remaining three; five of songs have Polish lyrics and the other five have English lyrics. Although the album is somewhat jazzed up, mostly by the presence of the Jazz musicians, Zalewska is body and soul oozing the Blues, with her deep, sensual voice and vocal mannerisms all originating in the Blues idiom. There is none of the typical Polish lyrical melancholy and Slavic mysticism here (well almost); it is all one or another form of the Blues. Pluzek, as the composer, arranger and main accompanist took the bull by its horns and produced a diverse but consisted body of music, which is built around Zalewska´s capabilities. The instrumental work on this album is relatively modest, and except for Pluzek, who carries most of the weight on his shoulders, the rest of the quartet is rather subdued. Mika plays a few very nice solos, but on a Blues album one would expect a much more dominant guitar presence. The rhythm section has little more to do than to keep time, which they do pretty straightforwardly. Pluzek contributes some nice solo parts and serves the role of the accompanist amicably. Overall, although not really my cup of gumbo, this album is definitely something fans of Soul drenched American Blues will enjoy a lot. The biggest problem this album presents to me is with the lyrics: the English lyrics are fine but Zalewska´s pronunciation is a bit off, the Polish lyrics sound really unnatural in this environment and don´t fit the music very well. I guess Blues was not meant to be sung in Polish. Anyway these are minor points and I guess this music can do very well live, much better than in a sterile studio environment.

Updated: 28/02/2016Posted: 28/02/2016

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MARTA ZALEWSKA ~ JAZZ.PL VOL.2 POLSKIE RADIO 2408-2409 (Barcode: 5907812243869) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz vocalist / bass guitarist / violinist Marta ZalewskaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a septet setting (Orchestra is a bit overboard) with trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lukasz PoprawskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, guitarist Krzysztof ZagajewskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Michal PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose Manuel Alban JuarezFind albums by this artist. Violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist appears as special guest, and two backing vocalists are also present. The album presents Fusion arrangements of ten songs by the Polish Rock group DzambleFind albums by this artist, nine of which are taken from their only album entitled “Wolanie O Slonce Nad SwiatemFind albums with this title” released originally in 1971, and one is a non-album single. The album was recorded live by Polish Radio during a series of concerts entitled Jazz.pl, hence the title. The album also includes a bonus CD with radio recordings by the original group, captured between 1969 and 1971. The idea of reanimating this particular cult album in a Jazz / Fusiony setting is not farfetched, considering that on the original album Dzamble had top Polish Jazz musicians of that time: Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist and Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, playing as guests. The music on this album suffers from a number of problems. The arrangements are rather trivial, the Funky / Brass Rock approach is a bit crude, the vocals are limited and the sound quality of the recording is somewhat muddy. But there are some bright points, like the brilliant solos by Wylezol, who never fails, and trumpet solos by Malek, who is a real pro. The biggest obstacle for me is that the new approach completely does not connect to the concept (musical and ideological) of the original. Altogether, I’d rather stick to the original album than listen to this, but of course each to his own. The bonus CD with the archival recordings is of course perfect, and emphasizes the gap between the source and the replica. Overall, this an attempt to revive a legendary classic Rock / Fusion album, which basically misses the target, but offers some nice performances by the musicians involved, but the 2CD package is worth its price just for the bonus CD with the archival material.

Updated: 28/02/2023Posted: 28/02/2023

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