Record Reviews

GUSTAV BROM ~ JAZZ GALEN 19 157 (Barcode: 8594042901668) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1963 - 1965 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the sensational debut album by Czech Jazz arranger / bandleader Gustav BromFind albums by this artist, who headed for five decades one the most renowned and highly regarded Jazz Orchestras / Big Bands in the world. This album, originally released in 1965, presents five (one a three-part suite) original compositions by musicians from his orchestra (two by trumpeter Jaromir HnilickaFind albums by this artist, and one each by saxophonist Josef AudesFind albums by this artist, pianist Oldrich BlachaFind albums by this artist and bassist Milan Rezabek)Find albums by this artist, one composition by the legendary modern Czech composer Pavel BlatnyFind albums by this artist and one arrangement (by saxophonist Zdenek NovakFind albums by this artist) of a standard by Oscar PetersonFind albums by this artist. This remastered edition offers a crystal clear sound quality and preserves the specific ambience of the original recording. It is almost impossible to believe that this music was recorded fifty-five years ago, as the music is so incredibly advanced and sophisticated in comparison to contemporary orchestral Jazz and light years ahead of what other Jazz orchestras around the world were playing at the time this music was recoded behind the Iron Curtain. The influence of Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist´s "Third Stream" is especially obvious on the Blatny´s piece, but also resonates in the other pieces, as do Cool Jazz and the entire American West Coast ambience, but again only lurking somewhere in the background rather than being copied or mimicked. Brom manages to create his very own atmosphere, basically his very own unique statement. The level of the technical proficiency of the orchestra members is no less astounding, and easily matches that of players across the European divide as well as across the pond. The same easily applies to the arrangements and the overall orchestra sound. Brom and his Orchestra managed to record a string of highly successful albums, all of which are warmly recommended, especially those which feature his cooperation with the Polish composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, but this iconic album, available here on CD for the first time, is a true gem of special significance. For connoisseurs of Orchestral / Big Band Jazz this album is an absolute must and a wonderful example of the European Jazz idiosyncrasy. Side Note The Czech publishing house and record label GalenFind albums on this label, run by Lubomir HoudekFind albums by this artist, is another player on the local scene, reissuing historical recordings from the deep vaults of the SupraphonFind albums on this label / PantonFind albums on this label labels, supported by the Czech Ministry of Culture. This commendable initiative is a wonderful example of the preservation of Cultural heritage. Hopefully the label's future releases will include information in English in the album's booklets, so that Jazz enthusiasts around the world might be allowed to share the knowledge. For more reissues of Czechoslovak Jazz (and Rock) see also the releases by Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records.

Updated: 02/06/2020Posted: 02/06/2020

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KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA ~ KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA W POLSKIM RADIU VOL.01 – NAGRANIA PIERWSZE 1952-1960 POLSKIE RADIO 1861 (Barcode: 5907812248611) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1952 - 1960 Released: 2014 This is the first installment in a new series of albums launched by the Polish Radio, which presents radio recordings by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / composer / bandleader Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. Komeda is of course the most familiar name associated with Polish Jazz and his legacy is of crucial importance to Polish and European Jazz. Considering the fact that Komeda´s studio recordings are relatively scarce, the radio recordings are in fact the main source of his recorded legacy, as they include among others the Jazz Jamboree festival appearances by Komeda and his various ensembles over the years. As the title of this volume suggests, it collects sixteen tracks of the early recordings by Komeda, fourteen of which present him as a bandleader of his groups that vary from a trio to a sextet format. Two additional tracks showcase him as a member of the legendary MelomaniFind albums by this artist group. All these tracks are Jazz standards except for only one original composition co-credited to Komeda and Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, another Polish Jazz legendary figure. As a result the music on this album is all about Komeda the pianist, rather than his traditional role of a composer first and performer later and shows his development as a piano player. The musicians that were the band members of these ensembles led by Komeda are the first, pioneering generation of post-WWII Polish Jazz players, most of which disappeared from the scene to be replaced by the second, then very young generation, that was about to revolutionize Polish Jazz completely by the mid 1960s. These pioneers include the Melomani members: saxophonist Jerzy MatuszkiewiczFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Andrzej WojciechowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Witold KujawskiFind albums by this artist (died 2011) and drummer Witold SobocinskiFind albums by this artist. Also worth mentioning are bassist Jozef StolarzFind albums by this artist (died 2011) and drummer Jan ZylberFind albums by this artist (died 1997). The only know names on the Polish Jazz scene appearing on this album and still active today are the a.m. Wroblewski and vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. Overall this album, although important from obvious historic reasons, does not reflect the "true" Komeda genius, which was about to blossom slightly later, when Komeda started to write his own fabulous music and formed his new ensembles with the top new players of the day. The recordings are splendidly restored and remastered and nicely packaged in an elegant digipak / slipcase. Dates, places and lineups are faithfully included and even personal liner notes by young Polish Jazz critics are present, but there is no in-depth background material about Komeda and his music, however considering the plentitude of published material and several excellent books on the subject, an intelligent listener can easily bridge the knowledge gap. The only small reservation one might have is the fact that these recordings have been already released many times, more or less legally on the somewhat untamed Polish music market, which means they is already owned by the serious Polish Jazz collectors, probably more than once.

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KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA ~ KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA W POLSKIM RADIU VOL.03 – KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA & JERZY MILIAN POLSKIE RADIO 1863 (Barcode: 5907812248635) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1957 - 1963 Released: 2014 This is the third installment in a new series of albums launched by the Polish Radio, which presents radio recordings by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / composer / bandleader Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. Komeda is of course the most familiar name associated with Polish Jazz and his legacy is of crucial importance to Polish and European Jazz. Considering the fact that Komeda´s studio recordings are relatively scarce, the radio recordings are in fact the main source of his recorded legacy, as they include among others the Jazz Jamboree festival appearances by Komeda and his various ensembles over the years. Recorded between 1957 and 1963 this volume collects recordings which involve the cooperation between Komeda and vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, a key member of Komeda´s ensembles and a bandleader of his own right, who also achieved the legendary status of one of the Godfathers of modern Polish Jazz. The album presents three tracks recorded during the 1963 Jazz Jamboree Festival by Milian with Komeda´s trio (bassist Maciej SuzinFind albums by this artist and drummer Leszek DudziakFind albums by this artist), another three tracks recorded a year earlier at the 1962 Jazz Jamboree Festival by Milian´s quintet (guitarist Wojciech LechowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Tadeusz WojcickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Leszek Dudziak) and finally one earlier radio recording from 1957 by Komeda´s sextet (saxophonist Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Zdzislaw BrzeszczynskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jozef StolarzFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan ZylberFind albums by this artist). Of course Komeda plays piano and Milian plays vibraphone on all tracks. Six of the tracks are standards and only one is an original composition by Komeda. Obviously the emphasis here is on the performing abilities and the interplay between Komeda and Milian, rather than on the abilities of the two as composers, which are in retrospect more important. Milian´s virtuosity is pretty obvious, as is his incredible feel for Swing and Bebop at the time. Milian was definitely the closest musical partner Komeda had during the first period of his activity, before forming his groundbreaking ensembles by mid 1960s, which where influenced by Avant-Garde experimentation. Milian´s extensive achievements as composer / arranger during the years following his involvement with Komeda constitute another fascinating chapter of the Polish Jazz history. Overall this is a collection of excellent Jazz music, superbly performed, which is an absolute delight to anybody who loves Jazz. It is a fundamental piece of every decent Polish Jazz record collection, especially in the case of the younger generation of listeners, which is just getting acquainted with the enormous legacy of Polish Jazz. The recordings are splendidly restored and remastered and nicely packaged in an elegant digipak / slipcase. Dates, places and lineups are faithfully included and even personal liner notes by young Polish Jazz critic (Roch SicinskiFind albums by this artist) are present, but there is no in-depth background material about Komeda and his music, however considering the plentitude of published material and several excellent books on the subject, an intelligent listener can easily bridge the knowledge gap. The only small reservation one might have is the fact that these recordings have been already released many times, more or less legally on the somewhat untamed Polish music market, which means they is already owned by the serious Polish Jazz collectors, probably more than once.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA ~ KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA W POLSKIM RADIU VOL.08 - SUPLEMENT POLSKIE RADIO 2256 (Barcode: 5907812240387) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1957 - 1989 Released: 2019 This is the eighth and final installment in a new series of albums launched by the Polish Radio, which presents radio recordings by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / composer / bandleader Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. Komeda is of course the most familiar name associated with Polish Jazz and his legacy is of crucial importance to Polish and European Jazz. Considering the fact that Komeda´s studio recordings are relatively scarce, the radio recordings are in fact the main source of his recorded legacy, as they include among others the Jazz Jamboree festival appearances by Komeda and his various ensembles over the years. The music presented here portrays the early recordings made by Komeda and some bonus material. It includes six tracks recorded by the Komeda sextet at the Polish Radio in Poznan (probably in 1957); similarly to some of the tracks present on the first volume of this series, and feature saxophonists Stanislaw PludraFind albums by this artist and Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, bassist Jozef StolarzFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan ZylberFind albums by this artist. Four of these tracks are standards, one is by Milian and one by Komeda. One track recorded by the USSR Radio in Moscow in 1957 features also his sextet (exact lineup unknown). Another track was recorded by his trio (exact lineup unknown) in Warsaw in 1963. The last track is a song written by Komeda and sung by Kalina JedrusikFind albums by this artist accompanied by a group led by him, recorded in Warsaw in 1967. There are also three bonus tracks: a recording of a film theme by Komeda by the orchestra of Polish Radio in Lodz from 1989, a recording of a song from the soundtrack of "Rosemary´s Baby" by pianist Mieczyslaw KoszFind albums by this artist during the Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw in 1971 and finally a fascinating interview with Komeda (twenty-six minutes long) from 1967 (about a year before his tragic death), in which he talks about his development as a musician and the unique character of Polish and European Jazz. Of course the interview is in Polish, which sadly makes it impossible for non-Polish speakers to enjoy it. Although somewhat uneven and historically hectic, this album offers previously unavailable material and is a must have for all Komeda completists.

Updated: 20/06/2020Posted: 17/06/2020

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LESZEK KULAKOWSKI ~ SLAP & CARESS MUSIC VOX 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 This is an excellent quartet recording by the Polish pianist / composer / educator Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist with the superb veteran vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr KulakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jacek PelcFind albums by this artist. The album includes nine original compositions, all by Leszek Kulakowski. Kulakowski is recognized as one of the most respected Polish Jazz musicians, with many achievements as a leader of his own ensembles, composer of Jazz and Jazz-Classical Fusion pieces and distinguished Jazz educator since many years. This album presents just one of his diverse activities in the field, i.e. small ensemble Jazz. The piano / vibraphone quartet, a sadly neglected lineup, opens up many possibilities of expression, which would be otherwise unattainable and Kulakowski makes the best out of this opportunity. The keyboards / vibraphone dialogue is the focal point of this music, which allows the melodic themes to be separately developed by both players simultaneously. The excellent rhythm section supports the soloists sympathetically and elegantly, maintaining the delicate balance between the foreground and the background. Overall the performances are first-rate and the level of professionalism is amazing, as expected. But of course the real forte of this album is the superb level of the compositions, which are all simply stunning. Kulakowski manages to construct his own language, which encompasses elements of Jazz and contemporary Classical idioms, even if those are somewhat hidden beneath the surface. These are hardly the average ditties, which often appear on Jazz albums only to disappear into obscurity soon after. They all have a character and maintain a level of intellectual curiosity, which deserves all praise. Kulakowski is often associated with the Polish Jazz legend Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist in many contexts. Although his compositions are not directly derived from Komeda´s legacy, they show the same conciseness and ability to condense a deeply emotional musical message into a seemingly simply melodic theme. And of course Komeda also had a vibraphonist in his early groups – the legendary Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. Capish? So here we have a beautiful mainstream Jazz album, which is full of great music, excellent performances and sophisticated, delicate scents of European Jazz at its best. Who can ask for anything else in these circumstances? Oh well, a bottle of good wine would be nice…

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LIGHT COORPORATION ~ 64:38 RADIO FULL LIV(F)E RER LC05 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2016 This is the fifth album by the excellent Polish ensemble Light CoorporationFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist Mariusz SobanskiFind albums by this artist. This lineup of the ensemble features also saxophonist Pawel RogozaFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Mariusz GregorowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof WaskiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Milosz KrauzFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live in the Polish Radio studio in Poznan, which is named Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist Studio after the Godfather of Polish Jazz, who made his early recordings there. The ensemble performs seven original compositions, all composed by the leader. The music presents reworked versions of compositions that previously appeared on the ensemble´s first and third albums and completely improvised pieces credited to all five members of the ensemble. This album definitely marks a shift towards improvised music, taking the ensemble further away from their initial Progressive Rock and Fusion image. This constant chameleonic ability to change the musical approach has been one of the greatest assets of Light Coorporation since their inception. Although instrumentally limited only to five instruments, the ensemble creates wide and diverse sound structures. The addition of the vibraphone (Gregorowicz is the only new member of the ensemble who did not appear on any of the previous albums) changed the overall sound significantly, bringing it even closer to traditional Jazz sound. I have no idea if Sobanski was influenced by the presence of the vibraphonist Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist as a member of the early Komeda combos, when he decided to add vibraphone to this new lineup, but whatever the reason was, it had a major influence on the overall result. As already stated above this album emphasizes Free improvisation, which constitutes a major part of the music. However, the music is still very coherent and based on composed parts, which enables the listener to follow up the developments without getting lost within the havoc that is often projected by Improvised Music projects. Some basic riffs and electric guitar parts go back to the Fusion idiom, but everything here is more hinted than explicitly stated, which of course makes life interesting for the listener. Overall this is another superb release by Light Coorporation, which is surely one of the most interesting, unconventional and sadly underrated ensembles active in Europe today. The album was released again on the prestigious British ReRFind albums on this label label, which consistently supports the band. I wholeheartedly recommend to open-minded listeners to investigate this album, as well as the previous releases by Light Coorporation, as they all are still completely valid and lost nothing of their original charm. Well done again!

Updated: 05/11/2016Posted: 05/11/2016

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BERNARD MASELI SEPTET ~ GOOD VIBES OF MILIAN FOR TUNE 0151 (Barcode: 5906395808663) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2021 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist and his septet, which comprises of four vibraphonists (Maseli, Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist, Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist) and a rhythm section (pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist), a classic “Summit” format, which I utilize since many years in my Singer Jazz Festival, and which was initially devised by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist. The album is a tribute to one of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, a pillar of modern Polish Jazz and one of the greatest composers, especially of orchestral Jazz, on the European Jazz scene. It presents a live recording of a concert recorded a few years back, which offers seven tracks, six of which were compositions by Milian (one co-composed with Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, another iconic figure of Polish Jazz) and one composed by Pieszka. The sound quality and clarity is excellent. The artwork features Milian’s wonderful paintings, an Artform Milian embraced after retiring from active performing life, which are reproduces in full color, for the first time in the many years of For TuneFind albums on this label Records history ;) The lines notes by Krzysztof BalkiewiczFind albums by this artist are well written and informative. The music holds no surprises, perfectly executed by the professional team and beautifully weaved by the Master composer, with the expected focus on the vibraphone (and marimba) as the tool of delivery. The vibraphone is a very dominant instrument and the thought of four vibraphone playing simultaneously is pretty scary; fortunately, most of the time it is just one of the four vibraphones (or two of them) that plays at a given moment, which makes the music perfectly audible and balanced. Since the listener is not present at the performance, it would have been nice to have a list of who is soloing on which track, but credits aside, all the players do a perfect job, as does the excellent rhythm section, driving the music steadily and securely. Overall this is an important tribute to the composing Genius of Milian and a very pleasant listening experience. For vibraphone enthusiasts this is of course a true feast. Of course it is also a well-deserved tribute to Polish Jazz history. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 17/07/2021

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JERZY MILIAN ~ BAZAAR (POLISH JAZZ VOL.17) MUZA 1017 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2005 This is the debut album by veteran Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the godfathers of modern Jazz in Poland. Milian started to play in the 1950s and was a member of the legendary sextet led by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, who persuaded him to move from piano to vibraphone. In time Milian became one of the top vibraphone players in Europe as well as an excellent composer with highly personal style. His music was always quite sophisticated and unusual, quite ahead of its time. The early Komeda influence was replaced later on by his own original compositional direction, which flirted with Cool, Third Stream, contemporary Classical and World Music. This album presents eight of his original compositions (one co-composed with Komeda) performed by a trio, which includes bassist Jacek BednarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GierlowskiFind albums by this artist. Two members of the legendary Polish vocal group NOVIFind albums by this artist: vocalist Ewa WanatFind albums by this artist and flautist Janusz MychFind albums by this artist also participate. This is a splendid example of European Jazz, which was rapidly developing in Eastern Europe by late 1960s and which still sounds great regardless half a century later. Highly recommended!

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JERZY MILIAN ~ BAZAAR (POLISH JAZZ VOL.17) GAD 017 (Barcode: 5901549197204) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1967 - 1969 Released: 2014 This is a newly remastered reissue of the debut album by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, which was originally released in 1969 as part of the legendary Polish Jazz Series by the state owned Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label / MuzaFind albums on this label label. The album was recorded in a trio format, with Milian playing vibraphone and marimba, bassist Jacek BednarekFind albums by this artist (who also plays the oriental gidjak on one tune) and drummer Grzegorz GierlowskiFind albums by this artist. Two members of the legendary Polish vocal quartet NOVIFind albums by this artist: Ewa WanatFind albums by this artist (who adds vocals on five tracks) and Janusz MychFind albums by this artist (who adds flute on one track) also participate in the recording. The original album presents eight original compositions, seven of which are composed by Milian and one is co-composed by him and Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. This expanded edition adds four tracks, recorded couple of years earlier for the Polish Radio, two of which are his original compositions, one is his arrangement of a Kurt WeilFind albums by this artist song and another is his arrangement of a Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist nocturne. Milian, who started his career on the Polish Jazz scene about fifteen years before this album was recorded, first came into prominence as a member of several ensembles led by Krzysztof Komeda. It was Komeda who persuaded Milian to drop the piano as his main instrument and switch to the vibraphone, thus enabling him to become a member of his ensembles. Later on Milian developed a prolific international career as a vibraphonist and as a composer, being one of the best known Polish Jazz musicians outside of Poland. Many of his achievements are documented by the ongoing archival "Jerzy Milian Tapes" series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which also released this reissue. In retrospect this is definitely one of the most idiosyncratic albums in the Polish Jazz Series, presenting one of the first occurrences of the Polish / European Chamber Jazz, which was an amalgam of modern Classical and Cool Jazz elements with many different less audible influences, like early World Music, Free Jazz, Ambient (before it was even called that) and others. The vocal parts by Wanat are completely spine-chilling, typical of her brilliant and unique style, which was the crucial ingredients of the NOVI magnetism. It is definitely a must to all Polish Jazz enthusiasts, wherever they might be on this globe (and beyond). This album was already reissued a decade earlier, without the bonus tracks, but the entire run of CD reissues (incomplete by the way) of the original Polish Jazz Series LPs disappeared immediately after being released. The fact that these recordings are unavailable is shameful, and a sad testimony to the fact that State owned Cultural treasures are simply being disgracefully completely wasted!

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JERZY MILIAN ~ BEZ PRZESADY GAD 085 (Barcode: 5903068120152) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1975 - 1976 Released: 2018 This is the second archival release of previously unissued material recorded by the Entertainment Orchestra of the Polish Radio and TVFind albums by this artist, directed by veteran musician / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. The orchestra was based in Katowice and most of its members were associated with the Music Academy in Katowice, which at that time did not have yet a Jazz department. The orchestra included an instrumental combo, a string section and a vocal group. It performed mostly original compositions by the orchestra members, including those by Milian. Apart from Milian on vibraphone other prominent musicians include also Jerzy JarosikFind albums by this artist on flute, Piotr PronkoFind albums by this artist on saxophone, Piotr KaluznyFind albums by this artist on keyboards and many more. The album presents fourteen tracks and four bonus tracks, which follows the similar division found on the first album, in preparation for a LP edition of this album, which will include the first fourteen tracks only. The music is a wide variety of instrumental Jazz oriented pieces, ranging from almost Pop, via Funk, Groove and Jazz, all of them beautifully arranged and performed by the orchestra. At the time these tracks were recorded Milian and the composers writing for the orchestra were interested in the "Philadelphia Sound", which is immediately obvious to a knowledgeable listener. But the Polish spicing, which is added here to the American influence produces a highly effective and more sophisticated kind of funk than the origin. Although obviously on the lighter side of Jazz, the album presents superbly crafted tunes and arrangements, which lost nothing of their charm over time. The meaning of the word "entertainment" obviously meant something quite different at that time. This specific sound of the orchestra was a unique phenomenon in the history of Polish Jazz and kudos to GADFind albums on this label Records for unearthing this material and bringing it back to life. For people familiar with Polish Jazz discography, this album is a companion to the second album by the orchestra released originally in 1978 by Polskie Nagrania / MuzaFind albums on this label, which features other pieces recorded at the same sessions. For Polish Jazz enthusiasts and people interested in the Polish Funk of the 1970s this album is an absolute must. But other music lovers, who have no special ties with Polish music, might find this music fascinating nevertheless. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 06/02/2019Posted: 06/02/2019

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JERZY MILIAN ~ BLUES FOR PRAHA GAD 007 (Barcode: 5901549197068) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2013 The Polish GADFind albums on this label Records label has become a treasure chest of archival recordings by Polish Jazz and Rock artists and in the short period of time since 2010, when the label released its first album, it established its position on the market as a dedicated and reliable source of interesting material. This album follows the already established pattern and is the second volume of archival material by legendary Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the forefathers of modern Polish Jazz. The material collected here was recorded in former Czechoslovakia, Poland´s southern neighbor, which had a wonderful Jazz scene as well at the time these recordings were made, i.e. mid-1960s. For many reasons, which fall far beyond the scope of a record review, the cooperation between these two scenes was rather limited, and therefore this album is especially important, as it documents a little known chapter of Eastern European Jazz. Milian established collaboration with Gustav BromFind albums by this artist, the founder and leader of the legendary Gustav Brom OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which was one of the best Jazz Big Bands in Europe at the time. He performed and recorded with the orchestra several times until the brutal Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, which put an end to the Prague Spring. The material collected here presents four studio tracks recorded by the Czech radio and three live tracks recorded a few months later. Two tracks are Milian originals and one was composed by the Gustav Brom Orchestra´s bassist Milan RezabekFind albums by this artist. The remaining four tracks are standards. The American trumpeter Ted CursonFind albums by this artist, who often visited Eastern Europe and recorded in Poland as well, solos along Milian on one track. All tracks feature extended solos by Milian and are a wonderful testimony to his virtuosic abilities. The orchestra also performs quite splendidly of course, even in the trickiest moments. The music is nor terribly innovative, moving within the established boundaries of Bee Bop and Cool, but is definitely well played. Overall this is yet another glace at the Polish Jazz history, which of course deserves to be remembered. With remastered and restored sound and informative booklet (including text in English), this album is definitely worth checking out by any connoisseur of European Jazz, looking for another perspective.

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JERZY MILIAN ~ CIRCULATIONS GAD 071 (Barcode: 5901549197969) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1966 - 1969 Released: 2018 This is the seventh installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from mid to late 1960s, done in Belgium with the Belgian (Radio & TV) BRT Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, directed by Etienne VerschuerenFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, three of which are three part suites, all composed by Milian. Milian would of course return to work with the BTR Jazz Orchestra in the 1980s, which is documented on the third installment of this series. The music is a wonderful orchestral Jazz, which at the time was considered as part of the searching Third Stream, which was supposed to merge Jazz and contemporary Classical Music, as initiated by the American composer Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist in the late 1950s and had many sympathizers among leading American Jazz musicians in the 1950s and 1960s, but never became part of the mainstream of Jazz per se. Milian did not follow the Third Stream conventions by the letter, but his complex compositions and Jazzy improvisations by the orchestra on top of the scores can be without doubt associated with the idiom. In some respects Third Stream was an attempt to Europeanize American Jazz and failed mostly due to the basic cultural incompatibility between mainstream American Jazz and sophisticated European contemporary Classical music, which Americans rejected but some Europeans (Milian included, but also the great Polish composer Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist and many others) embraced warmly. Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid half a Century later, as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully melodic, in some cases incorporating Polish Folklore sources, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created. The BTR Jazz Orchestra included many excellent instrumentalists, who performed the difficult music without a hitch. Overall this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s recent passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz enthusiasts this album is an absolute must!

Updated: 15/04/2018Posted: 15/04/2018

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JERZY MILIAN ~ CUTTING GAD 123 (Barcode: 5903068120985) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1971 - 1977 Released: 2020 This is the ninth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from 1970s, done in East Berlin (then DDR) with the Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist, conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, which included the best East German musicians, such as saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Joachim GrasswurmFind albums by this artist, trombonist Hubert KatzenbeisserFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / clarinetist Werner SchmidtFind albums by this artist, pianist Horst PawliczakFind albums by this artist, bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist, drummer Wolfgang WinklerFind albums by this artist and others. The orchestra performs sixteen compositions by Milian, also arranged by him. The music is typical orchestral Jazz, based on the wonderful compositions and brilliant arrangements by Milian, which offer a mixture of relatively easier pieces with some Funk, Swing and even Big Beat inclinations, but also more advanced ones bordering on Anat-Garde, altogether a wonderful example of modern European Jazz, reflecting Milian´s fascination with the Third Stream idiom. These orchestral pieces are obviously more "well behaved" in comparison to the music Milian composed for small combos, but still complex enough to rise a brow fifty years later. The orchestra included many excellent instrumentalists (Petrowsky among them), who performed the difficult music without a hitch, and therefore the result is still awe inspiring Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid, often sounding as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully structured, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created. Overall this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz and East European Jazz enthusiasts this album and all the albums released in this archival series are an absolute must!

Updated: 16/09/2020Posted: 16/09/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ FOUR HATS GAD 294 (Barcode: 5903068125348) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2024 This is the 12th installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s early trio and quartet recordings. The first four tracks present the quartet with pianist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, bassist Juliusz SandeckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrzej DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1965 in Brussels at the BRT Studios. One composition is by Milian, one by Karolak, one is credited to all four musicians and finally one is an arrangement by Karolak of Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist’s composition. The next four tracks present the trio with bassist Janusz MarianskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GierlowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in 1966 in Poznan at the local Polish Radio studio. Saxophonist Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist plays on two tracks. Three of the compositions are by Milian and one is by Wroblewski. The music is a classic mainstream Jazz, strongly influenced by the Cool stylistics, but also very much Milian’s own, full of his idiosyncrasies and Third Stream tendencies. Milian’s vibraphone playing is concise and precise, but filled of his intrinsic flare and unique sense of humor. The compositions are all excellent, as always, and reflect the incredibly high level of Jazz behind the Iron Curtain, which is on all levels as good as anything done in the “West” at the time. Despite the fact that the recordings originate from Milian’s private archive, the sound quality is absolutely perfect, which makes listening to this music a true pleasure. As usual one has to admire the dedication and consistency of the GAD Records label for bringing these treasures back to life. Overall, this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For Polish Jazz enthusiasts this album is an absolute must!

Updated: 31/05/2024Posted: 31/05/2024

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ JERZY MILIAN 80 GAD 026 (Barcode: 5901549197341) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1956 - 2004 Released: 2015 Vibraphonist / composer / arranger / bandleader and one of the Godfathers of modern Polish Jazz, Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, celebrated his eightieth birthday in April 2015 and this limited birthday edition album is a celebration of his outstanding lifelong career, emphasizing his talents as a composer. The fourteen tracks recorded in Poland and abroad between 1956 and 2004, present original compositions by Milian performed in diverse settings ranging from small combos to Big Bands / Orchestras and showcasing his talents as composer, arranger and instrumentalist. The music ranges from Jazz compositions to popular music pieces, all elegantly arranged and performed, and tells the story of Milian´s life as a continuous soundtrack, which is a great fun to listen to and a tribute to his creativity. Since nine of the tracks on this album are previously unreleased, this is also a significant addition to the available discography of Milian´s work and a historical document of the development of Polish Jazz. Additionally, this is also a superb introduction to Milian´s work for people who are not yet familiar with his music and therefore a wonderful window to his world. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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JERZY MILIAN ~ MILIANALIA (POLISH JAZZ VOL.88 DELUXE) MUZA 1088 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 Released: 2006 This is a beautiful solo album by the virtuoso Polish vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the godfathers of modern Jazz in Poland, which was recorded to celebrate his 70th Birthday. Milian started to play in the 1950s and was a member of the legendary sextet led by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, who persuaded him to move from piano to vibraphone. In time Milian became one of the top vibraphone players in Europe as well as an excellent composer with highly personal style. His music was always quite sophisticated and unusual, quite ahead of its time. The early Komeda influence was replaced later on by his own original compositional direction, which flirted with Cool, Third Stream, contemporary Classical and World Music. This album presents eight of his original compositions performed solo on a variety of instruments including vibraphone, marimba and various percussion and string instruments. Not an easy listen, this music requires attentive listening and concentration, since the melodic motifs are quite elusive at times. But altogether this is a charming album, which I enjoy listening to very much. Highly recommended!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ MUSIC FOR MR. FORTUNA SJP 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a very unusual album in every respect and a wonderful illustration of the diversity, ingenuity and continued tradition of the Polish Jazz scene. It features nine original compositions by veteran Polish Jazz composer / vibraphonist Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the legendary Godfathers of the local scene, including a two part composition which gave this album its title, which the composer created especially for the great upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeter Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist. Both Milian and Fortuna hail from the city of Poznan. The album also features an unconventional packaging in a form of a triangle, which easily wins the title of most awkwardly packaged album in recent times. The music is performed by a quartet, which includes Fortuna on trumpet, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub MielcarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist, which is occasionally also supported by a string quartet. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz idiom, full of typical Milian´s melancholy and lyricism, which have always characterized his compositions. The execution is also rather constrained, fully delivering the beautiful melodic themes and elegantly incorporating the gentle quartet string arrangements. It is the most "conventional" album by Fortuna as of late, which emphasizes his deep respect for the Jazz tradition at its best. The personal performances are, as expected, top notch. The music does not push Fortuna to exhibit the full power of his virtuosic abilities, but it definitely shows his elegance and finesse as a mainstream player. Dys is as masterly as always, here playing mostly the electric piano with great taste and his typical sense of humor. Mielcarek supports the soloists amicably and his strong pulse is the platform upon which the music moves forward. Jarosz keeps respectfully in the background, delicately adding his rhythmic support. The title track (in two parts) is the most complex and advanced piece of music on this album and shows the full power of the quartet and the individual abilities at their best. But overall this is a very nice musical adventure which should be enjoyed by all Polish Jazz fans and the many followers of Fortuna. The music is available as a free downloadable mobile app and of course is definitely recommended!

Updated: 14/03/2017Posted: 14/03/2017

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JERZY MILIAN ~ NEUROIMPRESSIONS GAD 050 (Barcode: 5901549197655) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 - 1973 Released: 2016 This is the sixth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from the early 1970s, done with small ensembles in Hungary and East Germany (DDR), captured during three separate sessions, each producing three tracks. All nine tracks are original compositions by Milian. The Hungarian session was recorded with a quartet led by trumpeter Rudolf TomsitsFind albums by this artist with included also pianist Gyorgy VukanFind albums by this artist, bassist Balazs BerkesFind albums by this artist and drummer Vilmos JavoriFind albums by this artist. Both East German sessions find Milian accompanied by the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist, bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist and drummer Willibald WinklerFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Heinz BeckerFind albums by this artist participated on just one of these sessions. The music is by far the most Avant-Garde of all Milian´s compositions presented on this series, and although obviously composed, it sounds like spontaneously Improvised Music most of the time. Both the Hungarian and the East German musicians were at the time representatives of the East European Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene, and their bold and adventurous attitude put them on the same level as their counterparts from across the Iron Wall. Petrowsky´s saxophone work does not differ much from what Evan ParkerFind albums by this artist played at the time in the UK or Willem BreukerFind albums by this artist played in Netherlands and so on. From the historical perspective this album presents one more layer of Milian´s diversity and versatility, which is certainly much less known than his Big Band activity, which made him popular among listeners of less complex music. There is no doubt that Milian was able to take advantage of the opportunities the Eastern Block had to offer, in order to create some of the most audacious music made at the time anywhere on the planet. As usual the original recordings are excellently remastered and the booklet offer informative bi-lingual background information about the music and the time it was created at. It is yet another must for all East European Jazz fans and collectors!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 15/01/2017

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ OPTIMA FIDE GAD 208 (Barcode: 5903068123108) ~ POLAND ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1968 - 1970 Released: 2022 This is the eleventh installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from the late 1960s and early 1970s, done in Brussels, with Belgian (Radio & TV) BRT Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Etienne VerschuerenFind albums by this artist and the BRT Jazz ComboFind albums by this artist conducted by Freddy SunderFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions by Milian and one arrangement of a Classical piece by Polish composer Stanislaw MoniuszkoFind albums by this artist. The compositions include a concerto for vibraphone and Jazz Orchestra and a suite, which gives this album its title. This album is a companion release to the seventh part of this series called “CirculationsFind albums with this title”. The music is a wonderful orchestral Jazz, which at the time was considered as part of the searching Third Stream, which was supposed to merge Jazz and contemporary Classical Music, as initiated by the American composer Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist in the late 1950s and had many sympathizers among leading American Jazz musicians in the 1950s and 1960s, but never became part of the mainstream of Jazz per se. Milian did not follow the Third Stream conventions by the letter, but his complex compositions and Jazzy improvisations by the orchestra on top of the scores can be without doubt associated with the idiom. In some respects, Third Stream was an attempt to Europeanize American Jazz and failed mostly due to the basic cultural incompatibility between mainstream American Jazz and sophisticated European contemporary Classical music, which Americans rejected but some Europeans (Milian included, but also the great Polish composer Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist and many others) embraced warmly. Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid half a Century later, as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully melodic, in some cases incorporating Polish Folklore sources, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created. The BTR Jazz Orchestra included many excellent instrumentalists, who performed the difficult music without a hitch. Overall, this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz enthusiasts this album is an absolute must!

Updated: 09/10/2022Posted: 09/10/2022

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JERZY MILIAN ~ ORKIESTRA ROZRYWKOWA PRITV W KATOWICACH (POLISH JAZZ VOL.92 DELUXE) MUZA 1092 (Barcode: 5907783420924) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1975 Released: 2007 This album presents the veteran Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist as the founder / director / conductor of the Polish Radio and TV Orchestra in the southern Polish region of Silesia (with its capital in Katowice). This Orchestra, comprising of young musicians, mostly from the Jazz Department of the local Music Conservatory, perform original music which includes also two of Milian´s compositions. Although only marginally Jazz, it is a great example of how Jazz musicians were able to find jobs in the Socialist System, playing original music. The Orchestra also includes a vocal combo, which sings in some of the tunes, stylistically resembling the famous Polish vocal ensemble NOVIFind albums by this artist. In retrospect this music is certainly not a Polish Jazz milestone recording, but is still quite fun to listen to after all these years and certainly a document of the era.

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ OSTATNIA KOMPOZYCJA SJP 007 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the third installment of the project dedicated to the music by and the memory of the iconic Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / arranger / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, carried out by trumpeter / composer Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist. Milian, who died in 2018, cooperated during the last years of his life with young musician from his hometown of Poznan, and even wrote new compositions for them, the first of which was released as part of the first installment of this project called "Music For Mr. FortunaFind albums with this title". Two further compositions: "Dylematy Dla Pieciu" and "Konsylium Z Zyrafa", both of which are multi-part suites, are released here for the first time. The music is performed by top Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Maciej Fortuna, saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Piotr BanysFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub MielcarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Stanislaw AleksandrowiczFind albums by this artist. On two additional tracks Milian plays vibraphone accompanied by symphony orchestra conducted by Grzegorz StasiukFind albums by this artist, who also created the orchestral arrangements. "Konsylium Z Zyrafa" was the last composition by Milian completed before his death, hence the album´s title. The music is everything one might expect from Milian, as far as the compositions are concerned, and from the musicians as far as execution is concerned. Milian was always a master of atmosphere; ad his compositions here confirm his reputation. Fortuna and his cohorts play brilliantly, as expected. Overall this is another piece in the hyper-sized puzzle of Milian´s legacy, which proves his importance as one of the leading European Jazz composers and trendsetters. The album is an absolute must to Milian´s avid fans and completists of his recorded legacy. Although only slightly above half an hour in playing time, it fully justifies to be a part of any serious Polish Jazz collection.

Updated: 18/01/2020Posted: 18/01/2020

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JERZY MILIAN ~ PENGUIN BIDS GAD 166 (Barcode: 5903068121937) ~ POLAND ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1963 - 1966 Released: 2020 This is the tenth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from the 1960s, done in Warsaw with the Polish Radio Dance OrchestraFind albums by this artist led and conducted by Edward CzernyFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, the last of which is a three-part suite, all composed and arranged by Milian, who plays vibraphone and marimba with the orchestra. The music is a wonderful example of classic Swing, meticulously arranged for the Orchestra / Big Band and featuring Milian’s soli. Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid, often sounding as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully structured, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created. The Orchestra featured highly skilled and experienced musicians, which enabled Milian to write complex scores, which they were able to perform without a hitch, and the result was certainly as good as any other European Orchestra / Big Band active at the time. Overall, this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz and East European Jazz enthusiasts this album and all the albums released in this archival series are an absolute must!

Updated: 19/02/2022Posted: 19/02/2022

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ PRETEKST GAD 062 (Barcode: 5901549197846) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2017 This is an archival release of previously unreleased material recorded by the Entertainment Orchestra of the Polish Radio and TVFind albums by this artist, directed by veteran musician / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. The orchestra was based in Katowice and most of its members were associated with the Music Academy in Katowice, which at that time did not have yet a Jazz department. The orchestra included an instrumental combo, a string section and a vocal group. It performed mostly original compositions by the orchestra members, including those by Milian. Apart from Milian on vibraphone other prominent musicians include also Jerzy JarosikFind albums by this artist on flute, brothers: Piotr PronkoFind albums by this artist on saxophone and Wojciech PronkoFind albums by this artist on bass, Piotr KaluznyFind albums by this artist on keyboards and many more. The album presents fourteen tracks on both the CD and LP version of this album and four bonus tracks are present on the CD edition only. The music is a wide variety of instrumental Jazz oriented pieces, ranging from almost Pop, via Funk, Groove and Jazz, all of them beautifully arranged and performed by the orchestra. Although obviously on the lighter side of Jazz, the album presents superbly crafted tunes and arrangements, which lost nothing of their charm over time. The meaning of the word "entertainment" obviously meant something quite different at that time. This specific sound of the orchestra was a unique phenomenon in the history of Polish Jazz and kudos to GADFind albums on this label Records for unearthing this material and bringing it back to life. For people familiar with Polish Jazz discography, this album is a companion to the album released originally in 1975 by Polskie Nagrania / MuzaFind albums on this label, which features other pieces recorded at the same sessions. For Polish Jazz enthusiasts and people interested in the Polish Funk of the 1970s this album is an absolute must. But other music lovers, who have no special ties with Polish music, might find this music fascinating nevertheless. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted: 27/01/2018

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JERZY MILIAN ~ RIVALEN GAD 037 (Barcode: 5901549197471) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1968 - 1974 Released: 2016 This is the fifth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s ballet music, and presents four of his works, three of which were choreographed for the stage by the pioneering Polish choreographer Conrad DrzewieckiFind albums by this artist. One piece was recorded by the Poznan Opera OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which featured saxophonist Zdzislaw NowakFind albums by this artist, and the other three by the excellent East German Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, which featured the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Joachim GrasswurmFind albums by this artist. The composition entitled "Tema Con Variazioni", which was released on Milian´s album "Muzyka Baletowa I FilmowaFind albums with this title" appears here in its full version for the first time. The music is completely visionary, as usual in Milian´s case, floating somewhere between Third Stream, Duke Ellington´s Jazz suites and contemporary Classical Music. Considering the fact he was only in his thirties, when this music was composed, he already had a tremendous experience and vision, which only very few of his contemporaries shared. The recording with the Poznan Opera Orchestra is a bit stiff (except for the excellent saxophone parts), as these were classically trained musicians and Milian´s intricacies must have been straining for them, but the three Berlin recordings are all spectacular and awe inspiring, especially in retrospect. Nobody today dares to write and perform such complex and farsighted music and perhaps we should be grateful to the Socialist Era, which enabled projects that in today´s economic reality would be completely impossible to realize. This is unquestionably one of the strongest albums in this series, which of course has a tremendous historic value, but first and foremost presents some incredible music, which absolutely has to be preserved for posterity. For Polish Jazz connoisseurs this is an essential piece of the puzzle and a must in every serious record collection. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 12/03/2020Posted: 27/02/2016

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ SEMIRAMIDA GAD 024 (Barcode: 5901549197303) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1966 - 1969 Released: 2015 This is the fourth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to the Milian trio, which was his basic platform in the mid to late 1960s and which was eventually used to record his formal debut album "BazaarFind albums with this title" in 1969. This album collects the recordings made by the trio during four consecutive editions of the Jazz Jamboree Festival in the years 1966-1969. The trio included bassist Jacek BednarekFind albums by this artist, who was replaced in 1969 by Jacek OstaszewskiFind albums by this artist, and drummer Grzegorz GierlowskiFind albums by this artist. On the 1969 recordings the violinist Marian SiejkaFind albums by this artist is also present. The album comprises of eleven compositions, five of which are Milian originals and one is co-composed by Milian and Ostaszewski, two are by Bednarek and the remaining three are standards. Almost fifty years later a retrospective analysis of these recordings clearly shows how revolutionary and ahead of their time they were then and how relevant they still are now. The vibraphone trio by itself was quite a unique concept at the time with only very few parallels, and combined with the highly unusual musical approach led by Milian, which combined Cool, Third Stream and Polish Romanticism, presented the listener with an intellectual challenge of the highest degree. Additionally the World Music influence added by both Bednarek and Ostaszewski (the latter was about to start the legendary group OssianFind albums by this artist soon after), was also utterly innovative at the time. It is fascinating to hear the progress from the first track of this album to the last, which turns out to be almost completely Free Form. The album is also a powerful showcase of the incredible talents of two legendary Polish Jazz bassists, as these trio recordings allow us to hear their incredible contributions upfront. Gierlowski also plays beautifully and of course Milian´s playing is phenomenal, but that is hardly surprising. These live recordings suffer from minor sonic quality problems, even after they have been well remastered, but vibraphone always presents quite a challenge and considering the conditions available behind the Iron Curtain at the time it is miraculous this music sounds as it does. Overall this is another important addition to the recorded history of Polish Jazz, which should not be missed. Hopefully more gems like this one will be made available to the eagerly awaiting fans.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ STIGMA GAD 107 (Barcode: 5903068120480) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2019 This is the eighth installment of the archival series released by GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents the work of Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. This chapter is dedicated to Milian´s recordings from 1970, done in Berlin (then DDR) with the Ensemble Studio 4Find albums by this artist, a septet led by saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist and including trumpeter Joachim GrasswurmFind albums by this artist, trombonist Hubert KatzenbeisserFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / clarinetist Werner SchmidtFind albums by this artist, pianist Eberhard WeiseFind albums by this artist, bassist Klaus KochFind albums by this artist and drummer Wolfgang WinklerFind albums by this artist. The septet performs four compositions by Milian, also arranged by him. Additional three compositions by Milian are performed by the Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist, conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, a cooperation that would continue for the next fourteen years. Milian plays vibraphone on five tracks, both with the septet and the orchestra. The music is a wonderful example of modern European Jazz, with both the septet and the Big Band pieces reflecting Milian´s fascination with the Third Stream idiom. The septet included some of the most important East German Jazz players at the time, many of which founded the Avant-Garde / Free Jazz scene in East Germany, which was known by its adventurous explorations and radical approach, which for some reason where tolerated by the State censorship, often considered as the sternest behind the Iron Curtain. Therefore it is quite natural that the tracks with the septet are quite challenging and free spirited, and the fact that this music was strictly composed often seems to be lost in the heat of the execution. The orchestral pieces are obviously more "well behaved", but still complex enough to rise a brow fifty years later. The orchestra included many excellent instrumentalists (Petrowsky among them), who performed the difficult music without a hitch, and therefore the result is not surprising, but still awe inspiring Milian´s compositions are absolutely brilliant and remain completely valid, often sounding as if composed today. Sophisticated, elegant, clever and beautifully structured, this music is alive and kicking as it was at the time it was created. Overall this is an incredible piece of Polish / European Jazz history, which absolutely deserves to be heard and studied. With Milian´s passing it is even more important to document his work and bring it to the public. For orchestral Jazz and East European Jazz enthusiasts this album and all the albums released in this archival series are an absolute must!

Updated: 12/03/2020Posted: 12/03/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ STRATUS NIMBUS GAD 009 (Barcode: 5901549197099) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1982 - 1987 Released: 2013 The Polish GADFind albums on this label Records label has become a treasure chest of archival recordings by Polish Jazz and Rock artists and in the short period of time since 2010, when the label released its first album, it established its position on the market as a dedicated and reliable source of interesting material. This album follows the already established pattern and is the third volume of archival material by legendary Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the forefathers of modern Polish Jazz. The material collected here was recorded over a period of several years in the 1980s by the Belgian (Radio & TV) BRT Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, directed by Etienne VerschuerenFind albums by this artist, which included many excellent players, some known also internationally. Milian worked previously with this orchestra in the late 1960 and this was his second spell with them. He wasn´t the only Polish musician working with this orchestra, as saxophonist / composer Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist also recorded an album with them in 1976 entitled "SkleroptakFind albums with this title". The music, all composed by Milian, includes six orchestral suites of varying length, one of which turns into an oratorio with the addition of a choir, which sings a poem by the American poet T.S. EliotFind albums by this artist. The music is quite impressive, with a firm melodic content and elaborate orchestral arrangements, which allow for solo spots. It is less adventurous material than some of Milian´s earlier compositions, but lacks nothing as far as compositional skills, flair and elegance are concerned. The orchestra performs the music spotlessly and with grace and as a result this is a wonderful Big Band / orchestral album, which reflects well on Milian´s talent and vision. It is also a great example of European Big Band / orchestral sound and style, which varies considerably from its American counterparts. In retrospect these recordings are a sad reminder of the Big Band form, which is almost extinct today in comparison to its hay days. With the impossible economics behind keeping a Big Band performing and touring and a dwindling public funding, most Big Bands, including the one present here, were eventually disbanded. Signs of a disappearing Culture. "Luckily, the recordings remain" concludes Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, the owner of GAD Records, in the booklet and I concur wholeheartedly. With remastered and restored sound and informative booklet (including text in English), this album is definitely worth checking out by any connoisseur of European Jazz, looking for another perspective.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JERZY MILIAN ~ WHEN WHERE WHY GAD 005 (Barcode: 5901549197044) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 - 1979 Released: 2012 The Polish GADFind albums on this label Records label has become a treasure chest of archival recordings by Polish Jazz and Rock artists and in the short period of time since 2010, when the label released its first album, it established its position on the market as a dedicated and reliable source of interesting material. This album follows the already established pattern and is the first volume of archival material by legendary Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the forefathers of modern Polish Jazz. The material collected here was recorded over a period of several years in the 1970s by the East German Rundfunk Tanzorchester BerlinFind albums by this artist conducted by Gunter GollaschFind albums by this artist, which included many excellent players, some known also internationally like the legendary saxophonist Ernst-Ludwig PetrowskyFind albums by this artist. Milian worked with the orchestra for many years, writing and recording a lot of quite diverse music with them. The music presented here, all composed by Milian, consists of fifteen relatively shorter pieces, which exemplify the "lighter" side of his composer´s milieu, which of course does not mean the music is of lesser quality or sophistication. The melodies are all quite superbly crafted and the orchestral arrangements are all splendid and interesting. It is less adventurous material than some of Milian´s other compositions, but lacks nothing as far as compositional skills, flair and elegance are concerned. The orchestra performs the music spotlessly and with grace and as a result this is a wonderful Big Band / orchestral album, which reflects well on Milian´s talent and vision. It is also a great example of European Big Band / orchestral sound and style, which varies considerably from its American counterparts. In retrospect these recordings are a sad reminder of the Big Band form, which is almost extinct today in comparison to its hay days. With the impossible economics behind keeping a Big Band performing and touring and a dwindling public funding, most Big Bands, including the one present here, were eventually disbanded, an omen of a disappearing Culture. They also present a little known facet of European Jazz, which bloomed under the surface behind the Iron Curtain, even in the DDR and East Berlin, which were always considered as the epicenter of Socialist conservatism, cultural and otherwise, and oppression of "forbidden" Western influences. And yet the wide open eyes of the censorship often missed some truly daring escapades happening just under its nose. This is definitely one of such cases. With remastered and restored sound and informative booklet (including text in English), this album is definitely worth checking out by any connoisseur of European Jazz, looking for another perspective.

Updated: 27/02/2016Posted:

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JERZY MILIAN / MACIEJ FORTUNA ~ BIG CLUB BAND SJP 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second installment of the project dedicated to the music by and the memory of the iconic Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / arranger / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, carried out trumpeter / composer Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist. The music is performed by the re-activated Poznanska Pietnastka OrchestraFind albums by this artist (The Poznan Fifteen Orchestra), which was originally co-founded by Milian, in his hometown as a Radio Orchestra and for which he wrote many original compositions. The re-activated Orchestra under the artistic direction of Fortuna consists of young generation Polish Jazz musicians. The album presents seven compositions by Milian and two compositions by Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist, all arranged and orchestrated by Iwona WitekFind albums by this artist. The music Milian composed for the Poznanska Pietnastka Radiowa at the time was not intended to be Jazz oriented but was basically instrumental entertainment music, which was more ambitious than simplistic popular music. The new arrangements stay more or less faithful to the originals but are slightly more Jazzed up and feature more Jazz oriented soloing. Overall this is only marginally Jazz oriented music, but the album is a nice gesture towards Milian and his contribution to Polish Jazz and Polish music in general and an educational enterprise to get young Jazz musician involved in Big Band / Orchestral music, which is almost completely absent from the contemporary scene. For people interested in the career of Jerzy Milian and his compositions, this is a welcome reminder of his mostly forgotten and hard to find early works. This album is not a commercial release and as such might be not so easy to find, but its historical and educational values are obvious. It follows the same unusual triangular design, unpractical for storage, but nevertheless very unique.

