Record Reviews
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  | STAN BORYS ~ …PISZE PAMIETNIK ARTYSTY
POLSKIE RADIO 1323 (Barcode: 5907812243234) ~ POLAND ~ Special Products
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010
Polish singer / actor / composer / poet Stan BorysFind albums by this artist is one of the most flamboyant and iconoclastic figures on the local scene with almost five decades of artistic achievements behind him. He was a founding member (with guitarist Tadeusz NalepaFind albums by this artist) of the legendary group BlackoutFind albums by this artist, the first Polish Rock group to incorporate lyrics written by a poet, in this case by Bogdan LoeblFind albums by this artist. Following his departure from Blackout the group morphed into the no less legendary BreakoutFind albums by this artist, the great precursors of Blues-Rock in Poland, who continued to cooperate with Loebl as their exclusive lyricist, while Borys joined another group called BizonyFind albums by this artist.
Since the early 1970s Borys embarked on a solo career, which continues to this very day. In 1975 Borys left Poland and immigrated to the US, but remained faithful to his deep cultural bonds with his native country. Since 2004 he returned to perform regularly in Poland, where he maintains a solid fan base, both as a singer and actor. Although mostly renowned for his musical activities, Borys was always deeply interested in theatre and poetry. His deep knowledge and profound understanding of literary works turn him into a unique voice of the Polish literary tradition, which is especially evident on this recording.
In 1983 Stan Borys created a one-man-spectacle based on the poetry written by the 19th Century Polish poet Cyprian Kamil NorwidFind albums by this artist, one of the country’s greatest and most astounding literary forces, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the poet’s death. Five years later the spectacle was recorded and released on CD in the US. In 2010 Borys re-recorded his spectacle, which was finally released in Poland. The album consists of a series of Norwid’s poems recited by Borys, accompanied by ambient musical collages, as well as poems to which Borys composed full musical scores, which are sung by him. The overall effect is truly an electrifying and both deeply emotional as well as highly intellectual experience. The tormented, convoluted and diabolically complex Norwid’s poems suddenly become coherent and beautifully lucid thanks to the incredible interpretation and theatrical delivery by Borys, who masterly controls his voice and diction. It’s abundantly clear that Borys not only knows these poems intimately, but also feels deeply for the messages conveyed in them. For many, this might be the first opportunity to comprehend how prophetic these poems are, especially now.
Although the political circumstances at the time when these poems were written are no longer a reality, the underlying values and principles of freedom (both individual and collective), humanity, honesty, idealism and even patriotism are still the building stones of any decent society, but alas they are still being hold in deep contempt by contemporary, post-modern society led by false prophets, crooked politicians, fanatic clergy and fools. Hundreds of years of enslavement and suffering by Poles, as expressed by Norwid’s masterly poetry, who in retrospect conveyed these messages more eloquently than any of his contemporaries, seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Therefore these poems, as presented by Borys, are filled with grief and tragedy, desperation and anxiety, perhaps even more so than originally intended.
It´s interesting to follow the many parallels between these interpretations of Norwid’s work with the ones created by another Polish genius, NiemenFind albums by this artist. Niemen’s “obsession” with Norwid’s poetry was an integral part of his life’s work, which deserves to be regarded as one of the ultimate highlights of Polish cultural heritage. Stan Borys now joins Niemen on the pedestal of Polish seers, in many ways continuing the same mission of spreading the words of the Prophet. This album is a masterpiece of epic proportions and an invaluable addition to the Polish culture, although the question if it will be recognized as such by his fellow countrymen remains still open. Since the Bible teaches us that "no prophet is accepted in his hometown", I remain skeptical…
| | Updated: 25/06/2016Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | BREAKOUT ~ 70A
MUZA 989 (Barcode: 5907783499890) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1970 Released: 2005
2nd album by brilliant Polish ensemble BreakoutFind albums by this artist formed and led by guitarist / vocalist / composer Tadeusz NalepaFind albums by this artist. Breakout was formed in 1968 after Nalepa decided to change the name of his previous group BlackoutFind albums by this artist and reformed it under the new name. The group was fronted by vocalist Mira KubasinskaFind albums by this artist, one of the first great female performers of the Polish Rock scene, and also included bassist / pianist Józef SkrzekFind albums by this artist (future member of NiemenFind albums by this artist´s groups and later SBBFind albums by this artist) and drummer Józef HajdaszFind albums by this artist. The fifth member of Breakout was the great Polish saxophonist / flautist Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, the first Polish Jazz musician, who combined the Jazz and Rock genres and of course was an early pioneer of Jazz-Rock Fusion. Nalepa´s musical background was deeply rooted in Blues, and much of the group´s material was in fact Blues-Rock based, but the presence of Nahorny and the contemporary Prog and Psychedelic influences turned Breakout into one of the most formidable East European groups ever, with a broad range of cross-genre musical activities. Breakout had an immense influence on the Polish, as well as the entire East European music scene, serving as a beacon to generations of musicians living behind the Iron Curtain. In their native country Breakout was often criticized by the Socialist regime for idealizing Western culture and their music was banned from the media during the peak of the "dark age" repressions in the late 1960, which eventually only increased the following the group enjoyed among the young generation. Nalepa, who composed all of the group´s music, worked closely with lyricist / poet Bogdan LoeblFind albums by this artist, who supplied the band with highly intelligent and often controversial lyrics, way above the usual level of Rock lyrics used in Rock at the time. This album is a timeless classic and any connoisseur of East European Rock / Prog will find it phenomenal. Brilliant stuff!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | BREAKOUT ~ BLUES
MUZA 940 (Barcode: 5907783499401) ~ POLAND ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2005
3rd album by Polish group BreakoutFind albums by this artist is one of the most influential albums, not only in Poland but in the entire Easter European music scene. Separated from the West by the Iron Curtain, Eastern European musicians and fans alike had little opportunity to hear album released "on the other side" and therefore relied primarily on whatever was available to them. Poland led the way in music in the 1960s and 1970s not only in Jazz, which flourished there, but also in Rock and Blues-Rock, as well as early Progressive Rock. Albums by NiemenFind albums by this artist, Poland´s most influential Rock / Prog / Jazz-Rock Fusion figure and later on also this album, served as the "musical bible" for generations of Eastern European musicians to study, copy and be inspired by. Breakout, led by vocalist / guitarist / composer Tadeusz NalepaFind albums by this artist, included also lead guitarist Dariusz KozakiewiczFind albums by this artist, harmonica player Tadeusz TrzcinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jerzy GoleniewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Józef HajdaszFind albums by this artist. The lyrics were written by Polish poet Bogdan LoeblFind albums by this artist, who was the band´s resident lyricist. This album is a superb example of Blues-Rock, with absolutely stunning guitar work by Kozakiewicz, which resulted in it being referred to as the Polish version of the legendary John MayallFind albums by this artist´s "Bluesbreakers With Eric ClaptonFind albums with this title" album, being surely as influential as that seminal release. In retrospect the album lost absolutely nothing of its power and beauty and hopefully some Rock-Blues enthusiasts around the world will discover it eventually. Absolutely essential!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | EL GRECO ~ SING CUCKOO
INSPIRAFON 02 (Barcode: 5903111259006) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry
Recorded: 2011 Released: 2013
This is the debut album by Polish ensemble El GrecoFind albums by this artist, led by keyboardist / composer Joachim MencelFind albums by this artist, which also includes vocalist Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist) who performs turntablism, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and Austrian drummer Harry TanschekFind albums by this artist. The album includes ten tracks, eight of which are songs and the remaining two instrumental pieces. The eight songs are all composed by Mencel to lyrics by Polish poets (five of the songs, naturally sung in Polish) and literary texts in English (the remaining three, sung in English). One of the instrumentals is a group composition and the remaining one is by Gil EvansFind albums by this artist.
This is obviously quite an ambitious project, well within the Jazz & Poetry realm, which seems to be a favorite of the Polish music scene. However, contrary to many splendid efforts in this area this album leaves me quite cold. It´s quite difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons for my opinion, but somehow the mixture of complex, sophisticated poetry with the rather simplistic music does not work for me. Anybody engaging in the poems of Cyprian Kamil NorwidFind albums by this artist must be aware of their masterly interpretation by the legendary NiemenFind albums by this artist or more recently by Stan BorysFind albums by this artist and in comparison the versions presented here seem to be quite pale.
The music seems to be by and large based on blues themes, with a modernistic rhythm patterns emphasized by the turntablism. There is a limited space for serious improvisation and the atmosphere is more of an alterative Rock album than a Jazz album, which of course might be just what the ensemble (or the leader) wanted to achieve. The only thing that makes this album enjoyable as far as I´m concerned is the truly excellent work by Andrzej Swies, who emerges as the star of this particular project and without whom this music simply wouldn´t work at all. As usually the attempt to sing in English proves to be fatal.
Overall this is not a bad album and many people will probably enjoy it, but I just can´t seem to be able to warm up towards it. Mea culpa!
| | Updated: 31/01/2017Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | FLAMINGO ~ FLAMINGO (SWINGING TRICITY VOL.4)
SOLITON 250 (Barcode: 5901571092508) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1961 - 1963 Released: 2012
This is the fourth installment in the excellent archival series documenting Polish Jazz created in the country´s Tricity on the Baltic Sea, one of the important centers where Polish Jazz thrives and over the years produced numerous first-rate musicians and superb bands. The series presents material, which in most cases never previously appeared in any form and therefore is of immense historic importance.
This chapter presents the FlamingoFind albums by this artist ensemble, a Traditional Jazz outfit, which was very popular locally as well as in the rest of the country and even participated in the prestigious annual Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw. The group was founded in the late 1950´s, following the great Polish Jazz rebirth after the two historic Sopot (one of the Tricity cities) festivals in 1956 and 1957, which were a turning point in Polish Jazz history. The ensemble existed for about a dozen years until the late 1960s, and unfortunately never managed to record even one album, which sadly was the fate of many Polish Jazz artists during the Socialist regime. However they did record for the Tricity Polish Radio station in Gdansk, where most of the material included on this album comes from, except for five tracks that come from the 1961 Jazz Jamboree Festival, which were previously released by the state owned record label Polskie NagraniaFind albums on this label (MuzaFind albums on this label).
Flamingo was one of quite a few Polish Jazz ensembles playing Traditional Jazz, i.e. Ragtime, Dixieland and New Orleans, as part of the Traditional Jazz Revival, which swept Europe in the 1950s and 1960s. It was founded by pianist Jerzy DerfelFind albums by this artist, bassist Henryk PietrewiczFind albums by this artist and banjoist Lucjan WozniakFind albums by this artist. They were soon joined by drummer Janusz NalaskowskiFind albums by this artist and clarinetist Eugeniusz PudelewiczFind albums by this artist. Other group members present on this album were trumpeters Piotr NadolskiFind albums by this artist and Ryszard PodgorskiFind albums by this artist, and trombonists Andrzej DorawaFind albums by this artist, Edward RykaczewskiFind albums by this artist and Jan TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist. After the group folded, several members joined other groups; like Rama 111Find albums by this artist, which appears on an earlier release of this series, and even NiemenFind albums by this artist´s group AkwareleFind albums by this artist.
The group performed mostly Traditional Jazz standards, with their youthful energy and zest overcoming the lack of experience. The overall level of performances was nothing short of excellent, which gained them quite a following and respect at the time. They performed in several European countries and participated in many jazz festivals. Since their split they managed to get briefly reunited a few times celebrating their past. Most of the Flamingo members live now outside of Poland.
This is another great piece of Polish Jazz history, which should definitely be told and preserved as part of the country´s Cultural Heritage. Kudos to Marcin JacobsonFind albums by this artist for creating this series and keeping it going!
| | | CD-R 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | KLAN ~ NERWY MIAST
GAD 016 (Barcode: 5901549197198) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1969 - 1971 Released: 2014
This is the second album released by the Polish reissue label GADFind albums on this label Records, which presents material recorded by the legendary Polish Rock ensemble KlanFind albums by this artist, which was led by guitarist / composer Marek AlaszewskiFind albums by this artist and also included keyboardist Maciej GluszkiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Roman PawelskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrzej PoniatowskiFind albums by this artist. The album includes eighteen tracks recorded between early 1969 and mid 1971, which is the initial period of the band´s existence. Most of the recordings are taken from the Polish Radio archives, one was recorded at the Polish Film Studios in Warsaw, like all the material on the album released earlier by GAD Records, and the last three were recorded "live" (without audience).
The recordings collected here are all both interesting musically and of quite surprising sound quality, which makes this album a true gem, not to mention its historic importance as far as Polish Rock history is concerned. Considering the fact that the group released originally only one LP and one EP, an addition of two CDs full of unreleased material is nothing short of phenomenal.
Klan presented a very ambitious variety of Art Rock, certainly unique on the Polish scene at the time. Their instrumental work, which was based on Jazzy riffs and improvisation, was more advanced musically than that practiced by most of their contemporaries. They were the first true rebels and obvious nonconformist on the Easter European scene, preceded only by the work of Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist and his groups.
Overall this is definitely a worthy addition to the recorded legacy of Polish Rock and should be received enthusiastically by early East European Rock / Prog fans all over the world. Of course people who care about preserving the cultural heritage should be deeply grateful to GAD Records for making all this happen. Not to be missed!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANDRZEJ KURYLEWICZ / WANDA WARSKA / NIEMEN ~ MUZYKA TEATRALNA I TELEWIZYJNA
MUZA 842 (Barcode: 5907783498428) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2006
Since the day this album was released I´ve always cherished it as one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Undoubtedly my Polish background, my love of the Polish Culture and my ability to understand the lyrics / poetry has something to do with the fact that this album is so meaningful to me, but honestly I believe that any music connoisseur in the world should be moved by this extraordinary music and performances. The music, composed by pianist / composer Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s musical icons and a precursor of Polish Jazz, was originally written for theatre and television and is presented here in a special arrangement for a string orchestra and Jazz combo, featuring two of Poland´s most extraordinary vocal talents: Wanda WarskaFind albums by this artist and NiemenFind albums by this artist. The Jazz combo consists of the composer on piano, trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek BednarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Wladyslaw JagielloFind albums by this artist. The lyrics are all based on Polish poetry, mainly works of the great Polish poet Cyprian Kamil NorwidFind albums by this artist. Warska, the leading interpreter of Polish poetry and faithful performer of the music composed by Kurylewicz, is a superbly sensitive singer blessed by an angelic voice and extraordinary theatrical sensitivity. Niemen is of course Poland´s all time greatest musical genius known worldwide for his achievements, but his appearance on this album is one of the highlights of his career. Niemen´s "obsession" with Norwid´s poetry comes here to an ideal fruition and his vocal parts are simply breathtaking. Although not strictly a Jazz album, the album´s music has a distinct Jazzy character and falls easily into the extended definition of the genre. Overall this is a masterpiece of rare beauty, perfect in every sense, everlasting and always inspiring. An absolute must in every respect!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | WOJCIECH MAJEWSKI ~ REMEMBRANCE
FOR TUNE 0094 (Barcode: 5902768701449) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2004 - 2013 Released: 2016
This is an archival album presenting a live recording by a quintet led by pianist / composer Wojciech MajewskiFind albums by this artist, which also included his brother trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The concert, which took place at a Polish Radio studio, was part of a promotion effort for the album "ZamyslenieFind albums with this title", recorded by the same quintet and released a few months earlier. For this release the album was enhanced by the inclusion of one original track from that album, which features the vocals of the incredible Grzegorz TurnauFind albums by this artist, a couple of solo piano pieces recorded by Wojciech Majewski a decade later and finally by a fragment of a historic radio broadcast, featuring the Polish Rock legend Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist accompanied by Wojciech Majewski and Szukalski. The music was mostly composed by Wojciech Majewski, but includes also a composition by Niemen, a couple of compositions by the legendary Polish bard Marek GrechutaFind albums by this artist and one composition by the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist.
The music is, as expected, top notch from start to finish, and presents the peak of the second generation of the Polish Jazz scene, both on the instrumental and compositional levels. All five players are absolute masters of their respective instruments, but obviously the performances by Szukalski are at the centre of attention, as he is sadly no longer with us and this album emphasizes the incredible loss Polish Jazz suffered with his premature death. As such, this album is a great tribute to his talents.
Wojciech Majewski as a composer is in many respects the epitome of the mainstream Polish Jazz, encapsulating the lyricism, melancholy and exquisite melodies, which are its main characteristics. This album also shows how Polish Jazz, often within the Jazz & Poetry idiom, is interconnected with other aspects of the Polish Culture. The inclusion of works by Grechuta and Niemen are by no way incidental and emphasizes these intricate associations.
Overall this is a highly important release, not only as far as the beautiful music it presents, but also as a wonderful historic document shedding light on the Polish Jazz scene in particular and Polish Culture in general. The For Tune label deserves to be especially praised for this release, which no doubt is a very significant addition to the label´s catalog. I hope more releases of such character will follow.
This is an absolute must to all fans of Polish Jazz, but Jazz connoisseurs the world over should also enjoy this music immensely, as it knows absolutely no borders.
| | Updated: 19/07/2016Posted: 19/07/2016 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ DZIWNY JEST TEN SWIAT
MUZA 353 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
1st album from 1967. This epic album not only changed the face of popular music in Poland, but in fact took by storm all the so called Socialistic countries (Czechoslowakia, Hungary, Soviet Union, etc.) and was considered the turning point of popular music in the Eastern Block for centuries. The music, which is based in rock, but comes with a special melodic twist and incorporates Eastern European folk music, jazz, blues and and other influences. It was so revolutionary at the time that it struck musicians and the public with an unprecedented power, leaving a mark for decades. Niemen wrote almost all the music and most of the texts (in Polish), using poetry by famous Polish poets in some of the songs. Listening to this album is not only a trip down the memory lane - it is a fierce musical experience. Absolutely not to be missed!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ ENIGMATIC
MUZA 356 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
4th album from 1969. After 3 enormously successful albums with his group (Akwarele), Niemen decided to disband the group and start a new venture. He turned to his buddies in the Polish Jazz circles and soon recruited a stellar cast including the cream of the Polish Jazz players, such as Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist (drums), Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (sax) and even Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist (sax & flute). Strangely enough the resulting album is not a fusion album but a fully developed Prog album of rare beauty, complexity and awe-inspiring power. This time Niemen uses only poetry as his texts and each of the 4 long suites is designed to complement the lyrics perfectly. For non-Polish speaking public the lyrical part is sadly lost, but even so this is some of the most powerful Prog music ever recorded.
| | Updated: 19/09/2018Posted: | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ LIVE IN HELSINKI 1973
GREEN TREE 169 (Barcode: 4015689001695) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2018
This is an archival album, which presents live recordings by the greatest Polish Rock / Fusion musician of all times, vocalist / keyboardist / songwriter Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist.
The first three tracks on the album were recorded during a concert at the Helsingin Juhlaviikot (Helsinki Festival), Finland captured on August 28, 1972 (not on the 26th as the CD info states) and recorded by Finnish National Broadcasting Company (YLE) and later broadcasted on Finnish Radio and TV. Polish TV years later broadcasted the concert giving the wrong recording year, which is why the wrong date is associated with these tracks here and on YouTube, where the TV recording can be found. Another Polish Rock group, KlanFind albums by this artist, was also invited to that festival and their performance captured on the same day by the YLE can be found on the "Live Finland 1972Find albums with this title" album released by the great archival record label GADFind albums on this label Records – this time completely legally and with restored sound quality.
The two other tracks were recorded at the "Jazz Now!" 1972 Olympic Games concert in Munich, Germany, captured on August 17, 1972 and recorded by the German TV, which can also be found on YouTube. German Jazz critic / author / activist and my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist was the Artistic Director of the entire "Jazz Now" series (August 17 to 20, 1972) and his love and knowledge of the Polish scene was the reason why Niemen was the only Artist from behind the Iron Curtain invited to take part in this highly prestigious event..
All the tracks feature the core of what was to become the most famous Polish Fusion band SBBFind albums by this artist: bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarists Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist, accompanying Niemen´s vocals.
The music is absolutely stunning, as expected, and even the dubious sound quality of these recordings is not able to spoil the unadulterated pleasure this music is still able to generate almost fifty years after it was initially performed. Niemen was always light years ahead of his contemporaries on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and the fact that he remains still relatively anonymous beyond Eastern Europe, despite his revolutionary contributions and pioneering spirit, is a crying shame.
It is a great pity that the entire legacy of Niemen´s recordings made outside of Poland and many of his live recordings remain unreleased and are available only unofficially, like all the Green TreeFind albums on this label titles. His third Box Set, which was to include all these treasures, remains sadly an unfulfilled dream.
For all Polish Rock / Fusion enthusiasts as well as for the numerous Niemen fans this is an essential piece of his discography, which is definitely worth having, despite its technical flaws.
| | Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 15/12/2019 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ LIVE IN OPOLE 1971
PROG ART 001 (Barcode: 4018564220013) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1971 Released: 2018
This is an archival album, which presents a live recording of a concert by the greatest ever Polish Rock / Prog musician of all times, vocalist / keyboardist songwriter and bandleader Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist. The material performed at the concert includes two songs from Niemen´s fourth album "EnigmaticFind albums with this title" with music by Niemen and lyrics (poems) by the great Polish poet Cyprian Kamil NorwidFind albums by this artist and two songs from his fifth album "NiemenFind albums with this title" (a.k.a. "The Red AlbumFind albums with this title") with music and lyrics by Niemen. The fifth song is Niemen´s version of an Otis ReddingFind albums by this artist song ("I´ve Been Loving You Too Long"), which was unrecorded at the time and was about to appear on Niemen´s first English-language album "Strange Is This WorldFind albums with this title" in 1972. For the Niemen aficionados the album includes the crowd cheering during a ceremony of Niemen receiving the Gold Album award for "Enigmatic" celebrated by the traditional Polish "100 Years" blessing, which tragically was not even close to Niemen´s destiny.
Niemen is supported by a great band, which includes organist Jacek MikulaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tomasz JaskiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz ZielinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrzej TylecFind albums by this artist and a trio of female background singers, which includes Krystyna PronkoFind albums by this artist, Zofia BorcaFind albums by this artist and Elzbieta LinkowskaFind albums by this artist, all three ex-members of the group RespectFind albums by this artist. This band is much more Rock oriented than the studio lineups, which recorded the two albums, and which include some of the best Polish Jazz musicians and therefore are way more Fusion oriented. Sadly the guitar is mostly lost in the live mix, which is a great pity. The sound is dominated by the organ and overall is quite satisfactory. Two of the songs last for almost twenty minutes, one for ten minutes and the remaining two for eight and five minutes – together almost an hour of Niemen Magic.
The music and the performances are of course stellar and there is no point in going any further into the musical qualities and the historic importance of this recording. For Niemen fans and Polish / East European Classic Rock connoisseurs this is an absolute must of course! This edition of this album is identical to the Green TreeFind albums on this label edition.
This is obviously a bootleg, since none of Niemen´s live recordings are approved by his family, which is a pity. The artwork is riddled by countless spelling mistakes, which is unbecoming for such important document and Niemen´s memory. But all things considered, this is definitely better than this music being unreleased – the proverbial lesser evil.
| | Updated: 13/02/2020Posted: 13/02/2020 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ MOURNER`S RHAPSODY
GREEN TREE 120 (Barcode: 4015689001206) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2003
This is the 4th and last album recorded by Polish singer / keyboardist / composer / lyricist / poet Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist as part of his 4 albums deal with CBSFind albums on this label. Following the recording and release of the first three albums in Germany, CBS decided to pass the torch to the parent company in US, ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records, and this album was recorded in New York. Produced by one of Columbia’s resident producers Sol RabinowitzFind albums by this artist, who had a lot of experience with Jazz-Rock, and surrounded by some of the best US players at the time, the album had all the potential to become a monster hit, but alas things turned out differently. The music world was obviously not ready to accept a non-English speaking artist to the hall of fame, regardless of how good he really was. The players on the album include (among others) Jan HammerFind albums by this artist (drums), Rick LairdFind albums by this artist (bass), Steve KhanFind albums by this artist (guitar), John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist (guitar), Don GrolnickFind albums by this artist (keyboards) and another great Polish musician, violinist Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist. Niemen wrote all the music for this album, some of it new and some taken from his Polish releases. The sound quality and production are the best he ever had up to that point and the album is perfect in every respect, except perhaps for the producer’s effort to “Americanize” the final result in order to make it more accessible. This affected the slick sound the album (similar to many other Columbia albums at the time), but overall the album is an absolute knockout. Niemen’s complex, but beautiful melodies and his unique vocal delivery are completely unrivalled. The album’s title track (taken from the Polish album “EnigmaticFind albums with this title”) gets here an absolutely stunning new arrangement, using a choir to deepen the already profoundly dramatic atmosphere of the suite. In short, this is a monster album, sadly overlooked at the time by Western music community, but a momentous achievement for one of the most unique Artists on this planet. One can not even imagine what one is missing not ever listening to this album. Essential listening!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ ODE TO VENUS
GREEN TREE 118 (Barcode: 4015689001183) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2003
This is the 2nd album recorded by Polish singer / keyboardist / composer / lyricist / poet Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist as part of his 4 albums deal with CBSFind albums on this label. It was recorded in Germany (same as the debut CBS release “Strange Is This WorldFind albums with this title”) and with the same musicians: Józef SkrzekFind albums by this artist on keyboards and electric bass, Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist on guitar and Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist on drums, but without Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist, who returned to Poland. Skrzek, Apostolis and Piotrowski were about to form SBBFind albums by this artist soon after, and the album’s sound bears a strong resemblance to the early SBB albums as these sessions crystallized their sound and their unique approach to Jazz-Rock. Skrzek composed and co-composed several of the tracks present here, which of course emphasizes even more the process of the build-up of the trio as a future independent unit. Their parting with Niemen was unfortunately not a happy one, as he felt they were using his name and popularity as a vehicle for their success, but such incidents are of course quite common in the music world. Dominated by the Jazz-Rock attitude, the album presents some superb melodies and excellent musicianship, but is slightly less adventurous than its predecessor. Nevertheless it is as good if not better that most of the music created at the time by other Western European or American musicians. Niemen’s powerful music, his completely unique vocals and the virtuosity of his band create together a musical experience that stands the tides of time wonderfully and remains a superb achievement of Polish musical heritage. It goes without saying that the album is an absolute must for any Niemen fan, but most Prog and Jazz-Rock lovers anywhere in the world should be able to enjoy this great music.
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  | NIEMEN ~ ON STAGE 1970 / 1972
GREEN TREE 170 (Barcode: 4015689001701) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1970 - 1972 Released: 2018
This is an archival album, which presents live recordings by the greatest Polish Rock / Fusion musician of all times, vocalist / keyboardist / songwriter Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist. Two of the tracks were recorded during the 1970 Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw and three other at the 1972 National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. Niemen was at the time at the absolute peak of his artistic creativity as well as at the top of his immense popularity. Four of the tracks time at about ten minutes and one at almost twenty minutes, and all offer extended instrumental improvisations by some of the best Polish Rock and Jazz musicians active at the time.
The 1970 tracks feature organist Jacek MikulaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tomasz JaskiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz ZielinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist as well as a vocal trio and an ensemble comprising of top Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonists Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, violinists Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist and Zbigniew SeifertFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, bassist Bronislaw SuchanekFind albums by this artist and drummer Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist.
The 1972 tracks feature the core of what was to become the most famous Polish Fusion band SBBFind albums by this artist: bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarists Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist and two great Polish Avant-Garde Jazz musicians: bassist Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist.
The music is absolutely stunning, as expected, and even the dubious sound quality of these recordings is not able to spoil the unadulterated pleasure this music is still able to generate almost fifty years after it was initially performed. Niemen was always light years ahead of his contemporaries on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and the fact that he remains still relatively anonymous beyond Eastern Europe, despite his revolutionary contributions and pioneering spirit, is a crying shame.
It is a great pity that the entire legacy of Niemen´s recordings made outside of Poland and many of his live recordings remain unreleased and are available only unofficially, like all the Green TreeFind albums on this label titles. His third Box Set, which was to include all these treasures, remains sadly an unfulfilled dream.
For all Polish Rock / Fusion enthusiasts as well as for the numerous Niemen fans this is an essential piece of his discography, which is definitely worth having, despite its technical flaws.
| | Updated: 07/09/2019Posted: 07/09/2019 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ PAMIETAM TEN DZIEN
POLSKIE RADIO 1290-1291 (Barcode: 5907812242916) ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1962 - 1980 Released: 2011
This is a collection of previously unreleased recordings by Polish Superstar NiemenFind albums by this artist, probably the most influential Eastern-European musician / performer in Rock. The great flock of Niemen fans will have a field day with this album, as it covers 18 years of his career, from his early Pop days, through the groundbreaking Prog years and until the last days of his public appearances just before the Martial Law was declared in Poland in 1981 in a desperate attempt to save the crumbling Socialist State. As all compilations, the challenge here is to combine the diametrically different periods, both stylistically and aesthetically. But regardless of this dichotomy, this is a priceless source of previously unavailable music, which is on enormous historical importance. Diehard Niemen fans will cherish this release of course, but everybody familiar with his output will find something here to like. The sound quality of all this material is surprisingly excellent as well, which adds to the fun. Since I love Niemen, everything he did and stood for, I have no choice but to love this stuff madly…
| | | CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ RUSSISCHE LIEDER
GREEN TREE 121 (Barcode: 4015689001213) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1973 Released: 2004
This is the 3rd album recorded by Polish singer / keyboardist / composer / lyricist / poet Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist as part of his 4 albums deal with CBSFind albums on this label. It was the last of the albums to be recorded in Germany and is the must unusual of all of his albums ever recorded. “Russische LiederFind albums with this title” (or “Russian Songs” in English) take Niemen back to his childhood and give him an opportunity to re-examine his musical roots. He was born is a small village in Bielorussia, near the Niemen river (his artistic pseudonym “Niemen” comes from that river’s name, his real name being Czeslaw Wydrzycki). His family was Polish (before WW II large parts of Bielorussia and Ukraine were part of the Polish State) and they immigrated to Poland in the late 1950s. As a highly sensitive and musical child, Niemen was exposed to a wide range of Russian music, both classical and folklore, which undoubtedly became deeply embedded into his musical personality and a well trained ear can often hear echoes of these influences in his later work. On this album Niemen performs 10 Russian folk songs, all arranged and performed by his own. He plays several instruments and overlays vocal tracks to achieve an effect of transcribing the original material into contemporary setting. Although almost completely detached from his usual Prog and Jazz-Rock output, this is a fascinating album, especially in view of the fact that the song’s musical treatment is highly original and unusual. Although some of Niemen’s fans found this album difficult to swallow, any sensitive music lover will recognize the artistic value of this recording. This reissue includes also 2 bonus tracks taken from the CBS single, which includes a single version of the “Strange Is This WorldFind albums with this title” title track and a non-album track – both extremely rare. Definitely worth investigating.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ STRANGE IS THIS WORLD
GREEN TREE 119 (Barcode: 4015689001190) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2003
Polish singer / keyboardist / composer / lyricist / poet Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist was one of the greatest musical geniuses to come out of Eastern Europe. His extraordinary life and personality has been already a subject of several books, but much more will be written about him in the future, especially since he’s sadly no longer with us. Niemen and his music served as a lighthouse to generations of East European musicians, who had limited access to music recorded and released in the Western world. His prophetic vision and out-of-this-world talent enabled him to create a whole universe of music, which was so powerful, pioneering and light-years ahead of its time, that it single-handedly educated whole generations of musicians, who studied, copied and learned from the Master. With the release of his debut album in 1967 (entitled “Dziwny Jest Ten SwiatFind albums with this title”, or “Strange Is This WorldFind albums with this title” in Polish), Niemen was instantly crowned as the absolute monarch of Eastern European Rock, and his subsequent releases, which documented his faster-then-light development, were all absolute musical marvels, cherished and adored by fans and musical peers alike. Following his stellar career in Poland, Niemen tried to build up a career in the West. He moved to Italy, where he performed and released several singles, but his music was obviously way too advanced for the popular market. He did manage however to get signed by CBSFind albums on this label Europe, with a contract to record 4 albums. The first 3 of these albums were recorded in Germany and the last in the US. This is the first of these albums and presents Niemen at his absolute best in every respect. With enough material written over the years for his Polish releases, Niemen selected just four of his most notable compositions, rearranging them musically and spiritually for the (then) present, including the translation of the lyrics into English and expanding the framework of the songs dramatically. The phenomenal quintet that recorded this music includes Niemen on vocals and organ, Józef SkrzekFind albums by this artist on keyboards and electric bass, Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist (a visionary Polish Avant-Garde musician) on acoustic bass, Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist (as the name suggests a Greek born Polish resident) on guitar and the extremely talented young drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. People, who are somewhat familiar with the Polish scene, might know that Skrzek, Apostolis and Piotrowski were about to form SBBFind albums by this artist, the greatest Polish Prog / Jazz-Rock group of the 1970s, soon after leaving Niemen’s group. The music on this album is majestic and sublime in every sense – dramatic vocals, superb instrumental work, beautiful melodies and complex arrangements, all coming together just perfectly. Nadolski inserts some incredible Avant-Garde bow work and Apostolis supplies some of the hottest guitar licks ever recorded. It is extremely difficult to categorize this music as far as genres are concerned, as it constantly shifts between Prog, Jazz-Rock and even Free Jazz. Niemen was simply beyond any one single musical category, producing total music, which is eternal and always stimulating. In retrospect this music remains 100 % valid and relevant today, with very few examples of anything done then and since to rival its brilliance. Of course only very few people beyond Poland ever heard about Niemen, but that is definitely their problem. Beyond essential!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | NIEMEN ~ TERRA DEFLORATA - KONCERT
OSCAR 1049 (Barcode: 5907811104925) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1984 - 1986 Released: 2010
This is a phenomenal 2CD archive retrospective of live recordings by the Polish musician Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist, performing solo using an array of keyboards and other electronic devices and singing. The material originates mainly from the "Terra DeflorataFind albums with this title" album (as the title suggests) on CD 1, which was recorded in 1984 and other later material on CD 2, which was recorded in 1986. All the material is of course superbly performed. There is no need to emphasize the importance of this music, especially in view of the fact that so little live material by Niemen was so far released. Considering the fact that he was the most revolutionary and influential Eastern-European musician in the 1970s and early 1980s, this release is a most joyous occasion for the numerous Niemen fans around the world. Not to be missed.
| | Updated: 26/08/2020Posted: | CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | NURT ~ NURT
KAMELEON 27 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1972 Released: 2013
This is the criminally long-overdue reissue of the only album recorded by the legendary Polish Rock group NurtFind albums by this artist. Founded in Wroclaw in 1970 by guitarist / vocalist / composer Aleksander MrozekFind albums by this artist, it also included bassist Kazimierz CwynarFind albums by this artist, drummer Ryszard SrokaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Waldemar DomagalaFind albums by this artist. By the end of 1971 Domagala was replaced by Roman RunowiczFind albums by this artist, who was previously a member of the no less legendary group Romuald I RomanFind albums by this artist. The group performed extensively in the early 1970s but managed to record only one eponymous studio album in 1972 for the State owned MuzaFind albums on this label label and several Radio recording sessions, which are now available on a companion CD to this reissue.
In retrospect it is clear that Nurt were surely one of the top Polish Rock acts in the early 1970, surely as good as NiemenFind albums by this artist, SBBFind albums by this artist and BreakoutFind albums by this artist and in many respects even more adventurous. Their music amalgamated some Blues influences, but basically was all about early Hard Rock, Psychedelia and early Jazz-Rock Fusion. The fact that Polish Jazz legend, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, participates on the album´s extended central composition, which incorporates Free Jazz passages, speaks for itself. Stanko´s contributions are of course nothing short of spectacular. The excellent lyrics by their resident writer Andrzej KuryloFind albums by this artist were another aspect of the group´s high quality output.
The album is full of great instrumental passages by the lead guitar, accompanied by the unique sound of the fuzz bass guitar, which gave the group a sound unlike any of their contemporaries, and superb dynamic drumming. The album is not much different from the best efforts by groups active at the time in Western Europe or USA. In spite of the fact that this music was recorded about four decades ago, it is still full of that magic that characterized that period and its music. It lost absolutely nothing of its charm over time.
Remastered and with informational liner noted based on the memories of the band members, this is a proper tribute to a legend, which should not be forgotten. These memories tell a tale of how this music was created against all odds: censorship, animosity and oppression of the Socialist Regime and its bureaucracy - a miracle by all means. Kudos to the KameleonFind albums on this label label for bringing this music back to circulation.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | NURT ~ THE COMPLETE RADIO SESSIONS 1972-1974
KAMELEON 28 ~ POLAND ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1972 - 1974 Released: 2013
This album collects all the material recorded for the Polish Radio by the legendary Polish Rock group NurtFind albums by this artist. Founded in Wroclaw in 1970 by guitarist / vocalist / composer Aleksander MrozekFind albums by this artist, it also included bassist Kazimierz CwynarFind albums by this artist, drummer Ryszard SrokaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Waldemar DomagalaFind albums by this artist. By the end of 1971 Domagala was replaced by Roman RunowiczFind albums by this artist, who was previously a member of the no less legendary group Romuald I RomanFind albums by this artist. The group performed extensively in the early 1970s but managed to record only one eponymous studio album in 1972 for the State owned MuzaFind albums on this label label, which is now available on a companion CD to this release, and two Polish Radio recording sessions: one before the recording of the album (February 1972) and the other over two years later (May 1974), both present herein.
In retrospect it is clear that Nurt were surely one of the top Polish Rock acts in the early 1970, surely as good as NiemenFind albums by this artist, SBBFind albums by this artist and BreakoutFind albums by this artist and in many respects even more adventurous. Their music amalgamated some Blues influences, but basically was all about early Hard Rock, Psychedelia and early Jazz-Rock Fusion. The fact that Polish Jazz legend, trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, participates on the studio album and other Jazz musicians take part in these sessions speaks for itself. The excellent lyrics by their resident writer Andrzej KuryloFind albums by this artist were another aspect of the group´s high quality output.
The album is full of great instrumental passages by the lead guitar, accompanied by the unique sound of the fuzz bass guitar, which gave the group a sound unlike any of their contemporaries, and superb dynamic drumming. The circumstances surrounding these Radio sessions were much more relaxed than the studio album recording sessions, and therefore the music presented here is much more similar to how the band sounded on stage at the time. The first session includes six tracks, which were later included on the studio album, and one mostly improvised piece that was not included on the album. The second session includes material composed later, after the album was recorded.
Remastered and with informational liner noted based on the memories of the band members, this is a proper tribute to a legend, which should not be forgotten. These memories tell a tale of how this music was created against all odds: censorship, animosity and oppression of the Socialist Regime and its bureaucracy - a miracle by all means. Kudos to the KameleonFind albums on this label label for bringing this music back to circulation.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | SBB ~ 1
MUZA 342 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
1st album from 1974 by this phenomenal Polish Prog group. Founded by three ex-members of NiemenFind albums by this artist`s group, which recorded with him 4 excellent albums, SBBFind albums by this artist had all the characteristics of a super-group: all members were monster virtuosi on their respective instruments, that had several years of playing experience and they all composed music. The lead guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist (yes, of Greek origin) was a revelation and the bass / keyboards player and leader Józef SkrzekFind albums by this artist was extremely well articulated and inventive. Together the trio played Prog of unsurpassed power, breaking all the conventions and pioneering uncharted terittory. Not much other Prog music gets better then this.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | SBB ~ ANTHOLOGY 1974-2004
METAL MIND 001 (Barcode: 5907785025936) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1974 - 2002 Released: 2004
This stupendous Box Set, released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the legendary Polish Jazz-Rock / Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist, is an attempt to present the entire recorded legacy of the band, as know at the time of the release. Later on two additional Box Sets and other releases unearthed more of their recordings, so this box is by far not a "complete recordings" collection.
The band was formed in 1971 in the southern Polish province of Upper Silesia and consisted of bassist / keyboardist / composer Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. They called themselves Silesian Blues BandFind albums by this artist and started to perform locally. By the end of that year Skrzek was approached by Poland´s leading Rock personality, Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist, to join his new group formed in order to fulfill the international contract Niemen signed with CBSFind albums on this label Europe. Eventually Anthimos and Piotrowski also joined the band and the trio stayed with Niemen for about a year and a half, recording several albums with him, including the two albums released outside Poland: "Strange Is This WorldFind albums with this title" and "Ode To VenusFind albums with this title". By mid-1973 they left Niemen´s group, shorten their name to SBB and the rest is history.
From 1974 on SBB became the leading Polish Rock / Prog / Fusion band, recording a series of revolutionary albums and changing the face of music not only in their native country but in the entire Eastern European world living behind the Iron Curtain. SBB were also well known outside of Eastern Europe and in the span of the thirty years documented by this Box Set performed extensively in Western Europe and the USA as well. There is no doubt that their music influenced entire generation of Eastern European musicians, who had limited access to music made in the West and therefore SBB served for them as a musical role model for years.
This Box Set included twenty two CDs, which can be separated into several sub-groups. First there are the studio albums vs. the live recordings, which are the majority. Then there is the output by the original trio in the years 1974-1980 vs. the later recordings after the group was reactivated in 1991 and played with different drummers (Miroslaw MuzykantFind albums by this artist, Paul WerticoFind albums by this artist).
As far as the music is concerned, in retrospect one must admit that there was not that much change over the years, except perhaps for the fact that the group somewhat lost its steam in due process. Obviously the early recordings are the most groundbreaking, adventurous, inspired and therefore interesting. Both in the studio and live the early recordings are full of improvisation, which often borders with Avant-Garde Rock and exhibits strong Jazz / Fusion influences. The sessions with guest Jazz musicians like Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist and others are among the highlights in this Box Set. In time, and especially after the re-activation, the music turned more Rock oriented, and the added vocals did not help to make it more interesting. All the musicians involved are of course superb instrumentalists and there is plenty of great solos (guitar especially), but the magic is definitely lost.
There is also a problem of the same material being included repeatedly, although in different versions, but still basically the same. In contrast to Jazz, where each performance of the same tune can be completely different from every other, it does not happen here and a sizeable part of the music included here seems redundant to a degree. In retrospect perhaps it would have been wiser to split this box into two separate boxes, one with the early material, which is divine and another with the later stuff, which would be for the die hard fans only.
Overall this box includes some of the most important music made in Eastern Europe during the formative years of Rock history, and as such is invaluable. The size and contents of this limited edition Box Set might appear to be a bit megalomanic, but is lovingly excused by most.
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 22 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | SBB ~ LIVE JAZZ NAD ODRA 1975
GAD 008 (Barcode: 5901549197075) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1975 Released: 2013
This is a live recording by the legendary Polish Prog / Jazz-Rock Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist, captured during the annual Jazz Nad Odra Festival in Wroclaw, one of Poland´s most important Jazz events running uninterruptedly since its first edition in 1964. Over the years the festival exposed generation after generation of Polish Jazz players to the wide audience, as a result of the competition held every year, which presents the best musicians under the age of thirty. Winning this competition was the first major step in the careers of many of the most important Polish Jazz musicians.
This recording presents the original lineup of SBB with guitarists Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / bassist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. They perform original material, which at the time was mostly not yet recorded in the studio and would eventually be released on their second ("Nowy HoryzontFind albums with this title" released 1975) and third ("PamiecFind albums with this title" released 1976) albums. The group was at the time in a transition from their Progressive Rock phase, which started while they were still members of the Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist´s band, into the Jazz-Rock Fusion, which would be their home turf for many years to come. Since there are relatively very few recordings from this period, the very existence of this recording is a miracle and the fact that we can enjoy it now, almost forty years later, is a blessing.
The music comprises mostly of lengthy pieces, which were the group´s trademark, that include extended improvisations and atmospheric passages, building up slowly towards a dramatic climax or even several climatic peaks, one after another. The overall impression this music created was a trans-like state of mind, which drew the listeners into a magic world of dreamy, almost psychedelic reality. Obviously such music making relied heavily on the virtuosic abilities of all the three members of the group. Skrzek, as the primary composer, sets the melodic framework and the moods; Anthimos creates the dramatic guitar arpeggios and musical peaks and Piotrowski brilliantly keeps it all moving forward and invigorates the music with his pulsations.
For many SBB followers, and Polish music lovers this period of the group´s activity is, in retrospective, their most inspired, fascinating and mind-boggling. This music epitomizes the process of constant search for the undiscovered, the manic restlessness and the audacity to step into the unknown, which characterizes it. There is no doubt that this is one of the artistic peaks of Eastern European music, brewed behind the Iron Curtain. And honestly, as far as Prog and Jazz-Rock Fusion are concerned, very few of the things that happened since can stand up to this level.
The sound quality of this material is a bit muffled and with a limited sonic range and clarity, but considering the fact it was recorded live and never intended for release, it is certainly more than adequate. Of course both musically and historically it is absolutely superb and should not be missed by anybody who cares about SBB or Eastern European music from the 1970s. Grab it and enjoy!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | SBB ~ LOST TAPES, VOL. 1 – STUDIO & LIVE RECORDINGS 1974-1978
METAL MIND 001 (Barcode: 5907785027046) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1974 - 1978 Released: 2005
In 2004 the Polish record label Metal MindFind albums on this label released a magnificent Box Set called "Anthology 1974-2004Find albums with this title", with contained 22 CDs of music by SBBFind albums by this artist - the most important Polish / East European Prog band active behind the Iron Curtain. These epic recordings changed the face of music as we know and influenced generations of musicians across the Soviet Empire and its satellite states, which makes that Box Set a well deserved tribute to the band and a superb document of enormous historical and aesthetic value. People interested to learn more about SBB should simply read the review of that release.
The process of collecting the material for the anthology Box Set did not stop however with the box being released and somehow reanimated itself and kept going with additional previously unreleased material being uncovered continuously. This led to the release of two additional Box Sets, called "Lost TapesFind albums with this title", of which this is the first volume.
The music included here was recorded during the first five years of SBB activity, which is by far the most interesting and dramatic. It covers a plethora of studio, radio and live recordings, all by the original lineup consisting of bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. By far the most interesting recording in this Box Set is the quintet meeting between SBB and the legendary trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist, in short the lineup that recorded with NiemenFind albums by this artist, this time sans Niemen himself. Another very interesting recording is the album SBB recorded with Polish female vocalist Halina FrackowiakFind albums by this artist, which is the only occasion the group agreed to accompany a vocalist.
These three Box Sets with SBB music contain hours of excellent music and invaluable retrospective of history, but to be completely fair they also raise the question about compilations such these being "the right thing to do". There is a lot of repetition here and not every moment is truly inspired; much of it might have been perhaps best left undiscovered. Of course the band has a wide fan base ready to swallow any new piece of music recorded by SBB, but some moral / ethical questions could be also raised about cynical exploitation and opportunism.
That said it is for the individual fan to decide if he wants to purchase all three Box Sets or not. All three Box Sets are numbered limited editions of one thousand copies.
| | Updated: 26/08/2020Posted: | CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | SBB ~ LOST TAPES, VOL. 2 – STUDIO & LIVE RECORDINGS 1971-1979
METAL MIND 002 (Barcode: 5907785029156) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1971 - 1979 Released: 2006
In 2004 the Polish record label Metal MindFind albums on this label released a magnificent Box Set called "Anthology 1974-2004Find albums with this title", with contained 22 CDs of music by SBBFind albums by this artist - the most important Polish / East European Prog band active behind the Iron Curtain. These epic recordings changed the face of music as we know and influenced generations of musicians across the Soviet Empire and its satellite states, which makes that Box Set a well deserved tribute to the band and a superb document of enormous historical and aesthetic value. People interested to learn more about SBB should simply read the review of that release.
The process of collecting the material for the anthology Box Set did not stop however with the box being released and somehow reanimated itself and kept going with additional previously unreleased material being uncovered continuously. This led to the release of two additional Box Sets, called "Lost TapesFind albums with this title", of which this is the second volume.
The music included here was recorded during the first six years of SBB activity, before they disbanded in early 1980, which is by far the most interesting and dramatic. It covers a plethora of studio, radio and live recordings, all by the original lineup consisting of bassist / keyboardist Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. By far the most interesting recording in this Box Set is the quintet meeting between SBB and the legendary trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Helmut NadolskiFind albums by this artist, in short the lineup that recorded with NiemenFind albums by this artist, this time sans Niemen himself. Another very interesting recording is the meeting with Przybielski, captured on the last CD of this set. The opening CD of this set collects early recordings by SBB members, made before the group was formally founded.
These three Box Sets with SBB music contain hours of excellent music and invaluable retrospective of history, but to be completely fair they also raise the question about compilations such these being "the right thing to do". There is a lot of repetition here and not every moment is truly inspired; much of it might have been perhaps best left undiscovered. Of course the band has a wide fan base ready to swallow any new piece of music recorded by SBB, but some moral / ethical questions could be also raised about cynical exploitation and opportunism.
That said it is for the individual fan to decide if he wants to purchase all three Box Sets or not. All three Box Sets are numbered limited editions of one thousand copies.
| | Updated: 26/08/2020Posted: | CD 9 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | SBB ~ SBB
MUZA 843 (Barcode: 5901844988125) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2004
This is the 1st album by the seminal Polish Prog / Fusion group SBBFind albums by this artist, founded by three ex-members of NiemenFind albums by this artist´s support group: bassist / keyboardist / leader Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. All three musicians were absolute virtuosi on their respective instruments and all three composed music. Their unusual approach, power of imagination and disregard of conventions turned them into immediate superstars on the East European music scene, with no rival act to challenge their supremacy for many years. Their influence on the music scene in Poland and other East European countries was enormous and their music and they way they made music served as a model to countless Prog / Fusion ensembles. The lengthy (running for the entire duration of both LP sides) improvisations, with incredible dynamics and changing tempi, moods and themes was quite innovative at the time, and SBB were one of the very few groups who could actually make it work. In retrospect this remains as one of the most important debut Prog / Fusion albums of all time and an absolutely essential piece of any serious record collection.
Side Note: This limited edition presents the remastered original album in gatefold mini-sleeve packaging and is absolutely impossible to find.
| | | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | STANISLAW SOJKA ~ W HOLDZIE MISTRZOWI - LIVE
UNIVERSAL 602537329854 (Barcode: 602537329854) ~ POLAND ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2012
This is a live recording of a concert by veteran Polish Blues / Jazz / Rock vocalist Stanislaw SojkaFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Soyka) and his band, performing songs by Poland´s greatest ever singer / composer Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist. Niemen composed all the nine songs performed here, three of which also have his lyrics and others are by other lyricists or poems written by Polish poets. Sojka also plays piano and the band comprises of seven players, including a brass section, and a guest guitarist Tomasz JaskiewiczFind albums by this artist, original member of the band AkwareleFind albums by this artist, Niemen´s first group, which recorded many of these songs originally.
Considering Niemen´s legendary status on the Polish scene, any attempt to tackle his material is a priori a potentially perilous affair. No other Polish vocalist managed, in the decades that followed, to come even close to Niemen´s power of expression and vocal virtuosity. Therefore this album, although a tribute, faces enormous challenges, which unfortunately prove insurmountable even to such an experienced and talented artist as Sojka. Niemen´s songs needed to be rearranged quite radically in order to fit within Sojka´s vocal range. In addition the instrumental accompanied was updated, which distances the songs from their original Rock setting and places them into a comfortable middle-of–the-road relaxed Pop setting with slight Jazzy overtones. Overall the album sounds incredibly nice, which of course is its key problem; Niemen´s music might mean many different things to different people, but "nice" was never among them.
The music is played perfectly and beautifully recorded, with a warm, clear sound quality, especially so for a live recording. The audio CD is accompanied by a DVD capturing the same concert, so the listener has a choice of just listen to or also watch the proceedings.
Personally, I find little affinity for this project, which simplifies and even to some extent trivializes the original songs in my opinion, but I´m sure many others will find this a most pleasurable listening experience. Luckily I still have the original Niemen recordings to keep the memory alive and the fire burning.
| | | CD+DVD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ USLYSZ MNIE
POLSKIE RADIO 1125 (Barcode: 5907812241254) ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock
Recorded: 2005 - 2007 Released: 2008
This is the fourth album by Polish singer / songwriter Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, which marks an end of the initial phase of her career during which she tried to establish a unique identity, both as a songwriter and a singer. All through that phase she moved between Pop, Alternative Rock and even Jazz-Rock Fusion and recorded three albums with two different groups she was part of at the time and finally recorded this, her "real" debut solo album. The album presents twelve songs, eleven of which are original creations by Stanko (lyrics and music) and the last one is a tribute to the great Polish Jazz pianist / composer / arranger Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist, who wrote this beautiful lullaby to the words of Polish National Poet Adam MickiewiczFind albums by this artist, which was previously magnificently performed by the great NiemenFind albums by this artist.
The album was recorded during two separate recording sessions, almost a couple of years apart. Stanko is basically accompanied by a trio: guitarist Jacek KrolikFind albums by this artist, bassists Piotr ZaczekFind albums by this artist (electric) or Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist (acoustic) and drummer Piotr KrolikFind albums by this artist with five additional musicians contributing occasionally on several tracks. In spite of this rather limited instrumental accompaniment, the overall result is beautifully coherent and sounds complete as it is. Her vocals are the focus of this album, and rightly so, as her vocal abilities, her intelligent treatment of the lyrics and her emotional range are all of star quality, in evidence of her coming of age as an artist and a vocalist.
But the most amazing thing about this album is of course the quality of the original songs, all of which are excellently crafted musically and adorned by meaningful, sometimes witty and always sincere lyrics, which are extremely rare these days. Stanko doesn´t hold back and dares to touch on painful subjects and deeply personal feelings about human relationships and even political / social issues, reminiscent of the protest songs of the 1960s. In complete contrast to the brainless lyrics the showbiz and media use to brainwash the human race, these songs really have something to say.
In retrospect one might lament the fact that Stanko did not (yet) repeat this format, i.e. writing lyrics and music herself, in her next albums, hoping that this will be remedied soon. Her decision to move into the Jazz & Poetry realm is now completely understandable of course. This album lost nothing of its charm and freshness over time. It´s probably less perfect than her later recordings, but who cares; this is a beautiful collection of superb songs, which should make any listener happy. Grab it before it disappears forever!
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  | JANUSZ SZROM / ZBIGNIEW WROMBEL ~ SPIEWNIK
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 9788393067480) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012
This is quite an unusual project, which transfers fifteen Pop / Rock songs written in Poland in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s into modern Jazz arrangements. The songs are performed by Jazz vocalist Janusz SzromFind albums by this artist and a piano trio which consists of pianist Piotr WrombelFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WrombelFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist (see SoundcheckFind albums by this artist). All the songs have been intelligently arranged for the Jazz environment, sounding as if they were taken from the Standards songbook. Of course for listeners, who are familiar with popular music originating in Poland at that period and performed by local superstars like Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist, BreakoutFind albums by this artist, Niebiesko-CzarniFind albums by this artist, Czerwone GitaryFind albums by this artist and other legendary performers, this album has also a strong nostalgic angle, which is not a priori negative.
Most people living outside of Poland have very little knowledge about the incredible musical scene that flourished there during the dark days of the Socialist regime, State censorship and bureaucratic dictatorship, which often saw in Pop & Rock music the enemy of the "People" and much as a subversive force that endangered the very fabric of society. And yet, against all odds, Polish musicians and writers managed to produce an incredible amount of wonderful music, which sadly gets often forgotten these days, where instant success is the name of the game. Projects such as this one are a blessing, bringing this music back into life and showing how timeless true Art really is.
Of course the Jazzy arrangements and execution change the original environment, in which these songs were born. However, due to the intelligent and careful approach demonstrated by this album´s creators these songs still sound magnificently up to date, losing absolutely nothing of their original power and intrinsic beauty. As far as individual contributions are concerned, this album is full of simply splendid musicianship. Szrom sings with his usual confidence and expressiveness, Piotr Wrombel masterfully states the melodic themes and accompanies the vocals with exceptional sensitivity. Zbigniew Wrombel is a virtuosic bassist and his warm and full sound is the platform upon which the entire music stands. Szmanda, as usual manages to combine freedom of expression and a sixth sense of rhythm.
Overall this is a wonderful album in every respect. Superb music, excellent performances, great sound quality and most importantly an obvious love and respect towards the subject matter. One can only salute these musicians for carrying this project out and for adding one more brick to the pedestal of Polish Cultural heritage. Hats off!
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