Record Reviews

KUBA PLUZEK ~ ELEVEN SONGS V 007 (Barcode: 5903111377069) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist and his first solo piano outing. It presents, as the title suggests, eleven "songs", or rather compositions, treated in a very melodic way, two of which are his own compositions and the remaining nine are by Polish (Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist, Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist) and other (Brad MehldauFind albums by this artist, Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist, Dave HollandFind albums by this artist) Jazz musicians / composers or by non-Jazz cinematic composers (Hans ZimmerFind albums by this artist, Luis BacalovFind albums by this artist). From the very first notes of this album it becomes immediately apparent that Pluzek justifies all the high hopes expressed as a result of his debut album a couple of years earlier. His technique and touch are completely fluid and seamless, which is quite exceptional at his age. His choice of material seems to be no less intelligent and sophisticated than the actual performance, creating a roundness and sense of continuity, which only a few solo piano albums are able to achieve. The piano playing style Pluzek utilizes on this album is based on extended continuous left hand arpeggios and the right hand stating the melody lines and chord progressions, which is somewhat similar to early Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist solo piano work, and is equally effective. His ability to play around with the tempi and producing a wide range of dynamic shifts is also impressive. But beyond the technical facets of his playing, Pluzek expresses a beautiful lyricism and romance, which only the greatest piano players are blessed with. His interpretation of the classic ballad "Danny Boy", which has been performed countless times before, is a case in point. The entire experience of listening to this album is full of straightforward joy of music and of life, a rare moment of pure pleasure, which leaves the listener relaxed and deeply satisfied once the journey is over. Although this is one of the first Polish Jazz albums of 2015, it is already pretty sure to become one of the contenders of the annual competition of top albums for this year. Definitely a commendable successor to the exceptional debut, this album is everything a piano solo album is supposed to be – a spiritual experience!

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STEVE SMITH ~ FLASHPOINT MASCOT 7175 (Barcode: 8712725717522) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 Veteran Fusion drummer Steve SmithFind albums by this artist combines forces with three other extraordinary musicians to form one the best Fusion ensembles ever. Legendary saxophonist Dave LiebmanFind albums by this artist needs no introduction and his exceptional work since his days with the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist group has always been a beacon of innovation and excellence in the jazz world. The same can be said about the legendary bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist, whose illustrious career includes playing with Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Michel PetruccianiFind albums by this artist and countless other jazz stars. The fourth member of the band, Turkish keyboards player Aydin EsenFind albums by this artist, is the only relatively unknown musician in the group, but his performances and compositions prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that he belongs to the same class of musicianship with his three companions. The music is simply breathtaking and overwhelming from the very first moment this record starts playing to the very last note. The music (written mostly by Liebman and Esen) is rich in textures and incredibly intense. The performances are stellar, with one solo chasing another. The entire session just flows beautifully, simultaneously filling the listener with energy and stimulating his intellect. Definitely one of the strongest, cleverest and most fulfilling Fusion albums recorded in the 21st Century. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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