Record Reviews

APOSTOLIS ANTHIMOS TRIAS ~ COME TOGETHER METAL MIND 0836 (Barcode: 5907785041288) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the Polish Fusion trio led by guitarist / composer Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist, with bassist Robert SzewczugaFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. Although the trio exists since the early 2000s, this is their debut recording. The album presents ten original compositions, nine of which were composed by Anthimos (one with a little help from The BeatlesFind albums by this artist) and one was co-composed by all three members of the trio. The music is everything one would expect from a contemporary Fusion act, which has experienced and talented members and manages to avoid the usual traps, which most Fusion ensembles are unable to get free off. There are no trivial melodic ditties, which serve as vehicles for senseless guitar doodling, but rather excellent coherent compositions, which are played with great sensitivity and not one needless note to spare. Anthimos enjoys a revered status on the Polish scene after playing with Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist, Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and SBBFind albums by this artist, all legendary figures on the Polish Jazz, Fusion and Prog scenes, but his guitar playing keeps evolving and never sticks to repeating old clichés. I have had as opportunity to hear him play recently live with SBB and it was an exhilarating experience. Szewczuga is a great bass player, very melodic and imaginative and his pulsations fill the aural space with a worm, highly supportive harmonic layers, which fit like a glove to the guitar leads. Dziedzic in very energetic, but also restrained player, who never tries to dominate the proceedings, but pushes the music firmly forward. Overall, this is an excellent Fusion album, offering some first class tunes and splendid instrumental work, without sounding like another copy of endless Fusion albums one might have heard in the past. But it is also a great fun to listen to, all the way through. Highly recommended!

Updated: 21/08/2023Posted: 21/08/2023

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JAROSLAW BOTHUR ~ NIGHT WALKS JAZZ FORUM ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio setting with bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Bothur. The total playing time for this album is under thirty minutes, so it is an EP rather than a full CD. The entire approach of the album, stylistically, musically and sound wise is greatly surprising and travels back in time some three decades to the heyday of Polish Yass, characterized by a Punkish straightforwardness, "quick and dirty" sound and relative lack of sophistication, but highly emotional expressionism. Having said all this I find this album really fresh and direct, somewhat like a friendly slap in the face, which is extremely effective. Perhaps this is (as Yass was) a sign of rejection of the over-sophistication some of the contemporary Polish Jazz is suffering from. The music is all well put together and excellently executed, as expected, with focus on Bothur´s soloing. The rhythm section supports him amicably, keeping an energetic flow for the entire duration. Overall this is a surprising, highly emotional piece of music, which is a great listening experience, bringing Jazz to the very basic, almost animalistic elements, which have almost completely disappeared over time. Definitely a fresh breath of air!

Updated: 15/04/2020Posted: 15/04/2020

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KRZYSZTOF DZIEDZIC ~ TEMPO FOR TUNE 0120 (Barcode: 5906395808182) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album as a leader by the veteran Polish Jazz drummer / composer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. Surrounded by a formidable team, which includes keyboardist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Michal BajFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. DJ EpromFind albums by this artist), who is in charge of turntablism, Dziedzic presents nine original compositions / improvisations, all credited to him. The music, as described in the album´s liner notes, is all about tempo measured in beats per minute, or BPM, which changes here from one tune to another from the very slow 25 BPS to the extremely fast 207 BPM. The melodic content is quite limited on this album, with the drums being the anchor instrument, which leads the proceedings. Bass guitar parts turn some of the tunes into improvised Funk and Groove. The piano takes most of the solo parts and the saxophone and guitar play only on selected tracks, but deliver excellent contributions, especially the Anthimos parts which are Fusion heaven, as usual. The drums dominate the proceedings of course all the way through. This album is mostly about drums and drumming and fans of rhythmic grooves should find this music delightful. For others, especially those looking for straightforward Jazz might find this music somewhat less approachable, except for some excerpts. Overall this is a bold and quite unique statement, which deserves to be heard and hopefully will conquer hearts in the process. Dziedzic already proved that he is one of the top Polish Jazz drummers over the years and now is time to discover his less obvious qualities.

Updated: 12/04/2017Posted: 12/04/2017

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ FILL THE HARMONY PHILHARMONICS BCD 04 (Barcode: 5906881885031) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2004 Released: 2004 This is the third album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, which presents a five parts suite for piano trio and chamber orchestra of the Jazz-Classical Fusion variety. The additional trio members are bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist, one of Polish Jazz most renowned bassists (Simple Acoustic TrioFind albums by this artist, Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist), and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The orchestral parts are performed by the Hanseatica Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Mika UrbaniakFind albums by this artist is featured on one track. The music was composed by Jaskulke, who was twenty four years old at the time. This ambitious project, undertaken by such a young musician, is quite extraordinary by any standard. Although Jazz and Classical music have been previously combined with various degree of success, this attempt is certainly quite different from all the others, employing musical devices, themes and arrangements often contrasting and seemingly clashing with other, like the vocal Rap part in the midst of a fragment performed by the strings. The Jazz trio interludes move in and out of the orchestral accompaniment, as do the solo piano parts. The overall structure does not seem to follow any of the pre-ordained Classical musical configurations, and Jaskulke appears to be using the orchestra as a tool rather than a point of reference. Although free-structured, the music maintains a melodic backbone, which re-appears both in the orchestral and the trio parts. The listener might find this music quite difficult to absorb, certainly during the initial listening phases, since things seldom continue for a period of time long enough to begin to sound "familiar". There is a sense or urgency and unrest, which is reminiscent of music composed for suspense movies. But listeners willing to listen patiently and repeatedly will eventually embrace the entire piece, finding its intrinsic logic. The Classical parts are obviously influenced by contemporary composers and a well trained might hear traces of George GershwinFind albums by this artist, The French Modernists and of course the Polish avant-gardists (Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist & Co.). Polish composer / pianist Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist presides as well, if not bodily then surely spiritually. Stylistically this hodge-podge might need some polishing and sorting out, but give the guy a break; after all he is only twenty four… Regardless if one enjoys this music or not, it surely deserves to be appreciated for its aesthetic merits, its audacity and its innovation. Perhaps it is a bit over the top, but people who don´t dare don´t get there. Personally I quite like it and wholeheartedly recommend it to music aficionados, who are after the less obvious yet more rewarding game.

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ ON NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5908254159534) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the seventh album by Polish pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, which finds him returning to the classic piano trio format, following a series of solo piano recordings. The trio includes also bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist; the latter was a member of Jaskulke´s trio a decade earlier. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Jaskulke. The music was excellently recorded and the album is packaged in a very unique design, being both very original and very impractical. Jaskulke is undoubtedly one the top Polish pianists since the onset of the millennium, but his recording legacy is in retrospect sadly less impressive that what it might have been. His solo piano recordings have taken him into New Age and other atmospheric music idioms, placing him away from the Jazz mainstream, where he feels most comfortably. This album, therefore, is definitely a move in the right direction. The compositions on this album present a reinvigorated, energetic Jaskulke, being mostly up-tempo if not neck-breaking fast. This fresh approach is most welcome, but it might have been a bit more constrained and relaxed. Nevertheless the music is absorbing and certainly impressive. In my opinion it would have been more enjoyable if more ballad material was included, but that is of course a matter of taste. The strongest point of this album is the performance by the rhythm section, which is truly spectacular. Mucha keeps his bass lines shoulder to shoulder with the racing piano, with a feel and technical brilliance rarely experienced. Dziedzic produces a strong barrage on the drum set, which sounds very powerful, but brilliantly manages not to overpower the two other trio members. His drumming is a text book example of powerful "wall of sound" Jazz drumming par excellence. It´s great to see Jaskulke back on track, which of course gives us hope for more great recordings to follow. This album is definitely worth checking out, especially for those Polish Jazz followers, who gave up on Jaskulke. It was definitely worth waiting for.

Updated: 19/02/2016Posted: 19/02/2016

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ SUGARFREE BCD 03 (Barcode: 5906881885024) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 This is the second album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, which was recorded in the classic piano trio format with bassist Krzysztof PacanFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Jaskulke. By the time this album was recorded, Jaskulke was already a member of the quartet led by the Polish Jazz legend Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, which is the most desirable position for any Polish Jazz musician and which means that his talent was recognized as extraordinary on the local scene. Anybody listening to this album must admit that Jaskulke is indeed one of the most extraordinary musicians to arrive on the Polish Jazz scene in the 21st Century. This album confirms not only his superb qualities as a player, but even more interestingly and dramatically his talent as a composer. Jaskulke has an easily recognizably personal style, which is quite extraordinary for such a young musician. His approach to the piano is percussive, almost "aggressive" at times, and at the same time he can stroke the keys delicately as a summer breeze. His compositions are also quite distinct and remarkable and regardless of their tempi, they convey a punctuated, but clearly stated melody, irregular meters and ultra-modern rhythmic devices, which can be found in contemporary electronic music. All these, combined with the obvious Jazz legacy create an amalgam, which is highly innovative and surprising. This music is perhaps one of the most contemporary approaches to Jazz, taking the music from the 20th Century, where it was born and raised, into the 21st Century, where it now develop into a plethora of new directions. It proves that Jazz does not need to be stagnant and can be innovated in many ways, not only in the Avant-Garde / Free / Improvised Music idiom, but also in new and unexpected directions. The performances on this album are truly stellar, not only those by the leader but also those by the rhythm section. Pacan, who was also a member of the Namyslowski quartet at the time, is a brilliant bassist, capable of a wide range of styles, from classic Jazz to modern, almost Pop / Rock pulsations. Dziedzic is an ideal drummer in this setting, perfectly in sync with Jaskulke in the percussive beat parts and his by and large more Rock than Jazz sound. Overall this is a brilliant album in every aspect, sadly largely overlooked at the time of its release but certainly deserving an honorable position among the great Polish Jazz piano trio recordings. This is highly recommended to all Polish Jazz fans and Jazz aficionados in general. It´s never too late to discover this priceless gem!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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WOJCIECH MAJEWSKI ~ OPOWIESC 4EVERMUSIC 130 (Barcode: 5907476693987) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2009 This is the third album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Wojciech MajewskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quintet format with trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist (Wojciech´s brother), saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album presents a solo piano piece which is followed by a seven-part Jazz suite performed by the quintet. It was recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with superb sonic quality, as expected. The music is all kept within the mainstream tradition, with certain Classical Music accents, but those are quite marginal. The melodic themes are basically vehicles for extended solos played by the quintet members. It is hard to follow the "suite" concept musically, as it lacks a clear coherence, but nevertheless the music is interesting and flows gently from one part of the suite to the next. There are the obvious Polish Jazz characteristics, like lyricism and melancholy, in which this music is completely drenched, clearly defining its origin and tradition. The true forte of this album is the incredible musicianship, which is not surprising considering these are some of the best and most experienced second generation Polish Jazz musicians. Especially interesting is the presence of Szukalski as this is one of the last recordings in which he participated before his tragic death. The album is full of superb solos and ensemble performances, which are truly inspired. Majewski dedicates this album to the memory of his Father, the legendary Polish Jazz trumpeter Henryk MajewskiFind albums by this artist, who died shortly before this music was recorded. Overall this is an interesting experiment in composing an extended Jazz suite-like composition, beautifully performed by first class musicians, an effort which deserves to be heard by Jazz connoisseurs all over the world.

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WOJCIECH MAJEWSKI ~ REMEMBRANCE FOR TUNE 0094 (Barcode: 5902768701449) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 - 2013 Released: 2016 This is an archival album presenting a live recording by a quintet led by pianist / composer Wojciech MajewskiFind albums by this artist, which also included his brother trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The concert, which took place at a Polish Radio studio, was part of a promotion effort for the album "ZamyslenieFind albums with this title", recorded by the same quintet and released a few months earlier. For this release the album was enhanced by the inclusion of one original track from that album, which features the vocals of the incredible Grzegorz TurnauFind albums by this artist, a couple of solo piano pieces recorded by Wojciech Majewski a decade later and finally by a fragment of a historic radio broadcast, featuring the Polish Rock legend Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist accompanied by Wojciech Majewski and Szukalski. The music was mostly composed by Wojciech Majewski, but includes also a composition by Niemen, a couple of compositions by the legendary Polish bard Marek GrechutaFind albums by this artist and one composition by the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. The music is, as expected, top notch from start to finish, and presents the peak of the second generation of the Polish Jazz scene, both on the instrumental and compositional levels. All five players are absolute masters of their respective instruments, but obviously the performances by Szukalski are at the centre of attention, as he is sadly no longer with us and this album emphasizes the incredible loss Polish Jazz suffered with his premature death. As such, this album is a great tribute to his talents. Wojciech Majewski as a composer is in many respects the epitome of the mainstream Polish Jazz, encapsulating the lyricism, melancholy and exquisite melodies, which are its main characteristics. This album also shows how Polish Jazz, often within the Jazz & Poetry idiom, is interconnected with other aspects of the Polish Culture. The inclusion of works by Grechuta and Niemen are by no way incidental and emphasizes these intricate associations. Overall this is a highly important release, not only as far as the beautiful music it presents, but also as a wonderful historic document shedding light on the Polish Jazz scene in particular and Polish Culture in general. The For Tune label deserves to be especially praised for this release, which no doubt is a very significant addition to the label´s catalog. I hope more releases of such character will follow. This is an absolute must to all fans of Polish Jazz, but Jazz connoisseurs the world over should also enjoy this music immensely, as it knows absolutely no borders.

Updated: 19/07/2016Posted: 19/07/2016

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KRZYSZTOF PACAN ~ STORY OF 82 AUDIO CAVE 2020/012 (Barcode: 5908298549124) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Krzysztof PacanFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. Violist Marta ZalewskaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Pacan, who plays bass guitar exclusively on this album. The album, recorded at the Studio Tokarnia, offers an excellent sound quality, as expected. The music is all melody based mainstream modern Jazz, often typically melancholic and lyrical in accordance with the Polish Jazz characteristics, but offering diverse stylistic variations. Personally the ballads seem to work best for me, but the level of the compositions is excellent throughout. The level of performances is also excellent from start to finish, which is hardly surprising with these highly experienced professionals. Again, personally, Wylezol is the most creative contributor on this album, but Nowicki carries the tunes and solos without a hitch and Dziedzic offers a solid rhythmic support by the book. The leader stays somewhat behind, soloing sparingly and supplying steady bass pulsations that carry the music. Overall this is a pleasant and excellently performed Jazz music, which should keep most Polish Jazz enthusiasts happy, emphasizing the incredibly high level of the local Jazz scene.

Updated: 28/02/2023Posted: 20/12/2020

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ A-TRANE NIGHTS FOR TUNE 0040 (Barcode: 5902768701395) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2014 This is an "archival" album by the veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes Australian (living in Germany) trombonist / didgeridoo player Adrian MearsFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the Berlin A-Trane International Jazz Club (hence the title) in 2008, immediately following the studio recording of the same material, which was released a couple of years later as "El BuscadorFind albums with this title" on the German JazzwerkstattFind albums on this label label, on which Pieronczyk releases his albums in the last few years. The album presents eight original compositions, seven of which were composed by Pieronczyk and one which was co-composed by Pieronczyk and Mears, exactly the same as the studio album and in almost identical sequence. Naturally these live versions are expanded and provide a much broader basis both for individual explorations and ensemble interplay. Three of the pieces have a duration of over fifteen minutes and two others of over ten minutes, which obviously emphasizes the relaxed atmosphere and creative frame of mind of the quartet members at the time. The music is quite deceiving, as it does sound a bit simplistic at first, but careful listening reveals a depth much beyond the exterior layer of the melodic themes in each of the pieces. There is an intrinsic dimension of freedom in this music, which never actually crosses over to the Avant-Garde or even free form, but is sufficiently removed from straightforward mainstream to be both aesthetically elegant and intellectually intriguing. As I have already said on previous occasions, Pieronczyk seems to have developed a niche of his own within modern Jazz, which came to full fruition on his recent solo saxophone album "The Planet Of Eternal LifeFind albums with this title". The sound of the quartet is another challenge; a pianoless saxophone and trombone / didgeridoo fronted ensemble is obviously significantly less "user friendly" than a traditional harmonically supported lineup. But whatever is lost from the absence of the piano is gained by the sonic space stretched between the brass instruments. The "air" or empty space plays a significant role in the overall effect the quartet members achieve collectively as a group. Of course the individual performances are all quite splendid. Pieronczyk has a superbly mellow tone, which contrasts nicely with the somewhat rough trombone and didgeridoo sound. The soloists are supported admirably by the rhythm section, which of course is solid like a rock and flexible like a breeze. Big kudos is due to For Tune for putting this music out and saving it from getting stale and lost in the tunnels of history, as it surely deserves to see the light of day and make the music lovers happy!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ EL BUSCADOR JAZZWERKSTATT 064 (Barcode: 4250079758517) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2010 This is an album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international quartet, which also features Australian (residing in Germany) trombonist / didgeridoo player Adrian MearsFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight compositions, seven of which are original compositions by Pieronczyk and one is co-composed by Pieronczyk and Mears. The material present on this album was also recorded live in Berlin´s A-Train Club immediately following the studio recording and that live version of the music was released in 2014 by the For Tune label as "A-Trane Nights". Comparison of the two versions, i.e. studio and live, is very educational. The music is an excellent example of modern European Jazz with strong World Music influences, both harmonically and rhythmically. The sound, which is characterized by the absence of a harmonic instrument (i.e. piano), is very original and requires some effort to get used to, but eventually turns out to be very effective. The tribal feel dominates the music and the superb saxophone / didgeridoo duo featured on one of the tracks is definitely one of the highlights of the album. The individual contributions by all the musicians are excellent from start to finish. Pieronczyk is obviously one of the top saxophonists on the Polish Jazz scene and his performances are always beyond reproach. Mears is an obvious virtuoso player and his trombone parts are wonderfully structured. Cox has a beautiful warm tone and his pulsations are the glue upon which the music moves forward. Dziedzic is a versatile drummer and his elegant and very intelligent work on this album is nothing short of inspirational. Overall this is a brilliant album and a milestone in Pieronczyk´s career, which over time earned a well deserved place in the pantheon of the Polish Jazz recorded legacy. Absolutely not to be missed by all Polish Jazz connoisseurs and listeners who enjoy less obvious musical thrills.

Updated: 10/01/2017Posted: 10/01/2017

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BEATA PRZYBYTEK ~ I`M GONNA ROCK YOU FLID 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 - 2012 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album by the Polish vocalist Beata PrzybytekFind albums by this artist and her debut as a singer / songwriter. After releasing three consecutive albums between 2003 and 2005, Przybytek took almost seven years to come up with this album, which presents sixteen songs written by her to lyrics (in English) by Alicja MaciejowskaFind albums by this artist (thirteen songs) and her own (the remaining three songs). She is accompanied by a wonderful ensemble of gifted and sympathetic instrumentalists, which includes the keyboardist / arranger Tomasz KalwakFind albums by this artist, who is responsible for the truly excellent and highly skilled musical settings created for her songs. Other players include guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist, pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassists Tomasz KupiecFind albums by this artist and Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist, drummers Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist and Filip MozulFind albums by this artist and percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians also appear, among them trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, organist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and others. Przybytek started her career as a Jazz vocalist, but her last album ("WonderlandFind albums with this title"), which comprised entirely of songs by Stevie WonderFind albums by this artist, saw her already flirting with Pop, Soul and Rhythm And Blues. This album, which focuses on her songwriting as much, if not more, as on her performances, takes her into new territory, which in a beautiful amalgam of Pop, Blues, Gospel, Soul and Jazz. The artistic level of her songwriting is formidable and these sixteen songs are all jewels in their own right, quite diverse and beautifully full of character. I must admit that at first hearing I could hardly believe my ears as I haven´t heard such a sublime collection of new songs in a very long time. The vocal performances are also first-class, somewhat similar to the mannerisms of Etta JamesFind albums by this artist / Amy WinehouseFind albums by this artist, but with a wonderfully warm tone and total control of timbre and expression. It´s a pity she chose to sing in English as I personally am quite convinced that if she sang these songs in her native language the result would have been even more stunning. Well, one can´t win them all. Still this is one of the best albums of its kind that I´ve heard in a very long time. The instrumental parts are, as already mentioned, simply delightful. Each song gets quite a different treatment, which keeps the album changing mood and ambiance often, as well as the instrumentation. The guest musicians get to deliver their respective solo spots and it sure looks like a great time was had by all during the recording sessions. This album is also a wonderful example of high quality music, which can be overtly accessible, without compromising even an iota of its intrinsic value. Every music lover should have a field day with this brilliant piece of music. Hats off, Beata! Silesia rulez again!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

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PIOTR WYLEZOL QUINTET ~ LIVE NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is a live recording by Polish Jazz quintet led by pianist / composer Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions (one repeated twice as a bonus track), five of which were composed by Wylezol and two by Doruzka. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz idiom, based on solid melodies, and as usual with Eastern European composers with a distinct share of melancholy. There is little drama on this album with the tunes flowing gently one after another, leaving the listener in a state of blissful relaxation. The individual performances are all excellent, as expected from musicians of this class. Pieronczyk is one of the top Polish saxophonists with a vast experience and Doruzka is one of top European guitarists, in addition to the talented and also very experienced leader and the excellent rhythm section. There is nothing but professionalism and elegance herein. On the other hand considering the strength of the lineup, one might expect a somewhat more exciting and fulfilling result. Overall this is a nice live mainstream album, which should keep most Jazz listeners happy, but which in retrospect joins a long list of albums that go gently into that good night and remain consequently desolate.

Updated: 04/05/2017Posted: 04/05/2017

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