Record Reviews

JOONAS HAAVISTO / KESTUTIS VAIGINIS ~ MOON BRIDGE EIGHT ISLANDS 8008 (Barcode: 4988044095830) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2024 This is an album by a duo comprising of Finnish Jazz pianist / composer Joonas HaavistoFind albums by this artist and Lithuanian Jazz saxophonist / composer Kestutis VaiginisFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, six are original compositions by the duo members (three each) and two are standards. The music is beautifully melodic, classic mainstream Jazz, based on the wonderful performing skills and conversational proximity of the musicians. The minimalist setting allows for each musician to show both his improvisation skills and the ability to hold a tune, and of course their mutual telepathic interplay. The original compositions are wonderfully coherent and melodically touching, avoiding triviality and artificial beatification and displaying heartfelt musical aesthetics. The result is a superb example of the “Art of the Duo” format, which offers a most rewarding listening experience. In these difficult times, where noise and cacophony seem to be ruling the music world, such delicate, sophisticated, relaxed music is a true honey to the ears. Despite its outward “simplicity”, the music is truly penetrating and engaging, both on the compositional and performance levels. Overall, this is a wonderful example of the Jazz duo format, a wonderful collection of excellent tunes and delicate, but deeply touching Jazz performances, which can win over every Jazz lover on this planet without a hitch. The superb sound quality of the recording adds to the overall joy of listening to this music. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 10/04/2024Posted: 10/04/2024

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR SCHMIDT INTERNATIONAL SEXTET ~ HEARSAY SJ 074 (Barcode: 5905489720379) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, who leads an international sextet, with Lithuanian saxophonist Kestutis VaiginisFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, Polish pianist Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist and alternating American / Polish rhythm sections of Harish RaghavanFind albums by this artist and Jonathan BarberFind albums by this artist / Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, five of which are original compositions by Schmidt and one is a composition by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the same sessions and with the same lineup, as the material for the previous album by Schmidt, called “Komeda Unknown 1967Find albums with this title”. To Hi-Fi enthusiasts, the CD is gold plated. The music is another great collection of highly melodic and lyrical tunes, characteristic of the Polish melancholy, excellently performed by the sextet, which includes superb instrumentalists of international fame. Schmidt offers some scorching trumpet soloing, Vaiginis and Doruzka add their harmonic support and solo occasionally, Tomaszewski anchors everything with his sublime piano work and the rhythm section adds the swinging element. Together they create truly classic Jazz sextet sound, which reminds the best such ensembles, active throughout the Bebop era and beyond. Overall, this is a beautiful example of modern mainstream Polish Jazz, full of the melancholy elements that characterize the local strain of the genre since the 1960, continuing the great tradition with honors. Schmidt, who firmly established his position as a musician / composer, bandleader and activist on the local scene, is a proud representative of the second-generation of Polish Jazz musicians, which continues to develop the scene and keep the flame burning.

Updated: 01/08/2023Posted: 01/08/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PIOTR SCHMIDT INTERNATIONAL SEXTET ~ KOMEDA UNKNOWN 1967 SJ 062 (Barcode: 5902596066796) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader / label owner Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international sextet, which includes Lithuanian saxophonist Kestutis VaiginisFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, Polish pianist Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, bassists American Harish RaghavanFind albums by this artist or Polish Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummers American Jonathan BarberFind albums by this artist or Polish Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The sextet performs seven compositions, all by the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz, pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. The music is quite sensational, as six of these compositions by Komeda are recorded here for the first time, fifty-five years after they were created. They were originally written as part of the project originated by my Friend and Mentor, German producer Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, which resulted in the Jazz & Poetry album “Meine Susse Europaische HeimatFind albums with this title”, that combined Komeda’s music with contemporary Polish poetry. Krzysztof BalkiewiczFind albums by this artist, Polish archivist in charge of Komeda’s heritage, found these additional compositions, which were not used in the process of creating the above album and passed them to Schmidt, who arranged them and recorded with his sextet. Obviously such discovery is a major event as far as the history and legacy of Polish Jazz is concerned. The music is everything that every Komeda fan (and therefore every Polish Jazz fan) might expect, full of brilliant melodic lines, lyricism and melancholy, which are the epitome of Polish Jazz, a big dash of tension and mystery, which characterize Komeda’s compositions and a series of brilliant performances by some of the best Polish, European and American musicians. The album has all the ingredients of an instant classic, which of course is hardly surprising. Although these compositions were not included on the original album, they are by no means less perfect. The playing time restrictions of the LP format dictated the cruel choices, and the budget restrictions dictated the fact that the planned double LP project was rejected. I often wandered over the years where did those additional compositions disappear, and in my talks with Balkiewicz over the years the subject also came up. It is absolutely delightful to see the music being alive again and the prospect that it might inspire future Jazz generations is truly uplifting. Overall, this is a monumental piece of Jazz history, a great discovery and a glorious occasion to discover another element of Komeda’s genius. Everybody involved in this project deserves my sincere thanks: the brilliant musicians, the archivist / detective, the people who brilliantly recorded the music, etc. Every true Jazz enthusiast on this planet should listen to this album, as not hearing it constitutes a big void in the ability to comprehend the European musical aesthetics.

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 10/07/2022

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

KESTUTIS VAIGINIS ~ MUSICAL CONVERSATIONS NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 4772145016999) ~ LITHUANIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is an album by Lithuanian saxophonist / composer Kestutis VaiginisFind albums by this artist recorded in NY in a classic sextet setting with Russian (resident in US) trumpeter Alex SipiaginFind albums by this artist and Boris KozlovFind albums by this artist and American trombonist Andy HunterFind albums by this artist, pianist David KikoskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Donald EdwardsFind albums by this artist. A string quartet is featured on one track. The album presents eleven original compositions, four by the leader, two each by Sipiagin and Edwards and one each by Kikoski, Kozlov and Hunter. The music is all within the modern mainstream Jazz idiom, based on very solid and coherent compositions, including several lyrical ballads, which are excellent. The performances and the recording quality are absolutely perfect, as expected from these world class musicians. Most of the soloing is naturally performed by the leader, who plays soprano, alto and tenor saxophones and bass clarinet, all with the same level of excellence. But all the members of the sextet get ample opportunity to show their licks. Overall, this is a classic mainstream Jazz album, which offers first-rate music and performances from start to finish, diverse compositions and obvious aesthetic values. It is a relatively rare opportunity to hear Jazz originating from Lithuania, which is less prominent outside the country’s borders. It is also a wonderful proof of the camaraderie and complete lack of barriers between Jazz musicians from all over the world. One can only wish that similar harmony could be achieved in other areas. Very well done, indeed!

Updated: 21/02/2022Posted: 21/02/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend