Record Reviews

JASKULKE & WYLEZOL ~ DUODRAM LALALA KONCERT NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is an album by Polish duo DuoDramFind albums by this artist, which pairs pianists / composers Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist and Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist. Recorded live, the album presents five original compositions (three by Jaskulke and two by Wylezol) and one composition by Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, all performed on two pianos. It is very difficult to relate to this music within the Jazz framework, and the fact that both pianists are primarily known as Jazz artists, makes it is even more difficult to pinpoint exactly what this music is all about. The melodic themes are repeated and swapped between the pianists back and forth, there are lots of chords and notes in the air, swirling like snowflakes in the wind, but once the flakes land on the ground nothing remains in the air… Somehow this music does not touch me at all, sounding like a New Age effort of producing soothing background music rather than anything that one can hold to. Of course Jaskulke and Wylezol are both superb piano players, as evident from their numerous other recordings, but this effort simply does not take off as far as I am concerned. Of course I suppose many other listeners might enjoy this music immensely, therefore I urge fans of Jaskulke and Wylezol to listen to it by themselves and making their own minds.

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JASKULKE SEXTET ~ KOMEDA RECOMPOSED NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5900378715009) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz sextet led by pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, which also includes five excellent musicians of the young Polish Jazz generation: trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist and Michal Jan CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr KulakowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Roman SlefarskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions by Jaskulke, which were, as the album´s title suggests, "inspired by the creations" of Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz. The titles of the eight compositions clearly define (for the Komeda erudite) the specific Komeda´s compositions which were the source of the related inspirations. To be perfectly honest I´ve just about had it with the various Polish Jazz Komeda related projects. Komeda has been mercilessly re-composed, de-composed, un-composed and mercilessly mutilated each and every possible and impossible way for decades and he really deserves some piece and quiet to be appreciated exactly for what he had to say by himself. Of course this is just my personal opinion, but hey, enough is enough! Having said all that, this album is by all means a nice piece of Polish / European Jazz, mostly due to the exceptional performances by these young musicians, who sound as if they have been at it since decades. The album offers many superb solos and extraordinary ensemble playing. The music, however, is pretty predictable and the Komeda quotations are a bit corny. Nevertheless it is a very pleasant listening experience altogether, but the somewhat pretentious title is not reflected in these pretty standard mainstream offerings. Overall this is a very pretty, melodic, easy on the ear Jazz album, which has very little to do with Komeda´s urgency and restlessness, but is very listenable and with Komeda´s name in the title will be highly praised by Polish "critics" and fans alike.

Updated: 24/11/2019Posted: 01/08/2018

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ EUROPA 67/21 NARODOWE CENTRUM KULTURY 5905279869219 (Barcode: 5905279869219) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic Jazz quintet setting with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam ZuchowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The Neo QuartetFind albums by this artist, a string quartet playing electric string instruments, and actor Tomasz BorkowskiFind albums by this artist, who recites poetry, are also on board. The album presents six tracks, all original compositions by Jaskulke. The concept behind the album is an attempt to “remake” one of the most iconic Polish Jazz albums of all time, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist’s “Meine Susse Europaische HeimatFind albums with this title” Jazz & Poetry masterpiece, produced by my Friend and Mentor Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, which presented Komeda’s compositions accompanying contemporary Polish Poetry (translated into German), recorded in 1967, hence the album’s title. This album utilizes six of the same poems (in original Polish version), which were included on the a.m. album, and the same quintet instrumentation, but all the music is new and composed by Jaskulke and adds the string quartet. This is the second album by Jaskulke, which proposes to “remake” Komeda’s music, following the 2018 album “Komeda RecomposedFind albums with this title”. The sheer boldness of attempting to “remake” an icon might seem suicidal, to say the least. The result should be judged on its own merit, rather than in comparison to the source of inspiration, as such comparison simply does not materialize itself. My opinion about producing new versions of Komeda’s music is widely known, so I won’t repeat it herein. The music is overtly melodic, full of sentimental lyricism and melancholy, which falls easy on the ear but lacks the depth suitable for the accompanying poetry. The performances are spotless, as expected from the participating musicians, but not particularly exciting. I wandered why this album was completely unnoticed at the time of its release, thinking it was all due to the pandemic, but now after hearing the music I see there were other reasons… Overall, this is another Komeda inspired album, which contributes little to his memory, despite the fact that the music is fine and the performances are highly professional. I certainly don’t regret buying a copy, if only to hear my beloved poetry.

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 04/12/2023

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ FILL THE HARMONY PHILHARMONICS BCD 04 (Barcode: 5906881885031) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2004 Released: 2004 This is the third album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, which presents a five parts suite for piano trio and chamber orchestra of the Jazz-Classical Fusion variety. The additional trio members are bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist, one of Polish Jazz most renowned bassists (Simple Acoustic TrioFind albums by this artist, Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist), and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The orchestral parts are performed by the Hanseatica Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Mika UrbaniakFind albums by this artist is featured on one track. The music was composed by Jaskulke, who was twenty four years old at the time. This ambitious project, undertaken by such a young musician, is quite extraordinary by any standard. Although Jazz and Classical music have been previously combined with various degree of success, this attempt is certainly quite different from all the others, employing musical devices, themes and arrangements often contrasting and seemingly clashing with other, like the vocal Rap part in the midst of a fragment performed by the strings. The Jazz trio interludes move in and out of the orchestral accompaniment, as do the solo piano parts. The overall structure does not seem to follow any of the pre-ordained Classical musical configurations, and Jaskulke appears to be using the orchestra as a tool rather than a point of reference. Although free-structured, the music maintains a melodic backbone, which re-appears both in the orchestral and the trio parts. The listener might find this music quite difficult to absorb, certainly during the initial listening phases, since things seldom continue for a period of time long enough to begin to sound "familiar". There is a sense or urgency and unrest, which is reminiscent of music composed for suspense movies. But listeners willing to listen patiently and repeatedly will eventually embrace the entire piece, finding its intrinsic logic. The Classical parts are obviously influenced by contemporary composers and a well trained might hear traces of George GershwinFind albums by this artist, The French Modernists and of course the Polish avant-gardists (Krzysztof PendereckiFind albums by this artist & Co.). Polish composer / pianist Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist presides as well, if not bodily then surely spiritually. Stylistically this hodge-podge might need some polishing and sorting out, but give the guy a break; after all he is only twenty four… Regardless if one enjoys this music or not, it surely deserves to be appreciated for its aesthetic merits, its audacity and its innovation. Perhaps it is a bit over the top, but people who don´t dare don´t get there. Personally I quite like it and wholeheartedly recommend it to music aficionados, who are after the less obvious yet more rewarding game.

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ LIVE GDYNIA SUMMER JAZZ DAYS 2001 ALLEGRO 003 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2002 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, recorded live in a classic trio / quartet setting with saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents five original compositions; three of which are by the leader and two are by Sikala. The first two numbers are performed by the trio and the other three by the quartet. Jaskulke is considered as one of the most brilliant representatives of the young generation of Polish Jazz pianists and his achievements during the first decade of the 21st Century are indeed remarkable and include performances around the globe and numerous recordings as leader and sidemen (including those with the veteran Polish Jazz icon Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist). He has also composed music for theatre and cinema. Anybody listening to this album at the time of its release should have expected great things from Jaskulke, as it is a truly outstanding debut. The trio numbers present Jaskulke as an amazing piano virtuoso, playing in a unique style, which is incredibly percussive and powerful, whereas the quartet numbers present his gentler side as a balladeer, playing beautifully restrained melodic phrases or as an ensemble player of great sensitivity. Such incredible versatility is very rare indeed and when executed with a magic touch like the one he presents here, it is simply marvelous. Considering the fact that Jaskulke was only twenty two years old at the time of the recording one must admit that this is a discovery of an extraordinary talent. Musically the trio and the quartet are also quite different, with the material written by the leader being much more open and often freely structured, whereas the numbers written by the saxophonist are pretty standard mainstream Jazz compositions, both very good, but not special in any way. In a sense it seems as if these two different settings belong on two separate albums, but what was done can not be undone, so one should enjoy the fact that this marvelous music was captured for posterity and we can listen to it again and again. The rhythm section performs exactly as expected, changing the volume and presence according to the specific requirements of the moment, always there when one expects them to be, keeping perfect time (which is not always easy here) and modestly displaying another level of virtuosity. Together the ensemble sounds like an unstoppable locomotive, which runs amok, especially in the last tune. This is definitely an album every Jazz piano lover should listen to, sooner or later, an experience he´ll never regret nor forget. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ MOMENTS UNIVERSAL 602537345595 (Barcode: 602537345595) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the fifth solo album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist and his second solo piano recording. Jaskulke has been a dominant figure on the young Polish Jazz scene since the turn of the Century, participated in numerous projects and recorded over thirty albums, mostly as a sideman. This album presents eight original compositions by Jaskulke the composer, which all receive an extended treatment by Jaskulke the pianist. The immediate impression of the music on this album is quite surprising, especially to people who are familiar with Jaskulke´s earlier recordings. It seems he went through a deep transformation over time, during which the Classical music influence won over his initial focus on Jazz, taking him towards new pastures. One might even quite seriously wonder if this music is Jazz at all; a serious question not about how to label this music, which of course is irrelevant, but how to react to it aesthetically. A sort of question one might also ask about the solo piano works of Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist, where there is no clear answer to that dilemma. The music is melodic, lyrical and melancholic, with few, if any, rhythmic changes. After stating the melodic theme of each composition, Jaskulke enters a hypnotic, dreamlike phase of variations (rather than improvisations), returning intermittently to the melodic theme. Any listener, without prior knowledge of the artist involved, would most probably come to the conclusion that this is contemporary Classical piano music. Gone is Jaskulke´s percussive attack on the keyboard, his long arpeggios and his youthful carefree chutzpah, all to be replaced by poise, introvert soul-searching and almost lethargic delivery. Obviously his excellent technique as a player is still very much there, but it is less dazzling and flamboyant. Are we talking about "growing up" I wonder, a wiz-kid becoming a celebrity? I have no answers only a lot of questions, but it seems a bit early in his career to "take it easy". At least the music is all beautifully recorded, with an incredible sound quality, ambience, balance, separation, etc. A Steinway and a superb recording engineer are always worth their cost in gold. This is (sound wise) as good as any ECM recording! I´m pretty sure this album will win many ecstatic reviews and make numerous listeners very happy. Good for them! It probably even deserves it; and it must be simply me looking for the imperfections of the universe. Talking of which I wonder is the fact that several albums I didn´t fall head over heels in love with lately were all released by UniversalFind albums on this label Music Polska? A coincidence, one wonders?

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ ON NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5908254159534) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the seventh album by Polish pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, which finds him returning to the classic piano trio format, following a series of solo piano recordings. The trio includes also bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist; the latter was a member of Jaskulke´s trio a decade earlier. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Jaskulke. The music was excellently recorded and the album is packaged in a very unique design, being both very original and very impractical. Jaskulke is undoubtedly one the top Polish pianists since the onset of the millennium, but his recording legacy is in retrospect sadly less impressive that what it might have been. His solo piano recordings have taken him into New Age and other atmospheric music idioms, placing him away from the Jazz mainstream, where he feels most comfortably. This album, therefore, is definitely a move in the right direction. The compositions on this album present a reinvigorated, energetic Jaskulke, being mostly up-tempo if not neck-breaking fast. This fresh approach is most welcome, but it might have been a bit more constrained and relaxed. Nevertheless the music is absorbing and certainly impressive. In my opinion it would have been more enjoyable if more ballad material was included, but that is of course a matter of taste. The strongest point of this album is the performance by the rhythm section, which is truly spectacular. Mucha keeps his bass lines shoulder to shoulder with the racing piano, with a feel and technical brilliance rarely experienced. Dziedzic produces a strong barrage on the drum set, which sounds very powerful, but brilliantly manages not to overpower the two other trio members. His drumming is a text book example of powerful "wall of sound" Jazz drumming par excellence. It´s great to see Jaskulke back on track, which of course gives us hope for more great recordings to follow. This album is definitely worth checking out, especially for those Polish Jazz followers, who gave up on Jaskulke. It was definitely worth waiting for.

Updated: 19/02/2016Posted: 19/02/2016

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ SEA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the sixth solo album by the Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist and his third solo piano recording. The album presents a five-part solo piano suite, composed and performed by Jaskulke, using extensive sound effects, which make the music sound unusually spacey and full of reverb and echo. The album follows the trend of its predecessor, and pursues a clear path away from the Jazz idiom, which was Jaskulke´s initial playground, towards minimal music, characterized by repetitive patterns and ambient drone music. As much as I respect Jaskulke for his past achievements, this music does nothing to me, and in fact is quite difficult for me to listen to. The distorted sound and reverb are physically unpleasant after a few minutes getting progressively worse in time. I admit not being able to listen to the album in its entirety. As usual in such cases, I blame myself entirely for not being able to like and appreciate this music. Jaskulke is an immensely talented musician and I hope that he´ll find his way back to Jazz at some point in his life, wishing him all the best with whatever path he chooses to follow.

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SLAWOMIR JASKULKE ~ SUGARFREE BCD 03 (Barcode: 5906881885024) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 This is the second album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, which was recorded in the classic piano trio format with bassist Krzysztof PacanFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Jaskulke. By the time this album was recorded, Jaskulke was already a member of the quartet led by the Polish Jazz legend Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, which is the most desirable position for any Polish Jazz musician and which means that his talent was recognized as extraordinary on the local scene. Anybody listening to this album must admit that Jaskulke is indeed one of the most extraordinary musicians to arrive on the Polish Jazz scene in the 21st Century. This album confirms not only his superb qualities as a player, but even more interestingly and dramatically his talent as a composer. Jaskulke has an easily recognizably personal style, which is quite extraordinary for such a young musician. His approach to the piano is percussive, almost "aggressive" at times, and at the same time he can stroke the keys delicately as a summer breeze. His compositions are also quite distinct and remarkable and regardless of their tempi, they convey a punctuated, but clearly stated melody, irregular meters and ultra-modern rhythmic devices, which can be found in contemporary electronic music. All these, combined with the obvious Jazz legacy create an amalgam, which is highly innovative and surprising. This music is perhaps one of the most contemporary approaches to Jazz, taking the music from the 20th Century, where it was born and raised, into the 21st Century, where it now develop into a plethora of new directions. It proves that Jazz does not need to be stagnant and can be innovated in many ways, not only in the Avant-Garde / Free / Improvised Music idiom, but also in new and unexpected directions. The performances on this album are truly stellar, not only those by the leader but also those by the rhythm section. Pacan, who was also a member of the Namyslowski quartet at the time, is a brilliant bassist, capable of a wide range of styles, from classic Jazz to modern, almost Pop / Rock pulsations. Dziedzic is an ideal drummer in this setting, perfectly in sync with Jaskulke in the percussive beat parts and his by and large more Rock than Jazz sound. Overall this is a brilliant album in every aspect, sadly largely overlooked at the time of its release but certainly deserving an honorable position among the great Polish Jazz piano trio recordings. This is highly recommended to all Polish Jazz fans and Jazz aficionados in general. It´s never too late to discover this priceless gem!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ ASSYMETRY NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 This is a brilliant album by veteran Polish saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, one of the Founding Fathers of modern Polish Jazz active on the scene since the late 1950s. First as a member of the legendary Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist ensemble and later as a leader, Namyslowski was always a superb musician and an intriguing composer. His early work was often characterized by incorporating Polish folklore motifs into his compositions, which was highly unusual at the time in US or Western Europe, but relatively common behind the Iron Curtain. This amazing album, as the (slightly twisted) title suggests, is all about odd meters, you know all those 7/4, 5/4, 7/8 and other crazy rhythmic patterns that only highly skilled musicians are able to play correctly. As much as they are a nightmare to play, they are surely a wonder to listen to and enjoy and this albums offers nine lengthy tunes, one better that the other. Performed by a brilliant quintet: trombonist Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (yes the next generation), pianist Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummers Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist and Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist (on two tracks only), the music is simply divine, clever and enjoyable, all at the same time, which of course id pretty rare. It certainly seems that Namyslowski is getting younger with age, a rare quality indeed. Brilliant!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ NICE & EASY ITM 14125 (Barcode: 4250079711253) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This superb album by Polish saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist was recorded with a quintet comprising of young musicians including his son trombonist Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. It presents ten new original compositions by Namyslowski. It was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist – a guarantee of sonic fidelity. At the time of the recording Namyslowski was almost seventy years old, being one of the few remaining last Mohicans of the first post-WWII Polish Jazz generation still active on the local scene. There is absolutely no evidence on this recording of Namyslowski´s age, surely not in the negative sense. He seems to be completely confident both as a composer and a performer and stands hip to hip with the "youngsters" not giving up an inch. It is hard to believe that the same person took part in the legendary 2nd Sopot Jazz Festival in 1957 and was a member of the Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist quintet that recorded "AstigmaticFind albums with this title" in 1965, and yet these are just a few of Namyslowski´s amazing career milestones. Namyslowski´s compositions were always his forte, as he manages consistently to present a completely unique musical signature, which includes many different characteristics, like the odd meters he so often uses or the unexpected tempo changes, all those on top of beautifully structured melodies, which are simply magnificent. Therefore the musicians playing with him are supplied with a perfect vehicle for their respective solos. Although the music conceptually belongs to mainstream Jazz, it always comes with a twist which makes it anything but predictable or simplistic. On the contrary these tunes take a while to get used to and have a wonderful quality of growing on the listener with every listening session. The quintet performs like a dream, obviously inspired and directed by the Master. These young and extremely talented musicians keep the splendid tradition of the Polish Jazz alive and kicking, this time also learning from the best. Namyslowski continues his tradition to lead groups comprising of young musicians, which keep him invigorated and at the same time serve as a hothouse growing generation after generation of new players. The album was released on the German ITM label and the album´s booklet includes liner notes by the excellent Jazz critic Bert Noglik, who is familiar with Namyslowski´s music since many years. All in all this is a superb modern Jazz album, which should keep happy even the sternest Jazz connoisseurs, and of course deserves a honorable place in any serious Jazz collection alongside the earlier albums by this great Artists. A must!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ STANDARDS NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 This is a very unusual album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, which finds him performing standards, whereas he usually performs only his own compositions. Of the eleven tracks present on this album, ten are standards and one is a composition by Namyslowski, based on the harmonic structure of a well known standard, with a different meter. All the ten standards have been elaborately arranged by Namyslowski, taking them in some cases quite far away from the origin. The music is performed by a superb quartet, which finds the leader in the company of pianist Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof PacanFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. Namyslowski´s son Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks and trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist guests on one. The album is an absolute masterpiece from start to finish: the arrangements are innovative and intelligent, the performances are perfect and the overall level of artistry is simply overwhelming. Namyslowski again proves that time means absolutely nothing as far as he´s concerned and he is still the Grand Master of Polish Jazz, at least as far as modern mainstream Jazz is concerned. The album shows yet again his role as a Godfather, with his group over and over again featuring young and upcoming musicians, who play with him for a period of time before going their own way and becoming leaders on their own right. Namyslowski´s playing never ceases to amaze me; for the last half a century (and more) he sounds confident, stable and beautifully creative. I only wish he´ll continue to be this way forever. The pianist Slawomir Jaskulke is the great surprise of this album, as his very modernist and forceful style, which he displayed on his early recordings, has been "tamed" by the leader and his ability to change styles from early Jazz to modern compositions and perform all of them equally fluently with virtuosic ability is very impressive. Overall this is a wonderful album, which should put a smile on the face of every Jazz connoisseur in this planet. There is no way one could not enjoy this music, both intellectually and emotionally. These standards never sounded better that here, dressed up, invigorated and revitalized, thank to the genius of Namyslowski, which rejects the tides of time and keeps alive and kicking. This is an absolute delight. Respect!

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WOJCIECH STARONIEWICZ ~ ALTERNATIONS ALLEGRO 017 (Barcode: 5901157049179) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 This is an excellent album by Polish saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which includes pianist Slawomir JaskulkeFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Hubert ZemlerFind albums by this artist. Polish piano superstar Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist sits in on three tracks, replacing the regular pianist. Staroniewicz composed all the nine tracks present here, which again proves his abilities as a composer, as they versatile and vary in mood and melodic direction, including some subtle World Music influences. The music is performed perfectly with the leader soloing extensively, and his solos are always a pleasure to listen to. On the three tracks Mozdzer guests on, he also gets plenty of space to show his chops. The rhythm section gives the soloist excellent support and the overall sound of the quartet is very solid. Staroniewicz has a wonderful tone on tenor and soprano saxophone and an unusually melodic approach, which does not diminish his improvisational qualities, which are truly impressive. Overall this album is a lot of fun to listen to and a great proof that solid, melodic Jazz can be also of high quality and interest. This album is most warmly recommended to Jazz fans who love quality modern mainstream Jazz.

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