Record Reviews

OLES BROTHERS / THEO JORGENSMANN ~ TRANSGRESSION FSR 2016/04 (Barcode: 5905279364103) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2016 This is the fifth album by the trio which unites Polish Jazz and Improvised Music twin team of bassist / composer Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist, and German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist. The music included on this album was recorded in 2010 and originally intended for release as their second album on the Swiss Hat HutFind albums on this label Records HatologyFind albums on this label Label, but for a variety of reason was delayed and eventually released on the Polish FSRFind albums on this label label. It includes eleven original compositions, three of which are by Marcin Oles and four each by Bartlomiej Oles and Jorgensmann. The album marks a culmination of a ten years period during which the trio recorded and performed together intensively. As a result their work here is remarkably coherent and organic and the musical unity they demonstrate is truly marvelous. The music flows flawlessly between solo, duo and trio statements, with the rhythm section being elevated to a status of frontline performers. The telepathic conversation between all three musicians is staggering, as usual, and the trio becomes a complete, undividable unit. The album also marks a path towards more composed and less freely improvised music, which has characterized the trio´s progression over time. That does not mean of course that the music is restrained in any way, but the composed structures are plainly hearable and strictly adhered to, notwithstanding the enormous degree of freedom applied in the performances themselves. In retrospect this is definitely a brilliant closing chapter to the trio´s activity, which was certainly one of the most interesting European Jazz units at the time. Of course for Oles Brothers this was definitely a period of establishing their position as one of the most talented leading European rhythm sections in parallel to their ever growing career as composers. It is great to have this album finally available, thanks to the persistence of the Oles Brothers and of course Maciej KarlowskiFind albums by this artist of FSR, who finally managed to bring this saga to a happy end. The album includes the liner notes by American critic Art Lange, which were written for the intended release on Hatology in 2011, so even that piece of the puzzle was saved. Enjoy!

Updated: 02/01/2017Posted: 02/01/2017

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EVAN PARKER / RGG ~ LIVE @ ALCHEMIA FSR 2017/01 (Barcode: 5905279364172) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is a live recording by the legendary British saxophonist Evan ParkerFind albums by this artist performing together with one of the top Polish Jazz trios RGGFind albums by this artist, which comprises of pianist Lukasz OjdanaFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist. Together the ad hoc quartet performs four spontaneously composed pieces, credited to all four members of the quartet. The music was recorded at the celebrated Krakow´s Alchemia club, which since many years is associated with the Polish and international Improvised Music scene. The courageous experiment of combining forces between Parker and RGG seems, at least in theory, quite unexpected to say the least. Based on their recording history one might contemplate how the music of Parker, which always symbolized the extreme Avant-Garde and total freedom of expression, might be combined with the music of RGG, which although featured some elements of freedom, was always strongly melody based and full of typical Polish lyricism and Romanticism. Apparently, music is able to unite most stylistic gaps and in this particular case simply emerges victorious. As a result we have some of the most "melodic" and relaxed Parker performances ever put on record and the most free oriented music ever recorded by RGG, both wholly amalgamated into a new form of expression. In spite of the age difference between Parker and the RGG members, there seems to be a complete and profound understanding and mutual respect between the musicians, which allows the music to flow and flourish uninhibited and overwhelmingly moving. As usual in such musical circumstances, the music requires attentive and open-minded listening, but its quality assures a most wonderful aesthetic experience. The personal performances are all, as expected, exhilarating and the challenge of playing with a legend mobilized the RGG members to give absolutely everything they had to give that night. There is no doubt that this is one of the most challenging and daring Polish Jazz recording lately and a superb way to start 2017, which promises to be as exciting as the incredibly intense 2016. Maciej KarlowskiFind albums by this artist deserves kudos for putting this experiment together and turning his FSRFind albums on this label label into an important player on the Polish record scene. Thanks also to the man with the biggest ears in Poland, Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, for the wonderful mix and mastering, which result in a superb sound quality this album offers to the listener. Well done!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 21/02/2017

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