Record Reviews

MYSLOWSKA / PEPOL / ZAKROCKI ~ LEGGEREZZA AUDIO CAVE 2023/001 (Barcode: 5908298549520) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 - 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by a trio of Polish Avant Garde musicians, vocalist Olga MyslowskaFind albums by this artist, cellist Michal PepolFind albums by this artist and (usually) violinist, but here guitarist and electronics manipulator Patryk ZakrockiFind albums by this artist, who is feverishly prolific on the local scene. The album presents ten tracks, based on excerpts from a series of lectures by Italian writer / journalist / philosopher Italo CalvinoFind albums by this artist called “Six Memos for the Next Millennium” (Lezioni americane in Italian), the first of which is dedicated to the virtue of lightness (or Leggerezza in Italian). These lectured were in fact never delivered, due to Calvino’s death, but were posthumously published as his last work. This album is a result of a project, which was one commissioned by my lamented friend Miron ZajfertFind albums by this artist, who sadly died a few weeks ago. Although the texts are not poetry per se, the project can be marginally considered as part of the Jazz & Poetry idiom. The music is certainly unusual, solemn and on the border or despair, but captivates the listener with its magical mixture of semi-melodic themes, improvised instrumental background and the dominating, almost operatic vocal parts. It is somewhat similar to contemporary chamber Classical music and certainly requires the same level of attention and patience in order to be absorbed. This is certainly music for connoisseurs of Avant-Garde explorations, and as such it is highly ambitious and in many aspects also beautiful and touching. Sadly, the size of the audience for such challenging escapade will be probably quite limited. My deepest respect goes both to the musicians, who created this music and the Audio CaveFind albums on this label label for releasing it, against all odds. Overall, this is a challenging Avant-Garde musical and literary project, which is highly stimulating and artistically sound, which requires open-mindedness and patience in order to be enjoyed. Hopefully it will also turn the attention to the wonderful writing by Calvino, which is a treasure chest of contemporary literary work. Highly recommended to ye brave hearted!

Updated: 03/05/2023Posted: 03/05/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JACEK NAMYSLOWSKI ~ MODERATE HASTE BKQ 004 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2015 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz trombonist / composer Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, which comes rather late in his career as he has been active on the local scene for quite a while. He is a son of the legendary Polish Jazz figure saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, and since several years has been a member of his father´s ensemble, as well as several other projects. The album was recorded in a classic quintet lineup with saxophonist Lukasz PoprawskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Lukasz OjdanaFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. It presents seven original compositions, all by the leader (although the album´s packaging says nothing about this, I assume it is so). The album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia, engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with spectacular sonic quality. The music is kept well within the mainstream Jazz milieu, which means solid melodic themes expanded to make room for solos by the ensemble members, with relatively steady rhythmic approach and no great surprises. The compositions are all well rounded and based on fine melodic themes, mostly lyrical and somewhat melancholic. This is definitely well crafted music, intelligent and subtle, which does not try to create flashy impressions but asks for attentive listening. In some respects it is somewhat similar to the music which Zbigniew Namyslowski wrote in the early days of his career, but does not venture into folkloristic influences, staying firmly within the well threaded Jazz path. The individual performances are all quite excellent, as these are first-class experienced and gifted musicians. Namyslowski plays beautifully and demonstrates a personal voice, which is not easy to achieve for such a difficult instrument as the trombone. Poprawski plays several fiery solos; the young Ojdana demonstrates his exceptional ability once again, turning every little solo of his into an instant gem. The rhythm section does a perfect job driving the music forward steadily and smoothly with flair and obvious sensitivity. Overall this is pleasant, well rounded mainstream Jazz album, with good music and excellent performances, which should make every Jazz fan happy. People looking for more adventurous outings might find this music somewhat "outdated", but honestly every candid and well played Jazz album has its place and its audience. Definitely worth investigating!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ AIR CONDITION POLJAZZ / ANEX 317 (Barcode: 5907513047728) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1980 Released: 2009 One of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, remained firmly in the position of the leading Jazz figure in his country for several generations. Starting in the early 1960s as member of the legendary Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist quintet and later leading his own groups, Namyslowski kept his ears open constantly to follow the developments on the ever changing worldwide Jazz scene and his groups always included young talented players, who became his disciples. The group Air ConditionFind albums by this artist included the immensely talented keyboardist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dariusz KozakiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and an extended percussion section, and played a kind of Jazz-Funk, which could move an elephant´s ass, not falling behind any of the US groups playing in the same vein. This album was intended for the US market, where it was released (along with several other Polish Jazz albums) by the Inner CityFind albums on this label label, admittedly without much commercial success. As usual, Americans were simply not ready to recognize any kind of Jazz happening outside of their home turf. In retrospect, this album is still a lot of fun and as Funky as they get. Sendecki´s keyboard wizardry is stunning, as always, and the leader plays plenty of nasty sax chops. Recommended!

