Record Reviews

LORA SZAFRAN / BOGDAN HOLOWNIA ~ WARS SZPILMAN WASOWSKI – I TAK SIE TRUDNO ROZSTAC… POLSKIE RADIO 2177 (Barcode: 5907812247904) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is a live recording by Polish Jazz vocalist Lora SzafranFind albums by this artist accompanied by a quartet led by pianist Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeter Robert MurakowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve Polish evergreens (often called Polish standards), composed by three renowned Polish composers: Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, Wladyslaw SzpilmanFind albums by this artist and Jerzy WasowskiFind albums by this artist and featuring lyrics by celebrated Polish poets and lyricists. The music holds no surprises to the Polish listeners, as these are songs that the older generation is very much familiar with and which have been around for many years being clearly an integral part of the Polish Cultural heritage. Of course, as such, they have all been performed and recorded many times before and as a result this album offers nothing new in this respect. Szafran and the instrumentalist are all veteran performers and professionals, so this material offers no challenge whatsoever, especially in view of the fact that it was meant as entertainment and a nostalgic revisit of this material, rather than a Jazz event. Of course the performance was first class from start to finish. Overall this is a nice tribute to beautiful Polish songs, which offer wonderful music and intelligent, sensitive lyrics, and as such is sadly a symbol of how the values of popular music changed over time from artistry to trash.

Updated: 22/10/2018Posted: 22/10/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JAN PTASZYN WROBLEWSKI ~ SWEET BEAT GAD 004 (Barcode: 5901549197037) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2012 A couple of years after they collaborated on the first Polish Easy Jazz album ("Jej PortretFind albums with this title"), saxophonist / composer / arranger / bandleader Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / keyboardist / composer Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist meet again on this, another Easy Jazz recording, this time of the Jazz & Strings variety. This time however, Wroblewski is the primary soloist, fronting a wonderful quintet which includes Nahorny on keyboards, bassist Bronislaw SuchanekFind albums by this artist, drummer Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jozef GawrychFind albums by this artist. The quintet is accompanied by an expanded string section, conducted by Zygmunt MahlikFind albums by this artist. The album includes eleven original compositions, eight by Wroblewski and three by Jerzy WasowskiFind albums by this artist (a wonderful composer of cabaret songs). Wroblewski also wrote all the elaborate arrangements. Although, as intended, the orchestral arrangements are indeed Easy Jazz, the wonderful saxophone solos are anything, but easy, often being quite complex and even slightly Free Form, sometimes in complete contrast to the melodic background. However the overall atmosphere of this album is relaxed and focuses on delivering a musical experience, which can be enjoyed by a variety of listeners, including those who don´t listen to Jazz on a regular basis. Regardless of the concept behind this music, it is very apparent that neither Wroblewski nor any of his colleagues take this project lightly and the level of execution is simply perfect, as are the compositions. Wonderfully melodic, yet far from being banal, these melodies stand the test of time marvelously and sound completely relevant also today. The overall project might sound a bit dated, but that is also its charm, rising waves of nostalgia for times long gone. This superb reissue presents exceptional remastered sound quality and fourteen bonus tracks, previously unreleased, which demonstrate other collaborations between Wroblewski and the Polish Radio string ensemble between 1967 and 1971. Wroblewski composed all of these tracks, with the exception of one standard. These recordings are a wonderful window into the "behind the scenes" of the Polish Jazz scene at the time, where experimentation and individualism might have bees suppressed by State censorship, but never stopped the protagonist from trying. Sadly neglected and almost forgotten over the years, this album truly deserves a second life and GAD Records, as usual, made the right decision to reissue it, making a splendid job as always. I love this stuff!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend