Record Reviews

PIOTR BUDNIAK ESSENTIAL GROUP ~ INTO THE LIFE SJ 022 (Barcode: 5912596066238) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz drummer / composer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist with his Essential GroupFind albums by this artist sextet, which also includes saxophonists Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and Jakub SkowronskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist; definitely some of the best young Polish Jazz lions. The album presents six original compositions (one repeated twice), all by Budniak. Perfectly executed and presenting superb compositions this album is an example of what modern young European Jazz is all about and it is a momentous step forward for Budniak as a composer and bandleader. The music is diverse, interesting, often unexpected and developing constantly. Although based on clearly defined melodic themes, it keeps evolving within each tune, changing moods and tempi, all to the delight of the listener. Although perhaps not intended as such, the albums sound like a continuous suite-like piece of music, which is perfectly coherent and feels like a complete statement. The sextet plays like a dream, at times sounding like a small Big Band, at other times like a Jazz-Rock ensemble, always perfectly in sync, balanced and cooperating towards a common goal. The individual statements are all perfect with the wonderfully structured solos chasing one another. The bass clarinet parts by Skowronski and the guitar parts by Mika are the "secret ingredients" which create the overall wonderful sonic aura, but everybody plays simply superbly. The rhythm section drives the ensemble like a Porsche engine, with sublime sensitivity, with the Big Bear Wykpisz being the maestro of melodic structures at the low end of the sonic spectrum. Budniak himself is a very delicate and considerate drummer, who keeps his rhythmic pulsation at a proper ensemble level not trying to be bossy. Of course Budniak deserves praise for his extraordinary compositions, which are the essence of this music. I must say that it has been quite a while since I heard an album´s length piece of music, which has absolutely no weak parts and keeps the listener at his toes for the entire duration. Absolutely brilliant stuff! Congratulations are in order to everybody involved and I highly recommend this album to all Jazz connoisseurs around the world as an example of what great music means these days. Life is too short for anything less than this!

Updated: 16/09/2017Posted: 16/09/2017

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PIOTR BUDNIAK ESSENTIAL GROUP ~ SIMPLE STORIES ABOUT HOPE AND WORRIES SOLITON 429 (Barcode: 5901571094298) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz drummer / composer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist and his sextet called Essential GroupFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeter Pawel PoludniakFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Michal SobierajskiFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by the leader, who also wrote the lyrics to the vocal piece. Budniak, who returned to playing Jazz after a brief encounter with Rock-Folk as member of the ensemble LemONFind albums by this artist, which stirred quite a sensation on the local music scene, explores the Jazz tradition but maintains a fresh perspective, especially as a composer. The resulting music is a mixture of contemporary Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion, with a dash of Pop & Rock, performed efficiently and elegantly by the sextet. The emphasis on melody and lyricism creates an overall atmosphere of relaxation and lack of tension, which can be a two edged sword. The young players, who are members of the sextet, are all upcoming heroes of the next generation of Polish Jazz, many of which have already shown their chops on other recording released in recent years. Mika is the most noticeable soloist by far and Wykpisz slowly emerges as a very promising bass player, who can literally hold a tune like an old pro. These two are definitely worth following with special attention. But all the other players, including the leader, are fine young talents, who will be heard and noticed in the future. The focus of this album is obviously on the compositions, and rightly so, as Budniak has definitely a lot to say in that department. All of his compositions here are nicely crafted and a pleasure to listen to. The only drawback of this music is that it lacks originality and passion to explore uncharted territory, but perhaps it´s unfair to ask for boldness at this stage. This is definitely an impressive debut effort, which should make all the participants proud of their achievements. I am looking forward to their sophomore album in order to follow their progress.