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

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 ~ DANCES POLONIA 133 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1997 Released: 1997 This album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist summarizes many years of his career by concentrating on one of the most important characteristics of his music: the symbiosis of Jazz and World Music, or more precisely Jazz and folklore, as represented by dances from different regions. The album comprises of fourteen original compositions by Namyslowski, all of which are based on specific dance rhythms, like tango, waltz and samba or Polish folk dances like mazurka, kujawiak and oberek. Several of the compositions included on this album are new arrangements of compositions recorded and released previously over time. The music is performed by a quartet, which besides Namyslowski, who plays saxophone, flute and trombone (his original instrument) includes also pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassists Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. Three additional players expand the lineup to a septet: accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist, violinist Maciej StrzelczykFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. A Cuban percussion group guests on one tune (obviously the samba). Namyslowski´s ability to compose melodies, which fit the various rhythms and meters, including some very odd meters indeed, is absolutely phenomenal. This album is full of such clever tunes, which happen also to be delightful and sound completely "easy" in spite of their complex and capricious nature. The actual performance is of course first-rate, as always with ensembles led by Namyslowski, who is very strict and meticulous as far as playing is concerned. In many respects this is the most unconventional album ever recorded by Namyslowski in which Jazz plays still a central role, but is intertwined with the folkloristic elements so tightly, that is sounds often like a soundtrack to a documentary produced by National Geographic. Jazz connoisseurs will find this album absolutely charming in every respect, even though it covers musical ground not habitually associated with Jazz. It might be very difficult to find, but I urge every Polish Jazz enthusiast to lay their hand on a copy of this gem. Listening to this music is such a great fun!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ FOLLOW YOU KITE WARNER MUSIC POLAND 190296307577 (Barcode: 190296307577) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1980 Released: 2022 This is a reissue / remaster of an album by the Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader and a Godfather figure on the local scene, Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with his sextet called Air ConditionFind albums by this artist, which also included keyboardist Wladyslaw SendeckiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dariusz KozakiewiczFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Wojciech KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jerzy TanskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by the leader. The album was one of the very few Polish Jazz recordings released at the time, which were not included in the legendary “Polish Jazz” series, and was now released in the new “Polish Jazz Masters” series. The music is all on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, supposedly part of the flourishing Fusion movement, that arrived in Poland a bit later than in Europe and even in other countries behind the Iron Curtain. Namyslowski, deeply rooted in the modern Jazz and Jazz-World Fusion genres, embraced Fusion following his short stint in the US, but that love affair was short lived. The same lineup recorded the same year another album, with included different material, called simply “Air ConditionFind albums with this title”, which was released by the PoljazzFind albums on this label label and also by Inner City in the US. But as always with Namyslowski, he was able to weave immensely beautiful tunes, with strong melodic lines, which were ideal vehicles for his sidemen to show their chops. The absolute star of this album is the very young and insanely talented keyboardist Wladyslaw Sendecki, who was to become one of top polish Jazz pianists in the years to come. His keyboards parts, especially those played on the acoustic piano, are still absolutely stunning. Although Namyslowski was not a Fusion player, Scieranski was the epitome of Funk, and his bass playing is what gives this album the Fusiony tinge. Kozakiewicz, who is a brilliant Blues / Blues-Rock guitarist, is sadly lost here as this musical environment is not really his cup of tea. Overall, this is a very nice historic Polish Jazz album, with great tunes and excellent performances by these splendid musicians, which is always great to return to, when in a nostalgic mood. The music lost nothing of its slick musicality and the reissue is a great tribute to Namyslowski, who sadly died in 2022.

Updated: 11/04/2023Posted: 11/04/2023

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ LIVE AT KOSMOS, BERLIN ITM 920007 (Barcode: 4250079750061) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2008 This is an iconic recording by the Polish Jazz quartet led by saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, with German pianist Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist, bassist Janusz KozlowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. Recorded live on November 30, 1965 at the East Berlin Kosmos cinema, this is a quintessential piece of Polish and European modern Jazz history. Of the eight compositions present on this album, seven are by Namyslowski and one is by Kuhn. In order to fully comprehend the meaning of the music captured here, one must in fact look at (and hear) three separate recordings by the Zbigniew Namyslowski quartet spanning a mere one and a half year period, which fully present the history of the Polish Jazz in the making. Starting with the album "LolaFind albums with this title", recorded in August 1964 in London, which was the first Jazz album recorded and released beyond the Iron Curtain by an East European artists, followed by this album from late 1965 and finally by the album "Zbigniew Namyslowski QuartetFind albums with this title" recorded in January 1966, which was Namyslowski´s first recording released as part of the legendary "Polish Jazz" Series. In the liner notes accompanying this album German critic / historian Bert NoglikFind albums by this artist describes the historic background and the enormous significance of the modern Polish Jazz, which developed independently, almost isolated from the sources of information and influences, reliant only on sporadic radio broadcasts, few LPs trickling illegally and played till they were flat and ever rarer visits abroad. The fact that the Polish Jazz scene was so incredibly vibrant, inventive and beyond all revolutionary is one of the greatest miracles, which escape any attempt of logical or sociological explanation. But the fact remains that Namyslowski and many other Polish Jazz musicians spontaneously re-invented modern Jazz by daring to go where nobody ventured before. The presence of the German pianist / composer Joachim Kuhn is another fabulous bonus. Kuhn would of course become one of the great leaders of the German Jazz scene in the years to come, but first he drifted where the great East European Jazz revolution was happening, living in 1964 in Czechoslovakia and playing with the legendary SHQFind albums by this artist led by Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and then moved to Poland, where he lived in 1965 and met Namyslowski, only to be invited to sit in the piano chair of his quartet. The following year Kuhn, like many other fellow East German musicians, would move over to the West and develop a fabulous musical career of his own. The music is, of course, absolutely brilliant and the live setting allows for a considerably less constrained treatment of the themes, allowing for truly expanded improvisations, one of which goes beyond the half hour mark, something which was completely unthinkable earlier on. Again, when examining the three a.m. albums, it is interesting to see how the same compositions developed, which of them survived and which were dropped and most interestingly noting Namyslowski´s fascination with odd meters, which would become his trademark. Drummer Bartkowski, who is the only musician present on all the three a.m. recordings alongside Namyslowski, is an outstanding example of how these young musicians developed rapidly, almost overnight. His contribution is an integral part of the music. Bassist Kozlowski, who plays on this album, was also present on the studio album recorded a few months later. His performance is also absolutely top notch. Surprisingly enough, the sound quality is very decent compared to other archival recordings of that period, which enhances the overall experience of listening to these fabulous recordings. In all honesty there have been very few other archival Polish Jazz discoveries, if any at all, which are comparable to this monumental document. The fact that this music was buried for over forty years is a crime, but now that it finally sees the light of day, all serious music connoisseurs should be absolutely delighted. Such gems are as rare as the Koh-i-Noor and should be treated accordingly. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 18/07/2020Posted:

CD 2 Slipcase Essential Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ LOLA GOWI 30 (Barcode: 786497164622) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 Released: 1996 This sensational album was the first Jazz recording made behind the Iron Curtain ever to be released in Western Europe. Considering all this happened in 1964 (with the Cold War raging between the West and the East) it was a truly momentous occasion. Saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, aged 25 at the time, as well as the other members of his quartet: pianist Wlodek GulgowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Tadeusz WojcikFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist (all three aged 21) were representatives of the first generation of post-WWII Polish Jazz, which was developing with at a feverish paste in spite of the serious limitations of personal and artistic freedom prevailing in their country. Against all adds Polish Jazz was rapidly becoming a force, which could not be ignored, creating some of the most interesting and revolutionary music ever. Led by the great pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz, the scene exploded with talent and extraordinary inventiveness, which is splendidly documented by this album, among others. Just a year after this album was recorded Namyslowski would record with Komeda, his Mentor, as a member of his quintet the album "AstigmaticFind albums with this title", probably the most important Eastern European Jazz album ever made. But back to this wonderful recording; Namyslowski composed five of the eight pieces on this album, Gulgowski composed two others and one is a standard. His compositions are brilliant in every respect, superbly melodic and often incorporating folkloristic motifs, which was quite prophetic at the time. The level of musicianship is simply stunning and highly inspired, with the overall atmosphere reminiscent of John Coltrane albums, which is hardly surprising considering he was of course Namyslowski´s biggest influence. Listening to this album it´s almost impossible to believe that it was made almost 50 years ago – this music is completely resistant to time. I still remember listening to it, being just 13 years of age, and I´m still deeply moved every time I hear it again. A masterpiece in every respect and an essential piece of music, forever! Side Note: This album was originally released in UK on the Decca label and went quickly out of print. Over the years it became an extremely rare and sought after collectors´ item, especially in Poland. This CD edition is therefore a blessing!

CD 1 Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ MOZART GOES JAZZ JAZZ FORUM 019 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1998 Released: 1999 This is probably the least known as well as most unusual album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / band leader Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, who is associated with the local scene continuously since the late 1950s. The album consists of a live recording captured by the Polish Radio, which presents a Jazz arrangement of Wolfgang Amadeus MozartFind albums by this artist´s Clarinet Concerto in A major, K 622, performed by Namyslowski´s quartet, clarinetist Wojciech MrozekFind albums by this artist and the CamerataFind albums by this artist string quartet. The Zbigniew Namyslowski quartet at the time of the recording included also pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist. Mozart´s masterpiece, which was his last completed work before his untimely death, consists of three movements, but this extended interpretation adds five more "variations". All the pieces were arranged by Namyslowski, except the middle movement of the original concerto, which was arranged by Herdzin. Of course this is by far not the first attempt of creating Classical-Jazz Fusion, which has been attempted countless times before. The matching of these often distant musical idioms is probably the most perilous area, and this album is a "classic" (pun intended) example why. The idea behind such attempts is of course to fuse the two idioms and create an amalgam, which somehow manages to preserve the best of both ingredients and create a new flavor, previously unknown. Sadly the music presented here fails completely in that sense, as far as I am concerned. The resulting music mixes Mozart´s melodic themes with Jazz rhythms and improvisations, but the resulting music simply sounds unsavory. Sort of "pickles with marmalade", which makes sense to pregnant women only. Of course Namyslowski and his crew are all wonderful musicians and perform spotlessly all the way through, as do their Classical counterparts. There are many showcases of splendid musicianship and inspired soloing. However the overall atmosphere simply doesn´t let one enjoy this music. Mozart dancing calypso is simply not my cup of rum… But considering Namyslowski´s remarkably long and otherwise spotless career and tremendous contribution to Polish Jazz, this excursion is easily forgiven, as it is forgotten.

Updated: 08/09/2021Posted:

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ NAMYSLOVSKI INNER CITY 1048 (Barcode: 077712710480) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 1977 Released: 2010 This is a reissue of the first of the two albums by the Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist released by the American Inner CityFind albums on this label label. He is accompanied by Polish Jazz musicians: pianist Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel JarzebskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Janusz StefanskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Namyslowski. Namyslowski, who was one of the Godfathers of the modern Polish Jazz scene and remained one of its prominent leaders for decades, was a musical pioneer, who introduced into Polish Jazz innovations such as Jazz-World Fusion and other attempts to fuse Jazz with different musical genres. He was a prolific composer and an educator, and his groups were one of the most important “stables’, producing generation after generation of young Polish Jazz musicians. The music on this album presents some of his cross-genre explorations, and of course the incredibly high level of the Polish Jazz musicians, which was a complete surprise for American Jazz listeners, who mostly completely dismissed Jazz originating from outside of the US. Namyslowski was brought to the attention of the Inner City label by Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, who recorded an album for the label a short time before this album was released. Overall, this is a brilliant album, which withstands the test of time without any problem. It documents the attempt of Polish Jazz musicians to develop a career in the USA, which in retrospect achieved a very limited success, and led to almost all of them returning to Poland, leaving no impact whatsoever on the American Jazz scene, which of course is hardly surprising. However, it produced some memorable recordings, this being one of them. For Polish Jazz fans this is a gem worth visiting!

Updated: 23/05/2022Posted: 23/05/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

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!

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ OPEN (POLISH JAZZ VOL.74) POLSKIE RADIO 0540 (Barcode: 5901448115408) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1987 Released: 2005 This is a superb album by Polish Jazz veteran, saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with a great quintet which includes pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist, drummer Jerzy GlodFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. All the music, except for one standard, was composed by Namyslowski, who seems to be completely untouched by time, full of creative and performing powers and always at the edge of latest Jazz developments. It is his music, which is the true magic here, and although his performances as well as those of the other players are all excellent, the music is immediately recognizable as Polish Jazz, which is hardly surprising when coming from one of the Godfathers of the genre. It was always Namyslowski´s ability to create a perfect link between the Jazz tradition and Polish folklore, which is deeply embedded in his cultural background, which made him a model for a new breed of European Jazz players, those who would stand proudly and say that they can contribute something new and fresh to the already established tradition of American Jazz and make it their own. In retrospect this is another milestone recording in the long and glorious recorded legacy that Namyslowski managed to bestow upon us, and hopefully will be also enjoyed by future generations. A must!

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.28 POLSKIE RADIO 2060 (Barcode: 5907812245849) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1983 Released: 2017 This is the twenty-eighths installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The tracks presented here were recorded live in October 1983 during the twenty-fifth edition of Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw and present the quintet led by one of the Godfathers of Polish Jazz, saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, called Air ConditionFind albums by this artist, which also included pianist Wojciech GogolewskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marek BlizinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jan CichyFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. The quintet performs seven original compositions, all composed by Namyslowski. Namyslowski is one of the very few Polish Jazz musicians who have appeared consistently on the local scene since the 1950s and kept their music up to date over time, pioneering trends and new developments. Over the years his many groups featured the ever young talents of the heart and soul of the Polish Jazz community. This recording is a great document of that phenomenon, showing Namyslowski´s Air Condition group, which was active in the early 1980s, recorded several excellent albums and toured worldwide. Although the group changed its lineup quite often, it was always excellent. This particular lineup recorded only one studio album, which was only released in Greece, which makes this recording especially valuable. For Namyslowski´s many fans around the world and Polish Jazz enthusiasts this is an absolute must! The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its importance to the development of Jazz in Poland. Nevertheless this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

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

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.36 POLSKIE RADIO 2422-2423 (Barcode: 5907812247720) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1974 - 1995 Released: 2023 This is the thirty-sixth installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings of that period. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The music on this album presents radio recordings of live performances by one of Godfathers of Polish Jazz, saxophonist / composer / bandleader Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, who sadly departed recently (February 2022), paying tribute to his artistry. Namyslowski was active on the scene since the late 1950s and his music embraced diverse environments, playing Jazz in all its forms and idioms, between Traditional Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion. The 2CD album presents nineteen tracks recorded between 1974 and 1995 which are a wonderful collection spanning his various activities. Namyslowski composed all but one of these tracks. The first four tracks on CD1, recorded in 1974, feature a quintet with saxophonist / flautist Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist, pianist Wojciech KarolakFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel JarzebskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The next four tracks on CD1, recorded in 1975, feature a sextet with saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, Karolak, Jarzebski, drummer Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jerzy BartzFind albums by this artist. The first four tracks on CD2, recorded in 1992, feature a quartet with pianist Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The last seven tracks on CD2, recorded in 1995, feature a quintet with the same lineup as the quartet above, with the addition of trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist. The fact that five of the musicians playing on this album (Namyslowski, Muniak, Karolak, Szukalski and Wegehaupt) are no longer with us is a sad reminder of the phenomenon of the first generation of the Polish Jazz scene disappearing. The series, which was brought back to life after three years of absence, offers an upgraded packaging, which finally offers bi-lingual liner notes, fitting the importance of this music. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. Overall this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan should consider as a must.

