Record Reviews

KASIA KADLUBOWSKA / DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ TRANSIENT DUX 1221 (Barcode: 5902547012216) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2012 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish marimba player / composer Kasia KadlubowskaFind albums by this artist recorded in a duo format with renown Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, two of which are original compositions (one each) by Kadlubowska and Bukowski and the rest are by contemporary Classical composers like Terry RileyFind albums by this artist, Philip GlassFind albums by this artist, Steve ReichFind albums by this artist, Arvo PartFind albums by this artist, Eric SatieFind albums by this artist and American marimba player / composer Paul SmadbeckFind albums by this artist. As the names of the composers suggest, the music is mostly contemporary Classical Music, with belongs to the Minimal Music idiom. Although most of the music was not originally written for marimba or vibraphone, it was arranged and transcribed for these instruments by Kadlubowska and Bukowski. Marimba and vibraphone, although both percussion instruments, are of course capable of playing melody and harmony, which means that the music offers a lot of melodic content, kept within the limitations of Minimal Music, which calls for slowly developing themes and cyclic repetition. It can be quite demanding on the listener, who is not a priori a fan of the genre, but it is great for relaxation and meditation, in addition to its strictly musical values. Both Kadlubowska and Bukowski play with incredible feeling and obvious virtuosity, and despite the intrinsic lethargy of the music, the albums offers a diversified listening experience to open-minded listeners. Minimal Music has its fans around the world and enjoyed a peak of popularity during the New Age explosion between the 1970s and 1990s, but a steady interest in it remains in the Classical field over the years. Bukowski’s appearance on this album, which is rather unexpected since his main field of activity if Jazz, proves his diversity and well schooling, as well as highly aesthetic approach to music in general. The two original composition stand proudly shoulder to shoulder with the well-known Classical material, adding another level of credibility to this album. I have no idea why it took seven years for this album to arrive on my operating table, but as usual better late than never, as it is definitely worth exploring and a great fun to listen to.

Updated: 23/05/2021Posted: 23/05/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HUBERT ZEMLER & AUKSO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA ~ TOXIC POEM AUDIO CAVE 2024/004 (Barcode: 5908298549803) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2024 This is an album by Polish percussionist / composer Hubert ZemlerFind albums by this artist, recorded with the AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Marek MosFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, which are parts of the suite, which gives the album its title. The music lasts for just slightly over thirty minutes. The suite is basically an Avant-Garde piece, which floats between contemporary Classical Music and Improvised Music, although most of the music is strictly composed and features only limited improvised elements. The music is minimalist, fragmented and offers a difficult to follow continuity, which appeals probably a limited audience, even among the most adventurous listeners. Zemler plays a wide range of percussion instruments, with the orchestra creating a background layer of Ambient, repetitive themes, stylistically resembling the minimal music by composers like Steve ReichFind albums by this artist, Terry RileyFind albums by this artist and others, highly popular in the 1960s, but almost completely abandoned since. Overall, as much as I admire Zemler’s originality and non-conformism over the years, I find this album somewhat less interesting or innovative than his usual work. Of course, Polish music needs adventurers and pioneers like Zemler, so I thank him for this piece of his creativity.

Updated: 12/07/2024Posted: 09/07/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

WACLAW ZIMPEL ~ LINES INSTANT CLASSIC 042 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the first solo album by veteran Polish Jazz / Avant-Garde clarinetist / composer Waclaw ZimpelFind albums by this artist. He plays different clarinets and keyboards and performs six pieces, five of which are his original compositions and one is a renaissance cannon. The music is almost entirely written, as opposed to Zimpel´s usual modus operandi, which primarily involves improvisation. The affiliation with minimal music is felt very strongly and familiar patterns appearing in the works of American composers like La Monte YoungFind albums by this artist, Terry RileyFind albums by this artist, Steve ReichFind albums by this artist or Philip GlassFind albums by this artist can be also heard here. This does not imply of course that Zimpel uses ideas created by others, but the resemblance, both aesthetically and sonorically, is very audible. The music is also very contemplative and monotonic, which of course is rather difficult for listeners not familiar with this musical idiom. Zimpel´s usage of several overdubbed instruments to create an almost orchestral effect is the most interesting aspect of this album, which is fully explored in the title track. All of the tracks use the same technique of overdubbing, which is of course possible due to the fact that the music is written and not spontaneously improvised. One has to respect Zimpel for his consistency and desire to create his own unique music, even if this means that his audience will be rather limited. Also the support he gets from small independent labels, like Instant ClassicFind albums on this label which released this album, is very significant to his career and development. Overall this is an album intended to be listened to by connoisseurs of minimal music or people looking for adventurous and unusually sounding recordings. With certain open-mindedness this music can bring many surprisingly pleasing musical moments amid its weirdness.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 02/01/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

WACLAW ZIMPEL TO TU ORCHESTRA ~ NATURE MOVES FOR TUNE 0036 (Barcode: 5902768701340) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz clarinetist / composer / bandleader Waclaw ZimpelFind albums by this artist and his nonet called To Tu OrchestraFind albums by this artist (the name is probably a wink in the direction of the legendary Warsaw club Pardon, To Tu), which includes saxophonist Pawel PostaremczakFind albums by this artist, flautist Dominik StrycharskiFind albums by this artist, hurdy-gurdy player Maciej CierlinskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Jacek KitaFind albums by this artist, bassists Wojciech TraczykFind albums by this artist and Mike MajkowskiFind albums by this artist and drummers Pawel SzpuraFind albums by this artist and Hubert ZemlerFind albums by this artist. The album includes six original compositions, arranged into three mini suites, of one, three and two parts respectively. The music is in many respects a continuation of Zimpel´s earlier work with the group Hera, which combines elements of Avant-Garde, Jazz and contemporary Classical music with World Music from all over the world. The strongest influence on this album is minimal music pioneered decades earlier by Philip GlassFind albums by this artist, Steve ReichFind albums by this artist, Terry RileyFind albums by this artist and others, which Zimpel embraces, most evidently in the first of the three mini suites but in fact throughout the entire album. The repeated structures returning cyclically, typical in minimal music, which are normally produced by electronic or acoustic orchestral patterns, are created here by World Music patterns, like Balinese gamelan music, slowly changing and intensifying until they reach a massive sound, but do not reach an expected crescendo. Minimalism continues to be present in the rest of the compositions, simply changing the geographic colorization, using Japanese, Middle Eastern and other folkloristic influences. Zimpel is undoubtedly a master of atmosphere and building tension, which accompany his earlier work as well, but come to a fruition and perfection on this album. The large ensemble allows him to "paint" much denser multilayered vistas, which move freely in the World Music universe. The music does not actually get into Jazzy improvisation until the very last piece on the album, so listeners anticipating that facet of Zimpel´s music are in for a disappointment. What emerges here is a new type of minimal music which amalgamates the earlier forms of minimalism with World Music, creating a World Minimal Music. Zimpel evidently had a great fun creating this music and it is also very listenable, but the fundamental question as to what Zimpel wanted to achieve remains open, at least in my case. I have not been overwhelmed neither by the aesthetics nor by the musical result, which after all simply states nihil novi sub sole. But it is very well done for sure!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend