Record Reviews

PATRYCJUSZ GRUSZECKI ~ FACES BNB 011 (Barcode: 5903714963270) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Patrycjusz GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, recorded with the same trio that recorded the debut five years earlier, which includes organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Janusz SzromFind albums by this artist sings on one track. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Gruszecki and one by Lewandowski. The album was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sound quality, close to the classic early Blue NoteFind albums on this label sound. The music continues the path set by the debut, presenting a series of coherent, melody based compositions, excellently performed by the trio, all strictly within mainstream Jazz and often bordering on Smooth Jazz, which is accessible to a wide range of music lovers, including those beyond the strict Jazz circles. The trio has a very unique sound due to the unusual instrumentation, which sets it aside from most other Polish Jazz ensembles. Gruszecki has a beautiful rounded sound and technical skill, Galas is an amazing organ player with a wide range of diverse sound techniques and innovative approach to the instrument and Lewandowski is a Master drummer, driving the music with his dense but not overbearing polyrhythmic virtuosity. Together they are a lean and mean swinging machine, which manages to create music, which keeps the listener both fascinated and entertained for the duration. Overall, this is an excellent album from start to finish, which lets the listener to relax and enjoy the music without too much analyzing or cerebral pseudo-intellectual effort to look beyond what the ears can hear. Despite what the Jazz snobs will probably say, this music is fun, without sacrificing any basic musical qualities. Simply listen and enjoy. It is of course wholeheartedly recommended as far as my taste buds are concerned!

Updated: 19/07/2022Posted: 19/07/2022

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PATRYCJUSZ GRUSZECKI ~ SOMETHING ABOUT BCD 42 (Barcode: 5906881885420) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Patrycjusz GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio format with organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Gruszecki. The album was recorded at the RecPublica Studios and was engineered by Lukasz OlejarczykFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sonic quality. The music is well behaved mainstream Jazz, with solid compositions and great Swing / Groove feel, which sways the listener´s body involuntarily from start to finish. The compositions are well structured, with the ballads being my personal favorites, but they present a consistent and well weaved musical fabric. The unusual and minimalistic lineup of trumpet / organ / drums works out perfectly and misses nothing in order to sound round and complete. All three musicians play splendidly, as expected from Polish Jazz musicians. Personally the Hammond Organ always steals the show for me, as it has been my favorite instrument for over fifty years, but credit is due to the trio for their work as a unit, combining their personal strengths. Gruszecki has a beautiful round sound on trumpet and flugelhorn, but his improvisations are a bit withdrawn and "controlled" at times, which suits this specific recording well, but leaves the listener a bit hungry for more. Galas is superbly melodic and offers great improvised parts with his work being irreproachable all the way through. This is the third album I reviewed, which features his organ work, and he is always perfectly right on the money. Lewandowski also plays excellently, being solely responsible for the rhythmic pulsations of this music (supported by the organ´s bass pedals). His percussive feel is truly exquisite, precise and outward virtuosic – something to learn from. Overall this is a splendid debut album, catering to the listeners on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, but still excellent in every way, with an atypical lineup and sound, which is fresh and very effective. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 27/10/2017Posted: 27/10/2017

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LUB JAZZTET ~ LAPACZ SNOW BNB 012 (Barcode: 5903714963263) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by the Polish Lub JazztetFind albums by this artist quintet, which comprises of vocalist Berenika ZiaberFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Miroslaw SaneckiFind albums by this artist, pianist Konrad StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Bogdan FeliczakFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaroslaw RybkaFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Patrycjusz GruszeckiFind albums by this artist guests on seven of the eleven tacks the album presents, which are mostly Jazz standards or well-known Polish songs with the exception of the title track, which is an original composition by Gruszecki and the quintet members. The album was recorded at the fabulous Monochrom Studio by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, and offers a wonderful (and very specific) sound (see below). The music is completely within the mainstream Jazz limits, and sounds very retro, in fact listening to this album brings fond memories of my early childhood, when I heard Jazz (well, almost) for the first time, when my Mother used to take me out for tea and cake (well, coffee for her) at one the posh (for the post WWII Socialist Poland in the early 1950s) coffee houses in town, which remained as the last symbol of the pre-War splendor. This music would fit perfectly some of the old B/W movies made in Poland at the time, or perhaps a contemporary movie about the period? Of course it would be completely unfair to review this album as a professional Jazz recording, since it is after all an amateurish affair, a work of love and dedication without claiming a professional status. Patrycjusz Gruszecki’s parts are fully professional, obviously, but that is beyond the point here. Overall, this is lovely album, as long as it is kept in the right framework and state of mind, reflecting a different aspect of the Polish Jazz scene, which almost never gets recorded, but which proves that the love of Jazz is much wider that just the strict circle of musicians and dedicated (if not snobbish) fans. A voice from the past…

Updated: 14/08/2022Posted: 14/08/2022

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