Record Reviews

DRUMBIENTONE ~ TIME DIARY AUDIO CAVE 2025/007 (Barcode: 5908451336035) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025 This is an album by Polish composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, who operates under three (so far) musical alter egos: as Jazz drummer, contemporary Classical Music composer and finally as Ambient / Electronic Music creator, the last of which under the DrumbientoneFind albums by this artist moniker. This album combines the Classical Music composer and the Ambient Music creator personalities, presenting a set of eight composed piano pieces, beautifully performed by pianist Mira OpalinskaFind albums by this artist, who recorded the album “Cat`s Songs - 17 Haiku For PianoFind albums with this title” with his compositions a couple of years earlier. The music is melody based, serene and contemplative, with the piano pieces being the dominating presence, while the Ambient / Electronic soundscapes accompany the piano in the background, adding another dimension but staying respectfully mostly in the shadow. I enjoyed the music, as always, not only for its almost Romantic vistas, but mostly for the aesthetics it represents and the firm creative freedom Oles embraces, ignoring norms and trends. As much as I admire him for his pioneering work in the Jazz field, which created a substantial recorded legacy in the last two and a half decades, I also respect him for the courage to venture into new and seemingly very different territories, as long as his work is honest and creative. Overall, this is another impressive outing by the “new” Bartlomiej Oles, which follows the new regions of his career and takes his music to new circles of listeners. Perhaps in time we will hear him adding his Jazz personality to the fusion of his new music, which might be “closing a circle” of sorts. In the meantime, lets enjoy this new music, for the healing effect it has on people, who open their hearts to it.

Updated: 11/09/2025Posted: 11/09/2025

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

BARTLOMIEJ OLES ~ CAT`S SONGS - 17 HAIKU FOR PIANO AUDIO CAVE 2023/016 (Barcode: 5908298549780) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is a rather surprising album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, which presents seventeen short pieces for solo piano, composed by Oles and performed by pianist Mira OpalinskaFind albums by this artist, appropriately called Haiku, referring to the Japanese poetry tradition of short poems containing seventeen phonetic units (5-7-5 syllables). The album is the first recording of music composed by Oles, on which he does not take part as a performer. The minimalist music is very melodic and despite its format limitations it is also very expressive. As Oles mentions in the album’s liner notes, there is a certain delicate wink in the direction of Eric SatieFind albums by this artist’s solo piano pieces, although he also mentions Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s “Children`s SongsFind albums with this title” album as a source of inspiration. This music is very distant to what Oles and his twin brother, bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist are usually associated with, which of course is Jazz and Improvised Music. The decision to record this album marks a new path in the personal development of his career and is also quite a bold step, which might raise some eyebrows among his usual listeners. Courage and artistic integrity are characteristics I always support wholeheartedly, which of course I do also now. Overall, this is an excellent collection of solo piano pieces, beautifully played and splendidly recorded, which should satisfy every music lover, regardless of stylistic preferences. This music is naked and completely lacking pretentiousness or pose, it simply is…

Updated: 23/02/2024Posted: 23/02/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend