Record Reviews

FIJALKOWSKI PROJECT ~ FIJALKOWSKI PROJECT NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Lukasz FijalkowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded under the Fijalkowski ProjectFind albums by this artist moniker, with acoustic guitarist Krzysztof WasitaFind albums by this artist, violist Waldemar KnadeFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Agnieszka Grajkowska-WierzbaFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej GulczynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal DabrowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Fijalkowski and one each is by Knade and Gulczynski. The total playing time is slightly above half an hour, so this could be considered as an EP rather than a full CD album. The music is all highly melodic, based on solid themes and offering some level on improvisation, but concentrating more on the melodic flow and relaxed atmosphere. Stylistically the music floats between Smooth Jazz and Fusion, with some slight World Music / Gypsy elements, all perfectly incorporated together. Although not a typical Jazz album, it should be quite enjoyable to the listeners of the lighter scale of Jazz-related music. The guitar work often touches upon Fusion, but eschews the senseless Fusiony doodling, again emphasizing the melodic aesthetics. All the participants are obviously professionals and the performances are all beyond reproach. The guitar parts are certainly the center of attraction, but the solos by Knade are nice icing on the “cake” and the rhythm section does a splendid job, providing a solid, steady basis for the entire duration. This album is a natural extension of the debut album released four years earlier, which offers a similar formula with a somewhat more Fusiony outline. Overall, this album proves that seemingly straightforward and highly melodic music can be perfectly valuable and offer a pleasant listening experience, which should keep Smooth Jazz / Fusion listeners very happy for the duration. The wonderful melodies are the true forte of this music, which is something relatively rarely found in most contemporary recordings.

Updated: 17/06/2023Posted: 17/06/2023

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WALDEMAR KNADE ~ STORIES NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish violist / keyboardist / composer Waldemar KnadeFind albums by this artist, recorded with some long-time musical friends mostly from the Polish Avant-Garde Jazz and Rock scene, such as vocalist / lyricist Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, clarinetist Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, guitarist Lukasz FijalkowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, bassists Michal RybkaFind albums by this artist and Bogdan MizerskiFind albums by this artist, vocalist Ewelina WizentasFind albums by this artist and turntablist DJ Paulo B.O.K.Find albums by this artist The album presents seventeen relatively short tracks, all composed and some co-composed by Knade and the participating musicians, with the vocal tracks featuring lyrics mostly written by Skolias. The music is a fabulous atmospheric / ambient trip, full of mysticism and emotional tension, with subtle melodic themes, which are often more subconscious than actually specifically stated. Jazz, theatrical recitation, ambient electronic music and some Funky pulsations are all amalgamated into a diabolic / angelic magic potion, which the listener is treated to while submitting his mind to the music. There are many instrumental gems spread along the way, with Mazzoll improvising sublimely on bass and metal clarinets and Knade fiddling away enchantingly, and with divine vocal practices by Skolias and Wizentas, which are no less that blood curdling. Whether deeply religious or profoundly atheistic, which of course is entirely up to the listener, this music is simply way too engaging to be ignored emotionally. I see so often the phrase “spiritual music” being endlessly abused and misused by music critics, but in this case this is simply no other but spiritual music. I find it truly inspirational, encouraging and even life / sanity saving to see that people still engage in creating music like this today, when crawling through musical slime is the norm. Listening to this music is simply a deeply healing experience. Overall, this is an exceptional, highly spiritual piece of Avant-Garde Jazz, performed by some of the best Polish Jazz and Avant-Garde musicians, which delivers a fresh, exhilarating and completely unique aural experience of epic proportions. I am eternally grateful to all the participant and proud to be able to call some of them my Friends. I can only hope this music could be heard by every person on this crazy planet.

Updated: 08/04/2023Posted: 08/04/2023

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