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PIOTR BUDNIAK ESSENTIAL GROUP ~ THE DAYS OF WINE AND NOISES NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the third album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist and his ensemble called Essential GroupFind albums by this artist, which on this album is a quintet and includes also saxophonist Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr NarajowskiFind albums by this artist and as guest Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live and presents five original compositions, all by the leader. Musically the album continues the path set by the earlier recordings by Budniak, presenting excellent compositions well within modern melodic mainstream, performed with vigor and technical proficiency. Lichtanski and Borowski have been with the ensemble since its inception and together with Budniak constitute the core of the group, which is obviously well solidified. The new young bassist has a very though pair of shoes to fit, filling in for the original member of the ensemble, the excellent Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist, but manages to catch up nicely. Doruzka is a very accomplished player and his role on this album proves his versatility and skill, again filling in for the original member of the ensemble Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist. Once again the focus of the album is on the excellent compositions by the leader, which present a diverse palette and a wonderful sense of melody and harmony. The quintet performs the music with grace and elegance, but without any extravagant solo excursions, which is all for the best. On the down side the sound quality of the live recording is rather problematic, which limits the pleasure of listening to the music. It is not entirely sure if this album is a formal release or just a promo release added to the Polish Jazz Forum magazine, but in any case sound quality is a crucial part of any recording and in this case it is simply not up to par with the quality of the music. Overall this is another injection of good Jazz compositions by Budniak and excellent playing by his ensemble, less formally packaged and recorded, but nevertheless very enjoyable.

Updated: 04/05/2018Posted: 04/05/2018

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YUMI ITO ~ YSLA ENJA 7831 (Barcode: 767522783124) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the fifth album by Polish / Japanese (resident in Switzerland) singer / songwriter Yumi ItoFind albums by this artist, one of the most exciting modern Jazz vocal discoveries in the last decade. The album was recorded in an intimate setting with Ito singing and playing keyboards with Polish bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and Spanish drummer Iago FernandezFind albums by this artist. Several other musicians guest on selected tracks, including Polish guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, who was her partner on her previous album. The album presents seven original songs, all composed by Ito, with six also featuring her lyrics and one being a wordless vocalese. The CD is lavishly packaged with a set of photographs and lyrics printed on a high-grade paper, as appropriate for a move to a major league of EnjaFind albums on this label Records – one of the most prestigious European labels. From the very first note of the album the listener is exposed to a magical aura of unique, delicate beauty, which last for the entire duration. The seven songs, although dominated by reflection and low-key introvert restrain, are quite different from each other and present the full creative power of Ito, who is able to write sublime melodies and tell a story, each very personal on one hand, and universal in its lyricism, on the other hand. The completely unique instrumental ornamentation, based primarily on the bass pulsations by Dworak, who does an amazing job here, and the dynamic, yet delicate drumming by Fernandez, with just some keyboard / synthesizer layers of sound here and there. This leaves the center stage for Ito’s vocal acrobatics, which are absolutely stunning but at the same time she can also be as delicate and romantic as a blossoming orchard. The music on this album is probably the farthest removed from what is considered as Jazz in Ito’s career. Still full of typical Jazzy undercurrents and rhythmic patterns, the central role of the bass, as well as the vocal improvisations, it also freely adopts other sources, mostly from Folklore and Pop, sometimes sounding somewhat similar to Kate BushFind albums by this artist at her absolutely best – which I mean as a great compliment here. Overall, this is a stunning piece of music, full of sublime musicality and exploding with talent, which in fact is hardly surprising in view of Ito’s earlier work and potential. The only small drawback is that the music lasts under forty minutes, and being so great one might have wished for so much more. But let’s be patient and wait for the next album by this young Artist, all made out of talent. Hugs and congratulations my Dear Lady!

Updated: 15/02/2023Posted: 15/02/2023

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YUMI ITO / SZYMON MIKA ~ EKUAL HEVHETIA 0217 (Barcode: 8588005258982) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by the duo comprising of Polish - Japanese (resident in Switzerland) vocalist / songwriter Yumi ItoFind albums by this artist and Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original songs (with lyrics in English) written or co-written by the duo members. Both Ito and Mika have already several earlier recordings to their credit and their work together goes back a while, but this is the first opportunity to get exposed to their intimate work as a duo, which is highly unique and stunningly beautiful. The vocal parts and the guitar work are completely idiosyncratic, and combined together manage to create an aura of mysticism and tranquility combined, which is nothing less than mesmerizing. Ito uses the entire range of the vocal Jazz spectrum, moving between lyrics and wordless vocalese with ease and elegance. Mika is an absolute wizard when touching his guitar strings, creating a semi-acoustic / semi-electric tonality, which is unconventional and highly effective. Despite the relative “nakedness” of this music, the result sparks with sounds and ideas, which leaves the listener dazed by the combined effect of just two “instruments”. It is the intimacy of their work as a duo that reflects the individual strengths of the two young musicians, proving that they indeed are two of a perfect pair. Overall, this is a superb album, perhaps not really surprising to those, who had the opportunity to listen to the duo live, like yours truly, but the “sterility” of the studio environment proves to work in favor of this particular effort. It is obvious that this pair has a lot more to offer in the future, so I am already impatiently waiting for their post-Covid-19 work, as this album definitely leaves everybody with a desire to hear more. Thanks for the beautiful music!

