Record Reviews

SCANDINAVIAN ART ENSEMBLE / TOMASZ STANKO ~ THE COPENHAGEN SESSION VOL.1 APRIL 141 (Barcode: 5709498114125) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2025 This is a sensational album, which documents a meeting between a group of Scandinavian / Polish young Jazz musicians, called Scandinavian Art EnsembleFind albums by this artist, with the legendary Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, this is the first part of the music recorded during this session. The lineup includes Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Artur TuznikFind albums by this artist and drummer Radek WoskoFind albums by this artist, Danish saxophonist Thomas HaasFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Martin FabriciusFind albums by this artist and bassist Richard AnderssonFind albums by this artist, Finnish vocalist Johanna Elina Katarina SulkunenFind albums by this artist and Islandic trumpeter Snorri SigurdarsonFind albums by this artist, and of course Stanko, which makes it a nonet. The album presents five tracks, all original compositions, one each by Sigurdarson, Fabricius, Sulkunen, Stanko and Andersson. The sound quality of the music is exceptional. The music, although based on composed themes, offers both wonderful ensemble performances and plenty of individual improvisations, all with space allowing free and expanded improvisations by the participants. All the individual performances are excellent, which is hardly surprising considering the explosion of young talents on the European Jazz scene, both in Poland and Scandinavia, as well as the excellent level of academic music education. The mixture of the Polish Jazz lyricism and melancholy and the Scandinavian “Jazz Noir” proves itself very fruitful since the early 1960s, when Polish Jazz musicians started to appear on the Northern scene, including of course Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. Stanko also collaborated with many Scandinavian musicians during his career, and this album is a natural continuation of this phenomenon. Although there are three trumpeters present here, Jazz aficionados will have no trouble to single out Stanko’s contributions, although since the appearance of Tomasz Dabrowski on the Polish scene, I have repeatedly singled him out as a natural successor of Stanko’s unique style and sound, and this album beautifully exemplifies their similarities, already a decade ago. Overall, this is a brilliant album in every respect, but also a phenomenal addition to the recorded legacy of Tomasz Stanko and Polish Jazz as well of course. I can’t wait to hear the promised second volume of this session, which promises more of these incredible goodies. For Polish Jazz / Stanko buffs, this is of course an absolute / unconditional must have!

Updated: 16/09/2025Posted: 16/09/2025

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