Record Reviews

JERZY MAZZOLL ~ BYC WYTWORNIA KRAJOWA 17 (Barcode: 5902860147176) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz clarinetist / composer Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, one of the mythical figures of the Avant-Garde / fringe Polish Jazz since the late 1980s. Although presented as a solo album, the music is co-credited to Mazzoll and producer / multi-instrumentalist Michal SzturomskiFind albums by this artist, who co-composed the seventeen pieces of instrumental music with Mazzoll. Pianist Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist, bassist Franciszek PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, percussionist Artur ChaberFind albums by this artist as well as a couple of other musicians perform alongside the two composers. For someone, who knows Mazzoll and his music since ages, the album comes as a complete surprise in many respects. But Mazzoll states clearly on the album’s artwork that: “This album came to be as a result of my desire for calmness and beauty, which lately I am able to experience again”. That motto reflects the character of the music perfectly, as the album presents a series of beautiful, highly melodic tunes, often meditative, sometimes close to Hasidic Nigunim, which Mazzoll states on plethora of various clarinets like the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The clarinet is accompanied on some of the tracks by the superb performances of Wosko and Pospieszalski, which ideally suit the concept and paint the entire proceedings with s subtle Jazz tinge. However, on other tracks the accompaniment is more “mechanical”, i.e. synthesizes, samples and other electronic paraphernalia, which I prefer much less, but am able to accept, in view of the charm of the music and the concept at large. Mazzoll’s clarinet parts are of course brilliant and one can simply not get enough of them, which makes one long for more when the music is over – the only solution being to put the album on repeat. He is a true sound magician, which I have always known to be true, but his convoluted recording / life history not always managed to reflect it. I am thankful that he finally found his peace of mind, which enables him to play as magnificently as herein, and live his life “under his wine and his fig tree”. Overall, this is a magnificently moving piece of music, seemingly simplistic at times, but able to reach the deepest heartstrings of the listener’s soul. This is Mazzoll the Gentle Giant, the Buddhist Monk, the Hassid thankful for the Almighty’s Grace… Thank you my Friend, for this gift of Music!

Updated: 07/06/2022Posted: 06/06/2022

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JERZY MAZZOLL ~ LIVE REQUIEM / ZAWIEJE 30 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is a live solo album by Polish Jazz clarinetist / composer Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, who is joined in the second part of the concert by live electronics performed by Michal SzturomskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, all of which are spontaneously improvised. The music was recorded at the RequiemFind albums on this label Records performing space, called “Zawieje”, and the music was copied to CD-R discs immediately at the end of the concert and made available to the people who attended the event, so called an “instant live” album, packaged into a beautiful cover pressed in advance – a unique concept by Requiem’s owner Lukasz PawlakFind albums by this artist, one of the most passionate and creative people in Polish record industry. This was the 30th edition of the “Zawieje” series. The music is, as always in Mazzoll’s case, absolutely stunning, deeply contemplative and at times almost ambient, with his bass clarinet producing an incredible array of sounds, which he is the sole person capable of creating. The entire concert offers an enchanted continuity, which keeps the listener in a state of deep trance and complete submission. I deeply regret not being able to participate in this event in person. Mazzoll is definitely one of the most fascinating personalities on the Polish Jazz scene, and every new recording confirms his unique status. It is great to see that following many years of relative anonymity, he is quite productive lately and the number of album featuring his rare artistry is rapidly growing, which hopefully will continue in the future. Overall, this is a very unique and beautiful album, which should be a proud part of every Improvised Music record collection, especially since it is a very limited edition. If you can find a copy, grab it instantly. Side Note: Recently the Requiem Records lost the premium location residence, where it operated in recent years, including the concert space, which produced 45 editions of the “Zawieje” concerts. This means, that until Lukasz Pawlak is able to find a new home for his label, his activities, including the concert series, will be (hopefully only) temporarily suspended, which is a great loss to the ambitious Polish music scene, a sad reflection of the times we live in.

Updated: 07/09/2025Posted: 07/09/2025

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SZTUROMSKI / MAZZOLL / WOSKO / CHAMOUN / SZCZYCINSKI ~ PTAKI POLSKI REQUIEM 256 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is an album by a quintet of Polish musicians, led by producer / electronics manipulator Michal SzturomskiFind albums by this artist, with clarinetist Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist, percussionist Adeb ChamounFind albums by this artist and bassist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist. They perform music inspired by the calls and songs uttered by bird species common in Poland, which are described by texts written by Alexandra Kornelia MajFind albums by this artist and recited by Filip KosiorFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, each dedicated to a different bird. The music is mostly improvised, with Mazzoll being the leading voice in most cases, beautifully accompanied by the rest of the quintet, with plenty of space for individual contributions. Although improvised, the music is wonderfully melodic, with strong influences of Mediterranean accents, flowing gently and dreamy, almost contemplatively. The three elements, i.e. the birds’ calls, the music and the recitation are balanced delicately and offer a coherent whole, which is moving and highly enjoyable. Obviously, as a Mazzoll admirer, I enjoy immensely his contributions, which prove again how comprehensive his talent is, always fitting perfectly to whatever musical environment he finds himself in. He is a modern Pied Piper of Hamelin, at least for me, always taking me wherever he is going with his music, where I can only follow blindly and submissively. Of course this particular assembly of musicians is truly amicable and talented, which makes everything even more perfect aesthetically. Chamoun is especially fitting and I always admire his special sense of rhythm, which we share instinctively. Overall, this is a remarkable piece of musical Art, carefully put together, as always in the case of RequiemFind albums on this label Records, beautifully packaged and bearing a sublime musical gift. My sincere thanks to all participants and contributors.

Updated: 01/04/2025Posted: 01/04/2025

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