Record Reviews

3D: DABROWSKI DAVIS DRURY ~ VERMILION TREE FOR TUNE 0030 (Barcode: 5902768701302) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by a trio comprised of Polish Jazz trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist with American (Canadian born) female pianist Kris DavisFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrew DruryFind albums by this artist. All three are considered as some of the most gifted young generation Jazz performers / composers today. The album includes fourteen relatively short pieces, eight of which are co-credited to the entire trio; five are composed by Dabrowski and one by Drury. The music is mostly entirely freely improvised, devoid of any melodic or harmonic structure and tends to develop almost accidentally, sometimes at a painfully slow paste. Not all three musicians play along at all times, which results in solo, duo and trio passages being played interchangeably. Dambrowski´s playing, which dominates these proceedings, tends occasionally to produce melodic lines, especially in the tunes he is credited for as composer, but those moments are definitely less frequent. Improvised Music´s most important quality is the level of cooperation, interplay and telepathic understanding between the participants, which in my opinion this album sadly lacks most of the time. I have been following Dambrowski´s career and his recordings for several years and it seems to me that he is not entirely comfortable musically in this setting. He is after all a melodic player, even when he allows a lot freedom and space in his performances, and a completely free / improvised environment is limiting is abilities. This is the reason why he sounds absolutely best when the plays melodic themes, which are the true pinnacle of this session. During the freely improvised accidental passages the trio sounds disjoined and aesthetically barren. As much as I love Free Jazz / Improvised Music, this album somehow leaves me mostly cold, in spite of my continuous support for Dabrowski´s efforts. His other recordings flirting with improvised music were all superb, so perhaps it´s a result of his partners on this particular session, or juts a matter of circumstance. After all, this particular album is just one of many recordings by Dabrowski, most of which are absolutely splendid efforts, and many others will surely follow, so I´ll let bygones be bygones.

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ESBEN BRANDT ~ CONSTANTS GATEWAY 02 (Barcode: 5707471035689) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the second album by the young Danish Jazz guitarist / composer Esben BrandtFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with Polish (resident in Denmark) trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Anders ChristensenFind albums by this artist and drummer RJ MillerFind albums by this artist. The album features eight original compositions, all by Brandt. The music is very open-minded mixture of European lyricism and Scandinavian melancholy, with a set of slowly developing melodic themes, which are vehicles for the quartet members to stretch out and improvise quite freely. Obviously Brandt and Dabrowski are featured as the main soloist, often playing side by side soloing simultaneously or accompany each other while one of them takes the lead. They are very compatible as musical partners and there is an obvious interaction happening between them at all times, which is one of the many highlights of this album. The rhythm section serves as a perfect vehicle for the quartet, keeping the music together and moving it forward, especially during the unhurried passages, yet staying respectfully in the background. Although Brandt is wonderful player, it is Dabrowski who performs most of the magical parts on this album, which is hardly surprising considering his record during the last few years. His unique tone and characteristic phrasing are by now shaping as his personal, easily recognizable trademark, which for a musician of his age is truly remarkable. But the album is a wonderful group effort and the teamwork present is my all means remarkable. Overall this is a superb example of modern European Jazz, which combines tradition with freedom and sophistication, pushing the boundaries of what we recognize as Jazz music both in composition and performance. As usual the young age of the people involved is symbolic of the fact that the music´s future is passed from generation to generation, regardless of the cruel reality and the world´s indifference. A truly commendable job, worth of praise and admiration!

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI ~ S-O-L-O: 30TH BIRTHDAY / 30 CONCERTS/ 30 CITIES BAREFOOT 049 (Barcode: 5707471044834) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 As the title suggests this is a solo trumpet album by Polish Jazz trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, which celebrates his 30th Birthday and a world tour which spanned thirty cities in twelve countries over a period of six months. The music, recorded in a Copenhagen church, consists of ten original compositions, all by Dabrowski, entitles simply Part I to Part X. Although only thirty years old, Dabrowski de facto dominates the Polish Jazz scene (and the Danish Jazz scene as well, since he lives in Denmark) as one of the top trumpet players in Europe, as documented by his prolific recording activity. Stylistically Dabrowski continues the tradition of Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, who forty years earlier was also in his early thirties and emerged as a dominating figure on the European Jazz scene. Dabrowski shares several mannerisms, which characterize Stanko´s stylistic approach, but he managed very early on to establish his own language and modernize his technique, which sets him clearly apart from Stanko´s role model. Solo albums are of course the most difficult pieces of Art to defend their validity and artistic value. The nakedness of a single instrument and the obvious limitations which such performance creates are often insurmountable, balanced only by the limitless freedom they offer. Especially so in the case of a solo trumpet performance, which due to the lack of harmonic support makes the task of improvisation even more difficult. Listening to this album blows all the theories apart, since Dabrowski obviously is no way limited by these circumstances, au contraire he proves that the difficulties simply stimulate him to try harder and go further. I have always been an admirer of people, who dare, and this album, above all proves that daring and challenging what we know is the key to create incredible pieces of art and push the envelopes of our aesthetics even further into new realms of creativity. Such eye-openers (or ear-openers in this case) happen only really rarely, but when they do they have a tremendous impact on our perception of music. It is very difficult to estimate how much of this creative eruption is "premeditated" (i.e. planned ahead and rationally constructed) and how much is simply inspired by "higher powers" of talent and genius. Regardless of what the answer might be, this is an extraordinary piece of music, which has very few equals. There is no doubt that this is one of the most important trumpet albums recorded in the last few years, something that belongs to the Pantheon of Jazz trumpet as an incredible example of human ingenuity and limitless power of expression. Perhaps it is good that albums like that one are so rare and far between; this makes their impact even more impressive and lets us keep things in the right perspective. Absolutely essential!

Updated: 12/05/2016Posted: 12/05/2016

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI ~ TOM TRIO ILK 193 (Barcode: 5706274003871) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the debut album as a leader by the young (28) and upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, resident in Denmark since several years. In spite of his young age Dabrowski managed to gain quite a lot of experience and exposure, playing with many Polish and later Danish Jazz musicians and recording an impressive number of albums as co-leader and sideman. This album was recorded in the difficult trumpet trio format, with Danish bassist Nils Bo DavidsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Anders MogensenFind albums by this artist. The music comprises of eleven original compositions, all by the leader. The overall atmosphere of this recording is close to European Free Jazz, although the melodic motifs in most of the compositions are clearer than in most Free from recordings. The resulting music is an interesting amalgam of typical Polish melancholy and lyricism combined with the wonderful Scandinavian virtuosity of stress-free improvisation. The music is interesting, intelligent and provides an ideal vehicle for the trio to express themselves and demonstrate their individual and collective skills. The balance between the melodic content and the freedom, both harmonic and rhythmic, proves that these are both bright and experienced players. The album is very much an ensemble effort, as all three musicians contribute equally to the result as a whole. Dabrowski plays some very tasty trumpet phrases, which are clearly influenced by the Godfather of Polish Jazz trumpet Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, but manage to eschew any attempt of copying the Master, forming an individual voice, which will surely further develop in the future. The bassist is spectacular and provides not only the necessary balance and camaraderie to the other trio members, but actually drives the music forward. The level of his technical proficiency and more importantly incredible Jazz feeling is simply astounding. The drummer completes the trio, playing rather less than more, which is a commendable quality, adding some imaginative icing to the cake, staying away from boring rhythmic patterns and skillfully adding his delicate touches. The album is definitely a first class achievement and an excellent debut effort, which does justice to the leader´s abilities and hopefully will serve as an introduction to a long and successful recording career. It is unquestionably one of the best debut albums I heard this year. Now that Dabrowski got me hooked, I will eagerly await his next effort. In the meantime I can only hope that this album gets to as many listeners worldwide, as it truly deserves. Brilliant stuff!

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI ~ TOMASZ DABROWSKI & THE INDIVIDUAL BEINGS APRIL 093 (Barcode: 5709498109329) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by Polish (resident in Denmark) trumpeter / composer Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and his new septet called Individual BeingsFind albums by this artist, which also includes Danish saxophonist Fredrik LundinFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Knut FinsrudFind albums by this artist and Polish saxophonist Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist, pianist Grzegorz TarwidFind albums by this artist, bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan MlynarskiFind albums by this artist. Several members of the septet utilize also electronic. The album presents eight tracks, all by the leader. The music is a brilliant example of modern European Jazz, which borders on Avant-Garde, and witch beautifully combines tradition with modernism, melody with freedom and diverse rhythmic approaches, creating a hypnotic journey through the listener’s mind. Dabrowski plays homage to the iconic Polish trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist on several layers, playing on an instrument that belonged to him, coining the name of the ensemble from a Stanko quote from his biography, but most importantly by being inspired by Stanko’s approach to Jazz composition in his most interesting period between 1970s and 1990s. The septet members are all highly experienced musicians with impressive individual careers under their belts, which of course enables a high density of imagination and expression, which the septet is able to use while creating this music. The constantly changing dialogues and individual soloing are all superbly weaved and the music engulfs the listener completely. The double drums provide the possibility of polyrhythmic time scales and multifocal pulsations, which are highly unusual and fascinating. Although everything Dabrowski recorded in the last ten years or so since he arrived on the scene – an astounding number of forty albums as a leader / co-leader and sideman – he still manages to innovate and reinvent himself time after time, constantly pushing the boundaries. He always seems to be able to inspire his fellow musicians to follow him in his quests. Overall, this is a stunning, highly unusual album full of wonderful music, atmospheric tension and beautiful aesthetics, which hold the listener mesmerized for the duration. It also serves as a great example of contemporary international musical collaboration which borderless Europe can offer to its young generation. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 16/02/2022Posted: 16/02/2022

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI / FREE4ARTS ~ SIX MONTHS AND TEN DROPS BAREFOOT 041 (Barcode: 5707471040270) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 Polish (resident in Denmark) Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist is one of the leading upcoming European musicians and his prolific, almost feverish output manages to astound his fans time after time. This album follows suit several albums already released this year and as always maintains incredible quality. This time Dabrowski leads a quartet, which besides him includes three leading young Danish Jazz musicians: baritone saxophonist Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, pianist Jacob AnderskovFind albums by this artist and drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Dabrowski. This music is more free oriented than Dabrowski´s explorations so far, which seems to be a continuing development in his work. It is therefore further away from mainstream Jazz and explores other areas, like contemporary Chamber music and improvised Avant-Garde, although based on written themes. The entire scheme of using the quartet is also very unusual, as there is no conventional "soloists vs. rhythm section" setting at all, only an ensemble performance by the entire quartet as one body. The exclusion of the bass is also very significant, where some of the typical bass parts are taken over by the baritone sax and others by the percussion. This music is only as good as the level of cooperation achieved by the quartet members and therefore the interplay is its central ingredient. Luckily for Dabrowski these three musicians belong to the same "school of thought" like himself, enabling the quartet to become a unity. There is no doubt that this music points towards a new epoch of Jazz, which becomes an amalgam of all forms of improvised music, those previously experienced and those still undiscovered. Dabrowski and his generation are brave pioneers of these uncharted territories and it´s a great experience to bear witness while this music keeps unfolding in real time in Copenhagen, Warsaw, Berlin and other parts of Europe. This is quite difficult music for most people, no doubt about it, but it is also deeply rewarding and intellectually challenging. It is spearheaded by a relatively tiny group of musicians and has a limited audience. Nevertheless it encompasses perhaps some of the most important musical developments happening in a world which is rapidly turning away from challenge and cultural progress, and therefore becomes even more significant. It is in these young people that we entrust our Cultural feature.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI / FREE4ARTS ~ WHEN I COME ACROSS AUDIO CAVE 2019/009 (Barcode: 5905669566810) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2019 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and his Danish quartet Free4ArtsFind albums by this artist, which also includes baritone saxophonist Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist and this time guitarist Simon KrebsFind albums by this artist, who replaced pianist Jacob AnderskovFind albums by this artist that played on the debut album. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Dabrowski. In many respects this album continues the direction set by the debut, which moves completely into Avant-Garde Jazz, far away from traditional, melody based Jazz, flirting also with contemporary Chamber Music explorations. The music offers some melodic motifs but those often get hidden to a less experienced listener by the group improvisations. Without the presence of bass and now also the piano, there is almost no conventional harmony and rhythmic continuity, which leaves it to the listener to connect the dots. The sharp sound of the guitar is initially somewhat weird and takes time to get used to within the otherwise acoustic environment. The music is mostly very subdued and delicate, low profile and quietly streaming, with long passages that involve solos, duets and trios and rarely the entire quartet. It seems Dabrowski is trying to re-define the known parameters of Jazz and Improvised Music, stretching the existing limits of these idioms. He uses the trumpet to produce a plethora of unusual sound effects that often do not resemble the conventional sound of the instrument. The same can be said about Christiansen, who again proves to be one of the most creative European Jazz drummers, moving on a completely unique acoustic parallax, again re-defining the role of drums in contemporary music. Unexpectedly, it is the guitar which turns out to be the most conventional factor of this music, playing at times long melodic strings of notes. In many respects this is the boldest and most adventurous project Dabrowski headed in the decade-long period of his artistic development. It is completely uncompromising and boldly unconventional, against all odds. Hopefully the music, despite its estranged exterior, will find sympathetic, open-minded audience in time. Avant-Garde was never a rewarding and smooth career choice and Dabrowski and his cohorts deserve our respect for pushing the boundaries time and again.

Updated: 04/10/2019Posted: 04/10/2019

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI / JACEK MAZURKIEWICZ ~ BASEMENT MUSIC MULTIKULTI MPI 040 (Barcode: 5907529223543) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2015 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the Polish Improvised Music duo comprising of trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Jacek MazurkiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven compositions, all co-credited to both participants. Both Dabrowski and Mazurkiewicz are very prolific musicians who released quite a few albums on various labels, and it is a bit difficult to follow their rich output, especially in view of the incredible number of albums released on the Polish scene year after year. Mazurkiewicz released a couple of excellent albums with another young Polish trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist, so playing with a trumpet is certainly not unfamiliar to him. Dabrowski, who recorded dozens of albums in many different musical environments, proved that he can handle virtually anything. Therefore it is not surprising that their collaboration on this album works smoothly and effectively. As with all Improvised Music the most important test is if the music makes sense in recorded form. Improvised Music almost always makes some kind of sense live, as it is able to express the mutual relationship between the musicians and the listeners in the audience, but when captured on record it has to make sense to a random listener, who does not hear the musicians playing live and the sound captured on the album is his only source of cerebral information. Thanks to the incredible versatility of Dabrowski, who can create a myriad of sounds and moods on his trumpet, and the clever usage of electronics Mazurkiewicz employs in addition to his imaginative bass playing, this music works in its stand-alone recorded version and constitutes an interesting aesthetic experience to the listener, presenting a very varied and fascinating musical adventure. Of course a priori this music appeals to a tiny minority within the minority of Jazz listeners, who are open minded enough to even try and listen to Improvised Music to start with. One has to admire the musicians who consistently tread on this treacherous path against all odds, disregarding popular trends and often facing open animosity not only from ignorant listeners, but even from other musicians. Admittedly not for everybody, this album offers some fascinating Improvised Music, which is as good as Improvised Music gets. Certainly worth investigating!

Updated: 17/04/2019Posted: 17/04/2019

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI / TYSHAWN SOREY DUO ~ STEPS FOR TUNE 0005 (Barcode: 5902768701050) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 The trumpet / drums duos have been a source of several milestone Jazz collaborations and recordings in the past and this challenging format stimulated the duo members to reach new musical heights and discover previously untraveled paths. This album is another example of this format, this time by two young musicians originating seemingly from two different cultures and born thousands of miles apart: the Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist (age 28) and the American drummer / composer Tyshawn SoreyFind albums by this artist (age 32). The album was recorded in New York and comprises of ten original compositions, all by Dabrowski. The music is all about freedom, but remains beautifully confined within defined structures, both melodically and rhythmically. The themes and improvisations stated by the trumpet go perfectly hand in hand with the rhythmic patterns and polyrhythmic excursions produced by the drum set. The duo format is, a priori, extremely difficult as far as managing a balance between the two participants, especially for the entire duration of an album, but this is one of the most well balanced duo albums ever recorded. Dabrowski and Sorey simply float along each other like a pair of lovers in perfect emotional harmony. It is difficult to estimate how much of this was pre-arranged and rehearsed and how much is spontaneous, but considering that it was all recorded in one session, the unity and cooperation are simply stunning. The individual statements by the two players are also first rate. Dabrowski is steadily climbing to the very top of Polish Jazz trumpet player´s league, being incredibly prolific as a composer and polishing his virtuosity as a player. His versatility is also quite incredible, considering the different settings and stylistic areas he was involved with in the relatively short span of his career. Sorey, who already established his position as one of the most interesting young generation players in the US, displays his masterly technique but above all his wonderful musicality and sense of melody. These two lions are definitely part of the Jazz future, proving again that geography and nationality have absolutely no meaning when artistry prevails. Music connoisseurs around the world should find this album worthy their attention for many reasons: the rarity of the setting, the excellence of the performances and the honesty and elegance that this project radiates to the listener. Hopefully this meeting of souls will take place again sometime in the future with similar results. The album was released by the excellent new Polish For TuneFind albums on this label label, which presents not only specific aesthetics as far as musical choices are concerned, but also a unified graphic design, all in the best tradition of European Jazz labels. This album also features liner notes by my friend and colleague Maciej NowotnyFind albums by this artist, which are informative and well written. A true gem!

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TOMASZ DABROWSKI / TOM TRIO ~ RADICAL MOVES FOR TUNE 0045 (Barcode: 5902768701517) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the second album by the Tom TrioFind albums by this artist, led by Polish (resident in Denmark) Jazz trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and including Danish bassist Nils Bo DavidsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Anders MogensenFind albums by this artist. The music consists of ten original compositions, all by Dabrowski, and it was recorded at the fabulous Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with excellent sonic results. Contrary to the album´s ominous title, this album does not offer any radical developments as such, and is consistent with the path Dabrowski follows since a few years to achieve his personal voice as a trumpeter and composer, which has been quite remarkable. There is no doubt that he is today not only one of the top Polish Jazz trumpeters, but also one of top European trumpeters, a position he earned by numerous recordings in stylistically diverse setups, always delivering a top notch contribution. Musically Dabrowski seems to be most comfortable in the "organized Free" environment, when his statements have a solid melodic / harmonic basis underneath, which allows him to stretch his improvisations with flare and passion. The decision to present his music in the intimate trio setting is probably motivated by the fact that the trio allows the most concise ensemble solution enabling the closest interplay possible between the participants. This music is totally dependent on mutual exchange and support and would fail to achieve anything if such complete synthesis did not happen. Fortunately it does happen, from start to finish, elevating the music to a highly aesthetic plane. In spite of the nakedness of the trio setting, the overall effect of the trio is so eventful and intense, that it creates an illusion of a much larger ensemble at work. The role of the rhythm section in this type of music is radically different from the traditional position, which is to support the leader harmonically and rhythmically without getting involved with his solo parts. The music presented here is fully co-created by all three musicians, on equal footing. Dabrowski is naturally the most distinctive voice, playing the lead instrument, but everything that is happening in parallel to his playing as equally important each and very step of the way. People familiar with Dabrowski´s music are used by now to the incredible high standards he sets for himself, pushing them ever forward. This album is another step in the right direction, displaying signs of maturity and reflection rather than youthful enthusiasm. This is perhaps the most contemplative music he ever attempted, offering new vistas of his inner self as composer and performer. Of course music of such complexity and emotional weight requires attentive and often repetitive listening to be fully absorbed and appreciated. Connoisseurs of modern Free Form, but coherent Jazz will find this music fully and beautifully rewarding.

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RICCARDO DEL FRA ~ MOVING PEOPLE CRISTAL 276 ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by veteran Italian (resident in France) bassist / composer Riccardo Del FraFind albums by this artist, who leads an international sextet, which includes Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, German saxophonist Jan PraxFind albums by this artist, French saxophonist Remi FoxFind albums by this artist and pianist Carl-Henri MorissetFind albums by this artist and finally American drummer Jason BrownFind albums by this artist. American guitarist Kurt RosenwinkelFind albums by this artist appears as a special guest. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Del Fra. The music is mainstream, beautifully melodic contemporary Jazz, lyrical and melancholic, but at the same time full of zest and superb compositions. Contrary to the initial impression the music gets quite complex and unexpected at times, with broken themes and odd meters, but at the same time never loses focus or coherence. As a result the music flows swiftly, completely absorbing the listener and the album seems to be over very quickly. The relatively short tracks and their diversity also add to this effect. The album is first and foremost an exceptional display of Del Fra´s compositions. The musicianship is superb throughout, with every note played being just the right one at the right time. All these musicians, who represent different cultural backgrounds and age groups, are able to cooperate splendidly, creating a delicate mesh of sounds and harmonies. Listeners familiar with the work of Dabrowski, who is usually associated with a more Avant-Garde Jazz activity, will be definitely surprised by his mellow contributions here, which are of course as delightful as everything else he ever did. Rosenwinkel is not, in my opinion, the ideal addition to the sextet, as his playing is way more Fusion oriented and electric than the (mostly acoustic) music itself or the stylistics of the rest of the musicians and his long guitar synthesizer solos frankly sound a bit out of place, as much "attractive" as they are. But of course he is a very able instrumentalist. Overall this is an excellent album from start to finish, with strong compositions and exquisite performances, which should delight Jazz connoisseurs the world over.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 23/02/2019

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FIIL FREE ~ EVERYTHING IS A TRANSLATION FILL FREE 0916 (Barcode: 5707471047866) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Danish Jazz pianist / composer Lars FiilFind albums by this artist, this time recorded with an international septet called Fiil FreeFind albums by this artist, which features also Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Swedish guitarist Henrik OlssonFind albums by this artist and four Danish musicians: saxophonist Henrik Pultz MelbyeFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Martin FabriciusFind albums by this artist, bassist Casper Nyvang RaskFind albums by this artist and drummer Bjorn HeebollFind albums by this artist. Together they perform five original compositions, all by Fiil. The music is a typical European Free Jazz / Improvised Music endeavor, which in spite of its many degrees of freedom is wonderfully well composed, organized, structured and played, presenting a challenging yet coherent listening experience. The individual compositions develop slowly, starting with single notes or chords, gradually increasing in intensity and complexity, taking the listener on a ride along the process of its development. All the participants contribute their personal input, playing solo passages, which often are very different from typical Jazz solos, but play in fact a similar role. These young musicians are amongst the finest European improvisers and can be heard on many other recordings. This particular setting is actually very minimalistic and there is little place to show the individual skills in a very expressive way, but this minimalism pushes the players to their limits and makes them to reinvent their performing techniques. Dabrowski, as usual, plays some stunning passages, proving again that his diversity and talent know no borders, but as already said earlier, this album is not about individual statements, but deals with collective improvisation and cooperative performance. One of the pieces starts off with the septet playing a swinging Bebop tune, which has a wonderful small Big Band feel about it, but of course it soon disintegrates into Free Form collective improvisation, which is sort of decomposing the initial structured statement, only to return to it at the very end. There are many such wonderful surprises as the music progresses and when it finally ends, one is definitely left with a wish for more. Overall this album is another proof that the young European Improvising scene is alive and kicking like never before, creating a melting pot of influences between Scandinavian, East and West European cultures, forging a strong Jazz Culture, which hopefully will last for a long time and keep developing in the process. Not to be missed by any Free Jazz fans anywhere in the world!

Updated: 17/10/2016Posted: 17/10/2016

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FIIL FREE ~ UNDER OVERFLADEN FIIL FREE 0320 ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the second album by the international septet Fiil FreeFind albums by this artist led by Danish pianist / composer Lars FiilFind albums by this artist and including Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Danish saxophonist Henrik Pultz MelbyeFind albums by this artist, Swedish guitarist Henrik OlssonFind albums by this artist and three additional Danish musicians: vibraphonist Martin FabriciusFind albums by this artist, bassist Casper Nyvang RaskFind albums by this artist and drummer Bjorn HeebollFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Fiil. Musically the album follows the pattern set up by the debut, offering well structured compositions, which are performed with an open attitude of group improvisation, collectively achieving a well organized Free Form, what might be considered as an oxymoron, but works splendidly in practice. The music tenders a typical Scandinavian melancholy and spacey atmosphere, but is full of interesting concepts and the compositions present together a diverse palette of ideas and moods. The sound moves smoothly between intimate and quiet passages and powerful, almost orchestral statements. Obviously this kind of music is heavily dependent on the individual abilities of the participating musicians, and Fiil is lucky to have collected a wonderful group of highly skilled instrumentalists, who are able to offer both splendid individual statements and impressive collective improvisations of the highest level. In many respects this album offers a model for contemporary European Free Jazz, which concentrates on the attempt to combine individual freedom of expression with collective performance, a balance that is quite difficult to achieve in any Artistic endeavor. Fiil and his cohorts manage to get the best out of this specific idiom. And deserve particular credit, especially in view of the fact that they not only managed to repeat the formula but even improved it. Overall this is a brilliant sophomore effort, which proves that the debut was not just a "lucky strike" and offers a clear conceptual approach, which is promising and will be hopefully explored further. For European Free Jazz connoisseurs this is an absolute must!

Updated: 07/05/2020Posted: 07/05/2020

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MACIEJ FORTUNA ~ JAZZ FM 021 (Barcode: 5903240365180) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 - 2016 Released: 2016 This album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist finds him returning to the trio setting, which was his favorite format during the early days of his career a few years earlier. The trio includes bassist Jakub MielcarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Frank ParkerFind albums by this artist, both musicians that Fortuna played with earlier on. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Fortuna. These compositions are all rather concise and as a result the entire album lasts only slightly above half an hour, which really means in today´s standards that it is an EP rather than a full album. The music is up to the usual Fortuna´s high class, presenting modern acoustic Jazz with little touches of electronics. The melodies are very melancholic and even somber, displaying the typical Polish Jazz tendency towards sustained tension and long lingering notes. Fortuna performs these tunes masterfully and is supported amicably by the rhythm section, which adds additional layers in parallel to the trumpet notes floating loftily above. Fortuna is a master of the trade, capable of creating atmospheric pieces full of beauty and suspense. His somewhat distorted tone makes things interesting and shows him experimenting while searching for new ways to express his Art. His prolific recording activity presents a vide scope of stylistic diversity, which is quite unique. The Polish Jazz trumpet triumvirate, which includes Fortuna, Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist, is an unprecedented phenomenon in the Jazz world. Such amount of talent and ingenuity, held by just three relatively young Master players is a clear testimony as to the vitality and unprecedented strength of the Polish Jazz scene in the last decade, especially in view of the fact that similar triumvirates could be named for other instruments. Getting an album by Fortuna is a completely risk-free deal as far as Jazz connoisseurs are concerned, and this one is no different. Although short and concise, this is a powerful statement, which should be listened to by all Polish Jazz and trumpet fans anywhere in the world.

Updated: 24/05/2016Posted: 24/05/2016

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FUSK ~ ABSURD ENTHUSIASM WHYPLAYJAZZ 060 (Barcode: 4250459992609) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the fifth album by International Jazz quartet FUSKFind albums by this artist, led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, with Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, German clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Christiansen, recorded “live” in the studio. This album celebrates 15 years of the quartet’s existence and is released five years after the previous album “The Jig Is UpFind albums with this title” from 2018. The music continues pretty much where it was left before the lengthy break, with excellent modern Jazz padded by a large degree of freedom, based on the excellent and very complex compositions by the leader. All members of the quartet are first class musicians, with extensive experience, so nothing can really go wrong. FUSK offers a unique sound as it misses a harmonic support and the trumpet / clarinet front line has to create all the melodic messages, which they of course manage to handle beautifully. The excellent rhythm section offers full support for the two soloists, who play most of the time in tandem, often unisono, which creates the distinctive sound effect the quartet offers. Overall, this is another splendid offer by this quartet, which explodes with talent and creativity. The open borders of the European Union make it easy for international cooperation to blossom, which this quartet personifies, but it is by far not the only gathering of the kind. Hopefully we won’t have to wait for another five years to hear the next outing by FUSK.

Updated: 26/02/2023Posted: 26/02/2023

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FUSK ~ THE JIG IS UP WHYPLAYJAZZ 043 (Barcode: 4250459991442) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the fourth album by the European Jazz quartet FUSKFind albums by this artist, led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, which also includes for the first time Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, and founding members: German bass clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Andreas LangFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by the leader. Christiansen and Dabrowski cooperated and recorded together many times in the past and therefore the fact that Dabrowski joined the quartet is only natural, replacing German saxophonist Philipp GropperFind albums by this artist, who was a member since the inception of the quartet. Although the music of FUSK is first and foremost a reflection of Christianson´s compositions, the presence of Dabrowski changed the internal balance and the overall sound of the quartet, taking it slightly back towards the American Jazz tradition and the early Free Jazz explorations of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Of course it is only one of the many aspects of this music as a whole and FUSK retains all its European Jazz qualities, but at the same time pays tribute to the Free Movement innovators. As usual, the music is based on highly complex and yet wonderfully melodic themes, which Christianson so ably creates, which in turn provide ideal platform for the quartet members to develop their individual and collective statements. The beautiful bass clarinet / trumpet double parts are one of the highlights of this album, as both Dabrowski and Mahall are able to keep an almost "romantic" form of dialogue between them, which is intriguing without being aggressive. Lang and Christiansen are a highly sensitive and technically fabulous rhythm section, which is standing shoulder to shoulder with the two soloists, participating equally in the process of group improvisation and mutual creation. The scope of the compositions, and as a result the scope of the music presented on the album is very diverse, which creates an element of tension with the listener not sure as of what to expect next. The music movies in and out between the improvised and precisely composed parts, often several times within the same track, with the rhythmic parts changing from no time to almost swinging time in an blink of an eye. However a blissful and relaxed feeling of order and coherence is present at all times and the music never falls apart in spite of its intricacy. For an experienced Jazz connoisseur this album is a lecture of Jazz, and especially Free Jazz history, delightfully illustrated by the music. Not surprisingly it is a wonderful piece of music, which should be enjoyed by as many listeners as possible and another milestone in Christiansen´s path, which is one of the most consistently excellent on the burgeoning European Jazz scene. Hats off, again, Maestro!

Updated: 12/05/2018Posted: 12/05/2018

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RASMUS HENRIKSEN BIG BAND ~ OUT OF THE SHADOWS GATEWAY RHBB 01 (Barcode: 5707471046494) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Danish trombonist / composer / arranger / conductor Rasmus HenriksenFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international Big Band comprising of musicians associated with the Odense Music Academy, which includes twelve musicians, several of which are from Poland, like trumpeters Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Wojciech MorelowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Lukasz BorowickiFind albums by this artist and bassist Mariusz PrasniewskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight pieces, six of which are original compositions by Henriksen and two are standards. Fours of the pieces feature vocals performed by Amanda LagoniFind albums by this artist. The music is well within the mainstream Jazz idiom, with excellent compositions by the leader and of course the wonderful sound of a Big Band that melts my heart every time. The arrangements are very elegant and interesting, typical of European Big Band approach, which treats the Big Band as a complex instrument. In view of the fact that there are so few Big Band albums released each year these days, every one of them is a blessing. The Big Band performs excellently, obviously well rehearsed and including gifted instrumentalists. There are plenty of superb, albeit short, solos by the band members, testifying to the generally high level of the players. The vocal tracks are also first-rate, much to my surprise, as singing with a Bing Band requires a special talent, but Lagoni handles the task splendidly. The overall sound and atmosphere are at times a bit too "retro", mimicking the great Swing orchestras of times long gone, but that does not spoil the great fun one can have with this music. This is pure pleasure from start to finish and mainstream Big Band / Orchestral Jazz should enjoy this effort to the max. Very impressive for a debut album and definitely worth getting!

Updated: 22/02/2019Posted: 09/05/2017

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HUNGER PANGS ~ II AUDIO CAVE 2020/004 (Barcode: 5905669566940) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2020 This is the second album by the Hunger PangsFind albums by this artist trio, which comprises of Polish guitarist Marek KadzielaFind albums by this artist, Polish (resident in Denmark) trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Danish drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, three by Kadziela, two by Christiansen and one by Dabrowski. For reasons unknown to me, the album recorded four years earlier, is being released only now. The music continues the direction set by the trio´s debut, which mixes composed themes with free (collective) improvisation on one hand and Rock versus Free Jazz interactions on the other. The music is often rather minimalist, with three distinct instrumental voices merged together into one fabric. The individual parts are perfectly audible at all times and the amalgam happens more in the listener´s brain than actually within the music. All three musicians are strong individual voices, each of them with impressive recorded legacy under the belt in spite of their relative young age. Their work together is a typical example of being more than just a sum of their individual contributions, and certainly manages to be a fascinating listening experience throughout. As a big fan Dabrowski, his contributions usually draw my attention immediately and as usual he does not disappoint here. His virtuosic trumpet parts are simply outstanding; both technically and emotionally, and firmly assert his position as one of the leading European Jazz trumpeters of the last decade. It took me a while to appreciate the talents of Kadziela, but hearing him perform live several times in the last years broke the ice and convinced me as to his great talent as well. He is a very unique and forward thinking player and composer, firmly stuck in the proud legacy of the Rock idiom, but always taking his music beyond the ordinary. He is certainly one of the most interesting guitar players in the Polish scene at the moment. Christiansen has also an impressive recorded legacy, which proves his outstanding position as a drummer, bandleader and for me especially as a composer. All his albums are superb examples of contemporary European Jazz and his contributions here are all in par with his usual excellence. Overall this album is every bit as good as the debut and connoisseurs of contemporary Improvised Music / Avant-Garde Jazz should be perfectly happy with every note this album has to offer.

Updated: 22/05/2020Posted: 22/05/2020

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HUNGER PANGS ~ MEET MEAT FOR TUNE 0008 (Barcode: 5902768701081) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 - 2011 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by the Hunger PangsFind albums by this artist trio, which was formed in 2006 by students of the Music Academy in Odense, Denmark. It comprises of two Polish musicians: guitarist Marek KadzielaFind albums by this artist, who is also the trio´s main composer, and the upcoming excellent trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, together with Danish drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. The album includes nine compositions, which were recorded over a period of two years in Germany and Denmark, six of which were composed by Kadziela, one each by Dabrowski and Christiansen and the remaining one being credited to the trio. The album´s liner notes, entitled "A Vacation From Bebop", seem to point out the musical direction undertaken by the trio, which proves once again that the development of Jazz did not stop with Bebop and continues to this very day way beyond the established ground rules. The essence of this music is all about freedom of expression limited only by the artists´ abilities and talents. Stylistically the trio moves between diametrically different environments like Jazz-Rock Fusion and Improvised Music, but the music remains coherent and beautifully expressive at all points. The absence of bass, which usually glues the music together and adds tremendously to the overall atmosphere of most Jazz recordings, is not a major hindrance here and is hardly even felt. As usual is such circumstances, the musical cooperation of the trio members is more important than the individual contributions, notwithstanding the fact that all trio members present plenty of talent and professionalism. Personally the focus of my attention converges on the absolutely stunning performances by the trumpeter Tomasz Dabrowski, who is firmly emerging as one of the most promising trumpet players of the young Polish Jazz scene, which can be easily verified by listening to a series of recordings he made recently, including his excellent debut album released a year earlier. Both the guitarist and the drummer play very well but have not reached a point of clear-cut personal identity, which usually comes in time. The years spent in Denmark by the two Poles as well as the presence of a Danish drummer contribute to the specific Scandinavian sound / spirit present on this album, perhaps more subconsciously than intended. This recording is one of the multiple steps taken by the young generation of Polish (in particular) and European (in general) young Jazz musicians on the way to establish a new Renaissance of the Jazz artistry, which seems to overflow the continent with a Tsunami like wave of new talent. Considering the level of maturity and power of expression present here, usually associated with musicians at the peak of their artistic powers, it´s truly scary to realize that these are players at the early stage of their career. Released by the excellent new Polish For TuneFind albums on this label label, this album deserves to be heard by all European Jazz fans, as it heralds the shape of things to come.

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KASPER TOM 5 ~ I DO ADMIRE THINGS THAT ARE ONLY WHAT THEY ARE BAREFOOT 046 (Barcode: 5707471042632) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the second album by the exceptional European Jazz quintet Kasper Tom 5Find albums by this artist led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, which also includes German clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist, Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Swedish trombonist Petter HangselFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Jens Mikkel MadsenFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live and presents seven original compositions, all by Christiansen. In the last decade or so Kasper Tom Christiansen emerges as one of the most talented and thankfully prolific modern European Jazz musicians and his many projects and recordings amount to a most impressive legacy already at this early stage of his career. The ensembles in which he takes part are all wonderful examples of the borderless artistic Europe, which seems to flourish infinitely better that the politically torn apart Europe. This quintet presents the perfect balance between composed and improvised music, keeping the form and structure of "conventional" composed music, but stretching way beyond the basic layout and explodes with imagination and musical freedom. Christiansen collected in this quintet an exceptional group of highly talented musicians, and their collective abilities, emotions and of course technical skills as players and improvises add up to a total that is much bigger than just the sum of the components. The mutual respect and the level of communication, which is especially apparent on this live recording, are simply phenomenal. It is also important to note Christiansen the composer, in addition to his tasks as bandleader and drummer. His compositions are the solid basis upon all the improvised music is firmly based. His quirky, beautiful and fascinating little melodies are always superbly crafted, both melodically and harmonically. In fact they are perhaps in some respect the most important facet of Christiansen´s multitalented persona. For fans of well organized Free Jazz (no, this is not an oxymoron) and improvised music this album is simply a fulfillment of a perfect dream. Not a dull moment, from start to finish, countless examples of superb individual and collective skills and above all an atmosphere of joy as a result of playing together. As usual in his case, this is one more triumphant achievement for Christiansen and the Kasper Tom 5, which should not be missed!

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KASPER TOM 5 ~ OST BINGO SKRUER BAREFOOT 031 (Barcode: 5707471031551) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by the European Jazz quintet Kasper Tom 5Find albums by this artist, led by Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist, with German clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist, Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Swedish trombonist Petter HangselFind albums by this artist and Danish bassist Jens Mikkel MadsenFind albums by this artist. Christiansen and Dabrowski are also members of the excellent Hunger PangsFind albums by this artist trio. The album presents ten original compositions, six of which were composed by the leader and the remaining four are credited to the entire quintet. The quintet is constantly walking on a tight rope between "usual" and "unusual", which is of course great fun. Seemingly a standard quintet and yet the brass section features a completely nonstandard bass clarinet / trumpet / trombone front line, which has a completely different sonority from a regular saxophone dominated ensemble. Seemingly playing melodies, yet there is actually more freedom and free improvisation than one might expect or even be able to hear upon the initial encounter. This stuff requires some serious listening in order to be properly digested, which is usually the case with unusual music. With all the freedom and group improvisation involved, this music is surprisingly "easy" on the ear, mainly because it is completely non aggressive, even in the most passionate moments. The flow of the music is all natural, following a melodic theme or a harmonic sequence, often even introducing several complex intertwined leads, but always executed with grace and obvious mutual respect and understanding between the quintet members. The whole proceedings are a rare example of group members that actually complete each other rather than compete between each other. There is no obvious leader; nobody gets more solo space than anybody else, in short a wonderful unity is achieved herein. Of course the album is also a superb display of individual skills and talents, but those can be truly appreciated only with repeated listening sessions, allowing the listener to concentrate on a specific instrumentalist rather than listen to the entire ensemble. One way or another, this album is full of wonderful moments, which are simply waiting there to be discovered. With young European Jazz musicians like these one can look forward to the future with at least some optimism. The renaissance of ambitious music in Europe is truly heartwarming, against all odds and like an oasis in the desert of mediocrity that modern life pushes down our throats. Well done indeed!

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ CLOCKSTOPPER LONGLIFE 1204 (Barcode: 5706274004229) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the second album by Danish bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, recorded in NY in a quintet (and septet on three tracks) lineup, which includes the excellent Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Soren MollerFind albums by this artist, American drummer Jonathan BlakeFind albums by this artist and on three tracks American saxophonist Jaleel ShawFind albums by this artist and Danish trombonist Jonas LindhFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Knudsen. The music is typical modern European Jazz, mostly within the mainstream idiom, but thanks to the excellent compositions and inspired playing it is full of highly interesting moments. The maturity and diversity of Knudsen´s compositions is truly remarkable and his subtly melodic themes serve as ideal vehicles for the band members to spread their wings and create their improvisations. There are many superb solos here, mostly by Dabrowski and Hekselman and the music flows beautifully from start to finish, being over much too soon. Knudsen certainly manages to continue what he started on his debut album fulfilling the hopes that album inspired in the listeners. In spite of his relatively young age he emerges as a major player on the European scene, and becomes an Artist that is definitely worth watching in the future. If he continues on the path the first two albums established, he will definitely get places. Overall this is a great piece of music, worthy of repetitive listening, superbly composed and executed with flair and elegance by all the musicians involved. Still little known, this music deserves a much wider recognition, which I hope will come in time. Well done again and looking forward for more!

Updated: 09/02/2016Posted: 09/02/2016

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ STRINGS ATTACHED GATEWAY 2606 (Barcode: 5707471018576) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by Danish Jazz bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, recorded with a septet he leads, which features the talents of two extraordinary upcoming Jazz musicians: the Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and Israeli guitarist Gilad HekselmanFind albums by this artist. The other members of the septet are pianist Jens Ulrich MadsenFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mads LykkeFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist Jacob DanielsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Rasmus IversenFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Knudsen. The music is typical modern European Jazz, with ambitious compositions, based on melodic themes but allowing for a large degree of freedom and expression. The Scandinavian atmosphere is strongly present, with most of the material being low key and strongly lyrical, but the compositions are diverse and intelligent enough to keep the music flowing and keep the listener absorbed. The level of the compositions, especially in view of the fact that this is a debut album, is surprisingly high and consistently excellent. The individual performances as well as the ensemble playing are also quite superb, again unusually so for a debut album and the young age of the musicians involved. Both Dabrowski and Hekselman play some truly scorching solos, which are extraordinary by any standard. Madsen plays mostly in the background, but his work is remarkably sensitive and I´d love to hear him play in a piano trio setting (like on the short "Interlude"). The rhythm section does a splendid job all the way through, with Knudsen filling the space with his powerful bass lines and Iversen displaying a very dynamic, yet nonintrusive driving power. It is truly inspiring to hear such impressive music being made by such young musicians, which promises that the future of European Jazz is in very good hands. In the four years since this album was recorded both Dabrowski and Hekselman already reached semi-stardom status on the upcoming scene and Knudsen managed to release a second album, also featuring Dabrowski and Hekselman, which I have yet to hear. This is definitely an outstanding debut worthy of praise and admiration. Hats off, Gentlemen!

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KENNETH DAHL KNUDSEN ~ WE`LL MEET IN THE RAIN TWO RIVERS 008 (Barcode: 5060428630086) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the third album by Danish bassist / composer Kenneth Dahl KnudsenFind albums by this artist, this time recorded with a Big Band (including a string quartet) consisting of nineteen musicians originating from many different countries, like Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Israeli (resident in Berlin) pianist Uri GincelFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Knudsen. As all Big Band projects, this is a much more ambitious undertaking than Knudsen´s first two albums, which were recorded by small ensembles. The music is also much more complex and moves outside of the mainstream Jazz idiom into contemporary Classical and orchestral music, which is more difficult than his earlier efforts. Of course more ambitious music is a sign of personal development and can only be seen as a move in the right direction. Knudson writes beautiful melodies and his music has always been based on his solid compositions, which is also the case here. Performed by a big ensemble the melodies are less straightforward of course, as the orchestral arrangements sometimes hide the melody, but that is the nature of the beast. The performances by the individual players are all quite impressive and the whole band is kept on track by the conductor Malte SchillerFind albums by this artist, who does a splendid job. The introduction of the human voice, with vocalist Marie SeferianFind albums by this artist who sings superb vocalese parts, is a nice touch and adds another layer to the music, but on the other hand takes it away from the Jazz core. The entire ensemble manages to keep a nice balance between the brass section, the string section and the rhythm section, producing an overall coherent result. I have been following Knudson´s career for a few years now and it is great to see his musical personality grow and take on new challenges, like the making of this album. This album puts his composition skills at the focus of our attention, rather than his abilities as a bass player, but those have been already amply demonstrated on his earlier recording as a leader and sideman. One can only hope that this album reaches as many open-minded listeners as possible, as this music certainly deserves to be heard and enjoyed my many. Congratulations on a job well done and looking forward to your next endeavors, my young and talented friend!

Updated: 06/05/2016Posted: 06/05/2016

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LESZEK KULAKOWSKI ~ KOMEDA VARIATIONS FOR TUNE 0148 (Barcode: 5906395808632) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is an album by veteran Polish pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist. It presents a live concert recording of Kulakowski´s arrangements of film music by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, for a Symphony Orchestra. These arrangements were originally written by Kulakowski in 2001 and performed the same year by the Lodz PhilharmonicFind albums by this artist with the participation of the brilliant Polish Jazz trumpeter Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist as a soloist. Almost twenty years later the concert was repeated and recorded, this time with slightly changed arrangements featuring a Jazz quartet with Kulakowski on piano, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz SowinskiFind albums by this artist, and the sadly departed Stanko replaced by three trumpeters: Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and German Christoph TitzFind albums by this artist, playing with the Sinfonia BalticaFind albums by this artist Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Radoslaw DronFind albums by this artist. The genius film music by Komeda is of course a wonderful subject matter, and in Kulakowski´s hands (or rather mind) it metamorphoses into its Classical form gracefully and "willingly", proving the greatness of both the composer and the arranger. The transformation sounds absolutely naturally and manages to bring to light many aspects of the original compositions, which often remain hidden in their Jazz interpretations. Although the arrangements may appear bold and "invasive" in some ways, they are absolutely justified and artistically coherent. The performances are also absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The balance between the orchestra and the quartet is perfect all along the way and the focus on the trumpet soli is holding the internal tension and creates a superb continuity, which keeps the listener mesmerized. Having three trumpeters, each with his idiosyncratic approach, adds another layer of diversity to the entire project. Kulakowski spices the proceedings with his superb piano solos, full of delicate touches and melancholic twists. It is a well known fact that Komeda´s music has been abused and mistreated many times by Polish Jazz musicians, thinking that by playing his music they would be automatically immune from criticism. It gives me a great joy to see (and hear) Komeda treated with respect and love, and mastery and imagination, which he truly deserves, like in this case. Overall this album is an instant classic, a must have by Polish Jazz fans and Komeda admirers all over the world and a sublime example of Polish / European Jazz ingenuity, which does hesitate to reach boldly beyond the obvious. Well done my Friend!

Updated: 22/12/2020Posted: 22/12/2020

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LESZEK KULAKOWSKI ~ WITKACY NARKOTYKI SOLITON 1227 (Barcode: 5903684232277) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish pianist / composer Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist, which presents a live recording of a spectacle, featuring music composed by Kulakowski and texts written by the Polish writer / poet / painter WitkacyFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Stanislaw Ignacy WitkiewiczFind albums by this artist). The participants comprise of Kulakowski, who plays electronic keyboards rather than piano, vocalist Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist, drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist and actor Jerzy KarnickiFind albums by this artist, who narrates the texts. The album presents seven tracks and is beautifully packaged with an informative booklet, which also includes all the texts, as well as Witkacy’s paintings. Witkacy’s literary / philosophical / artistic heritage remains to be controversial and more often than not misinterpreted since the day it was conceived and published, and the state of affairs did not change much during the last century. Many of the subjects touched upon by Witkacy in his works, like sex, drugs and social relationships remain a taboo in Poland to this very day, despite the superficial openness and modernism. Therefore, his artistry is often treated as scandalous and sensational, rather than prophetic and educational. This is not the first attempt to interpret Witkacy’s “aura” within the Polish Jazz setting of course. In the mid-1980s iconic Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist made a groundbreaking recording inspired by Witkacy’s legacy, which also related to the subject of drugs, which of course was a household issue among many Jazz musicians, not only on the west side of the Iron Curtain. The trumpet duos between Stanko and Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist are certainly some of the Polish Jazz highlights of that period. Dabrowski’s parts on this album serve as a bridge between that momentous album and this new creation. But Kulakowski managed to create a completely new and original approach herein in every respect. The music is highly melodic, with clearly defined themes, the Funky, Fusion oriented rhythmic background makes the music sound contemporary and vigorous. The synthesizers suit this environment way better than acoustic piano, and Kulakowski certainly made the right choice here. Wadolowski’s guitar fits the scenario perfectly as well as the round and pulsating bass parts. But the greatest asset of this album are the vocal / vocalese parts by Skolias, who is as demonic and fascinating as only humanly possible. Overall, this is an important, courageous attempt to interpret Witkacy and his legacy, highly original and moving, and beautifully performed, especially considering the fact that this is a live recording, which offers a superb sound quality. Kulakowski never ceases to re-invent himself, and despite the fact that I know him and his music for so many years, he still manages to surprise me time after time. Hats off, Maestro!

Updated: 22/02/2022Posted: 22/02/2022

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KULPOWICZ QUARTET ~ EXPRESSION FOR TUNE 0145 (Barcode: 5906395808595) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 - 2018 Released: 2019 This is an archive release of music recorded by the legendary Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist and his quartet shortly before his untimely death in 2008. Following a long period of inactivity on stage Kulpowicz reformed his ensemble called simply The QuartetFind albums by this artist in 2006 with saxophonist Piotr CieslikowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist. They recorded this album in 2007 but it remained unreleased following the havoc of his death. This album presents six tracks selected from the studio tapes, all original compositions by Kulpowicz. Trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist added (overdubbed) trumpet parts to three tracks of the original recording in 2018. Kulpowicz, who was one of the most talented Polish Jazz composers / pianists and a fascinating personality, was a devoted follower of John Coltrane´s music and his own compositions followed stylistically and spiritually the legacy of the great Master, which the music on this album reflects beautifully. The material recorded by Kulpowicz constitutes one the absolute peaks of the Polish interpretation of American Modern Jazz, avoiding mimicking and replication and adding a fresh, independent approach, and this album beautifully solidifies this approach, being a valuable addition to the legacy Kulpowicz left behind him. I have written extensively about the music Kulpowicz created in the reviews of his other albums, which can be easily found on this site simply by clicking on his name. I was somewhat taken aback by the idea of overdubbing the original recordings, which at first glance looks quite sacrilegious, but upon further examination it looks like the original material was intended to be overdubbed by guest musicians, with obvious rhythm section only gaps left within the music waiting to be filled. The musical producer Ryszard WojciulFind albums by this artist couldn´t have found a more appropriate musician to create the missing pieces of the puzzle than Dabrowski, who stood up to the challenge outstandingly. Sometimes doing the unthinkable is simply the right thing to do. Overall this is an absolutely brilliant piece of music, an outstanding addition to the legacy of Kulpowicz in particular and Polish Jazz in general. For TuneFind albums on this label managed to create another must have item for the Polish Jazz connoisseurs and the release of this album is of the same level of importance for Polish Jazz like the releases of previously undiscovered material by John Coltrane for global Jazz scene. An absolute must!

Updated: 21/01/2020Posted: 21/01/2020

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LIVING THINGS ~ UPWIND CIRCLES BAREFOOT 052 (Barcode: 5707471046210) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by young European Jazz ensemble Living ThingsFind albums by this artist, which comprises of Danish saxophonist / composer Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, French pianist / vibraphonist Paul WacrenierFind albums by this artist and a Dutch rhythm section: bassist Casper Nyvang RaskFind albums by this artist and drummer Rune LohseFind albums by this artist. All five musicians are also credited for playing the flute. The album presents fourteen original compositions, nine composed by Meinild and five by Wacrenier. The music is based on composed themes, which serve as basis for individual and collective improvisations. It is very open and unconstrained, obviously geared towards improvisation and individuality, like all the albums released by the Copenhagen based BarefootFind albums on this label Records collective, owned by the musicians who record on the label and which is home to some of the most fascinating young European Jazz and Improvised Music. Traces of many diverse musical influences can be found in this music, from contemporary Classical to World Music and Folklore, via the Jazz tradition, which is treated here very open-mindedly. There are also many superb individual statements by all the musicians involved. Dabrowski, as usual, creates many heart-wrenching trumpet solos, which repeatedly give evidence to the fact that he is one of the leading European trumpet players today. But to be fair also Meinild and Wacrenier contribute many enchanted vistas on their respective instruments, and the rhythm section, which plays anything but rhythm of course, glues the music together. There young European lions are so creative and so productive / prolific, that it becomes almost impossible to follow the avalanche of releases produced by them across the continent. Jazz / Improvised Music is experiencing an incredible Renaissance, which creates an unprecedented surge of new music, new talents and new musical horizons, of which this music is a commendable representative. Well done!

Updated: 04/11/2016Posted: 04/11/2016

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FREDRIK LUNDIN ~ 5 GO ADVENTURING AGAIN STUNT 17162 (Barcode: 663993171623) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is an album by veteran Danish saxophonist / composer Fredrik LundinFind albums by this artist and his quintet which also includes Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Swedish trombonist Petter HangselFind albums by this artist and Bazantar player Joel IllerhagFind albums by this artist and Danish drummer Anders ProvisFind albums by this artist. Danish contrabass clarinet player Jesper LovdalFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Lundin. The music is dense and complex, dark and epic, close to contemporary Classical music although undoubtedly Jazzy at the core. The sound of the quintet majestically rises to the level of an orchestral reverberation, with the brass instruments playing unisono riffs behind the solos and the slowly moving melody lines are supported by a brilliant mixture of electronic and acoustic drums and mindboggling bass, or rather Bazantar pulsations. At times it all sounds like a bizarre funeral procession or a very drunk circus band, but the music is absolutely dazzling in its power and glory. The level of individual statements is also astonishing. Dabrowski, as usual, plays some incredible trumpet parts, but Lundin and Hangsel are there with him playing not less amazingly. Illerhag is one of the most impressive bass players I have had the pleasure to hear in a long while and Provis pushes the music right to the very edge. But first and foremost the ensemble collectivism these incredible musicians are able to achieve here is way beyond just a sum if its ingredients, which of course adds another layer of significance to this recording. Overall this is an incredible album, full of superb music and virtuosic performances, which deserves to be heard by as many music connoisseurs around the world as possible. It is absolutely European in its intrinsic elegance and aesthetics, with a strong emphasis on Nordic atmosphere and melancholy and could have never been envisaged and created anywhere else. It is also a monumental road sign as to the future of Jazz, which is moving further and further away from its stale traditionalism towards creating a completely revamped idiom, which is multicultural, cross-genre and open to constant change and progress and deep spirituality. Wholeheartedly recommended to anybody, who really cares about music and where it is going!

Updated: 27/03/2018Posted: 27/03/2018

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MAGNOLIA ACOUSTIC QUARTET ~ BOOZER FOR TUNE 0003 (Barcode: 5902768701029) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2013 This is a (formal) debut album by Polish Jazz ensemble Magnolia Acoustic QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist Szymon NidzworskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba SokolowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Mateusz DoboszFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. The album presents a live recording of an extended lineup of the ensemble, which adds two slightly older and better known Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Maciej ObaraFind albums by this artist. The music includes seven pieces, six of which are originals (three by Sokolowski, two by Obara and one by Dabrowski) and one is by the contemporary Polish Classical Music composer Witold LutoslawskiFind albums by this artist. The music played by these incredible musicians covers the areas of modern European Jazz, Avant Garde and Free Jazz, firmly embracing the past and clearly pointing out the future. Based on pre-composed themes, the group´s music develops into lengthy collective and individual improvisations, which are achieved through mutual respect and collaboration, but also reflect the incredible individual talents. The overall effect is simply stunning and the fact that this music is created by such young musicians is simply unreal. The ensemble portrays the ideal balance between the soloists and the rhythm section. The pair of the Dobosz BrothersFind albums by this artist is quite likely to become the new brotherly Polish rhythm section following in the steps of the legendary Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist. Quite naturally the most impressive solo spots are reserved for the two guests, especially Dabrowski, whose contributions here are simply stellar and again clearly point out his path to stardom and his position as the future top Polish Jazz trumpet player. One of the most exciting moments of this album is the trumpet / drums duet, which is simply divine, and which should come as no surprise in view of the fact that Dabrowski recorded an entire trumpet / drums album recently with American drummer Tyshawn SoreyFind albums by this artist, also released on the For TuneFind albums on this label label. Considering the fact that this music was recorded live, which eliminates any studio trickery and results in "what was played is what you hear", all that was stated above is even more impressive. After listening to the album several times the music keeps getting better and better and Magnolia Acoustic Quartet simply emerges as one of the best new arrivals on the Polish Jazz scene in the last few years. This album presents the young Polish Jazz scene at its best: vigorous, daring, original, inventive and hellishly talented. These are the musicians that will lead the scene in decades to come, when the older generation retires or sadly is no longer with us. Judging by this album and many others that pop up recently like mushrooms after rain, we have absolutely nothing to worry about the shape of things to come!

Updated: 17/12/2018Posted:

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MALUBA ORCHESTRA ~ MALUBA ORCHESTRA STUNT 19042 (Barcode: 663993190426) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Danish thirteen-piece Jazz orchestra called Maluba OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which name combines the first two letters of the three co-leaders: percussionist / composer Marilyn MazurFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / composer Fredrik LundinFind albums by this artist and guitarist Kasper BaiFind albums by this artist. In its ranks we also find the excellent Polish (resident in Denmark) trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, five by Mazur, three by Lundin and two by Bai. The music is an absolute brilliant display of what European Orchestral Jazz is all about. It combines perfectly the entire kaleidoscope of Jazz sub-genres, from Swing to Free, and offers complex but coherent compositions, superb arrangements and of course sublime execution by the orchestra members. There is plenty of space for individual soloing, but the full power of the orchestra is most impressive in the collective performances. Each and every one of the composition is a true gem, and the entire album offers a diverse, stylistically and more importantly aesthetically perfect equilibrium of sensitivity and good taste, which characterizes European Jazz at its best. The final piece on the album is an ode to Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist, based on his New Year chorale (BWV 288), which is a classic example of Jazz-Classical Fusion and which makes only subtle references to the actual source and leaves the rest to an intelligent listener. The many followers of Dabrowski have here a wonderful opportunity to hear many of his excellent contributions here, often more "conventional" than on his own recordings but by no means less impressive, as usual representing Polish Jazz proudly. Overall this is a beautiful orchestral Jazz album, which has no dull moments and offers a glimpse into the Danish Jazz scene, which in the last decade enjoys a renaissance with many excellent young musicians playing alongside their veteran colleagues. Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 06/01/2020Posted: 06/01/2020

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OCEAN FANFARE ~ FIRST NATURE BAREFOOT 060 (Barcode: 5706274010053) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the second album by the international Jazz quartet Ocean FanfareFind albums by this artist that comprises of Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and three Danish Jazz musicians: saxophonist / composer Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, bassist Richard AnderssonFind albums by this artist and drummer Peter BruunFind albums by this artist. It presents nine original compositions, five by Dabrowski and four by Meinild. The music continues from where the debut album left off, investigating further explorations of the tight conversations between the quartet members, but moving into even more open musical space and towards Avant-Garde / Free Jazz idiom. There is little of straightforward melodic contents and far more improvisation, although the quartet manages to keep the music coherent enough to avoiding losing the listener in the process. As a result this album is certainly more difficult and less communicative with the listeners who are not hardened adventurous music connoisseurs, which of course limits the audience for which this music might prove enjoyable. Having said that, it must be emphasized that Dabrowski and his cohorts play some fascinating notes together and manage to create tension and continuity, which is superbly executed from start to finish. This music does not allow much space for individual statements, as it is based on close cooperation and constant group improvisation, but from time to time both Dabrowski and Meinild manage to squeeze in breathtaking soli, which of course are of hair-raising quality. The rhythm section also performs brilliantly throughout the album, being at all times on equal level with the two soloists. Ambitious music of this sort often impairs on the ability of individual performers to dazzle, but the ensemble as a whole gains the full creational abilities of its members. Overall this is a superb modern Jazz with Avant-Garde tendencies, which offers splendid instrumental performances and exemplary ensemble playing, which this kind of music thrives on. Dabrowski, as usual, delivers some trumpet magic that fully justifies his position as one of the leading European trumpeters, which by now is universally accepted. This is not for everybody, but listeners who enjoy ambitious and highly aesthetic as well as challenging music should enjoy this album in full. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 31/05/2019Posted: 31/05/2019

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OCEAN FANFARE ~ IMAGINE SOUND IMAGINE SILENCE BAREFOOT 040 (Barcode: 5707471039175) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by the International Jazz Quartet Ocean FanfareFind albums by this artist, which consists of Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Danish saxophonist Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Richard AnderssonFind albums by this artist and American drummer Tyshawn SoreyFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, six of which were composed by Dabrowski and three by Meinild. The quartet plays modern Jazz, which is clearly based on the tradition but explores modern approach to both the melodic / harmonic contents and the rhythmic timekeeping. The trumpet and saxophone are much tighter together here than on most other quartet recordings of this type, playing many unisono parts together, which sound simply stunning. Dabrowski, who has a long series of albums under his arm already, is of course brilliant throughout, but Meinild keeps closely at his toes, displaying virtuosic control of his instrument and excellent improvisation quality. As it often happens in today´s modern Jazz, it is the bass player who keeps the time rather than the drummer, who is left to explore various time measures and play around the rhythms. This album displays new facets of Dabrowski´s phenomenal trumpet technique and bravado, which keep expanding from album to album, constantly reaching new artistic peaks. He emerges steadfastly as one of the top young trumpeters in Europe if not worldwide. This combined with his phenomenal compositional qualities makes him superstar material, which hopefully won´t be wasted. The level of interplay demonstrated on this album is also worthy of the listener´s attention, as such telepathic encounters are few and far between. There is a multilayered interplay present here, first between the two horn players, then between the rhythm section and finally between all four musicians listening to each other attentively. There is also the wonderful balance between the freedom of expression and the creative discipline, which keeps everybody on track. Overall this is another excellent album, which unites Dabrowski with superb partners, creating a quartet of the highest quality which plays beautifully crafted music. What else can we ask for?

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BARTLOMIEJ OLES / TOMASZ DABROWSKI ~ CHAPTERS FENOMMEDIA 012 (Barcode: 5907604327128) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 Trumpet / drums duo recordings are a very special chapter in Jazz history and they include some fascinating interplays recorded over time by American Jazz musicians, such as the legendary Don CherryFind albums by this artist / Ed BlackwellFind albums by this artist or Max RoachFind albums by this artist / Dizzy GillespieFind albums by this artist recordings. Some American / European trumpet / drums duos are also worth mentioning, such as the Leo SmithFind albums by this artist / Gunter SommerFind albums by this artist, Dave DouglasFind albums by this artist / Han BenninkFind albums by this artist or Bill DixonFind albums by this artist / Tony OxleyFind albums by this artist, documented on their respective recordings. On the contemporary Polish Jazz scene this relatively rare pairing of instruments seems to be quite favorable, with such excellent examples like Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist / Jacek BuhlFind albums by this artist, Artur MajewskiFind albums by this artist / Kuba SucharFind albums by this artist and others. Trumpeter / composer Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist already has one trumpet / drums album under his arm, recorded with the American drummer Tyshawn SoreyFind albums by this artist and now he joins the brilliant drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist in a new trumpet / drums duo, captured on this album. Bartlomiej Oles is of course known to all Polish Jazz connoisseurs as half of the Oles Brothers rhythm section, which in time achieved a legendary status as one of the best modern Jazz rhythm sections around, but this album focuses on his work as composer. Of the ten pieces presented on this album, Oles composed eight, and co-composed one with Dabrowski, with the remaining piece, which closes the set, being a Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist composition. In comparison to the trumpet / drums albums listed in the opening paragraph, this recording is definitely the most lyrical and deeply melodic of them all. Oles demonstrated his lyricism and love of melody over the years in the numerous compositions he contributed to the vast Oles Brothers recorded legacy. Additionally, his treatment of the drums as a melodic instrument has always been his particular trademark, as he almost never simply sets a rhythm but rather plays the drums in par with his musical partners in various ensembles. The intimacy of just two instruments is an ideal opportunity to place these compositional and performance qualities at the center of the listener´s attention. Dabrowski, whose meteoric rise to fame is fully justified, seems to be an ideal partner aiding Oles to achieve his goals. His virtuosic attack, combined with the intrinsic lyricism, turn his trumpet into a seemingly unlimited tool able to express an enormously diverse set of emotions, from whisper to shout, anger to joy, despair to mellow melancholy. Playing side by side with Oles, who is of course more experienced and mature, pushed Dabrowski really hard to reach and than cross his limits, which resulted in the best performance of his life so far. Oles managed to catalyze and crystallize Dabrowski´s unique style and mannerism, molding them into a perfect musical entity. There is so much music on this album that a true comprehension and appreciation of it requires several listening sessions even for the most experienced music lovers. Peeling off the layers of aesthetic and emotional essence captured herein by these two Masters is a delightful and rewarding experience. There is no doubt that this is a monumental achievement in every sense and a model of lofty, almost spiritual communication between an Artist and his audience. Personally I have a deep satisfaction from the fact that I have always considered these two musicians as representatives of what is best about Polish Culture in general and Polish Jazz in particular: honesty, consistency and a proper usage of a God given talent. Thank you both for such a wonderful gift!

Updated: 02/01/2017Posted:

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MORTEN PEDERSEN ~ SAMMENSURIUM BAREFOOT 051 (Barcode: 5707471049556) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Danish pianist / composer Morten PedersenFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quintet which also includes Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Italian saxophonist / clarinetist Francesco BigoniFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Johannes NastesjoFind albums by this artist and Norwegian drummer Hakon BerreFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Pedersen. The music is a superb example of modern European Jazz, which is still based on composed themes but the improvisations venture often into Free Jazz. The compositions are very solid and the brief unisono introductions played by the saxophone and trumpet expand later into group improvisations. The music is interesting and diverse enough to keep the listener interested throughout. The movement out of the melodic theme and back again, several times during the same piece, is also fascinating. The overall level of composition is simply stunning and the characteristic lyricism and melancholy add a magical atmosphere, which is thrilling. The individual performances are all top notch, with the participants creating ad-lib duets (trumpet / saxophone) and trios (trumpet / saxophone / piano) within the quintet framework, which emphasizes the level of cooperation and mutual respect between the musicians. The concept which allows the rhythm section not to be present at all times is very refreshing and in this case also extremely effective aesthetically. Not that the rhythm section is not performing well, God forbid, since it definitely is, but the minimalism of the duo / trio is an Art form in itself. Dabrowski is brilliant, as usual, with the incredible kaleidoscope of sounds he is able to produce on his trumpet. Bigoni sounds equally proficient on the saxophone and on the clarinet, the latter being my personal favorite. Pederson plays a round, deeply melodic piano parts, which in spite of their free form sound still very harmonious. The rhythm section, as already mentioned above, does a great job, but is present only partially, which is highly unusual and makes this album so unique. This album is a classic example of contemporary European Jazz scene, where multinational ensembles are omnipresent and national borders are completely irrelevant any more. These young musicians are spiritually united by the European aesthetics and common cultural background, which goes back centuries. The Copenhagen scene is one of the most fruitful and fascinating Jazz centers at the moment, where young musician from all over Europe gather to study and create music together. The album was released on the wonderful Copenhagen based Barefoot Records label, which is a musicians´ cooperative creating an independent platform for them to release their own music, and which in the last decade managed to put out some of the most significant contemporary Jazz albums. This is a stunning debut effort and a true treasure chest of contemporary European Jazz, which is a beacon of what Europe, has to offer! Chapeau!

Updated: 18/09/2017Posted: 18/09/2017

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KAMIL PIOTROWICZ ~ WEIRD HEAVEN HOWARD 6 (Barcode: 5903689818278) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader Kamil PiotrowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a sextet setting, almost identical to the sextet which recorded the previous album except for the trumpeter, with trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist and Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, all original compositions by the leader. The music continues faithfully the direction set by the previous album “Product PlacementFind albums with this title”, released four years earlier, moving even further into experimental music, which although composed, includes many elements of Free Improvisation. Piotrowicz manages, despite the obvious complexity, multi-layered structures and weird time signatures, to create music which is listenable and even enjoyable to a relatively wide spectrum of Jazz connoisseurs. The album is an incredible example of ensemble playing, with individual statements, however significant, which are completely lost in the general scale of things, being simply building blocks of the “bigger picture”. It takes musicians of the highest echelon to perform this music and of course the team Piotrowicz assembled is able to escape the challenges without a hitch. It is quite obvious that Piotrowicz consistently emerges as one of young Lions od the Polish Jazz scene, and my enthusiasm about his earlier recordings, both those as a leader and his other projects, was fully justified. Overall, this is a brilliant example of contemporary Polish Jazz at its best, which proves the vibrancy and incredible creative power of the scene, which sadly often remains unrecognized outside the country’s border. This music doesn’t try to be nice or pretty, but takes no prisoners in its power of expression, deserving the attention of those looking for something truly remarkable and challenging.

Updated: 13/09/2023Posted: 11/09/2023

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WOJCIECH PULCYN ~ TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE HADEN FOR TUNE 0125 (Barcode: 5906395808274) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album as a leader by veteran Polish Jazz bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist, dedicated as the title suggest, to the great American bassist / composer Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the Polish Radio studio by a group of Pulcyn´s cohorts, which include trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist and Pulcyn´s eight years old son Piotr PulcynFind albums by this artist (who plays cello) appear on one track each. The album presents nine pieces, six of which were composed by Haden, two by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and one is a traditional tune. Over the years I have had the immense pleasure to hear Pulcyn live many times and his performances were always impeccable and inspiring. His affinity with his instrument is as close as humanly possible and his humility and kind manners are an example of musical chivalry. Therefore this album, which finally puts the spotlight on his musical skills, is a long overdue opportunity to pay dues to his talents and personality. The music should be pretty familiar to serious Jazz listeners, in particular those who follow the long and impressive career of Haden from his early days as a member of the revolutionary Ornette Coleman quartet, which changed the face of the Jazz idiom, to his work as a leader of his own ensembles. It is modern, often groundbreaking music, which remains completely relevant to this very day, and to be honest it is still on the forefront of the genre, despite the years that have passed sine it was originally composed. The really fascinating aspect of this album is the fact that this music, created and performed originally by American musicians, is treated here with a completely new and more importantly European approach, which sets new meaning to the music and invigorates it immensely. I am tempted to say that this specific treatment of the music is more fascinating than the original in many respects, and for sure it is as far from imitation as can be imagined. The performances are all stellar, as expected from the participating musicians. Dabrowski, who consistently earned a position of one of the top European Jazz trumpeters, fondly fits the shoes of the great Don CherryFind albums by this artist, again displaying his personal style and approach rather than imitating the Master. Sliwa, a young and upcoming player, stands shoulder to shoulder with the veterans, playing like a pro. Stankiewicz, a marvelous pianist, is a symbol of lyricism and never misses a note, always knowing when to touch the keyboard ever so delicately and Frankiewicz, a faithful companion in endless rhythm sections, supports the bassist amicably and telepathically. From the opening solo bass track to the very last moment of this album Pulcyn´s bass is prominently featured in many diverse roles and intonations, always perfectly in accord with the music and the rest of the band, a true silent hero behind the scenes, who makes everything perfect. This album is definitely a superb tribute to Haden´s genious, but at the same time it is a tribute to Pulcyn´s legacy as one of the top Polish Jazz bassists and an icon of stability, perfection and personal standing. Thank you Wojtek for all those beautiful moments!

Updated: 21/10/2017Posted: 21/10/2017

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MAXENCE SIBILLE ~ SEED SHED 013 ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album as a leader by French (resident in Switzerland) drummer / composer Maxence SibilleFind albums by this artist recorded in a sextet setting with Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist and French / Swiss players: pianist Gauthier TouxFind albums by this artist, electric piano player Matthieu LlodraFind albums by this artist, bassist Julien HerneFind albums by this artist and electronics operator Valentin LiechtiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Sibille. The music is modern mainstream Jazz, based on beautiful melodic themes and performed with contemporary approach using slight electronic effects and a minimalist relaxed atmosphere and mostly open space / Scandinavian vistas. Definitely on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, this music could be classified as a kind of contemporary Fusion, but of course the genre boundaries are so fluid these days. Dabrowski and Toux are clearly the more Jazz oriented players here whereas the rest of the sextet tends towards electronics and Fusion, together creating a splendid amalgam, which is interesting and entertaining at the same time. Dabrowski, for whom such musical environment is rather unusual lately (he is mostly involved in Avant-Garde projects) us absolutely spectacular on this album, showing his wonderful versatility and ability to play long melodic lyrical soli, which his followers have not enjoyed recently. This is a great reminder of his diverse abilities and immense talents. With all the due respect to the other players on this album, he is clearly from another dimension, musically. The album is also a splendid example of the growing tendency to use electronics within the Jazz genre, which this album does skillfully, elegantly and very effectively. Overall this is a splendid debut and a great collection of solid compositions and superb playing, in addition to the interest of Polish Jazz fans in Dabrowski´s contributions. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 25/03/2020Posted: 25/03/2020

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TROUBLE HUNTING ~ SOMEBODY ELSE WITH A WRONG DOG RECART 0023 (Barcode: 5908285287220) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by the Polish / Danish Jazz quintet Trouble HuntingFind albums by this artist, led by saxophonist / composer Tomasz LicakFind albums by this artist. On this album the other members of the quintet are: trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, bassist Richard AnderssonFind albums by this artist and drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist. These excellent young musicians play together in many other different ensembles with various personnel constellations in the last five years and produced a considerable body of recorded music together. On this album they perform seven original compositions, all by Licak. The music is quite characteristic of the new generation of European Jazz musicians, which combines composition and free improvisation conceptually, blurring the difference between these idioms. As a result the pieces presented here are all based on composed themes, which are stated several times within the duration of each of the pieces, but most of the time serve as a basis for individual and group improvisations, which are the heart of this music. In spite of the free-spirited approach, the music manages to maintain a coherency and form, which is accessible to a relatively large fraction of the Jazz listening audiences, even though it offers no artistic compromises of attempts to sound likeable. The individual statements of all the musicians involved are all heartfelt, honest and excellent musically. Licak plays some wicked bass clarinet parts, which are, together with the electric bass, part of the pulse behind the music and of course adds saxophone improvisations. Dabrowski is as usual the virtuoso in the pack with some heartbreaking solo parts, but also great as part of the "brass section" playing the unisono melody statements. Meinild adds his beautiful gentle tone on both alto and tenor saxophones, expanding the overall sound of the band considerably. Andersson plays electric bass, which sounds perfectly in place in this environment, which is usually reserved for the acoustic double bass. Christiansen, also as usual, plays the drums, managing to keep the time and play around it with his seemingly endless box of percussive tricks. Altogether this is a wonderful display of amazing individual talents and superb ensemble work. Albums like this one are not only aesthetically pleasing and heartwarming, but first and foremost point the way towards the development of European Jazz, which is still making giant steps forwards and manages to discover new territory, to the joy of the connoisseurs of the genre. This is brilliant stuff from start to finish, which I wholeheartedly recommend to everybody who enjoys challenge while listening to music. Well done Sirs!

Updated: 28/10/2017Posted: 28/10/2017

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TROUBLE HUNTING ~ TROUBLE HUNTING MULTIKULTI MPI 020 (Barcode: 5907529223208) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2011 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by the Polish / Danish ensemble Trouble HuntingFind albums by this artist led by Polish saxophonist / composer Tomasz LicakFind albums by this artist and including Polish trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, Danish saxophonist Sven Dam MeinildFind albums by this artist, Bosnian keyboardist Adi ZukanovicFind albums by this artist, Danish bassist Richard AnderssonFind albums by this artist and drummer Anders ProvisFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Licak. The music is typical young European Jazz, which combines composed and freely improvised music, with an emphasis on group improvisation and freedom of expression. Despite the advanced explorations, the music manages to stay coherent and tamed, which allows to the inquisitive listener to hear every little nuance of the individual contributions by the musicians. The ambience of the music combines the Polish melancholy with the Scandinavian minimalism, which works out splendidly. Despite the young age of these musicians, they all already show signs of their musical personality. Listening to this album almost a decade after it was recorded gives a wonderful perspective on the musical achievements of Licak, Dabrowski and Meinild, who made numerous other recordings since and solidified their personas. The album is also a document of the bond that was created between young Polish, Danish and other European musicians around the Odense Music Academy, which created an entire circle of musicians who cooperate actively since their meeting as students, being one of the creative foci of contemporary European Jazz. This album withstands the test of time splendidly and sounds every bit as interesting as it did at the time of its release. It is definitely worth revisiting and European Free Jazz / Improvised Music connoisseurs should definitely try and get a copy before this album (like so many others) disappears into oblivion. Great stuff!

Updated: 18/08/2020Posted: 18/08/2020

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IREK WOJTCZAK ~ PLAY IT AGAIN FSR 2018/06 (Barcode: 5905279364295) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2018 This is a live recording by a quintet led by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr ManiaFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam ZuchowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Kuba StaruszkiewiczFind albums by this artist. The quintet plays music that was recorded by the "American" quintet led by Wojtczak, which recorded the splendid "Folk FiveFind albums with this title" album for the For TuneFind albums on this label label slightly over a year before this music was recorded. As the title suggests, this recording is another attempt to play almost the same music that was recorded for the "Folk Five" album, but this time by an all-Polish quintet. The album presents eight tunes, all originating in Polish Folklore and arranged by Wojtczak, six of which were already recorded on "Folk Five" and two are new tunes used here for the first time. The musical concept is of course quite clear: Jazz-World Fusion which transfers some of the treasures of Polish Folklore into the Jazz idiom, an idea that is quite common in Polish Jazz since its Genesis. As usual, some efforts dealing with this concept worked out better than others, but overall the seven or so decades of Polish Jazz produced a sizable and highly original amount of superb music created under this moniker. The aforementioned "Folk Five" album was definitely one of the highlights of that idiom and the attempt to try and repeat the magic that happened on that album was a bold and audacious undertaking. I am happy to say that Wojtczak and his cohorts not only managed to recreate the magic, but also managed to take the music to a higher plane. There is of course no doubt as to the quality of the music or the level of the execution, they are both simply extraordinary. Therefore the comparison between the two versions of the music must touch upon the fundamental differences between American and European Jazz, of which these two albums are a textbook example or even a paradigm. One might of course say that such comparison is a priori unfair, as the Polish Jazz musicians are way more familiar and culturally accustomed to the Polish Folklore element of the music than their American counterparts. But such argument is simply irrelevant, as these two albums clearly show. These albums are different not because the lack of familiarity with Polish Folklore by the American musicians, but by the intrinsic attitude towards improvisation and even more broadly towards music making, between the American and the European Jazz musicians. As a result of these fundamental differences "Folk Five" remains an excellent, very well played album, whereas "Play It Again" shows where the same music can get to, when played without the restrictions the American Jazz tradition imposes even on the best musicians. The flair, elegance, imagination, feeling and openness present on this album takes it to a completely new level of awareness and creativity. But comparisons aside, this is above all a masterpiece of modern Polish / European Jazz, which takes the Jazz-World Fusion idiom light years ahead in comparison to its rather humble beginnings, clearly showing that Polish Jazz is a stronghold of originality, imagination and musical ingenuity. This is an absolute must to every Polish Jazz fan and a supreme gem of an album for all seasons. Hats off!

Updated: 20/09/2018Posted: 20/09/2018

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

IREK WOJTCZAK ~ ROM TOM DADA FSR 2021/17 (Barcode: 5904441617016) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist recorded with a quartet, which also includes trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan MlynarskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are Polish Folk tunes from the Leczyca region, collected by the Polish ethnographer Oskar KolbergFind albums by this artist, arranged by Wojtczak. Wojtczak continues here his fascination with Polish Folk music, transforming it into contemporary Jazz / Avant-Garde setting, creating a truly fascinating amalgam, as already documented on his earlier recordings: “Folk FiveFind albums with this title” and “Play It AgainFind albums with this title”. This new quartet setting is much more focused and moves brilliantly between the original tunes and the improvisations. The saxophone and trumpet create beautiful duet dynamics and the rhythm section, with its dense / quirky intensity, drives the music strongly atop the odd rhythms and tempi changes. All the personal performances are absolutely top notch and Mlynarski surprises with his highly unusual drumming, feeling obviously at ease alongside these top Jazz instrumentalists, despite the fact that he usually operates in completely different musical environments. It is great to discover his alter ego here. Overall, this is an excellent album, which continues a highly interesting path of cross-genre creativity, as well as obvious love of Polish musical tradition, which obviously deserves to be cherished and remembered. Although clicking at only slightly over half hour in duration, this music is so intense and fulfilling that the timing has little significance. Brilliantly done, as always!

Updated: 31/01/2022Posted: 31/01/2022

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend