Record Reviews

ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ I`LL COLOUR AROUND IT JAZZ SOUND 023 (Barcode: 606707941457) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2021 This is an alum by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international quartet that includes American guitarist Jean-Paul BourellyFind albums by this artist, British (resident in US) bassist Orlando le FlemingFind albums by this artist and American drummer John B. ArnoldFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven composed by Pieronczyk and one co-composed by all four members of the quartet. Although recorded in 2016, the album was released only five years later. Pieronczyk is undoubtedly one of the most internationally recognized names among Polish Jazz musicians, who produced an impressive recording legacy with releases on many labels, both Polish and foreign. 2016 was surely a most fertile year of his career, as he managed to record no less than five albums (those already released and perhaps more available in his vaults) that year. The music on this album sounds more like a Jam Session rather than a carefully pre-planned recording session, with the musicians improvising on sketchy tunes and a relaxed atmosphere prevailing all around. Pieronczyk solos extensively with Bourelly mostly supporting him in the background, but also delivering occasionally his idiosyncratic soloing and vocal contributions, and the great rhythm section carries the music safely along the way. Overall, this is an interesting, mostly Free Form album, with highly impressive playing by all the participants, but somewhat less coherent and inviting than most earlier albums by Pieronczyk, which limits the listening audience to Improvised Music / Free Jazz enthusiasts. Personally I prefer the more “tamed” output by Pieronczyk, but of course his diversity is also one of his many virtues.

Updated: 09/12/2021Posted: 09/12/2021

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ADAM PIERONCZYK WITH ANTHONY JOSEPH ~ MIGRATORY POETS FOR TUNE 0061 (Barcode: 5902768701562) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is a live recording by an international ensemble performing a Jazz & Poetry concert. The ensemble, led by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, also includes Brazilian guitarist Nelson VerasFind albums by this artist, Polish bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and American drummer John B. ArnoldFind albums by this artist. They are joined by British (of Caribbean roots) poet Anthony JosephFind albums by this artist, who recites his poems accompanied by the quartet. The album consists of seven tracks, six of which are poetry accompanied by music and one is an instrumental piece. All the music is original and was composed by Pieronczyk. The albums brings on fond memories of times (mostly the 1960s) when Jazz & Poetry concerts were a common happening, both in Britain and in Poland, producing some of the most adventurous and aesthetically challenging music at the time. Since the sub-genre is quite a rarity today, this album is a welcome reminder of this magnificent Art form. The overall performances on this album are all very good, with Pieronczyk playing as usual with great fluidity and taste. The rhythm section produces a steady groove as a background to the poetry recitation and the guitar and saxophone solos are intertwined between the stanzas or after the recitation is over. Pieronczyk, although perfectly capable of Free Style improvisation, keeps a very calm profile here, playing mostly very lyrically and melodically, suitable Joseph´s poetry, which is mostly more associative than clear-cut thematically, full of exotic smells, tastes and panoramas. Overall this is a beautiful trip of poetic dreams engulfed in lyrical music, that make the listener forget his whereabouts and take him on a dreamy trip to a far away place. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 01/01/2016Posted:

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