Record Reviews

ALGORHYTHM ~ MANDALA ALPAKA 001 (Barcode: 191061415527) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz quintet AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof SlomkowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, three each by Miszk and Burnos, two co-credited to them both and three short (not-credited) pieces. The music on this album is a significant step forward in comparison to what the quintet offered on their already quite excellent debut. It is much more complex, diverse and ambitious and includes many twists and turns, polyrhythmic layers, odd meters and multifaceted dynamics within each composition. Some World Music influences are also present. Therefore, again in comparison to their straight ahead debut album, this one is a whole new game. The performances are also more energetic and focused, with the entire crew taking part in the proceedings, contribution and supporting each other vigorously. The teamwork on these difficult pieces it truly wonderful. The overall sound of the quintet is very contemporary and sparkling with talent and oomph, placing Algorhythm on the list of Polish Jazz ensembles, which deserve to be closely watched and which are definitely very promising in their quest to better themselves. This is European Jazz at its best, bursting with talent, ideas and courage to explore rather than imitate, which of curse is what great music is all about. It makes me very happy to see the quintet to make such a giant step forward and I hope to catch them on stage soon. In the meantime hats off!

Updated: 09/04/2017Posted: 09/04/2017

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ALGORHYTHM ~ SEGMENTS NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz quintet AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof SlomkowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. It presents seven original compositions, five by Burnos and two by Miszk. The classic Jazz quintet setting and the music are all well within the mainstream Jazz tradition, presenting modern, vital and interesting European version of the standard Jazz idiom, as usual drenched in the Polish lyricism and melancholy, which characterizes Polish Jazz. The compositions are well rounded and definitely non-trivial, with many odd rhythmic patterns; with altogether create an interesting listening experience. Personally I think the two compositions by Miszk are the best on the album, but the ones by Burnos do not fall far behind. The dynamic development and atmosphere of these pieces is quite remarkable. All three soloists perform splendidly and play several impressive passages and the rhythm section does a superb job supporting them all the way through, handling the complex rhythms elegantly and flawlessly. Again Checki seems to be the most impressive soloist on this album, but his colleagues are all gifted musicians and in time are sure to join the ranks of top Polish Jazz players. This is definitely an impressive debut, which deserves praise and support and as always makes me wonder how such young people are able to produce such mature and well developed music. Well done indeed!

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ALGORHYTHM ~ TERMOMIX ALPAKA 010 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the third album by young Polish Jazz ensemble AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist, this time reduced to a quartet which includes trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. It presents fourteen short compositions, which are not credited on the album´s artwork and therefore assumed to be co-composed by all four members of the ensemble. In fact even the name of the ensemble is (almost) missing from the artwork. The music and the ambience of this album are radically different from their earlier work and moves almost completely away from the traditional Jazz idiom into contemporary ambient / electronic music, Avant Rock and Avant-Garde explorations. However, Jazzy improvisations, are still an important ingredient of the music, and as such are an obvious link with the past. This album must have taken the followers of the group and the Polish Jazz scene by surprise, as it is both quite unexpected and stylistically revolutionary. In order to appreciate this music properly one has to put aside the ensemble´s earlier work and accept the music for what it is rather than judging what it should / could have been, which some "critics" graciously implied. Of course experimenting and searching for new ways of expression is always welcome, even if it produces a less appealing or immediately accepted result. Obviously this music sets a challenge in front of the listeners, who have to decide if they are willing to follow the musicians on their new path or let this music pass them by. The audiences are more often than not much more stagnant and conservative than the music makers, which creates the commonly accepted reserved attitude towards Avant-Garde, blaming the musicians for leaving the listeners behind, but it fact it is the listeners who are lingering behind of their own choice. Personally I find this album as a bold and important experiment, which finds the ensemble in a transitory stage between the established and safe musical environment and a new experimental milieu, without actually quite making up their mind. The future will tell if this was just a one time venture or a start of a new aesthetics which will be further developed. Whatever the future may hold for them, Algorhythm deserve respect for daring to experiment and looking into new forms of expression, threading the less travelled road. Their individual ability as instrumentalists is already well established and now is the time to forge their unique personal musical identities. May the Force be with you ;)

