Record Reviews

MARTA GOLUCH ~ APETYT NA SZCZEROSC MUSIC CORNER 070 (Barcode: 5906489287695) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist / lyricist Marta GoluchFind albums by this artist. It presents ten tracks, all featuring her original lyrics. She is accompanied by a classic piano trio, with pianist Karolina KrzyzanowskaFind albums by this artist, who composed nine of the songs, bassist Bartlomiej BrozdaFind albums by this artist and drummer Kacper SkolikFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Pawel RuszkowskiFind albums by this artist, who composed the remaining song, guests on four tracks and trumpeter Sergiej KriuczkowFind albums by this artist guests also on four tracks. The album offers a wonderful sound quality, which is not surprising considering that Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist was behind the console. The album is kept in a classic Jazz Swing / cabaret mood, with a clear wink towards the musical scene of the period between the two wars. The songs are all based on solid melodies, the lyrics are intelligent and somewhat humorous, and the entire album swings and entertains splendidly for the entire duration. Goluch has a worm, lovely voice and performs the songs exactly as required by the stylistic setting, which is an Art in itself. The trio plays splendidly and amicably, staying respectfully in the background, but supporting the vocals with panache and verve. The quartet is presented under the moniker of Kabaret Mlodszych PanienFind albums by this artist (cabaret of younger women), which for Polish listeners has an obvious meaning, referring to a famous Kabaret Starszych PanowFind albums by this artist (cabaret of older men), a post WWII famous Polish cabaret, which entertained an entire generation. It is pretty obvious that the music on this album can be performed as a cabaret show, which I’d personally love to hear. Overall, this is a splendid peace of entertainment, somewhat limited to Polish speaking audiences due to the language barrier, but can be universally enjoyed. Although soaked in nostalgia, it is far from simple imitation and offers original new material with a nostalgic tear in eye’s corner. Fabulously done!

Updated: 19/01/2025Posted: 19/01/2025

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PATRYCJA ZINIEWICZ ~ LIST DO CZARNEGO ANIOLA NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5900378715047) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by Polish vocalist Patrycja ZiniewiczFind albums by this artist recorded with a classic Jazz piano trio comprising of pianist Jan JareckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Filip ArasimowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Kacper SkolikFind albums by this artist. Three other musicians guest on selected tracks. The album presents thirteen songs, associated as the title suggests (Eng. “Letter To The Black Angel”), with the repertoire of iconic Polish vocalist Ewa DemarczykFind albums by this artist, nicknamed “Black Angel”, who died a few months after this album was recorded. Anybody familiar with Polish Culture is of course aware of the unique status achieved by Demarczyk, which sets her apart from everything that happened on the Polish Cultural landscape, high and above on an unreachable pedestal. Her phenomenal interpretation of Polish Poetry and idiosyncratic vocal style, combined with music that was composed (in most cases) specifically for her, is absolutely untouchable and beyond any attempt of being mimicked. The question if her repertoire can be interpreted remains open. Before anything else can be said, the sheer audacity displayed by Ziniewicz by her attempt to tackle this unsurmountable task must be admitted – she surely has “big balls” (gender aside), the question is if that is sufficient. Ziniewicz certainly does not attempt to impersonate Demarczyk, and offers her own interpretation of these songs, which are very far from Demarczyk’s theatrics and extremism. The general idea is to Jazz up these songs, but surprisingly the transformation into Jazz is only partial, and is directly evident on just a few of the songs. That creates an impression of going halfway, rather than presenting a coherent concept. Another problem is the fact, that most of these songs, once performed by Demarczyk in her highly eccentric way, become icons in themselves, and any attempt to perform them will immediately call for a comparison, which of course in impossible. Lofty Angels, Black, Blue or any others are simply best left alone. Ziniewicz is a very gifted vocalist, that goes beyond saying, with an obvious zets, a strong voice with an impressive range, obviously appropriate for the musical stage. She is still very young and will surely crystalize her own stylistic finesse. But Demarczyk did not sing songs from musicals; she was even beyond cabaret or sung poetry, with which she was associated for a lack of a better term, she was simply herself, a mixture of an Angel and a Devil in the flesh. The piano trio sounds the best when the musicians start to swing and even manage to insert an occasional solo, but for the rest of the way they remain pretty unremarkable – professional and technically highly proficient, but nothing special. Overall this album leaves me undecided and with a lot of unanswered questions. These are magnificent songs and the lyrics are pearls of Polish Poetry, so what is here not to like. Is this music as good as the original? Surely not, that is, as already sated, simply impossible. Is it worth listening to? Sure thing, it is even enjoyable if one manages to free oneself from hearing the original in the back of one’s mind. Was this a wise decision? Personally I doubt it, as with all the courage and effort, the task was sadly underrated and proved to be too daunting. But thank you young Lady for trying and for looking up to the best. I am already curious to hear your next album, just don’t give up and remember… this is a long journey up the hill. God bless!

Updated: 21/03/2021Posted: 21/03/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend