Record Reviews

LATORRE / KRZEMINSKI / SKOLIK ~ YOU KNOW? NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5906893807304) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by a trio comprising of Brazilian Jazz organist Daniel LatorreFind albums by this artist and Polish trumpeter Piotr KrzeminskiFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions, two by Latorre, four by Krzeminski, one by Skolik and finally one co-composed by Latorre and Krzeminski. The music was recorded “live in the studio”. The music is all straightforward mainstream Jazz, based on melodic themes, which swing splendidly. The unusual instrumentation offers a refreshing opportunity to enjoy the sound of the Hammond B3 organ played by a first-class Master of the instrument, which is sadly rather neglected these days. Krzeminski offers splendid trumpet parts and Skolik keeps the trio swinging vivaciously, which is something he is always doing without a hitch. Overall, this is a pleasant Mainstream Jazz album, with an unusual sound and strong swinging tunes, which are splendidly performed by the trio. The music is accessible to a wide audience of Jazz listeners and beyond, and for Hammond lovers this is a truly delightful experience.

Updated: 05/03/2025Posted: 05/03/2025

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KASIA LISOWSKA ~ AURA REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2023/36 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Polish vocalist / pianist / songwriter Kasia LisowskaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded with several accompanying musicians, playing on selected tracks, like bass guitarists Piotr ZaczekFind albums by this artist and Wojciech StaniszFind albums by this artist, drummer Przemyslaw KuczynskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jakub ChmielarskiFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr KrzeminskiFind albums by this artist. The music was arranged and produced by pianist / sound engineer Lukasz KowalskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight songs, all by Lisowska (music & lyrics), and lasts slightly above half an hour, being rather an EP than a full album. The music is pretty straightforward, very melodic and somewhat repetitious, in contemporary Pop stylistics but with minimal background accompaniment, only at times somewhat Jazzy, which makes it more listenable. Lisowska has a nice and well trained voice, and she is certainly capable of singing a much more ambitious material, than what is present on this album. But to be fair, the album is well produced and all of the songs offer meaningful lyrics and nice melodies, which could be potential radio favorites, if there was still a radio to listen to. It is a typical singer / songwriter offer, which is easy to like, sounds slick and polished, but is certainly too good for contemporary Pop listener, who expects Hip Hop / Rap vulgarity, and these sentimental lyrical songs are boring to him. Overall, this is a nice collection of melodic / sentimental songs, well performed and produced, somewhat out of sync with current Pop sensitivities, but certainly a pleasant listening experience. Nor exactly my cup of tea but I appreciate the honest effort and of course talent by everybody involved.

Updated: 01/04/2024Posted: 31/03/2024

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