Updated: 31/12/2018Posted: 31/12/2018

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POLISH RADIO JAZZ ORCHESTRA / ANDRZEJ KURYLEWICZ ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.23 POLSKIE RADIO 1875 (Barcode: 5907812248758) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 Released: 2015 This is the twenty-third installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The nineteen tracks collected here were recorded in 1964 by the Polish Radio Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by pianist / trumpeter / trombonist / composer Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist. Sixteen tracks were recorded by the Polish Radio Studio during various sessions and three were recorded live during the seventh Jazz Jamboree Festival. The orchestra included at the time several well known musicians, like saxophonists Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist and Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist and others. The material is a mixture of Jazz standards (five tracks) and original compositions by Polish Jazz composers: Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist (six tracks), Jerzy Milian (three tracks), Andrzej Trzaskowski (two tracks), Edward DylagFind albums by this artist (two tracks) and Michal Urbaniak (one track). The arrangements and orchestrations are firmly based in the American Big Band tradition, but the overall sound of the orchestra already shows the European approach and the majority of original compositions reflects the tendency to find a new path, which will take big format Jazz another step forward in the years to follow. Of course the individual performances, soloing and orchestral harmonization are all top-notch. In the historic perspective this is a superb document of the transition between the American influenced Jazz and the emancipated European Jazz that is about to erupt, including the big format Jazz environment. Trzaskowski, of course, was definitely one of the pioneers of this new movement, and his influence was crucial as far as the Polish Jazz is concerned, prompting and leading it to make the shift. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its importance to the development of Jazz in Poland. Nevertheless this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

S. E. A. TRIO ~ INFLOW VOICE MUSIC 1010 (Barcode: 5906489287466) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the debut album by S. E. A. TrioFind albums by this artist, comprising of three prominent Polish Jazz musicians: vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are original compositions, six by Bukowski and three by Lemanczyk. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to hear a vibraphone trio recording, which is a splendid occasion to explore this wonderful musical setting, with its naked minimalism and crystal clear sound. Bukowski could not have found a better rhythm section, since both Lemanczyk, which whom he records since decades, and Gradziuk, of RGGFind albums by this artist trio fame, are both superb instrumentalists, members of the very top of the Polish Jazz league. Their skills and talents are obviously perfect for this demanding task, as the fragile and intricate music is quite tricky. Stylistically the music lies somewhere between ECMFind albums on this label era Gary BurtonFind albums by this artist and the Third Stream efforts by Polish Jazz vibraphone pioneer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, revisiting the vibe (pun intended) of the “old days”, but without letting the nostalgia to cut any slack. The music is vibrant and fully alive, with all three instrumentalists displaying virtuosic fluency and up to date approach. As already mentioned above, Lemanczyk is a natural choice for this project, but it’s a nice surprise to hear Gradziuk so well behaved and at the same time inventive here, proving again what a great drummer he really is. Naturally, the spotlight is all on Bukowski as the soloist and main composer, but this album is an absolute team effort, as best Jazz albums always are. It is good to hear Bukowski in his natural habitat, doing what he loves, and keeping the smile on the listener’s lips at all time. Overall, this is a splendid, beautiful Jazz album, with vibraphone at the helm, which is sadly a rare outing these days, featuring three of the top Polish Jazz players, which of course guarantees quality and class, felt from the first stroke of the mallets. Wholeheartedly recommended and an absolute must for vibraphone lovers.

Updated: 09/05/2024Posted: 09/05/2024

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STRESS ~ Z ARCHIWUM POLSKIEGO RADIA VOL.08 POLSKIE RADIO 1089-1090 (Barcode: 5907812240899) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1979 Released: 2008 This album compiles archive material by the Polish Rock group StressFind albums by this artist recorded by the Polish Radio over a period of several years, covering the group´s history from its formative years to its ultimate demise. The fact that these recordings exist at all are a miracle and since the group never managed to record an album they are the only source of material that tells their story. In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s Polish Rock suffered from extreme limitations enforced upon the music and the artists by the Socialist regime, which considered long-haired and bell-bottom jeans wearing musicians as enemies of the state. Therefore many Polish Rock groups never managed to record even one album on the state-owned record label, especially if their songs were different from the Pop material considered safe by Government censorship. Luckily enough, the regime was also extremely bureaucratic and regionally partitioned, which allowed for some local sovereignty of some institutions, which was explored to the max by the Polish Radio, which had many regional studios and was able to record artists without asking too many questions. Thanks to the brave man and woman working at the Polish Radio all over the country many Polish Rock recordings survived the unsympathetic times against all odds. The band was formed initially as a power trio and included guitarist / flautist / vocalist Mariusz RybickiFind albums by this artist, who also wrote all of the band´s material, bassist Henryk TomczakFind albums by this artist and drummer Janusz MaslakFind albums by this artist. Their "heavy" Hard Rock sound took the local scene by complete surprise and they scored a successful hit with their first radio single, but somehow their career never took off, as it so richly deserved. Rybicki wrote excellent tunes, played some superb riffs and above all smoked the guitar like nobody else on the local scene. Eventually the group was extended into a sextet with the addition of keyboards and percussion. The recordings collected on this album include two tracks, which feature the Polish Jazz vibraphonist Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. These recordings present the musical history of the group, which went through several phases from Hard Rock, Progressive Rock and eventually even Jazz-Rock Fusion. The material is excellent from start to finish and the recording quality is also surprisingly satisfactory. If Stress were a British band, they would have rocked stadiums, but Poland unfortunately proved to be a dead end for their career; what a terrible waste. Definitely a must to all Polish Rock fans both in Poland and anywhere in the world, as well as guitar heaven for guitar enthusiasts. Highly recommended!

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.03 POLSKIE RADIO 1599 (Barcode: 5907812245993) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1962 Released: 2013 This is the third installment in the new series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venue, the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The material collected here presents recordings made during the 5th Jazz Jamboree, which took place between October 27 and 29, 1962 in Warsaw. The artists include two Scandinavian Jazz ensembles: Swedish trombonist Eje ThelinFind albums by this artist and his quintet and the Jazz FraktionenFind albums by this artist quintet featuring the Danish saxophonist John TchicaiFind albums by this artist. One track features the American trumpeter Don EllisFind albums by this artist accompanied by a Polish trio led by pianist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, which was already presented on volume 2 of this series, offering here an alternate take. Another track presents the quintet led by Polish vibraphonist Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, which features the legendary Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist on piano. The last track presents the Danish vibraphonist Louis HjulmandFind albums by this artist also accompanied by pianist Wojciech Karolak and his trio. At the time Poland kept a relatively open relation with the Scandinavian countries, as opposed to the Western Europe, which explains the presence of several Scandinavian players at the festival. Also some Polish Jazz managed to play in Scandinavia at that time, including Komeda. Except for Ellis, who plays an original composition, all the other ensembles play Jazz standards, mostly Bebop, which was the model for most modern European Jazz musicians at the time, leading to the development of a new style, which would crystallize over the next few years. The performances are all excellent and their invaluable historical significance is beyond reproach. Beautifully restored sound quality and a warm ambience of the live analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its meaning to the development of Polish Jazz in particular and Polish Culture in general. Nevertheless this is an essential piece of history which every Polish Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.08 POLSKIE RADIO 1627 (Barcode: 5907812246273) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1961 - 1962 Released: 2013 This is the eighth installment in the new series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venue, the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The material collected here presents recordings made during 1961 and 1962 by the top Polish Jazz musicians active at the time, exhibiting a wonderful panorama of the local scene at the time. All the thirteen tracks are Jazz standards performed by Jazz musicians all over the world and therefore the album is a superb opportunity to compare the level of musicianship of the first post WWII generation of Polish Jazz to their American and European counterparts. Listening to the album immediately shows that technically these players were as gifted and skilled as any other Jazz performers at the time, despite the disadvantage of living and playing behind the Iron Curtain and being almost completely isolated from the current developments. Stylistically Polish Jazz at the time was still very much under the American mainstream influence, and although Free Jazz was already making a rapid progress and breaking all the established boundaries in the US, it would take a few years until it bloomed in Poland as well. The material was recorded by four iconic figures of the early Polish Jazz and their respective ensembles: pianist / composer Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist and his quintet, saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and his quintet called Jazz RockersFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist and his quintet and trumpeter / composer Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist and his group. The most renowned sidemen include saxophonist Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, pianist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, bassist Roman DylagFind albums by this artist and many others. The performances are all excellent and their invaluable historical significance is beyond reproach. Beautifully restored sound quality and a warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its importance to the development of Polish Jazz. Nevertheless this is an essential piece of history which every European Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.12 POLSKIE RADIO 1632 (Barcode: 5907812246327) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1963 Released: 2014 This is the twelfth installment in the new series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The material collected here presents recordings made in 1963 during the sixth Jazz Jamboree festival in Warsaw. The majority of the material, i.e. thirteen of the seventeen tracks, is performed by Dutch vocalist Rita ReysFind albums by this artist (who died a few months ago in July 2013) accompanied by a trio led by her husband pianist Pim JacobsFind albums by this artist with guitarist Wim OvergaauwFind albums by this artist and Pim´s brother bassist Ruud JacobsFind albums by this artist. In addition one instrumental track by the trio is also included. The remaining three tracks are performed by the top Polish Jazz musicians at the time: two by vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist accompanied by the Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist trio with bassist Maciej SuzinFind albums by this artist and drummer Leszek DudziakFind albums by this artist; the last track is by the Komeda quintet, with saxophonist Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej Suzin and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. All the tracks are Jazz standards except for the last one, which is a Komeda composition. Reys performs a set of classic vocal material, comprising of popular songs known to all Jazz listeners. Her singing is beautifully expressive, but not virtuosic and copying mannerisms from American vocal Jazz stars. She also has a slight foreign accent, but definitely passable. The accompaniment is elegant and supportive, with Pim´s piano playing being truly exceptional. The guitar plays sadly only a few solo spots, and when not soloing it is mostly hidden in the recording balance; as a result is seems Reys is accompanied mostly by a piano / bass duo only. Overall this is a fine presentation of mainstream Jazz vocals, nothing spectacular but a nice document of the moment in time. The Milian tracks are also rather pale, well performed and all, but again nothing special. Komeda plays some great piano phrases, which are always delightful and the rhythm section is doing its job as expected. The Komeda quintet is obviously the most interesting track herein with a typical beautiful melody line only he could weave and the quintet playing along splendidly. One may wonder why these three tracks were selected as the "filler" for this album, as both ensembles (Milian´s and Komeda´s) played full sets, which would be very interesting in their entirety. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its importance to the development of Jazz in Poland. Nevertheless this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO KOMEDA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 There is no doubt that the legendary figure of pianist / composer / bandleader Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, the Godfather of Polish Jazz, is still very much present on the local scene, more than forty years after his untimely and tragic death. Komeda´s charisma, mystique, prophetic vision and above all his extraordinary talent as a composer keep his legacy alive generation after generation, with his musical heritage being passed on to the upcoming young Polish Jazz artists, as an integral part of the modern Polish Culture. In the scope of those forty plus years since Komeda´s death the Polish Jazz scene produced a plethora of recordings, concerts, festivals and other events dedicated to his memory. As a result the idea of commemorating Komeda has been overexploited and often even abused by lesser quality attempts, which result in blemishing his memory rather than uphold it. Fortunately this album is definitely not one of those damaging efforts; on the contrary, it offers many new and fascinating discoveries, as well as thrilling interpretations by excellent musicians, which treat the music with respect and obvious admiration. The album includes ten Komeda compositions, performed by several different ensembles: pianist Janusz OlejniczakFind albums by this artist with Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WrombelFind albums by this artist and his quintet (drummer Krzysztof PrzybylowiczFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WrombelFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist) with actor Kamil MackowiakFind albums by this artist, the duo of saxophonist Andrzej OlejniczakFind albums by this artist and pianist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, the duo of tuba player Zdzislaw PiernikFind albums by this artist and synthesizer player Tadeusz SudnikFind albums by this artist and finally solo piano performances by Lena LedoffFind albums by this artist. Such diverse settings are an ideal vehicle to present the diversity of Komeda´s music and the endless possibilities, in which it can me expressed and interpreted. All the performances are truly superb, moving and deeply engaging and pay a fitting homage to Komeda´s heritage. My personal preferences are the trumpet pats by Maciej Fortuna, the incomparable piano playing of my friend Wladyslaw Sendecki and the solo piano pieces by Ledoff. But each and every musician participating in this recording deserves full admiration and respect. The quality of these live recordings in not ideal, but neither is life, so true music lovers can certainly live with it and enjoy it immensely. The most interesting two pieces on this album are the early Komeda Jazz & Poetry compositions to poems by Jerzy S. Sito, known mainly for his work as translator, who died in 2011. Komeda´s involvement with the Jazz & Poetry movement, presented by him during the 1960 Jazz Jamboree festival, is one of the most fascinating, but sadly neglected, milestones of his career. The two pieces were restored from Komeda´s notes by the great vibraphonist / composer Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, who was a member of Komeda´s group in the late 1950s. Honestly that entire program simply screams for proper restoration work. Overall this is a superb piece of music, which is worthy of an honorable place in any serious Polish Jazz music collection and should be of interest to the many Komeda followers all over the world. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

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ZBIGNIEW WODECKI ~ SNY PODROZNIKA GAD 082 (Barcode: 5903068120114) ~ POLAND ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1975 - 1977 Released: 2018 This is an archival album by Polish singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Zbigniew WodeckiFind albums by this artist, which presents previously unreleased recordings he made with the Entertainment Orchestra of the Polish Radio and TVFind albums by this artist in Katowice, led by composer / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist. Of the twelve songs present on this album Wodecki composed six and Milian two and rest were composed by other songwriters. The orchestra was undoubtedly the best of its kind Big Band / instrumental ensemble in Poland at the time (mid-1970s), featuring many top Polish Jazz musicians. Directed by Milian, who gained a lot of experience working with Jazz orchestras around Europe, and who was also a first rate composer / arranger, the orchestra was able to achieve a highly professional level characterized by sophistication, which is immediately recognizable. Although the material was basically Pop oriented, the music was intelligent, ambitious and cleverly put together and executed, which is why it still sounds excellent four decades later. Wodecki, who was one of Poland´s most loved and respected singers (he died in 2017) was in top form when recording this material and his velvet voice and superb vocal performances are timeless, as are his wonderful compositions. This album is a true treasure chest and an excellent addition to his recorded legacy, especially in view of the fact that these recordings were completely forgotten until brought back to light by the GADFind albums on this label Records label, which never ceases to surprise. For the many fans of Wodecki this album is a true gem, but all Polish Pop connoisseurs should find this a first rate addition to their collection. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 06/02/2019Posted: 06/02/2019

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JAN PTASZYN WROBLEWSKI ~ STUDIO JAZZOWE POLSKIEGO RADIA 1969-78 POLSKIE RADIO 2327-2331 (Barcode: 5907812248222) ~ POLAND ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1969 - 2017 Released: 2020 This is an iconic archival album documenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, saxophonist / composer / arranger / bandleader Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist. The first four CDs in this 5CD set present recordings by the Polish Radio Jazz Studio OrchestraFind albums by this artist led and conducted by Wroblewski between late 1968 and early 1978, and the last CD presents recordings by his quartet and sextet, recorded between 1979 and 2017. The entire crème de la crème of the Polish Jazz scene in the crucial decade of its development (late 1960s to late 1970s) can be heard on these recordings, including such celebrated names like Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, Bronislaw SuchanekFind albums by this artist, Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist, Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, NOVIFind albums by this artist Singers and many others. Almost all the music on these CDs was composed and arranged by Wroblewski and the members of the orchestra. Wroblewski (born 1936), who is nearing his eighty fifth birthday, is still active today and he wrote the liner notes accompanying this release, reminiscing about the decade during which he fronted the orchestra. The artistry of the Big Band idiom and the sophistication of the arrangements are of course the focal points of the music and although the American Big Bands are an obvious inspiration, the result reaches way beyond the basic model, creating the European Big Band approach, which looks for inspiration in way more complex compositions (like the music of Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist in this case) and experimental soloing, bordering on Free Jazz, which can be heard extensively here. The fact that the members of Komeda’s ensembles play on these recordings speaks for itself and the contributing composers are all pioneers of modern Polish Jazz. The music is, as expected, absolutely brilliant from start to finish, and in retrospect glorifies the level of the Polish Jazz musicianship and talent at the time. It is “criminal” that this music was locked down in the vaults of the Polish Radio for so long, and hopefully the rest of it (at least twice as much as was released now) will be released in the future. The damages made by limitations of the Polish music industry at the time and the monopoly of State owned music enterprises, which controlled and censored the output of recorded music for decades, should be all made right in time, preserving the Cultural treasures hidden from public access. Polish Jazz enthusiasts all over the world should find this album an absolute must have in their collection. The list of participating musicians and the quality of the compositions is certain to satisfy the most demanding listeners and the historical importance is unprecedented. Essential listening!

Updated: 11/02/2021Posted: 11/02/2021

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend