Record Reviews

KATARZYNA PIETRZKO ~ FORTHRIGHT STORIES NOT ON LABEL 01 (Barcode: 5907779691123) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the female Polish Jazz pianist / composer Katarzyna PietrzkoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with renowned American bassist Corcoran HoltFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist. Cellist Julia KotarbaFind albums by this artist plays on one track. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Pietrzko and one by Holt. Pietrzko is one of several young female piano players / composers, who have taken the Polish Jazz scene by a storm in the last few years, an unprecedented phenomenon in the male dominated Jazz world. The music is contemporary mainstream Jazz, based on melodic compositions beautifully crafted by Pietrzko, which present a coherent kaleidoscope of remarkably mature creations, in spite of her young age. The compositions are multi-layered and complex, often moving outside of the traditional Jazz idiom into contemporary Classical Music and other territories. The dynamic range and a developing musical continuity within each composition are certainly some of the most interesting Jazz pieces produced in Poland this year (2017), which considering the huge amount of sublime music produced in Poland every year, is a considerable distinction. Pietrzko is able to create her unique compositional environment, which is substantially different from the "typical" Polish Jazz tinge. It still includes plenty of melancholy and Eastern European lyricism, but is free from most of the mannerisms, which often characterize Polish Jazz, making it sometimes a bit too much of the same. The performances, although obviously excellent, are less unique than the compositions and stand shoulder to shoulder with the top Polish Jazz piano trios, but do not break any new ground. Pietrzko plays very proficiently and heartfelt, but her dynamics as a pianist and her technical capabilities have not reached the virtuosic level I´d love to hear. Surely she will progress on the fly and her piano playing will be as good as her compositions on her next album. Holt is a pro and plays by the book, like most Americans, with superb technique, but he does not contribute anything beyond what every professional player would have done in his place: play the right notes in the right places. I feel no passion in the bass parts. Budniak on the other hand is excellent throughout, adding some of the dynamics that the piano parts are unable to create, always perfectly amicable with the leader and choosing the perfect percussive tools for the job. Overall this is a stunning debut which should bring much joy to all Jazz connoisseurs, especially the piano trio enthusiasts. The music was sublimely recorded and the sound quality is simply perfect. This is definitely one of the best Polish Jazz debuts this year, wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 03/07/2019Posted: 24/10/2017

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JANUSZ SZUBER ~ W CENTRUM ZRENICY NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is an absolutely delightful album presenting the poetry by Polish poet Janusz SzuberFind albums by this artist, accompanied by three musicians: cellist Julia KotarbaFind albums by this artist, vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Lukasz SabatFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / saxophonist Wojciech InglotFind albums by this artist – the last two known together as the InszaFind albums by this artist duo. Szuber selected eighteen poems form his wide-ranging poetic legacy, which he recites, and the three musicians composed the music, which they perform accompanying his recitation. Although the music encompasses a wide stylistic range, I warmly embrace this album as part of the Polish Jazz & Poetry realm, as it has a distinctive Jazzy feel about it, if not stylistically surely conceptually. This amalgamation of words and music turns out to be especially effective primarily due to the fact that the music was carefully constructed to fit to the intrinsic rhythm of the poems and their natural "musicality", as well as the careful balance between the recitation, which is distinctly forefront, and the music which respectfully stays in the background, although being perfectly well audible. Of course, as usual with Jazz & Poetry projects, the final result is way more than just the sum of its ingredients. The poetry of Szuber is a multilayered and highly emotional affair. His usage of vocabulary, mostly based on everyday, seemingly simple language, conceals deeply philosophical, often harsh reflections about life´s truths, and yet always points towards the light at the end of the tunnel. The fact that he spent most of his lifetime in a wheelchair did not manage to let him become dominated by bitterness, which is of course commendable. Sadly the language layer of this project is limited to Polish speaking public, although personally I love Jazz & Poetry recordings which include languages completely unfamiliar to me – the power of this idiom often transcend language barriers. I can only hope that this little gem of an album gets to as many listeners as possible, as it truly deserves an audience. Most warmly recommended!

Updated: 01/11/2019Posted: 01/11/2019

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