Record Reviews

MATEUSZ RYBICKI ~ APOKALYPSIS AUDIO CAVE 2025/009 (Barcode: 5908451336080) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2023 Released: 2025 This is the second album by Polish Jazz clarinetist / saxophonist / composer Mateusz RybickiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a septet setting, with violinist Katarzyna KlebbaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Piotr DamasiewiczFind albums by this artist, trombonist Pawel NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew KozeraFind albums by this artist and Australian drummer Samuel HallFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, all composed by Rybicki, but the rest of the musicians share the creative credit as a result of the process of extensive group improvisation, which was involved in the recording of the music. The title refers to the Biblical “Apocalypse of St. John” or “Book of Revelation” and the music is an attempt to offer a musical interpretation of this text. The music is based on strictly composed themes, which serve as a basis for extended improvisations by the septet members, both individual and group improvisations, which are Free Jazz oriented. The result offers a wonderful example of “organized mayhem” at its intensive peaks, separated by subtle passages based on modern Classical Music formulas. Although referred to as “spiritual Jazz”, which I deem as a senseless term, since all true music is a priori spiritual, this is a classic Free Jazz / Improvised Music piece, which does not greatly innovate but offers an interesting adaptation of Biblical text, brilliantly performed by all the participants, and as such definitely worthy of being heard. Of course such musical experiments have a limited audience, especially in these sad days, where people would rather listen to AI generated music (the non-spiritual kind), and as such the fact that Audio CaveFind albums on this label released this music is highly appreciated. Overall, this is a very ambitious and unusual musical project, which calls for brave-hearted listeners and connoisseurs of outlandish musical adventures, which amalgamate Free Jazz / Improvised Music and contemporary Classical ventures. It requires several listening sessions to discover all the hidden gems, but considering the fact that some of top Polish Improvising Music figures take part in this wonderful madness, it’s definitely worth the effort.

Updated: 22/12/2025Posted: 20/12/2025

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