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  | LUMPEKS ~ LUMPEKS
RP 02 (Barcode: 5906660451099) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020
This is the debut album by the French - Polish Jazz quartet LumpeksFind albums by this artist, formed by French bassist Sebastien BeliahFind albums by this artist, with trumpeter Louis LaurainFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Pierre BorelFind albums by this artist and Polish vocalist / percussionist Olga KozielFind albums by this artist. A couple of guests appear on selected tracks. The album presents nine original compositions, all co-credited to the quartet members, although in fact it is almost completely based on folkloristic sources.
The music is a rather unorthodox mixture of ancient Polish Folklore and Jazz, which fulfills the expectations of the “Radical Polish Culture” label it appears under, creating what could be labeled as Medieval Polish Jazz. It is rather surprising that such experiment was undertaken by French musicians, rather than by musicians native to that cultural background, but it proves that music is easily able to cross borders. Polish Jazz is of course full of attempts to amalgamate Jazz with traditional Folklore, some beautifully successful and others forgettable, in a few cases also involving non-Polish musicians, so this is not the first attempt of the kind.
The vocals offer a pretty straightforward readings of the traditional songs and don’t contribute much to the stylistic consolidation. The same applies to the regular rhythmic beat provided by Koziel. Therefore, it is up to Laurain and Borel to add the Jazzed up ornamentations. Beliah plays some nice bass parts and directs the music carefully forward, and setting the hypnotic atmosphere, consolidating the entire sound. But sadly altogether the effect of merging the folklore with Jazz is not really achieved here.
Overall the album left me rather unimpressed, albeit it deserves to be listened to as a curiosity. Perhaps the recorded music is not able to reflect the energies of this music performed live and offers just a part of the entire repertoire? I definitely look forward to their next effort.
| | Updated: 28/03/2021Posted: 28/03/2021 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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