Record Reviews

P.E. QUARTET ~ COKOLWIEK MULTIKULTI MPJ 022 (Barcode: 5907529223604) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz ensemble called P.E. QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Jerzy MaczynskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon WojcikFind albums by this artist, bassist Rafal RozalskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartosz SzablowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all co-credited to the four members of the quartet. The music was wonderfully recorded at the Monochrom Studio with Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist in charge of the sound. The music is an interesting mixture of pre-composed themes and improvised pieces, all very open and unrestrained, which allow individual members of the quartet to express their statements as well as involve in collective improvisation. The ingenuousness and obvious openness of these young musicians is truly astounding, as such playing usually requires years of experience. By listening blindly to this music no one would be able to guess the young age of these musicians. The music is also quite complex and sophisticated, and yet flows elegantly and smoothly without awaking antagonism or hardship in the listener. Organized chaos or restrained freedom come to mind, but the only way to comprehend this music is of course to listen to it. At some moments the music is also more relaxed and fluid, but usually that is just a starting point of another intensive improvisation part. The individual statements are all excellent, and diametrically different. Personally my "hero" on this album is Rozalski, who builds wonderful bass intros, full of tension and anticipation. But the guitar work by Wojcik is also superb, regardless if it is beautifully melodic or completely distorted. But Maczynski and Szablowski contribute equally well and this music is first and foremost an ensemble statement, which works splendidly. Overall this is a splendid debut effort, which shows tons of potential and again confirms the incredible strength of the young Polish Jazz scene, which never ceases to amaze. It is frightening to think what these guys will come up with next! Not to be missed!

Updated: 29/07/2018Posted: 29/07/2018

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RASP LOVERS ~ ROMANTIC ALTERNATIVE SCHIZOPHRENIC PUNK HOWARD 4 (Barcode: 5903420816273) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz ensemble RASP LoversFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist Szymon WojcikFind albums by this artist and also including saxophonist Jerzy MaczynskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Marcel BalinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Rafal RozalskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartosz SzablowskiFind albums by this artist. However, four of the above listed musicians (all except Balinski) appeared last year as members of the P.E. QuartetFind albums by this artist which released their debut album "CokolwiekFind albums with this title" then, so one might wonder why the change of moniker? The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Wojcik. The music was recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, who is probably the only person on earth up to the task. To my surprise the music on this album does not continue the direction of the above mentioned P.E. Quartet´s debut album, which perhaps answers the question about the name change. It is a harsh, often conflicting amalgam of many musical elements, from Avant-Garde, Jazz, Rock and Punk (more in attitude than musically). As a result the music shakes the listener at first contact, which perhaps is the desired effect. It is very difficult to find a coherent direction or concept in this music at first, again perhaps intentionally so, with the music jumping between rocky riffs and improvised music parts without warning and which, as a result, can be quite masochistic for a casual listener. But on the other hand one has to admire the non-conformism and the courage to follow the Artistic vision, which obviously stands behind this music. The five musicians all perform wonderfully and imaginatively throughout this album, creating absorbing flow and fascinating moments, given the opportunity to be heard and noticed. It takes time and patience to create a mental bridge to this music, which probably very few listeners are able to build eventually, and which is probably not a primary concern of the music´s creators. For hardened Improvised Music / Avant-Garde fanatics this is an obvious chaotic heaven, the rest of the world – you have been warned ;)

Updated: 14/12/2019Posted: 14/12/2019

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