Updated: 02/11/2021Posted: 02/11/2021

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JULIA KANIA ~ HERE SJ 026 (Barcode: 5912596066283) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Polish singer / songwriter Julia KaniaFind albums by this artist recorded with excellent young Polish Jazz players: pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam TadelFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist, the above members of Kania´s quartet, and guest guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original songs composed and written by Kania, eight of which have lyrics in English and one in Polish. The music is only marginally Jazz oriented and offers a collection of melodic themes, performed in a Jazzy atmosphere by the instrumentalists. Musically the entire album stays on the same level emotionally and contains no surprises. The songs are well structured, but stay mostly within a similar gloomy atmosphere, which offers no excitement or empathy. The instrumental layer is highly professional and sleek, and shows the individual talents of the players, with solid and skillful solos by Borowski and Mika, whose electric guitar work takes this album into the Alternative Rock idiom. Kania´s vocals are very limited, staying always within a safe range of her vocal abilities. She sticks to singing the lyrics and uses none of the infinite vocal possibilities available today, which results in this album being pretty monotonous. She sounds like most Polish Pop singers, who to me all sound completely alike. The use of English lyrics is also very problematic, as the lyrics are difficult to comprehend due to her pronunciation and accent. As usual in such circumstances, the sole song with Polish lyrics works better than the rest of the album. Of course all of the above are my personal views and I wish Kania a lot of success in the future. Sadly this album is not my cup of tea.

Updated: 02/03/2018Posted: 02/03/2018

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PRZEMEK KLECZKOWSKI ~ TIME HEVHETIA 0161 (Barcode: 8588005258241) ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish singer / songwriter Przemek KleczkowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with excellent young Polish Jazz instrumentalists: guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Franciszek RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist, organist Grzegorz DowgialloFind albums by this artist, flautist Kasia Gacek-DudaFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech SzwugierFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine songs, seven of which are originals (assumably as this is not stated on the album´s artwork) by Kleczkowski (with lyrics in Polish and English), one is a Polish song by veteran saxophonist / composer Jerzy MatuskiewiczFind albums by this artist and another is a Classic Rock standard by the DoorsFind albums by this artist. The songs have very little to do with Jazz per se, being mostly Pop, Rock and Folk oriented, but the instrumental arrangements have a distinct Jazz touch to them. The melodies are very melancholic and low key, which after a while gets to be a bit monotonic. Several excellent instrumental solos save the day, but without them the album would be quite difficult to listen to all the way through. Using lyrics in English is, as always, a bad mistake and the songs featuring them suffer from pretty problematic delivery. Kleczkowski offers a very limited vocal palette and workshop, simply delivering the lyrics and not using any other vocal tools. As a result his singing belongs more to the Alternative Pop idiom than to Jazz and is definitely an acquired taste. The album is full of good intentions, which sadly do not come to fruition. Overall this is a nice Pop album, with Jazzy arrangements and melancholic songs that are easily forgettable.

Updated: 11/08/2018Posted: 11/08/2018

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JOACHIM MENCEL ~ ARTISENA FOR TUNE 0134 (Barcode: 5906395808458) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2018 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Joachim MencelFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with violinist Weronika PluteckaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel WszolekFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. It presents a cycle of eight original compositions, all by Mencel, based on Polish Folklore dances. Originally Mencel composed and arranged these compositions for a Jazz nonet, but over time as a result of his process of mastering the hurdy-gurdy, he changed the concept and recorded these compositions in a Jazz-World Fusion approach with the above quintet. Polish Folklore seems to be and endless source of inspiration to Polish Jazz musicians and the numerous Jazz-World Fusion projects that appear on the Polish Jazz scene like mushrooms after the rain are ample proof of this phenomenon. One can reflect on the early days of Polish Jazz, during the Socialist regime, when Jazz was often presented as Folk music of the oppressed Afro-American community in order to get clearance from the Cultural censorship to organize Jazz events, and later on Jazz musicians had to include Polish Folklore in their compositions in order to be allowed to record an album (same methods applied also to Polish contemporary Classical Music and Rock). In retrospect perhaps these despicable political manipulations achieved an after effect, which is now coming to a most successful fruition out of good will this time. The music on this album is very melodic and basically mainstream oriented, with the Folklore influences being rather subtle and present most vividly in the rhythmic layer of the compositions. Listeners familiar with Polish Folk dances like Polonaise, Oberek, Mazurka or Kujawiak will probably recognize the patterns, but to those less well-versed in the matter they will become simply a part of the music as a whole. Nevertheless the overall effect is very impressive and aesthetically pleasing. The Jazz facet of the music comes forward during the guitar and piano solo parts and the excellent work by the rhythm section, behind the front players. The individual performances of the quintet members are all top notch, although Mika simply steals the show with his guitar magic. Mencel is an accomplished pianist but his soloing is rather reserved, which emphasizes the guitar parts even more. The violin and hurdy-gurdy stay mostly in the background and are merely an ambient coloring to the rest of the music. Overall this is a very pleasant, highly melodic album, which flows gently from one tune to the next, with the Folklore impact being mostly secondary. Great guitar solos spice the proceedings and keep the music on a Jazzy path, to the delight of the many guitar enthusiasts. Definitely on the lighter side of the spectrum, this music is accessible to almost all music connoisseurs, who like cross-genre explorations without too many cerebral obstacles.

Updated: 08/05/2018Posted: 08/05/2018

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SZYMON MIKA ~ ATTEMPTS NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the third album as a leader and the debut solo album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer / bandleader Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, nine of which are original compositions by Mika and one is by Polish flautist / composer Kasia Gacek-DudaFind albums by this artist. Mika established himself as one of the most talented young Polish Jazz musicians and during the last decade participated in recording a fabulous string of Jazz albums, both as a leader / co-leader and sideman. His superb guitar playing is more or less a fact that nobody can ignore by now and this album serves as a summary of sorts, concentrating on his compositional skills and his specific minimalist guitar sound, which is frugal, but wonderfully expressive. Although intensely improvised, the music is somewhat distanced form the strict Jazz approach and flirts with other genres, mostly Classical and World Music oriented allusions. The resulting music flows gently from one tune to another, eschewing flashy displays of technique or virtuosity and rather concentrating on the essence of sharing a musical moment with the listener, offering a gently balanced mixture of melody and improvisation. Overall, this is a mature, self-assured statement by a musician, who is full of talent and vision, pursuing the “less is more” approach very effectively. Guitar enthusiasts, not only and perhaps even primarily non-Jazz oriented, should find this album fascinating, as it manages to inspire and excite, and most importantly offer some highly original guitar techniques and musical visions, that sadly are pretty rare these days. A wonderful piece of serene, soothing, inspiring music, that is so badly needed in these difficult times!

Updated: 11/06/2022Posted: 11/06/2022

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SZYMON MIKA ~ TOGETHERNESS HEVHETIA 0175 (Barcode: 8588005258425) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, recorded, same as the debut album, in an intimate trio format with bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and Israeli drummer Ziv RavitzFind albums by this artist. Three guest musicians appear on selected tracks: vocalist Basia DerlakFind albums by this artist, who also contributed the lyrics to the four songs she appears on, Joachim MencelFind albums by this artist who plays the hurdy-gurdy on three tracks and pianist Mateusz PalkaFind albums by this artist, who plays on five tracks. The album presents eleven original compositions, all by Mika. It album was beautifully recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Maciej StachFind albums by this artist. The music on this album is decidedly more diverse and shows a more searching attitude than the excellent debut album, which is very encouraging and promising development. There are obvious World Music influences present in this music, but also openness and noticeable reach beyond mainstream Jazz, which was still the core of the debut album. Mucha and Ravitz are ideal partners in this quest for new identity, both of them being unconventional in their approach to music and exceptionally gifted, providing exquisite support to Mika´s lead parts and building a solid, but adventurous, rhythmic layer behind him. The four vocal tracks are also quite surprising and show another facet of Mika´s talent. Derlak sings in Polish, which is already a good starting point, and handles the relatively complex music with ease and obvious flair. Her Folksy mannerisms are a nice addition to the Jazz setting and I´d love to hear more of her in such setting. The tracks with Mencel and Palka, when the ensemble becomes a quintet (or even sextet with the addition of vocals) are somewhat different form the trio tracks, offering more conventional melody lines and ambience and adding to the overall diversity and fluency of the album as a whole. Overall the album is a clear and elegant step forward for Mika in many respects: as a composer, a bandleader and a guitarist. He joins the ranks of the new generation of Polish Jazz musicians, who are gradually taking over the center of the stage both in Poland and in Europe. Kudos are also due to the Slovak HevhetiaFind albums on this label label, which is rapidly becoming one of the most important, open minded and active record labels in Europe and manages to expand its roster of artist to include many of the young generation´s top artists, including neighbors from across the Tatra Mountains, and support them loyally. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 11/08/2018Posted: 11/08/2018

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SZYMON MIKA ~ UNSEEN HEVHETIA 0122 (Barcode: 8588005257770) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, one of the prominent representatives of the young generation of the Polish Jazz scene. It was recorded in an intimate trio setting with bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and Israeli drummer Ziv RavitzFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks with five original compositions by Mika (the opening and closing track are versions of the title track) and three standards. The fact that Mika is an exceptionally gifted guitarist becomes immediately apparent and the excellent level of musicianship continues until the very last notes. The music is kept well within the Modern mainstream, with no attempts to venture into the Free territory. The themes are clearly melodic and Mika plays brilliantly and although he improvises extensively he makes an effort to stay within the boundaries. This might be limiting in a long range, but luckily his partners contribute some amazingly supportive and elaborate musical structures, which carry the music forward at all times and sound truly refreshing. Mucha is also a superb player and his solid bass lines provide a safe foundation for the trio to stretch out. Ravitz is by now one of the top young World drummers and his prolific recording career proves that he is very much in demand, which is fully justified. His contributions on this album are an example of what inventive contemporary Jazz drumming is all about. Overall this is a beautiful piece of Jazz music, which all connoisseurs of the genre should enjoy immensely, "guitar heaven" for those listeners who love the sound of guitar and a strong example of how mainstream Jazz can be intelligent and aesthetically perfect. Wholeheartedly recommended! For Hi-Fi enthusiasts, this album has superb sound quality and one of the nicest, roundest guitar sounds I have heard in a long time – a true feast for the ears!

Updated: 22/04/2016Posted: 22/04/2016

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ORGAN SPOT ~ OITAGO SJ 083 (Barcode: 5905489721086) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz trio Organ SpotFind albums by this artist, released following a twelve years’ gap, led by organist / composer Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist with guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist guests on several tracks. The album presents eight tracks, three composed by Mika, two by Galas, one co-composed by them both and two are standards. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz idiom, with strong Blues influence, but since the Hammond organ is my all-time favorite instrument, and Galas is a true Master of the Hammond organ, nothing could keep me happier than another album by this splendid trio. Mika is a fabulous guitarist and Maslowski keeps time splendidly and creatively, so these three musicians don’t need any help to create a full-sounding band. Kaletka is a welcome, but not essential companion. The original compositions are all splendid, as is the sound and recording, which basically means that for me this is an instant balm on my old bones, which keeps me perfectly happy, without expecting anything more that the soothing sound of the organ and the great music. I admire Galas for sticking with the Hammond tradition, not trying to re-invent the instrument, or make it anything that it is not. Respecting the tradition and keeping it alive is everything one can ask for in this case. Overall, this is another excellent album by Galas and the trio, which is an instant gratification for every Hammond lover of the planet. Anybody who loves the Hammond Masters, both Jazz and Jazz-Rock oriented (see Brian AugerFind albums by this artist), will be in seventh heaven.

Updated: 20/03/2025Posted: 20/03/2025

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ORGAN SPOT ~ ORGAN SPOT SJ 006 (Barcode: 5902596066055) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 The Hammond B-3 Organ is one of my all time favorite musical instruments, with endless reminiscences overflowing my mind every time the unique sound starts buzzing in the air. Scores of superb albums were recorded using the B-3 over the years, not only in Jazz but also in Rock of course, and hundreds of keyboardists used the instrument over the years, which in time achieved a legendary status. In addition, the Hammond B-3 / guitar cooperation (in duos and trios mostly) has a fascinating tradition in Jazz from way back in the 1950s, which is still very much alive and kicking today. Therefore listening to this album was quite an emotional journey for me. Organ SpotFind albums by this artist is a trio comprising of three young Polish Jazz musicians: organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartek StaromiejskiFind albums by this artist. The album consists of seven tunes, five of which are Jazz standards and two are originals, composed one each by Mika and Galas. Not surprisingly the album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by the studio owner and himself a fellow Hammond "brother in arms" Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. The wonderful sound quality and ambience is one of the key factors which makes this album such a sweet gem, as Studio Tokarnia has a wonderful ability to create a truly "retro" sound, which resembles classic Jazz recordings for such legendary labels as Blue NoteFind albums on this label. Watch out for the worn-out LP gap between the tracks in one case, which gives a hint as to the "retro" intensions herein. The performances by all three trio members are spotless and incredibly well balanced. There are no ego trips here and they all play together respectfully listening to each other and supporting each other. Although the organ is obviously the center of attention on this album, the listeners should definitely pay attention to the incredible guitar parts, which are truly invigorating. Some great guitar players must be smiling in Heaven hearing this stuff. Musically this album is not looking for innovation or breaking new ground; it´s all about keeping a wonderful tradition (sonically, stylistically and aesthetically) alive, and doing it in a fresh and interesting way. This album is every inch as good as any similar music produced anywhere else, which speaks for itself as far as the talents and abilities of these young musicians are concerned. Having respect for the tradition, studying and preserving it, are not self-understood these days and are definitely something to be praised and appreciated. Overall this is as close to a perfect mainstream Jazz album as it gets; it is honest, well played, sounds great and most Jazz connoisseurs can enjoy it in full. Definitely a most impressive debut!

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MATEUSZ PALKA / SZYMON MIKA ~ POPYT SJ 011 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz quartet co led by pianist Mateusz PalkaFind albums by this artist and guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, with bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. It presents six original compositions, four by Palka and two by Mika, and one standard. Stylistically the quartet seems to continue the mainstream Jazz tradition, which crystallized in America in the 1960s and was captured on classic Jazz recordings by labels like Blue Note and numerous others. The album´s ambience and overall sound character is very similar to what was created in that milieu at that period of time and automatically brings on waves of nostalgia. The excellent original compositions, all very melodic, clearly structured and swinging rhythmically are ideally suited for creating that kind musical environment. Personally I think that a more free approach, which the ensemble utilizes on the last track on the album, should be a pointer to their future path, especially in view of how well they manage to handle it here. The individual performances are all superbly executed, way beyond what one might expect form such young musicians, but in today´s reality that fact is almost universally true; musicians mature faster and reach their peak as performers much earlier in their careers. The quartet works very well as a unit surprisingly because these four young musicians are so different from each other. Palka is obviously the instigator of many ideas and wishes to say as much as possible in a given time frame, whereas Mika is an island of tranquility and a king of "cool", playing exactly what is needed at a given moment, with obvious flair and beautiful "old fashioned" tone, which sounds simply marvelous. Wykpisz is a brilliant bassist, with incredible feel for time and melody, and keeps the entire ensemble in check, which allows Maslowski to be all over the place and fill the blanks (or rather intervals) with his pulsating ornamentations. This is definitely a solid and promising debut album by musicians who are surely going places on the Polish Jazz scene and beyond in years to come. Well done indeed!

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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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MATEUSZ SOBIECHOWSKI ~ VITAL MUSIC CHALLENGE 73461 (Barcode: 608917346121) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz quintet led by pianist / composer Mateusz SobiechowskiFind albums by this artist with saxophonist Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam TadelFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist, all representatives of the excellent young Polish Jazz generation. The album presents nine pieces, eight of which are original compositions by Sobiechowski and one is a standard. The album was released by the prestigious Dutch label ChallengeFind albums on this label Records, which recently entered the Polish Jazz realm. The recording was engineered my Maciej StachFind albums by this artist and offers a superb sound quality. The music is typical contemporary Polish / European mainstream Jazz, based on excellent compositions and performed with elegance and passion. Most of the themes are low key, full of characteristic Polish melancholy, which seems to be omnipresent on the majority of Polish Jazz recordings. The compositions are excellently structured, diverse and interesting enough to produce a fascinating continuity which keeps the listener on his toes. The performances are also top notch, obviously highly professional, but more importantly heartfelt, artistically inclined and highly aesthetic. All three front line players offer excellent soloing and the rhythm section does a perfect job all the way through, being supportive but not obtrusive. Personally I find the contributions by Mika to be slightly more focused and inspired than those of his peers, but that said, and as already stated, everybody plays splendidly. Sobiechowski solos relatively sparingly for a leader, which is much respected, as it contributes to the overall quintet´s team spirit and creates a coherent ensemble statement. Overall this is a very impressive debut, which offers both superb compositions and elegant execution, which would not shame veteran Jazz musicians anywhere on this planet. It is another manifestation of the strength of the Polish Jazz scene and its continuous development, which is now being recognized beyond the country´s borders. Warmly recommended to Jazz connoisseurs the world over!

Updated: 17/10/2018Posted: 17/10/2018

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TOMASZ WENDT ~ DAILY THINGS SJ 072 (Barcode: 5905489720041) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the third album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen original compositions, all by the leader. The music was recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usual splendid sound quality. The music on this album is quite different from his earlier recordings, putting the composition in the epicenter. The thirteen relatively short tracks present a series of wonderfully weaved melodies, each and every one of which is a little gem, and they all radiate beautiful melodic coherence and heartfelt romanticism soaked in melancholy. Thanks to this approach the listener is exposed to a massive influx of themes, which is more than double than what one finds on an average Jazz recording emphasizing the performance rather than the composition. But of course the delicate and intimate performances on this album are also absolutely marvelous, focusing on the saxophone, but also prominently featuring the superb guitar work by Mika and the excellent support of the rhythm section, which shines throughout the entire duration of the album. Wendt made a very intelligent decision with his choice of the musicians participating on this recording, each a great Master of his instrument, but also an amicable member of the quartet sound. Together they create an unusual and highly effective Jazz album. There is no doubt that with this album Wendt enters the “grown up” league of the Polish Jazz scene, which he fully deserves, following years of hard working apprenticeship and study of the idiom. I had the pleasure of following his progress over the years and its always satisfying to see a musician grow and achieve success in time. Overall, this is mature and highly satisfying album by Wendt, full of great music and marvelous performances by him and his companions, which offers universal beauty of the Jazz idiom and should be highly appreciated by every Jazz lover the world over. Congrats!

Updated: 29/03/2023Posted: 29/03/2023

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PIOTR WYLEZOL / SZYMON MIKA ~ LOUD SILENCE ART EVOLUTION (Barcode: 5903819630039) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by a duo of two prominent Polish Jazz musicians, pianist / composer Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist and guitarist / composer Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, which the two worked on during the depressing time of the Covid pandemic. The album presents seven tracks, two original compositions by Wylezol, three original compositions by Mika and two standards. The album offers excellent sound quality, which is essential in order to enjoy this delicate music. The album is a wonderful example of the “Art of the Duo” idiom, full of beautiful original music, sensitive arrangements of the standards and truly great performances. The minimalist setting allows for every little nuance of the music to audible and emphasizes the excellent balance achieved here, with each and every note exactly in the right place. Both Wylezol and Mika are among the finest Polish Jazz musicians today, which is immediately apparent, from the first note to the very last. This album is all about mutual understanding, respect and cooperation. The constant exchanges between a soloist and an accompanist flow naturally one after another. The incredible feel of melody and harmony displayed here is so uplifting, that when the music is over, one longs for more – “loud silence” indeed! Overall, this is a superb display of both individual talents and teamwork by two first class Jazz musicians, which is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. With egos aside and mutual attention at the helm, these guys just play their hearts out, and who could ask for anything more (except perhaps for more duo albums in the future). Completely unpretentious, heartfelt music at its best, like balm to our wounded souls – thank you my friends for this gift of music!

Updated: 19/01/2023Posted: 19/01/2023

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IDA ZALEWSKA ~ STORYTELLING HEVHETIA 0118 (Barcode: 8588005257725) ~ POLAND ~ Blues Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Polish vocalist / songwriter Ida ZalewskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a quartet comprising of pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, who also arranged all the songs, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Damian NiewinskiFind albums by this artist, all of them representatives of the young generation of the Polish Jazz scene. The album presents ten original songs, six of which were co-composed by Pluzek and Zalewska, three are by trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist and one is by pianist Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist. Zalewska wrote the lyrics to seven of the songs and Joanna MajorkiewiczFind albums by this artist to the remaining three; five of songs have Polish lyrics and the other five have English lyrics. Although the album is somewhat jazzed up, mostly by the presence of the Jazz musicians, Zalewska is body and soul oozing the Blues, with her deep, sensual voice and vocal mannerisms all originating in the Blues idiom. There is none of the typical Polish lyrical melancholy and Slavic mysticism here (well almost); it is all one or another form of the Blues. Pluzek, as the composer, arranger and main accompanist took the bull by its horns and produced a diverse but consisted body of music, which is built around Zalewska´s capabilities. The instrumental work on this album is relatively modest, and except for Pluzek, who carries most of the weight on his shoulders, the rest of the quartet is rather subdued. Mika plays a few very nice solos, but on a Blues album one would expect a much more dominant guitar presence. The rhythm section has little more to do than to keep time, which they do pretty straightforwardly. Pluzek contributes some nice solo parts and serves the role of the accompanist amicably. Overall, although not really my cup of gumbo, this album is definitely something fans of Soul drenched American Blues will enjoy a lot. The biggest problem this album presents to me is with the lyrics: the English lyrics are fine but Zalewska´s pronunciation is a bit off, the Polish lyrics sound really unnatural in this environment and don´t fit the music very well. I guess Blues was not meant to be sung in Polish. Anyway these are minor points and I guess this music can do very well live, much better than in a sterile studio environment.

Updated: 28/02/2016Posted: 28/02/2016

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AGA ZARYAN ~ SARA WARNER MUSIC POLAND 5054197336003 (Barcode: 5054197336003) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture”. I often ponder about this maxim, especially in cases when I write about music, which is particularly close to my heart, overwhelmingly emotional and with personal association, and as such possibly clouding my judgment, which some people think should be “objective”. I have been aware of this project from its very conception, being close to its creators on so many physical and metaphysical levels. Anna CiciszwiliFind albums by this artist, who wondrously translated the poems by American poetess Sara TeasdaleFind albums by this artist into Polish, recently published in a book, became practically a Family member, when the miracle of human contact joined together her and my Families forever. Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist, whom I admire since so many years, is a symbol of Polish Jazz in its most Artistic revelation and such a wonderful Human being. Andrzej RejmanFind albums by this artist, who inspired this project and composed one of the melodies, is an old acquaintance. Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, who is a grandson of my dear friend Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, who in turn was an inspiration to me in my early days of writing about Jazz, and who is one of the most talented young guitarists and composers around, as is Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, who’s career I have been following closely since his first days on the stage, and who is also a superb songweaver. In short, everything connected with this album is extremely personal to me. The poetry of Teasdale, deeply lyrical and often mysterious, deserves a serious study and admiration, and her life, tragically ended by suicide, is also highly fascinating. The fact that she was the first winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry speaks volumes about her talent, but during the century following her death her life’s work was largely forgotten, which makes this album especially important. The album presents twelve songs, based on Teasdale’s poems, in one case featuring a Polish translation and the rest sung in English. The music was written mostly by Doruzka and Mika, with one song by Rejman and three by Zaryan in cooperation with Doruzka and Mika. The entire instrumental accompaniment is created solely by the two guitarists, which of course is uniquely original and striking as a musical concept. The music completely eschews all attempts of classification by accepted genre genealogy, with obvious Jazz lineage, but at the same time a completely unique amalgam of stylistic heritage. The sublime work of the guitar duo, which puts the vocals up there at the very front of the stage, and yet supports the singer most effectively, is a true revelation. The constant role changing between the guitarists, shifting the focus between accompaniment and soloing, is breathtakingly beautiful and intelligent at the same time. The harmonizing and role-sharing is a great example of the “Art of the Duo”, even if the duo consists of two musicians playing the same instrument and appears in “supporting” role only. Zaryan is completely at her element here. Being a romantic at heart, she fits Teasdale’s poetry expressionism perfectly, weather she sings the lyrics or just improvised vocalese. Her identification with the underlying messages of the poetic values is as impeccable as one might have wished for. Although this is not her first encounter with the Jazz & Poetry idiom, it seems that this time her personal intimate involvement with the text goes way beyond that, which is expected, perhaps somewhat motivated by her own recent personal experiences. Thank you, my Friends, for the gift of music! Overall, this is a milestone album, which bears unique approach to treating poetry within the Jazz milieu, focusing on the Art of delivery and a conceptual triumph in a minimalist setting. The poetry itself is deeply emotional, almost hunting, and the execution nothing short of miraculous, which of course happens all too rarely. The album grows on the listener with each listening session, expanding the intimacy as experienced within a developing love affair. This is definitely a paradise for the hopeless Romantics, whatever the price might be.

Updated: 23/11/2022Posted: 23/11/2022

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