Record Reviews
19 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | ROBERT CZECH / SOUND SMUGGLERS ~ ROBERT CZECH / SOUND SMUGGLERS
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5096031407135) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2008 Released: 2008
This is an album by Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer Robert CzechFind albums by this artist and his ensemble Sound SmugglersFind albums by this artist, which includes on this album as core members saxophonist Jacek MielcarekFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej PaszekFind albums by this artist and drummer Marek SochackiFind albums by this artist. Many additional musicians participate as guest artists on some of the tracks, including Polish Jazz icons such as bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist or vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist. Czech wrote all the ten compositions included here, one of which also features vocals by Karolina GlazerFind albums by this artist.
Stylistically the music is mostly contemporary Fusion, with strong melodic statements and intervals of extended improvisations, all of which are done professionally and spotlessly. Most impressive solos are delivered by guitarist Marek RaduliFind albums by this artist and it´s a pity he is not featured on more tracks. Although there are no innovations or groundbreaking statements here, this is a very well done mainstream Fusion, which should be enjoyed by all Fusion enthusiasts anywhere in the world.
This kind of music often very easily crosses over to clichés and pointless doodling, which fortunately is successfully avoided here. Therefore although on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, this is definitely music worthy of being listened to both for its quality and fun value.
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  | SLAWOMIR KULPOWICZ / SHUJAAT KHAN ~ LIVE
POLSKIE RADIO 1250 (Barcode: 5907812242503) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2013
This is the fourth installment in a series of releases documenting the recorded legacy of the great Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist, most of which is released for the first time. Kulpowicz, who died prematurely in 2008 at the age of 56, was a victim of cancer. He was a member of groups led by the top Polish Jazz players like Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and led / co-led his own ensembles like The QuartetFind albums by this artist, In-FormationFind albums by this artist and also cooperated with many other musicians over the years. He was an avid follower of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist´s music and kept in touch with Coltrane´s wife Alice ColtraneFind albums by this artist. Following his visit to India, Kulpowicz discovered Indian music and the spiritual aura of India, which became his own.
Kulpowicz visited India for the first time in 1978, when he was a member of the Zbigniew Namyslowski quartet, which played at the Jazz Yatra in Bombay. At the time he met and befriended a young sitar player Shujaat KhanFind albums by this artist, a descendant of the legendary Khan dynasty of sitar players since hundreds of years. That friendship lasted for almost thirty years as long as Kulpowicz was alive. They played together many times in Poland and abroad. In 1984 Khan visited Poland and recorded a live album with Kulpowicz for the PoljazzFind albums on this label label. The last time they played together was in 2006, when Khan visited Poland again, bringing with him the tabla player Arunangshu ChaudhuryFind albums by this artist. Kulpowicz invited the legendary Polish electric bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and the four played together the music presented on this album, which was recorded live at Warsaw Philharmonic Hall.
Considering the fact that European (including Jazz) and Indian music exist on almost completely separate planes, the amalgamation of the two is extremely difficult to achieve. Except for a very few earlier attempts, most importantly the John MayerFind albums by this artist / Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist Indo-Jazz FusionsFind albums by this artist from the late 1960s / early 1970 and the John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist´s ShaktiFind albums by this artist a decade later, which were groundbreaking and musically just right, most of the other attempts resulted in failures. The music included on this album proves again, that the power of music transcends not only cultural borders but also thousands of years of musical tradition, enabling conversations between musicians originating seemingly from worlds apart.
The album comprises of just three extended pieces, two of which are about half an hour long and the third a quarter of an hour in duration. Named simply "songs", they are improvisations on melodic themes composed by Kulpowicz, performed wonderfully and in perfect harmony by all four musicians. Khan voices the melody at the onset of each piece and then the musicians take extensive solos in turn, with the full quartet returning to the melodic theme several times between the solos. Kulpowicz plays superbly and his solos are simply outstanding statements in the John Coltrane tradition, emphasizing the close relationship between Coltrane´s music and the Indian influences, which are often difficult to be discovered in his music, but come to wonderful realization when performed by Kulpowicz. There is so much passion in his playing that one suspect that his premonition as to his fate was already hunting him.
Khan, who since the early meeting with Kulpowicz achieved a Masterly status in Indian music, is an obvious sitar virtuoso and his solos are also breathtaking. Chaudhury and Scieranski, although a priori destined to fulfill a less dominant role in this music, perform both splendidly and their contributions are invaluable. Scieranski especially is to be prized, as his elegant and delicate bass tones manage to keep a perfect balance with his partners and the music which usually exist without the bass foundation so typical in European music.
The music is beautifully recorded and has an outstanding sound quality, especially in view of the fact that it is a live recording. Musically it is one of the finest examples I have ever come across of cross-cultural amalgam that work naturally as "God intended". An absolute must to World-Music enthusiasts and all connoisseurs of great music, regardless of genre, geography or cultural affiliation. Respect!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | LABORATORIUM ~ ANTHOLOGY 1971-1988
METAL MIND 001 (Barcode: 5907785028173) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1971 - 1988 Released: 2006
This Box Set compiles all the albums released by the Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble LaboratoriumFind albums by this artist, which was without a shadow of a doubt one of the best and most important Fusion outfits in Eastern Europe before the fall of the Iron Curtain. Over the years the band managed to release ten albums, an unprecedented achievement at the time, of which seven were studio recordings, two were recorded live and the last one was a compilation of previously unreleased tracks. Two of the studio albums were released on the legendary Polish Jazz Series (Volumes 49 and 58). All the ten albums were remastered for this Box Set release and expanded with a plethora of bonus tracks, which include studio outtakes, radio and live performances and mini-sleeved. The booklet includes a detail history of the band and reflections about the albums by the band´s founder / leader keyboardist / composer Janusz GrzywaczFind albums by this artist.
As all ensembles Laboratorium changed lineups over the years, but enjoyed relatively steady personnel for extended periods of time, which undoubtedly added to their success. Most of their material, which is covered by their second to sixth albums (and the compilation album), was recorded by a steady lineup, which included in addition to the leader also saxophonist / vocalist Marek StryszowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Pawel ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Mieczyslaw GorkaFind albums by this artist. On the later albums the lineup includes Grzywacz and Stryszowski (who are the only musicians appearing on all the ten albums) with guitarist Ryszard StylaFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof OlesinskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Andrzej MrowiecFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jan PilchFind albums by this artist. The debut recording, which initially occupied only one side of an LP, features the legendary Polish violinist Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist and is stylistically quite close to Free Jazz in contrast to the Fusion direction adopted later.
The band performed only original music, which of course was a courageous decision, and with a singular exception, all the music enclosed herein was composed by Laboratorium members, mostly by the leader but also by others or co-composed by the band. Over the years Grzywacz emerged as a first rate tune-weaver with an excellent ability to write great melodies and riffs, which make the music accessible, even when it becomes quite complex. The music remains intelligent and ambitious throughout, with a remarkable consistency of high-level quality. But the most important factor of Laboratorium was its ability to constantly evolve and change, which is quite evident to anybody listening to the music in the proper historic order. Grzywacz slowly moved from acoustic to electric piano and then to synthesizers, but never indulged in mindless pyrotechnics which so many of his colleague keyboardists fell victim to during that period of time. Laboratorium managed to avoid that terrible, obnoxious 1980s cheesy synthesizer sound, which is a success in itself.
Although most of the music performed by Laboratorium is instrumental, they used the human voice time and again in an instrumental capacity. These vocalese experiments are all quite interesting and present another layer of the band´s musical range. It seems that Polish Jazz is particularly fond of such experimentation since its early days and it´s definitely interesting to hear how Laboratorium handled them.
There are endless moments of musical joy inside this Box Set; virtuosic performances by the musicians, especially those by Krzysztof Scieranski, who stands easily shoulder to shoulder with such bass heroes as Jaco PastoriusFind albums by this artist, beautiful melodies, funky grooves, superb guitar and keyboards solos, in short Fusion heaven for all connoisseurs of the genre. I can´t imagine any Fusion fan anywhere on this planet not being melted away by the beauty of this music.
The Box Set is an individually numbered limited edition and if you can put your hands on a copy, don´t you dare to hesitate even for a moment – it´s worth its weight in gold!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 10 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | LABORATORIUM ~ MODERN PENTATHLON (POLISH JAZZ VOL.49)
MUZA 949 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2004
Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion band LaboratoriumFind albums by this artist was one of several great Polish bands (Extra BallFind albums by this artist for example) playing in that vein during the 1970s and 1980s. Founded by keyboardist Janusz GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, the band´s founding members included also saxophonist / vocalist Marek StryszowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Mieczyslaw GorkaFind albums by this artist. After an initial period of trying to find a musical identity, the band was joined by brothers Pawel ScieranskiFind albums by this artist on guitar and Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist on bass (one of the greatest Polish bass players) and settled into the Fusion genre, with a musical approach and sound not far away from Weather ReportFind albums by this artist. This, their debut recording, presents them already in their full power and the recording is quite stunning in its sophistication and instrumental aptitude. The music includes the 20 minutes long suite in five parts, which gives the album its title and a few shorter pieces, all composed or co-composed by the leader. As opposed to most American Fusion at the time, which was mostly based on simplistic melodies and endless instrumental doodling, this music is atmospheric, intelligent, sophisticated, well developed and coherent, clearly well rooted in the European musical tradition. Fusion fans are well advised to try this out and explore this wonderful music, which is expanding the genre´s limitations to the max. Superb stuff!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | LABORATOTIUM ~ QUASIMODO (POLISH JAZZ VOL.58)
POLSKIE RADIO 0532 (Barcode: 5901448115323) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2005
This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble LaboratoriumFind albums by this artist, which was one of several great Polish bands (like Extra BallFind albums by this artist for example) playing in that vein during the 1970s. Founded by keyboardist Janusz GrzywaczFind albums by this artist, the band´s founding members included also saxophonist / vocalist Marek StryszowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Mieczyslaw GorkaFind albums by this artist. After an initial period of trying to find a musical identity, the band was joined by brothers Pawel ScieranskiFind albums by this artist on guitar and Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist on bass (one of the greatest Polish bass players) and settled into the Fusion genre, with a musical approach and sound not far away from Weather ReportFind albums by this artist. This, their second recording, presents them in their full power and the recording is quite stunning in its sophistication and instrumental aptitude. The music includes pieces composed by all members of the group. As opposed to most American Fusion at the time, which was mostly based on simplistic melodies and endless instrumental doodling, this music is atmospheric, intelligent, sophisticated, well developed and coherent, clearly well rooted in the European musical tradition. Fusion fans are well advised to try this out and explore this wonderful music, which is expanding the genre´s limitations to the max. This music will also interest fans Prog fans, as it is close in spirit to the Canterbury genre. Superb stuff!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ZBIGNIEW LEWANDOWSKI ~ ZBIGNIEW LEWANDOWSKI
GAD 121 (Barcode: 5903068120770) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1983 Released: 2020
This is a reissue of the debut album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer / bandleader Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist, originally released on the legendary PoljazzFind albums on this label label. The music was recorded in 1983 during two sessions separated by several months, with two lineups. The first lineup was a quintet which included alongside Lewandowski also iconic trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist, guitarist Pawel ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and bass guitarist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist. The second lineup was extended to an octet and included also saxophonist Andrzej OlejniczakFind albums by this artist, second bass guitarist Mieczyslaw JureckiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. The original LP presented six tracks but this remastered edition was expanded by two additional tracks from the first session, previously unissued. All the compositions were by the musicians participating in the recording except for one standard.
The music, influenced by the revolutionary work of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, has a distinct Fusion tinge, but is very far from an attempt to copy the great Master. Przybielski, aged thirty-nine at the time of the recording, was already Poland´s most idiosyncratic Jazz musician and trumpet Genius. He displays the full range of his abilities, and the fact that the music is Fusion oriented, offers a rare opportunity to hear him in that specific idiom, rather than within his "usual" Avant-Garde environment. His performances on this album are amongst the most extensive documents of his playing, including his weird sense of humor. In retrospect this album emphasizes the devastating loss Polish Jazz suffered with his untimely death in 2011. I had the immense luck and pleasure to produce the album "The Book Of JobFind albums with this title", just a couple of years after this recording was made, which also featured Przybielski at his absolute best.
Baron, only twenty-two years old at the time, also contributes wonderfully to the album´s overall ambience, offering his compositions, most of the arrangements and excellent soloing. The rest of the players were already more experienced and their professionalism and obvious talents are clearly evident in the resulting music.
Overall this is a momentous recording, perhaps one of the most important Polish Jazz albums from the 1980s, and beyond. Polish Jazz / Fusion fans should be grateful to GADFind albums on this label Records for resurrecting this gem and saving it from oblivion. Brilliant stuff!
| | Updated: 23/09/2020Posted: 23/09/2020 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ AIR CONDITION
POLJAZZ / ANEX 317 (Barcode: 5907513047728) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1980 Released: 2009
One of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, remained firmly in the position of the leading Jazz figure in his country for several generations. Starting in the early 1960s as member of the legendary Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist quintet and later leading his own groups, Namyslowski kept his ears open constantly to follow the developments on the ever changing worldwide Jazz scene and his groups always included young talented players, who became his disciples. The group Air ConditionFind albums by this artist included the immensely talented keyboardist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dariusz KozakiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and an extended percussion section, and played a kind of Jazz-Funk, which could move an elephant´s ass, not falling behind any of the US groups playing in the same vein. This album was intended for the US market, where it was released (along with several other Polish Jazz albums) by the Inner CityFind albums on this label label, admittedly without much commercial success. As usual, Americans were simply not ready to recognize any kind of Jazz happening outside of their home turf. In retrospect, this album is still a lot of fun and as Funky as they get. Sendecki´s keyboard wizardry is stunning, as always, and the leader plays plenty of nasty sax chops. Recommended!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ FOLLOW YOU KITE
WARNER MUSIC POLAND 190296307577 (Barcode: 190296307577) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1980 Released: 2022
This is a reissue / remaster of an album by the Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader and a Godfather figure on the local scene, Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with his sextet called Air ConditionFind albums by this artist, which also included keyboardist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dariusz KozakiewiczFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Wojciech KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jerzy TanskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by the leader.
The album was one of the very few Polish Jazz recordings released at the time, which were not included in the legendary “Polish Jazz” series, and was now released in the new “Polish Jazz Masters” series.
The music is all on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, supposedly part of the flourishing Fusion movement, that arrived in Poland a bit later than in Europe and even in other countries behind the Iron Curtain. Namyslowski, deeply rooted in the modern Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion genres, embraced Fusion following his short stint in the US, but that love affair was short lived. The same lineup recorded the same year another album, with included different material, called simply “Air ConditionFind albums with this title”, which was released by the PoljazzFind albums on this label label and also by Inner City in the US.
But as always with Namyslowski, he was able to weave immensely beautiful tunes, with strong melodic lines, which were ideal vehicles for his sidemen to show their chops. The absolute star of this album is the very young and insanely talented keyboardist Wladyslaw Sendecki, who was to become one of top polish Jazz pianists in the years to come. His keyboards parts, especially those played on the acoustic piano, are still absolutely stunning. Although Namyslowski was not a Fusion player, Scieranski was the epitome of Funk, and his bass playing is what gives this album the Fusiony tinge. Kozakiewicz, who is a brilliant Blues / Blues-Rock guitarist, is sadly lost here as this musical environment is not really his cup of tea.
Overall, this is a very nice historic Polish Jazz album, with great tunes and excellent performances by these splendid musicians, which is always great to return to, when in a nostalgic mood. The music lost nothing of its slick musicality and the reissue is a great tribute to Namyslowski, who sadly died in 2022.
| | Updated: 11/04/2023Posted: 11/04/2023 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | KRZYSZTOF SCIERANSKI ~ JAZZ, ROCK I SWIETY SPOKOJ
KOLEKTYW (Barcode: 5904806125118) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022
This is an album by one of the Godfathers of Polish Fusion, bass guitarist / composer Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded in a trio format with EWI player Waldemar GolebskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin ScieranskiFind albums by this artist (Krzysztof’s son). Krzysztof Scieranski plays also lead guitar on the album. Pianist Darek GrelaFind albums by this artist and rapper Marcin GraczaFind albums by this artist appear as guests. The album presents twelve relatively short tracks, all composed by the leader.
Despite the “obvious” association with Fusion, the music is in fact only partly within the straightforward definition of the genre, with elements of Blues and Rock present as well. Although the Jazzy atmosphere and Fusiony performances are there, it seems that Scieranski simply wants to share with the listeners a collection of wonderful melodic tunes, emphasizing his abilities as a composer rather than a virtuoso player, which has been already proved beyond any doubt.
The music is mostly very relaxed and lyrical, focusing on the melody lines and offering relatively limited improvisation. Of course Scieranski is still a superb bass player and in this case also guitar player, which can be heard perfectly well for the entire duration of the album, but he solos sparingly and only when appropriate. The EWI sound is a nice addition, much more fitting the minimalist setting than keyboards, and the drumming is also carefully supportive and delicate, rather than dominating.
Overall, this is a beautiful, heartrending collection of tunes, perfectly executed and offering a wonderful musical journey for the entire duration. They don’t write tunes like these any more sounds tragically true in this case, and Scieranski emerges as a great songweaver, in parallel to his instrumental abilities. Humble, modest and not pretentious, this is a great example of what great music used to be, and still can be, albeit very rarely. For bass guitar enthusiasts, this is of course Heaven on earth, but every music lover should find this album irresistible. Thanks for the music!
| | Updated: 24/10/2022Posted: 24/10/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | KRZYSZTOF SCIERANSKI ~ NIGHT LAKES
POLSKIE RADIO 1713 (Barcode: 5907812247133) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014
In the liner notes attached to this album Polish Jazz electric bass virtuoso Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist confesses that his initial dream was to become a guitarist and the fact that he became Poland´s bass guitar legend is, as often happens in life, a matter of circumstances and of course the fact that his brother already played guitar. One way or another, the audiences had the pleasure of enjoying his superb performances for four decades now. This album is primarily a realization of a dream where Scieranski could play guitar in addition to his already legendary bass routine. He is accompanied on this album by a core trio: saxophonist Michal KobojekFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Michal LyczekFind albums by this artist, drummer Przemyslaw KuczynskiFind albums by this artist and a few other musicians. Two tracks (the opening and closing ones) also include vocals. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Scieranski.
The music is a mixture of relatively uncomplicated Smooth Jazz tunes, ranging between Jazz-Rock Fusion and almost Popish signatures, all very melodic and well structured harmonically. The tunes are definitely much more solid than most if not all the material found on Smooth Jazz recordings. There is something for everybody here and all of it is slick and pleasurable, so I wouldn´t be surprised if this album becomes very popular indeed among listeners of all ages and musical persuasions.
The performances are all excellent from start to finish. These are all highly skilled and professional musicians and one should expect nothing less than technical perfection. Absurdly, although Scieranski plays some great guitar licks, it is his bass playing that is the most impressive, especially when he uses the fretless bass. He actually plays guitar on only about half of the tracks.
To summarize this is an excellently executed Smooth Jazz album, which includes a collection of tunes that are much stronger that the usual stuff one finds on that type of releases. Scieranski is a virtuoso by any standard and this album is simply another proof of the fact that he is simply great in any environment. And yes, he can play the guitar as well, which nobody can deny!
Music for fast red cars, long haired blondes and sunny beaches… California here we come!
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  | JAROSLAW SMIETANA ~ FROM ONE TO FOUR
POLJAZZ / ANEX 328 (Barcode: 5907513047834) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1986 Released: 2009
This is the second album as a leader by the fabulous Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Jaroslaw SmietanaFind albums by this artist, who died recently tragically prematurely, succumbing to cruel illness. Smietana was one of the most active players on the local scene and contributed enormously to its development over the years. This album presents him, as the title suggests, in different settings: solo, duo, trio and quartet, playing with some of the best Polish Jazz musicians active at the time: saxophonists Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist, bassists Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and Antoni DebskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jacek PelcFind albums by this artist. They perform eleven compositions, five of which are originals: three by Smietana and one each by Scieranski and Pelc, and the rest of the material is all standards.
This is one of the Jazziest albums recorded by Smietana, with fewer Fusion ventures, and his beautiful Jazz sensitivity is especially apparent herein. But all the other players also contribute very fine examples of intelligent, intimate musical conversations with the leader. Scieranski´s bass and Baron´s saxophone are simply delightful. Smietana experiments with the guitar synthesizers and performs on three quite distinctly sounding guitars, with his delicate touch being definitely one of the finest ever. Also the three duets with veteran saxophonist Janusz Muniak are among the album´s most enchanting moments.
In retrospect this is a very strong album from start to finish with no weak moments or unnecessary "fillers", and a superb legacy which Smietana left for all of us to enjoy. A must for all Polish Jazz fans!
Side Note: The PoljazzFind albums on this label label, which originally released this album, was active for 20 years (between 1972 and 1991) and was owned by the Polish Jazz Society. Considering the fact that the music industry in the Socialist State was centralized and totally controlled, with just one State owned music company producing all the albums, the possibilities to record and release Jazz albums were extremely limited. Poljazz was conceived and founded in order to allow for many more Jazz (and other) albums to be released independently from the State owned Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label / MuzaFind albums on this label and as such revolutionized the music industry at the time, being the only such enterprise in Eastern Europe. The Polish label AnexFind albums on this label reissued many of the original Poljazz albums on CD, bringing this fabulous music back to life.
| | | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | STOL PANSKI ~ GADAJACE DRZEWO
ZBIG 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1996 Released: 1997
This is the only album by Polish Jazz ensemble Stol PanskiFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist / composer Zbigniew KunkowskiFind albums by this artist, which also featured trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, flautist / saxophonist Janusz SmykFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Michal ZduniakFind albums by this artist, vocalist Joachim JankoFind albums by this artist, violinist Henryk GembalskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Aleksander KoreckiFind albums by this artist and several other players. Some of these players used to be a decade earlier members of the legendary ensemble Free CooperationFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all composed by Kunkowski and arranged by Kulpowicz. There is also a hidden / undocumented track, which follows the seventh tracks, which is a free improvised piece.
Musically the album presents a fascinating amalgam of Jazz with Groove, Funk and World Music. Most of the music consists of a simple melody line played over a repetitive groove and serving as a background for extensive improvisations by the soloists. The main and most impressive soloist is of course the legendary trumpeter Andrzej Przybielski, who plays on this album some of the most coherent and beautiful solos in his entire career, which bridge between his free improvising tendencies and the melodic approach he uses here. Especially impressive are his muted trumpet parts, which easily compare to those played by Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. Since every note of the Przybielski legacy is utterly sacred, this album is an absolutely must to every follower of the Polish Jazz trumpet heritage.
Overall this album is one of the hidden gems in the Polish Jazz discography, which disappeared from the shelves shortly after being released almost two decades ago and never reissued. True Polish Jazz fans should make every effort to get hold of a copy, at all costs.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | STRING CONNECTION ~ 2012
POLSKIE RADIO 1419 (Barcode: 5907812244194) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011
Over 20 years after the Polish Jazz ensemble String ConnectionFind albums by this artist ceased to exist after several years of leading the local Jazz scene, here they are again, reunited, rejuvenated and recharged with new energies. Led by the violin virtuoso / composer Krzesimir DebskiFind albums by this artist, who founded the original group in 1981 and who was also responsible for group´s breakup due to his mounting commitments as a composer for film and contemporary Classical music, the group also includes original members: saxophonist Andrzej OlejniczakFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Janusz SkowronFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof PrzybylowiczFind albums by this artist. Female vocalist Anna JurksztowiczFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The music was composed mostly by Debski (six of the eight tunes on the album) with Olejniczak and Scieranski contributing one composition each. All these players are of course masters of their trade and their performances are always top notch, as expected. The music covers a wide spectrum of compositions, from World Music influences to Fusion, with the typical Eastern-European awareness of somewhat quirky melody lines and rhythmic patterns. There are no surprises here or groundbreaking innovations, but a lot of excellent and enjoyable music. For Jazz violin connoisseurs this is a must of course, as Jazz albums with violin are unfortunately a rarity, especially those of such quality like this one. Recommended!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | UDA ~ LOWY KRABY
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013
This is the third album by young Polish Fusion trio UdaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist Lukasz KrzywickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Kuba SienczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal ZawadzkiFind albums by this artist. This album features guest appearances by guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and accordionist Marcin GalazynFind albums by this artist. There are thirteen original compositions, which are supposedly co-created by the group members, since no composing credits are specified.
The main point about this music seems to be to offer something quite "different", and different it is. Mixing virtually every style and genre known to man and shunning from nothing, including ridiculous Rap moments, this music is a hodgepodge quite difficult to swallow sometimes. Heavy Metal riffs seem to be the preferred weapon of choice, but there are also quiet passages, which sound quite interesting. Although this music has a strong improvisational element it is much closer to Avant-Garde Rock than to Fusion. Of course the whole point is to make this music impossible to categorize. The first association is the early music of Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, not that Uda are remotely close to his musical genius (nobody is), but the total disregard of form and established rules are also there.
Of course these youngsters can play, and they play well, even exceptionally well, when they do. Many of their devices seem to be borrowed or perhaps purposely used in a form of mockery or ridicule, which works also pretty well. Overall, in spite of the apparent chaos and mayhem, there seems to be a hidden sense behind all this façade of "we don´t give a damn". If only they concentrated on what they play rather than on how they play it, things would be much more interesting.
Obviously this music is not very inviting, but for listeners willing to suffer a little, there are definitely many hidden treasures in there. Just keep an open mind and protect your ears! I must say I prefer young musicians experimenting and breaking the rules the way Uda do, rather than join the wave of conformity and produce the usual garbage, which makes you puke instantly. So respect for the courage to be different, and please just a little more focus next time around.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ZBIGNIEW JAKUBEK
AFRO VIBE 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2013 - 2023 Released: 2023
This is a 2CD album paying tribute to Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer / arranger Zbigniew JakubekFind albums by this artist, a prominent figure on the Polish Jazz scene for many decades and member of such ensembles like Walk AwayFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist and others. Jakubek recorded many albums with the groups he was a member of, as well as a sideman in numerous projects with other top Polish Jazz musicians, but sadly never managed to record a solo album as a leader. Following his death in May 2023, guitarist / composer Marek RaduliFind albums by this artist, who was a close friend of Jakubek, undertook this splendid project to record an album with original music by Jakubek, with the help of many of the musicians Jakubek played with, such as bassists Michal GrottFind albums by this artist, Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist, Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, drummers Michal DabrowkaFind albums by this artist, Wojciech FedkowiczFind albums by this artist and Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist and others.
The album presents ten tracks (five on each CD), nine of which are original compositions of Jakubek and one is composed by Raduli, with lyrics by Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist). Seven of the tracks are based on tracks left by Jakubek, recorded as sketches / preparations for his solo album and other sources, two are taken from Walk Away albums and the last one, was written (see above) especially for this album.
The music is all brilliantly melodic, with typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, excellently performed by all the participants and offers an excellent sound quality. Raduli’s guitar playing is absolutely sensational and his emotional involvement with this project is evident and his dedication to carry it out is exceptional.
Overall, this is a brilliant tribute album to a great musician / composer, warmly remembered by his peers and friends, and the music offers some of the finest guitar oriented Jazz / Fusion music recorded in Poland. For the lovers of the genre, this album is an absolute must, but all Jazz lovers around the world should be able to appreciate the superb compositions by Jakubek and enjoy the music wholeheartedly. Hats off to those who contributed to make this project a reality!
| | Updated: 09/04/2024Posted: 09/04/2024 | CD 2 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | YANKEL BAND ~ W LODZKIEJ SZKOLE FILMOWEJ
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2015
This is a live recording by the Polish ensemble called Yankel BandFind albums by this artist, which hails from the town of Lodz and plays mostly original instrumental music. The ensemble is a quartet and comprises of violinist Piotr PrzybylFind albums by this artist, guitarists Krzysztof KociszewskiFind albums by this artist and Bogdan GradFind albums by this artist and accordionist Maksymilian PelczarskiFind albums by this artist. For the concert captured on this DVD the band was expanded to a sextet with the inclusion of the Polish Jazz bass legend Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and Mexican (resident in Poland) percussionist Thomas Celiz SanchezFind albums by this artist. The sextet performs five compositions, four of which are originals composed by Przybyl and Kociszewski (two each) and the remaining one is a Yiddish standard.
Contrary to the band´s name, which suggests an association with Jewish Music and Culture, the ensemble presents an amalgam of Jazz and World-Music influences, mostly of Gypsy and other European folkloristic sources, but not connected to Jewish music per se. The inclusion of the Yiddish standard seems a bit out of place, as if used only to justify the band´s name?
All the musicians involved in this project are highly professional players with extensive experience, and they manage to create an intimate almost acoustic ambience, cooperating with each other splendidly. The tunes receive expanded arrangements, stretched out to allow elaborate solo parts by all the participants. Many of these solos are truly excellent, musically coherent and even bordering on virtuosity. Scieranski is still in excellent shape and still leaves most other Polish electric bassist way behind.
However, the band fails to present a truly original voice overall, and sounds like numerous other ensembles playing similar material in Poland, not mentioning the World over. Nevertheless the concert is definitely worthy of the attention of fans of improvised melodic World Music, and should be enjoyed by most listeners.
As to the video component of this DVD, it is honestly rather unexciting. Watching six musicians standing in a circle and exchanging licks is as interesting visually as licking ice. Releasing this material in audio form would have been more than enough. But of course that is not my call… Enjoy!
| | | DVD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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