Updated: 25/03/2023Posted: 25/03/2023

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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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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ THE LAST CONCERT POLONIA 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1991 Released: 1992 This is a brilliant album by veteran Polish saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, one of the pillars of modern Jazz in his country. A superb player and a gifted composer, Namyslowski first as a member of the Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist´s group and later as a leader of his numerous ensembles created excellent music and served as a model to generations of Jazz players in his country. This album, one of very few live recordings by Namyslowski, was captured at Warsaw´s Jazz Jamboree festival and features one of the strongest quartets Namyslowski ever led, with pianist Janusz SkowronFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Violinist Maciej StrzelczykFind albums by this artist joins the quartet on a couple of tunes. All seven compositions performed are by Namyslowski and portray his wonderful sense of melody, polyrhythmic approach and tendency to incorporate World Music elements in his music. Two of the tracks are over 10 minutes long, which allows plenty of space for extensive improvisations. I have no idea why this album is entitled "The Last ConcertFind albums with this title" (perhaps this was the last concert with this particular quartet?), as this certainly wasn´t Namyslowski´s last live performance and he´s still playing brilliantly twenty years later, to the delight to his many admirers and fans, as well as writing great music. For lovers of Polish Jazz, this is an absolute classic, which should be a part of any decent Jazz collection. Highly recommended!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ WINOBRANIE (POLISH JAZZ VOL.33) MUZA 933 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1973 Released: 2004 This album by Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist is considered by many as a great peak in his long career. His abilities as an improviser and his skills as a composer come together in order to create a perfect modern jazz recording. The 3 brass instruments (2 saxes and trombone) and the pianoless rhythm section all work in perfect unison with amazing interplay and scary solos chasing one after another. One can find of course influences by John ColtraneFind albums by this artist and Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist, but this is truly original in every sense. A masterpiece!

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI QUARTET (POLISH JAZZ VOL.06) MUZA 306 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1966 Polish saxophone giant Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist was an original member of the Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist Quintet and his international status as a jazz virtuoso is well established. Namyslowski plays in an astounding variety of styles, from melodic to free, always with dexterity, passion and superb timing. He is also a most gifted composer and his ability to incorporate Polish folk tunes into his modern jazz compositions is truly astounding. This album from 1966 is his first Polish recording, after a debut album recorded in UK a year earlier. All the compositions are originals and the performances brilliant. This was a true giant step in the development of the Polish Jazz scene.

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI / REMY FILIPOVITCH ~ GO! ALBUM 66919 (Barcode: 4022685201226) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 This is a recording by Polish Jazz veteran Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and his quartet: pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist, with the Lithuanian saxophonist Remy FilipovitchFind albums by this artist as a co-leader. They perform nine original compositions, six of which are by Namyslowski and the remaining three by Filipovitch. Although excellently played by all the musicians involved, the album brings little adventure to the listeners. Namyslowski´s compositions are brilliant, but they are not new and were recorded previously on other albums. The two saxophonists cooperate very little except for a few unisono statements of the themes, soloing separately and not playing against each other or soloing together or even exchanging licks. Therefore the whole idea of a double-sax front line seems to be missed completely here. Nevertheless this is still Namyslowski and a bunch of first-class players so the music sounds great and is a classic example of European modern mainstream Jazz at its best. With two saxophones up front the rhythm section gets naturally a bit less opportunity to shine, but Herdzin manages to squeeze in a few very nice piano solos. Walicki and Grzyb support the soloists steadfastly, as always. Perhaps not the strongest album in Namyslowski´s lifelong and legendary legacy, but then again nothing he should regret or be ashamed of. Polish Jazz fans will find this a pleasant addition to their collection.

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ZBIGNIEW NAMYSLOWSKI ~ 3 NIGHTS POLONIA 174/176 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 1999 This album by Polish Jazz Colossus saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist documents a live recording captured during three consecutive nights at the legendary Warsaw Jazz Club "Akwarium". Accompanied by his regular (at the time) quartet, with pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Olgierd WalickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz GrzybFind albums by this artist, as well as guest musicians: trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, accordionist Cezary PaciorekFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist, Namyslowski played a different program each night, which comprised entirely of his original compositions, twenty three of them in total. Although not intended as such, this recording is a sort of retrospective, both for Namyslowski the composer and Namyslowski the player. Approaching the age of sixty Namyslowski celebrated four decades of activity on the local and international scenes: recording some of the Polish Jazz milestone albums, grooming generations of Jazz musicians and playing countless concerts, an impressive record, which only very few other musicians share with him. Among the compositions performed one can find a few of his early tunes, going over thirty years back before the date of this recording, as well as some recently composed ones. The three nights seem to have quite a different character, although it´s difficult to guess if that was intended. The first night is all up-tempo tunes, performed by a septet with strong presence of the percussion, which spices the music with a Cuban feel. The second night is more modern mainstream, performed by a sextet and the last night is the most adventurous, with odd meters and World Music influenced compositions, which are often Namyslowski´s trademark. Overall the quality of the compositions and the performances are of course excellent. Namyslowski always knew how to pick up his group members, almost always from the ranks of one young generation after another. Walicki and Grzyb represent the youngest (at the time) generation and both prove to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the veterans. Herdzin, who played for several years with Namyslowski in the late 1990s, was still relatively unknown at the time (in the years to come his career was about to literally explode) and is the most interesting soloist on this album except the Boss of course. The guest players are all well known and their contributions are professional, but not very inspiring, except perhaps for Paciorek, who is so original that his playing is always fascinating. In the long discography by Namyslowski, this is perhaps not one of his milestone recordings, but in retrospect it definitely reflects his exceptional abilities as a player, composer and bandleader. The sound quality of these live recordings is spotless and has a warm aura and superb presence. This is a must have for the many Namyslowski fans and Polish Jazz buffs in general!

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SLOW ~ LIVE IN DRESDEN SLOWMUSIC 04 ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the 4th album (1st live) by Polish Jazz ensemble SlowFind albums by this artist (now Slow The BandFind albums by this artist), which comprises of guitarist Tomasz KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Leszek SzczerbaFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Krzysztof WerminskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist, percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz SobolakFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, eight of which are co-composed by Kaczmarczyk and Werminski and three are composed by Kaczmarczyk. The live recording offers excellent sound quality and a robust funky vibe. The music continues the same attitude the ensemble assumed from its very early stage, which is playing highly melodic, solidly composed, almost danceable and entertaining music, which does not pretend to be anything beyond what’s out there: a high quality entertainment, without compromising artistic values and avoiding pretentious assumptions. These are all excellent, professional and dedicated musicians, who want to bring to the audience some fun, relaxed music, which is a true pleasure to listen to. All three soloists offer first-rate soloing, and the guitar parts are certainly as good as those produced by some of the most famous international names. The rhythm section is also absolutely perfect for the job and Berny shows his amazing percussion technique, which is always breathtaking. Overall, this is an excellent piece of Jazz music from the easier side of the spectrum, which is surely accessible to a wide audience, and which is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy some great tunes without too much brain-hacking. Perhaps some Jazz snobs will, as usual, turn their long noses, but it’s them who are missing all the fun. In these depressing time, this is a true ray of sunshine!

Updated: 22/06/2024Posted: 22/06/2024

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SLOW ~ SONGS FOR EVERYONE V 008 (Barcode: 5903111377090) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by Polish Smooth Jazz ensemble SlowFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist / composer Tomasz KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / composer Krzysztof WerminskiFind albums by this artist. They are supported by bassist Kamil PelkaFind albums by this artist, drummer Marcin RakFind albums by this artist and several additional musicians, which include two female vocalists, a string quartet and others. Pawel KonikiewiczFind albums by this artist is in charge of the musical production. The album presents ten original compositions, four of which are songs with lyrics, all co-composed by the two leaders The music, as appropriate for the Smooth Jazz milieu, is based on catchy melodic tunes, perfectly executed by the crew, quite jazzy and yet not complicated enough to bring on a headache, in short music that, as the title suggests, can and should be enjoyed by everyone. The only "problem" with this album is that it is probably too "good" for the average Smooth Jazz listener. There is plenty of great musicianship on this album; the nice but not cheesy compositions, the elegant instrumental parts, the vocals and the jazzy arrangements; in short it is obvious that these people are good musicians who know exactly what they are doing. It is definitely a great example of how the easy side of the Jazz spectrum can offer quality entertainment and how unjustly Smooth Jazz is often belittled by critics with narrow horizons and closed minds. This music is meant to entertain people who like music but approach it on a less intellectual plane. There is absolutely nothing wrong with such attitude. I must admit that I had a great fun listening to this album, which is also superbly recorded and can be used as a great test device for your stereo system.

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SLOW ~ UNDER EVERCHANGING SKY SM 002 (Barcode: 5905068087008) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2020 - 2021 Released: 2022 This is the third album by Polish ensemble SlowFind albums by this artist, co-led by guitarist / composer Tomasz KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist and pianist Krzysztof WerminskiFind albums by this artist. The current lineup includes also saxophonist / flautist Leszek SzczerbaFind albums by this artist, bassist Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Kaczmarczyk. The album continues the path set by its two predecessors, offering a melody based Smooth Jazz / Fusion, which is perfectly executed by the ensemble. Some changes are noticeable, since this time the album is entirely instrumental, with more emphasis on the guitar, and of course the brilliant percussion work by Berny, which is immediately recognizable and highly effective. Slow cover an ungrateful territory on the Polish Jazz scene, as the kind of music they play is often trivialized by critics and social media, who are unable to distinguish between schmaltz and genuine Smooth Jazz, which is a legitimate sub-genre and often produces more rewarding music that other sub-genres preferred by the Jazz snobs. It takes real talent to compose a beautiful tune, and play it with taste and skill. Overall, this is a kind of album that is great fun to listen to, without burning too many cerebral cells, and which brings a smile on the listener’s face rather than push him into despair and misanthropy. Personally I respect the choices the musicians made, as long as they stand behind them honestly and consistently, which is true in this case. If you are looking for some good time, this is definitely an album to put on in the background.

Updated: 12/08/2022Posted: 12/08/2022

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SLOW IS THE NEW FAST ~ SLOW AMP 027 (Barcode: 662578831204) ~ NORWAY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Norwegian Jazz quintet Slow Is The New FastFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Lyder Ovreas RoedFind albums by this artist, violinist Hans Palsen KjorstadFind albums by this artist, pianist Bjorn-Even Bjarkli VerbekeFind albums by this artist, bassist Joel RingFind albums by this artist (from Sweden) and drummer Tore LjokelsoyFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Roed and one by Verbeke. The music is melodic, but open enough to allow complex improvising structures. It amalgamates many influences, like most of young European Jazz today, starting with the Jazz tradition but embracing Folklore and contemporary Classical trends. One of the compositions is dedicated to the famous Polish Classical composer Henryk GoreckiFind albums by this artist, which defines in a way the frame of mind this music was created in. The music is mostly low key and melancholic, but at all times absorbing and fascinating. The individual performances are all excellent, again as usual with the young European Jazz musicians. The use of violin, which is still quite rare today, influences the quintet general sound and atmosphere and is definitely a very interesting choice. But all three soloists deliver both interesting solo statements and first class collective playing. The rhythm section supports the music amicably, with the bass playing a more dominant role than the drums, which are mostly delicate and just right for this kind of music. Overall the album has a very ECMFind albums on this label-like sound and atmosphere (and I mean ECM in the seventies, when it was really creative and daring). This album is definitely a very impressive debut, full of inspiration and talent, which shows enormous potential for the future, as well as the strength of the young Norwegian Jazz scene, which keeps producing consistently great music in the last decade. I am already looking forward to the next album by this quintet.

Updated: 03/10/2018Posted: 03/10/2018

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JOANNA SLOWINSKA ~ ZIELNIK POLSKI ROZSTAJA 116 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is an album which presents a live recording of a very grand musical undertaking, which brings together vocalist Joanna SlowinskaFind albums by this artist, a well known Polish World Music singer, with a Polish Classical orchestra Sinfonietta CracoviaFind albums by this artist and a Polish Jazz quartet led by young and upcoming violinist Stanislaw SlowinskiFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Katarzyna PietrzkoFind albums by this artist, bassist Justyn MalodobryFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian OlszewskiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform twelve pieces, two of which are instrumentals and ten are songs featuring lyrics by Jan SlowinskiFind albums by this artist. In case you are wondering, Joanna and Jan are Stanislaw´s parents. Stanislaw Slowinski composed the music to eleven of these pieces and the last piece on the album was composed by Joanna Slowinska and arranged by Stanislaw. The album´s title ("Polish Herbarium"), the titles of the individual pieces and their subject matter clearly suggest that this is a concept album and the pieces are in fact a song cycle. The overall atmosphere, soaked in typical Polish melancholy, religious martyrology and solemn reflection is heavy and overbearing, and creates a piece of music that is definitely not easy to absorb or even listen to. The sound is mostly massive and daunting, often overdramatic and even cataclysmic, something which could easily be used as a horror movie soundtrack, rather than something listeners would chose to listen to voluntarily. The only piece, which is performed by just the vocalist and the Jazz quartet, is definitely the most coherent piece on the album. The music, although dominated by Classical influences, manages to amalgamate strong folkloristic themes and subtle Jazz sensitivity and shows talent and dedication by the composer and all the musicians involved. It seems Stanislaw Slowinski is trying to conquer the musical world a bit too aggressively and a bit prematurely, even for such talented young men as he is. It is worth to remember that less is often more, both in music and life in general. Having said all that, this is still definitely an unusual and ambitious album that deserves to be heard and appreciated. A little less intensity and drama next time should make everything just perfect.

Updated: 25/02/2017Posted: 25/02/2017

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STANISLAW SLOWINSKI ~ LANDSCAPES TOO EASY TO EXPLAIN HEVHETIA 0139 (Barcode: 8588005257978) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by a quintet led by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Stanislaw SlowinskiFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeter Zbigniew SzwajdychFind albums by this artist, pianist Katarzyna PietrzkoFind albums by this artist, bassist Justyn MalodobryFind albums by this artist and drummer Maksymilian OlszewskiFind albums by this artist. Together they perform seven original compositions, all by the leader. The music is an excellent example of modern Polish Jazz, which although melody based and well within the mainstream convention, manages to maintain a very high level of compositions and performances. It is soaked with typical Polish melancholy and Slavic melodic motifs, and of course focuses on the violin as the leading instrument, and as a result one can hardly find a more spiritually "Polish Jazz" album than this one. The pairing of the violin and the trumpet as the two lead instruments proves to be extremely effective and harmonically attuned, in spite of its rarity. As usual with the new generation of the Polish Jazz musicians, Slowinski, despite his young age, has already an impressive list of accomplishments to his credit, which includes leading / membership in several projects, including as diverse directions as Improvised Music on one hand and Classical Music on the other. This album, which sits, as already mentioned, comfortably within the mainstream Jazz idiom, presents yet another facet of Slowinski´s versatility and is primarily dedicated to presenting his compositions. But of course his performances on the violin are full of beautiful sensitivity and technical excellence. It is worth mentioning that Slowinski is yet another representative of the Polish Jazz Violin School, which enjoys an incredible renaissance in the last decade, and places Poland in the leading position as far as violin artistry is concerned in the Jazz field. He joins the ranks of many of his colleagues, who proudly continue the traditional role of the violin as one of the most expressive instruments available to mankind. The rest of the quintet members are all of course excellent performers as well. Szwajdych delivers melodic accompaniment and excellent solo parts, Pietrzko lays out the harmonic layer upon which the tunes progress and fills the gaps with her delicate but solid statements, and hopefully will play more solo parts on future recordings. The rhythm sections provides admirable and flawless support to the soloists, and plays always at the right levels to make the music a whole bigger that the sum of its parts. This is definitely a very impressive debut, which comes with a firm recommendation to follow these wonderful young people in their future endeavors. Well done indeed!

Updated: 30/12/2016Posted: 30/12/2016

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STANISLAW SLOWINSKI ~ VISIONS – VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.1 NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is the third album as a leader by young Polish Jazz violinist / composer Stanislaw SlowinskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with a Jazz septet comprising of musicians that took part in the recording of the two earlier albums: trumpeter Zbigniew SzwajdychFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / flautist Marta WajdzikFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Justyn MalodobryFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist, as well as the AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Marek MosFind albums by this artist. The music, recorded live, presents a violin concerto in three movements, and includes both the audio (CD) and video (DVD) version of the premiere performance of the concerto. The music is a typical romantic Classical concerto, incorporating melodic themes strongly based on Polish folkloristic influences, full of melancholy and beautiful lyricism. The Jazz and Classical elements are loosely integrated, which causes the music to move between the Classical and Jazz worlds rather than present a unified / amalgamated approach, with the solo violin parts serving as a bridge between the two worlds. As expected, the performances, both by the septet members and the string orchestra, are excellent from start to finish, as are the violin solo parts by Slowinski. He joins the ranks of the young Polish violin stars, which are constantly growing, building the new generation of the Polish Jazz Violin School. This ambitious undertaking is perhaps a tad too tamed overall, with Slowinski taking no risks and following 19th Century Classical Music conventions and mainstream Jazz patterns, whereas contemporary listeners probably expect a little more experimentation these days. Having said that, this album is a solid, well structured and beautifully performed piece of music, which can be enjoyed by a wide range of listeners, both from the Jazz and Classical Music circles. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 11/01/2023Posted: 20/02/2020

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STANISLAW SLOWINSKI ~ VISIONS (BETWEEN LOVE AND DEATH) HEVHETIA 0163 (Barcode: 8588005258265) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Stanislaw SlowinskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a sextet setting with two of the musicians who played on his debut: trumpeter Zbigniew SzwajdychFind albums by this artist and bassist Justyn MalodobryFind albums by this artist and three new players: guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist and drummer Dawid FortunaFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Joanna SlowinskaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, six of which were composed by Slowinski and one is a collective improvisation. The music is a continuation of the approach initiated by the debut, with major emphasis on the compositions, which have a suite-like structure, such that the entire album could be considered as one continuous piece of music. Although clearly melody based, the music allows individual freedom of expression and personal interpretation by the sextet members. The melodic themes are again mostly very lyrical and somewhat melancholic, but at the same time dynamic and multi-layered enough to keep the listener at his toes. As expected form the sextet´s lineup, which consists of some of the most prominent representatives of the young Polish Jazz scene, the individual contributions are all fabulous. Szwajdych is the romantic element, Mika the Fusion oriented vigorous voice and the leader takes the role of a charmer, with his violin seductively swirling around the basic melody lines. With these three front-line players sadly there is very little solo space left for Pluzek, who is an excellent player but is limited here mostly (except for one track) to the role of an accompanist, which of course he fulfills perfectly. The dynamic rhythm section is an integral part of the sextet and steers the soloists safely across the sometimes troubled waters of the tricky compositions. Overall this is an excellent sophomore album, which definitely stands up to the expectations aroused by the debut. The Polish Jazz violin school is proudly developing before our very eyes, which is a source of joy, and albums like this one confirm that Polish / European Jazz is doing well and manages to avoid stagnation. Well done indeed!

Updated: 01/02/2018Posted: 01/02/2018

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SO SLOW ~ W OTWARTE DLONIE POWIETRZE SYPIE GRUZ PRZEDSWITU AUDIO CAVE 2019/008 (Barcode: 5905669566797) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the fourth album by Polish Alternative Rock group So SlowFind albums by this artist, which includes vocalist Michal GlowackiFind albums by this artist, who is also in charge of electronics, guitarist Daniel KryjFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam StepienFind albums by this artist and drummer Arek LerchFind albums by this artist. The former bassist of the group, Lukasz LembasFind albums by this artist, played on three of the tracks, before he was replaced by Stepien. Jazz trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist played a solo on one of the tracks. The album presents five tracks, all collectively credited to the group´s members, with lyrics by Glowacki. The opening track is a short introduction and the remaining four tracks are extended pieces lasting on average about ten minutes each. Glowacki, Lembas and Lerch are also members of the Non Violent CommunicationFind albums by this artist quartet, which released its stunning debut album "ObserwacjeFind albums with this title" earlier this year (2019), and not surprisingly there are some musical parallels between these albums, although So Slow are definitely more Ambient / Electronic oriented and their music is dramatically less contents oriented, intended rather to serve as an imaginary soundtrack to whatever goes through the head of the listener at the time the music is playing. The electronics provide a steady "wall of sound" effect; the rhythm section supplies a steady pulsation, although attentive listening will allow the listener to hear many subtle variations. The guitar is the only source of melodic riffs, usually repeated continuously with subtle variations as well. The "vocals" are heard only well back in the background and serve more as a hint than real source of acoustic information. In total an atmosphere of mystery and tension prevails. One can only wonder how the album would have sounded if Jachna was a permanent member of the group and played for the entire duration of the music, but for the few minutes he does play here the music crosses into an entirely new dimension and becomes absolutely magical. The minimalist / monotonous background that this music is based on offers a possibility to the listener to enter a hypnotic state of total submission, which creates a unifying experience between the musicians and their audience. Personally I found it to be fascinating, but other listeners unable to "follow" might find this music eccentric and uninviting. Overall this is definitely a piece of music worth exploring and offers highly emotional, although seemingly minimalist scenery. Sadly I am not familiar with the group´s earlier recordings, which would have enabled me to offer some comments on the group´s musical path over time, but based just on just this limited glimpse, they are searching and exploring, which is already highly unusual and certainly commendable. Hoping to hear more soon!

Updated: 09/11/2019Posted: 09/11/2019

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