Updated: 16/06/2019Posted: 16/06/2019

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MICHAL BAK QUARTETTO ~ FORTRESS ALPAKA 017 (Barcode: 308175527897) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by Polish Jazz ensemble Michal Bak QuartettoFind albums by this artist, led by bassist / composer Michal BakFind albums by this artist and also including trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Jakub KlemensiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, five of which are original compositions by Bak, two are his arrangements of Classical pieces and two are original compositions by Miszk. The music is very minimalist, and except for the unisono statements by the trumpet and the saxophone, offers mostly one of the instruments supported by the rhythm section with limited ensemble performances. Lengthy rhythm section passages and bass soli dominate the atmosphere of the album. The bass is high in the mix and obviously sets the framework of the entire affair. The two arrangements of the Classical pieces are a bit of a foreign body within the concept of the album, as far as I am concerned, but perhaps the intention was to create a Jazz-Classical Fusion of sorts, which I am simply just not able to hear. The album offers a dark and daunting ambience, which might challenge some listeners, and although the musicians are obviously highly capable, the minimalist concept restrains them from displaying full-blown statements. The extremely slow paste of the music and the limited developments within are honestly trying the listener’s patience. Overall, although more adventurous that most Polish Jazz albums released this year (2021), this album fails to excite and swap the listener off his feet, despite the obvious talent of the musicians involved. Bak is still probably trying to define his composing aims and a coherent unique style for his ensemble, and will hopefully reach his goal in the future. Whatever worked fine on the debut album is simply not enough anymore for the sophomore outing.

Updated: 08/12/2021Posted: 08/12/2021

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MICHAL BAK QUARTETTO ~ MICHAL BAK QUARTETTO ALPAKA 002 (Barcode: 191924127741) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz ensemble called Michal Bak QuartettoFind albums by this artist (the Italian reference remains obscure), led by bassist / composer Michal BakFind albums by this artist and also featuring trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. Miszk, Checki and Koryzno are also members of the AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist quintet, with another bass player and a pianist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Bak. In a recent conversation with a fellow Polish Jazz journalist the subject of debut albums by young Polish Jazz groups released in 2017 came up and the conclusion was that relatively very few of those albums dealt with Free (at least to some degree) Jazz, concentrating mostly on melody and harmony. This album, although still based on melodic themes, demonstrates a much wider degree of freedom, which balances the overall output very nicely. The music is typical Modern Polish Jazz, based on beautifully lyrical / melancholic compositions, expanded into lengthy statements, full of opportunities for improvisation by the quartet members, which here demonstrate the freedom and space which can be achieved within music, which is still within the traditional boundaries of the idiom. All the players on this album demonstrate a high level of professionalism and obvious talent, and to those who follow their consecutive recordings, also a consistent path of personal development. The fact that this quartet is pianoless and still manages to sound fully harmonic speaks firmly as to the quality of these musicians and their mutual respect and ability to cooperate. Miszk plays some superb solo trumpet parts and is also a great accompanist when playing behind Checki, who is the romantic soul most of the time but also delivers some truly biting solos. Bak gets a lot of exposure as a bassist, both as part of the rhythm section and as a soloist, and his performances are all top notch. Koryzno is the rhythm machine driving the music forward and he is excellent both as an illustrator on the slow and free parts and the pusher behind the up-tempo swinging parts, demonstrating an overall exquisite drumming technique and feel. Overall this is an impressive debut album, which presents daring, intelligent and adventurous music and brilliant personal abilities by the players. Connoisseurs of Modern Jazz, especially those following the Polish Jazz scene, are in for a refreshing, invigoration experience. Definitely one of the most interesting debuts of 2017 – highly recommended!

Updated: 18/11/2017Posted: 18/11/2017

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BLED ~ ROOTS AND FUTURISTIC SCI-FI SOUNDS ALPAKA 016 (Barcode: 308175527866) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz duo BLEDFind albums by this artist, which comprises of drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, who both employ also synthesizers and who both played together on several earlier recordings by the AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist quintet and other Polish ensembles. The album presents five original compositions, which remain uncredited on the album’s artwork. The music seems to be mostly improvised, although some preparations surely were made before the recording. Drums / trumpet duets are certainly a rather rare event, although nor entirely unheard off, and improvised music obviously is not limited by any instrumental configuration. This album, and other such recordings, clearly prove that liaisons, like that one, are valid and can be fruitful. Both musicians seem to have a great fun playing together and both are able to display their individual instrumental abilities, as well as the unique rapport between them. The music is diverse and dynamic enough to provide a continuous listening experience to the potential listeners, but the music offers no compromises and might prove to be beyond the attention span of the average listener. Overall, this is an interesting Avant-Garde musical experiment, which combines Ambient, Improvised Music, Free Jazz and even contemporary Classical Music elements, performed by two gifted young Polish Jazz musicians, which proves the versatility and constant searching, which characterizes the scene. This music is very far from the common Jazz denominator, but some listeners might find it fascinating.

Updated: 21/07/2022Posted: 21/07/2022

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TOMASZ CHYLA ~ CIRCLESONGS POLSKIE RADIO 2208 (Barcode: 5907812244033) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz violinist / composer Tomasz ChylaFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quintet which also includes saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist (also in charge of the electronic effects), bassist Krzysztof SlomkowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen relatively short original compositions, all of which were collectively composed by the quintet members, grouped into three "circlesongs". In complete contrast to the debut album, the music on this album is a cosmic jump into Avant-Garde, Free Jazz and Improvised Music, which comes as an overwhelming and complete surprise. One can expect development and progression, sometimes gradual and in other cases quite rapid, but taking such a dramatic and drastic step, like in this case, is almost unheard off. As a result the music almost completely shuns any effort to be described. "Making love via telephone" comes to mind in this case, as words are simply inadequate to express the essence of this music, surely not adequately. So what can be said? There is almost no melody, at most short bursts of a few consecutive notes, no steady rhythm, but rather drone like passages, little dynamics and no soloing in the traditional sense. At times the music sounds like contemporary minimalist music, at others like Free Jazz group improvisation, and yet at others like Avant-Garde soundscapes of cinematic or theatre music. But enough of trying to describe the music; which is an a priori futile attempt anyway. The most important thing is that this innovative and courageous approach works out amazingly well and the music is simply astounding. It manages to drown in the listener completely and entangle his attention like a spider´s web. The continuity and constant development creates a natural flow, which when succumbed to, takes the listener on a phantasmagorical journey into the unknown. Listening to the music for the first time is a shocking experience but consecutive listening sessions have the power of addiction. It makes no sense to write about the individual contributions by the quintet members, as this album is a classic team effort. My praise goes to the leader, who keeps his playing on the same level, and perhaps even more modest, that his cohorts, which in this case is the most sensible decision. These players have already proved their chops on numerous other recordings, and this music is all about unison. It is not often that a new genre / idiom / form is created in music, especially so in Jazz (in its broad meaning), but this album definitely is an eye (ears) opener in many aspects. Many of the elements used here have been tried out earlier on, but placing them together in this specific climate, order and context is completely innovative, even for the Polish Jazz scene, which bursts with innovation. One can not predict the future of course, but this album is definitely a Giant Step as far as Polish / European Jazz are concerned and only future will tell of its influence on the genre. It epitomizes everything that European Jazz stands for: innovation, inventiveness, boldness, open-mindedness, elegance and beyond all musical aesthetics, which exists only in Europe. To put things boldly: this is a fucking great album (excuse my French) and you better believe it! As far as I am concerned, this album is already the winner of the best Polish Jazz album for 2018 and it will take a miracle to change my mind. I am not so sure if the usual bunch of Polish Jazz "critics" will be able to swallow this music so easily, but who gives a damn. Hopefully they will, as usual, follow my lead, even when they hate the music.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 21/10/2018

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TOMASZ CHYLA ~ DA VINCI ALPAKA 014 (Barcode: 308175527842) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the third album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Tomasz ChylaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, guitarist Krzysztof HadrychFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. A vocal octet, called Art `n` VoicesFind albums by this artist participates on four tracks. The album presents nine original compositions, all co-credited to the quintet members. Following two excellent albums, which offered an extraordinary musical imagination and intellectually challenging concepts, this album offers again a completely different approach from its predecessors, this time being almost completely removed from any Jazz elements, and venturing into contemporary minimalist music, with some elements of Rock Avant-Garde and Industrial Music, dark and alienated, almost atonal at times, and almost completely devoid of melody lines, which at its most intense moments knocks the listener on his head like a sledgehammer. Having said that the music is extremely potent and original, with obvious carefully planned aesthetics and conceptual approach, which challenges the listener for the entire duration. The use of the vocal octet is especially effective, close to modern Classical Music practices. The prominent presence of the electric guitar influences dramatically the intense crescendo moments, emphasizing the proximity to Rock, but within the kaleidoscopic wealth of other elements, it does not dominate the entire approach of this album. Chyla is obviously a musician of great scope, who is still developing his vocabulary and stylistic language. It is fascinating to watch his development, as documented by his recordings so far, and he always leaves his listeners waiting impatiently for more. This album is perhaps the most difficult one to “enjoy”, but repeated listening might remedy this condition. I’d say the album offers a bit too much of everything for my liking, but I still appreciate the ideas and the imagination, as well as the excellent playing by all members of the quintet, which was invested in creating it. Overall this is an important document of the fascinating Polish Jazz scene, which refuses to stay within the preconceived guidelines, slaughtering holy cows by the dozens. For listeners who liked the two earlier albums this is a must and for open-minded seekers of unusual sound vistas, this is a worthy challenge!

Updated: 27/05/2021Posted: 27/05/2021

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TOMASZ CHYLA ~ ETERNAL ENTROPY POLSKIE RADIO 2033 (Barcode: 5907812241988) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Tomasz ChylaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof SlomkowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. These four players are also members of the quintet called AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, three of which were composed by Chyla, three were co-composed by him and other members of the quintet, one was co-composed by him and his teacher at the Gdansk Music Academy Witoslawa FrankowskaFind albums by this artist and two were composed by Slomkowski. The music is mostly modern mainstream Jazz, but allows a lot of freedom to the quintet members to spread their wings. The melodic themes are very solid, mostly lyrical, with strong ties to Polish Folklore and typical Polish melancholy, felt even on the up-tempo numbers. The level of the compositions is surprisingly mature and coherent for such young musicians / composers, and again emphasizes the incredible strength of the young Polish Jazz scene. All three soloists play some amazing solo parts on this album and the rhythm section manages to support them amicably all the way through. Slomkowski deserves special mention as his bass pulsations are a stronghold of stability on which this entire music rests. Koryzno also plays exceptionally well, proving that drumming can be creative and atypical and at the same time fulfill the role assigned to the instrument. All five musicians are superb instrumentalists and they perform the music with passion and obvious mixture of talent and professionalism. Chyla has a surprisingly original tone and stylistic approach, quite different form other violinists active on the Polish violin scene. His playing is much closer to Polish Folklore than to classical music, which is usually the starting point for violinists and he is more open to less constrained improvisation, which at time borders with Free. He is definitely the most interesting new arrival on the crowded Polish Jazz violin scene, and a most welcome one due to his divergence. Overall this is an outstanding debut offer, one of the strongest on the Polish Jazz scene so far this year. The creativity and inventiveness of these young musicians simply never ceases to amaze. Hats off!

Updated: 09/06/2017Posted: 09/06/2017

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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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PIOTR LEMANCZYK / QUARTET NORTH ~ BALTIC DANCE SOLITON 387 (Barcode: 5901571093871) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 Polish bassist / composer Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist keeps producing beautiful music with a staggering regularity, albeit constantly changing the lineups, the musicians and the instrumentation. This project finds him in a pianoless quartet with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Lemanczyk, three of which feature a string quartet accompanying the Jazz quartet. As the album´s title suggests, Lukowski is a proud representative of the Polish Jazz scene active on the shore of the Baltic Sea, mostly around Gdansk, as are all three of his partners in this project. Over the years the Baltic scene produced some of the finest Polish Jazz achievements. In my review of the previous album by Lemanczyk, called "AmhranFind albums with this title", I mentioned that the music sounded American, i.e. different from the typical Polish Jazz, which has rather strong identity easily recognizable by a trained ear. This time the music again sounds atypical as far as Polish Jazz is concerned, and sounds pretty much like Scandinavian Jazz, which after all is created around the Baltic Sea as well. Of course these regional similarities are not meant to suggest a lack of originality, au contraire, Lemanczyk creates completely original music, and it is only the overall atmosphere that suggests a mindset typical to Jazz produced outside of Poland. All these superb compositions are a wonderful vehicle for the players to show their abilities. Szymon Lukowski is the biggest surprise here, as his playing on other Polish Jazz recordings, including his debut eponymous album, was rather restrained and unremarkable, and here he sounds like a complete different person, with highly expressive and emotional solos and a beautiful affinity towards the music, including his excellent bass clarinet parts. Emil Miszk justified the position as one of the upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeters (although the competition in that department is unbelievably tough) and blows some truly impressive licks. Slawomir Koryzno stays mostly in the background, but keeps the music flowing steadily, with grace, with an occasional solo spot, which he manages quite well. Of course Lemanczyk is a power of Nature and his virtuosi bass lines are not only the backbone of this music but also its soul and intrinsic power. This is modern Jazz at its best, with great tunes wonderfully performed by gifted musicians, who have no reason to feel any less worthy than their counterparts anywhere else in the world. This is elegant, intelligent music, which flows slowly, but reaches the deepest corners of the listener´s soul. It’s a privilege to be able to enjoy this music, which deserves to be discovered and championed as much as any true piece of Art. Well done indeed!

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SZYMON LUKOWSKI ~ HOURGLASS HEVHETIA 0136 (Barcode: 8588005257930) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / clarinetist / composer Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with Austrian (resident in London) guitarist Hannes RieplerFind albums by this artist, and Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, six by Lukowski and one each by Bukowski, Riepler and Urowski. From the first notes of this album it is obvious that the young musician made a giant step forward both as a player and a composer in comparison to his earlier recordings. Supported by a formidable team of highly talented musicians, Lukowski delivers a wonderful collection of excellent tunes, all beautifully played by him and his cohorts. The elegant arrangements, which feature the superb talents of Bukowski on vibes and marimba and great guitar playing by Riepler, all contribute to the elegant flow of melody lines, amicably supported by the rhythm section. Although the music is still very "conventional" and well within the Jazz mainstream idiom, it is able to shed off the trivial references to years of Jazz tradition, which have been abused and misused for decades. This music flows smoothly and elegantly, keeping the listener attentive. Lukowski uses several types of saxophones and the bass clarinet to produce diverse and interesting tonal ornamentations which serve the music to the max. The music was wonderfully recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usual spectacular sonic result. The clarity of the sound and the superb separation of the instruments make listening to this album an audiophiles´ orgy. Overall this is a great mainstream Jazz album, which offers excellent music and first class performances, which should satisfy all connoisseurs and still deliver something previously unheard. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 27/05/2017Posted: 27/05/2017

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SZYMON LUKOWSKI ~ SZYMON LUKOWSKI QUINTET SOLITON 338 (Barcode: 5901571093383) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet format with trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej SadowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album features seven original compositions, five by Lukowski and one each by Sadowski and Gawdzis. This album presents the same lineup (except for the drummer) that recorded the album "Shadows Of AutumnFind albums with this title" by Gawdzis, and unfortunately presents the identical worn out mainstream Jazz formula, that contributes neither intellectual nor aesthetic challenge to the listener, sounding very much like American Jazz recorded a few decades earlier (and that is not meant as a compliment). The compositions are unremarkable and the playing, except for Bukowski, who is always highly professional, uninspired. I already stated what I think about this kind of music in my review of the a.m. album and there is nothing else to add. Some people like this stuff, but I definitely try to avoid it.

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JERZY MALEK ~ FOREVELLE KAYAX 103 (Barcode: 5907678818645) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the seventh album as leader by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with keyboardist Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist, guitarist Krzysztof LochowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Maciej KadzielaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. Together they perform seven original compositions, all by Malek. The music is typical melodic mainstream Jazz, full of distinctive Polish Jazz characteristics, like melancholic ballads, Slavic folkloristic harmonies and the overall atmosphere of poignancy, even on the up-tempo numbers. All the seven originals are solid compositions, elegant, well structured and aesthetically pleasing, especially so the ballads, which seem to be Malek´s forte. The execution is also top notch, with evident class and talent displayed by the musicians involved. Malek is an excellent trumpeter, with steady clear tone and brilliant phrasing, and his playing is a great example of the classic approach to Jazz trumpet, which is sadly not very appreciated these days. Kisiel plays beautiful piano lines both on the acoustic and electric instruments, contributing several nice solos and supporting the leader amicably. Lochowicz is a mystery as I could only hear him on one tune and there he was so back in the mix that he was totally lost. Swies, a veteran and brilliant bassist, is one of the top Polish players and every recording featuring his talents is already ahead just by his presence. Koryzno plays also very well, supporting the steady rhythmic patterns with confidence and skill, staying respectfully in the background. Overall this is a classic mainstream album, which features superb tunes and excellent execution, which should make every Jazz connoisseur in the world happy. There is no innovation or groundbreaking here, but not every Jazz album has to be about these elements. Playing solid, excellent mainstream Jazz like the one here is still Art.

Updated: 19/11/2016Posted: 19/11/2016

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EMIL MISZK / THE SONIC SYNDICATE ~ ARTIFICIAL STUPIDITY ALPAKA 013 (Barcode: 308175527811) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist and his octet called The Sonic SyndicateFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonists Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist and Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist, trombonist Pawel NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, guitarist Michal ZienkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist, same lineup as on the debut. The album presents six original compositions, which strangely are not credited on the album´s artwork and are therefore assumed to be all by the leader. The total playing time of the album is just below thirty-five minutes, which is closer to an EP than a full album. The brilliant debut album released a couple of years earlier created enormously high expectations from the sophomore release, which are almost impossible to be fulfilled. Considering the fact that the music on this album is significantly different from that on its predecessor, any attempt to compare the two is practically fruitless. Combined with loosing the element of surprise, the resulting effect is somewhat less exciting. Nevertheless this is still brilliant music, beautifully performed by some of the best young generation Polish Jazz musicians. The compositions are complex and combine several melodic and rhythmic themes within each of the pieces. They are all carefully designed, ordered and planned, cerebral and refined, oriented towards the "big sound" the octet is able to create, at times offering up-to-date Big Band mannerisms. There is no doubt that Miszk and his Sonic Syndicate offer some of the cleverest music on the Polish Jazz scene, which can eventually lead to some level of estrangement with the audience. This album, as already mentioned, has a short playing time, but is so intensive and demanding that perhaps any additional material might have been simply over the top. Miszk obviously gives up almost completely his role as an instrumentalist and is completely absorbed by his role of a composer and arranger. Overall this is a dazzling piece of music, which concentrates on highly complex, sophisticated compositions, which are difficult to follow but highly rewarding to advanced Jazz listeners. The (almost) orchestral arrangements are devilishly tricky and must have been a real challenge to perform and record, which makes me wonder if this music is possible to be played live. In any case Miszk is surely an Artist to be watched closely, as he obviously is just worming up.

Updated: 21/07/2022Posted: 17/07/2020

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EMIL MISZK / THE SONIC SYNDICATE ~ DON`T HESITATE! ALPAKA 005 (Barcode: 191924149736) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album as a leader by young and upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, who has made a significant mark on the local scene lately. On this album he leads an impressive octet, called Sonic SyndicateFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonists Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist and Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist, trombonist Pawel NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Michal ZienkowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by the leader. The stunning music consists of some of the most original Jazz compositions I have heard in many years. Miszk uses brilliantly the power of the octet, which has almost the strength and possibilities of a Big Band / Orchestral scale, to express his complex, suite like compositions, which are all multilayered, with twisted melody lines and constant tempi changes, but which in spite of their devilishly clever intricacy sound completely coherent and complete. The music moves between melodic statements of the composed themes and almost Free Form mini-improvised passages, presenting a fresh and invigorating approach to Jazz composition, which is simply phenomenal. At times the music ventures into the Brass Rock approach, fondly remembered from the work of ensembles like ChicagoFind albums by this artist and ChaseFind albums by this artist (and many more), but of course is completely brought up to date and modernized. All the members of the octet are of course radiant instrumentalists, who are able to execute the convoluted and challenging twists and turns of the music spotlessly. The music calls mostly for an ensemble / orchestral sound and presentation, which means that individual soloing, is not the focus of this music, but rather creating sound vistas that require discipline and collaboration by all the participants; which of course does not exclude some blood-curdling solo work by the leader and others and surprising Rocky guitar statements by Zienkowski. This music is also the epitome of European Jazz, being completely open to all musical styles and influences, managing to amalgamate them in a perfect way. There is a lot of tradition here, some conscious and some subconscious, but absolutely no stagnation or repetition. This is exactly what European Jazz aesthetics is all about – experiment and elegance, good taste and talent. This kind of music can probably only be made in Poland. Any attempt to describe this beautiful piece of music is of course completely futile and does not replace the experience of listening to it, which of course I absolutely recommend. It is very rare that a debut album of this magnitude appears and usually it happens only once or twice in a given year, and for 2018 this is definitely it. Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 07/05/2018Posted: 24/04/2018

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EMIL MISZK / THE SONIC SYNDICATE ~ SCRATCHES FOR 8 MUSICIANS ALPAKA 023 (Barcode: 3663734142964) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the third album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, recorded live with his octet called The Sonic SyndicateFind albums by this artist, which comprises of top young Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonists Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist (tenor) and Jakub KlemensiewiczFind albums by this artist (baritone), trombonist Pawel NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Michal ZienkowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Mikolaj BasiukiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents four extended pieces, which are uncredited on the album’s artwork (open for speculation). The music is essentially improvised, with just very few sketchy melodic themes and coherent continuity, at some occasions being more about a sonic atmosphere than music, as most people conceive it. It is fascinating to compare this album with Miszk’s earlier recordings since he first appeared on recording scene in 2014, including the two previous albums with the Sonic Syndicate, which shows a radical estrangement from melodic modern Jazz, gradually moving towards Improvised Music and Avant-Garde. Of course Miszk has every right to experiment and develop his music any way he sees fit, and his qualities are clearly obvious here, as they were in his earlier work. The album, although being more about the ensemble sound that individual soloing, which is typical of European larger ensembles, allows all the members of the octet to show their chops, even in the highly unconventional environment of this music. At best, the ensemble sounds like a Big Band, but during the intimate improvisation moments the ensemble sound gets lost obviously, which is a pity. As a result, the music is very uneven and depends largely on the listener’s attention span and patience. Overall, this is a courageous experiment, exposing the more experimental / searching facets of the young Polish Jazz scene, which refuses to stand still. The music might prove to be trying to an average Jazz listener, but the more open-minded and searching Jazz fans should find this album worth of their attention.

Updated: 16/07/2022Posted: 16/07/2022

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KAMIL PIOTROWICZ ~ BIRTH HEVHETIA 0105 (Barcode: 8588005257572) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BakFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. It presents nine original compositions (one appearing twice and another based on a Folk tune) by Piotrowicz and one standard. The music is mostly quite conventional, well within the mainstream Jazz format, with occasional less constrained and more open moments. The compositions are however quite sophisticated and often feature several subsections with different rhythmic patterns and melodic themes, turning them into mini-suites. The overall level of these compositions is certainly well advanced, especially in view of the young age of the composer. The arrangements feature the entire ensemble extensively, with the brass section up front, in charge of most of the solos, and the leader staying relatively in the background. It is pretty obvious that the emphasis of this album is in the following order of importance: compositions, arrangements, ensemble performance and only then individual solos. All the young members of the quintet have already some experience and appear on earlier recordings and they are the new generation that will dominate the Polish Jazz scene in the years to come. Judging by what they are able to do herein, things look pretty promising. This is definitely a most impressive debut effort, which although does not break any new ground, certainly proves that there are still infinite opportunities within the established borders of Jazz. Congratulations are in order and of course I´m already waiting for the next endeavor.

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