Record Reviews

BREAKOUT ~ KAMIENIE MUZA 944 (Barcode: 5907783499449) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2005 7th album by brilliant Polish ensemble BreakoutFind albums by this artist formed and led by guitarist / vocalist / composer Tadeusz NalepaFind albums by this artist. Breakout was formed in 1968 after Nalepa decided to change the name of his previous group BlackoutFind albums by this artist and reformed it under the new name. This new lineup of the group also included guitarist Winicjusz ChrostFind albums by this artist, bassist Zdzislaw ZawadzkiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech MorawskiFind albums by this artist. Nalepa´s musical background was deeply rooted in Blues, and much of the group´s material was in fact Blues-Rock based, but Prog and Psychedelic influences turned Breakout into one of the most formidable East European groups ever, with a broad range of cross-genre musical activities. Breakout had an immense influence on the Polish, as well as the entire East European music scene, serving as a beacon to generations of musicians living behind the Iron Curtain. In their native country Breakout was often criticized by the Socialist regime for idealizing Western culture and their music was banned from the media during the peak of the "dark age" repressions in the late 1960, which eventually only increased the following the group enjoyed among the young generation. Nalepa, who composed all of the group´s music, worked closely with lyricist / poet Bogdan LoeblFind albums by this artist, who supplied the band with highly intelligent and often controversial lyrics, way above the usual level of Rock lyrics used in Rock at the time. This album, taking them back to the basic quartet lineup, was their most successful release in their native country. In retrospect this is a timeless classic and any connoisseur of East European Rock / Prog will find it phenomenal. Brilliant stuff!

CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

KRZYSZTOF SADOWSKI ~ THREE THOUSANDS POINTS (POLISH JAZZ VOL.47) GAD 031 (Barcode: 5901549197396) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1997 Released: 2015 This is a reissue (first time on CD) of the third album by Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer Krzysztof SadowskiFind albums by this artist recorded with an ensemble called Organ GroupFind albums by this artist, which also included flautist / vocalist Liliana UrbanskaFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Vesselin NikolovFind albums by this artist and Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Winicjusz ChrostFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Wojciech BruslikFind albums by this artist, drummers Zbigniew KitlinskiFind albums by this artist and Wojciech MorawskiFind albums by this artist and finally percussionists Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist and Bozena BruszewskaFind albums by this artist. The reason for the long lineup is the fact that the album was recorded during two separate sessions with two different lineups. This album was released at the time as part of the legendary "Polish Jazz" series (as Vol.47) and included originally only four tracks, the first of which gave the album its title and was a twenty one minutes long suite originally found on side A of the LP. The three tracks on side B were shorter and spanned between three to nine minutes in duration. Two of the compositions were originals, both composed by Sadowski; one was a Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist tune and one was a Classical piece. This remastered reissue adds three bonus tracks recorded at the Polish Radio. The music on this album shows Sadowski at full swing as a Jazz-Rock Fusion musician, firmly based in the Fusion idiom, which was pretty well established by then both on the Polish scene and abroad. He expands his arsenal and uses electric piano and early synthesizer (ring modulator) gadgets. The flute parts are more daring and the vocalese more developed, clearly following the work of Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist. Nikolov adds a tinge of Balkan spice and Szukalski blows away like only he could, touching upon Free at times. The rhythmic support is very Rock oriented and the overall sound and feel of the music resembles to some extent the best Fusion ensembles active in the West but maintains an East European identity both harmonically and melodically. In retrospect the album is a great document of the time at which it was recorded, proving that in spite of the relative separation from what was happing beyond the Iron Curtain, Polish Jazz was responding rapidly to the changes in the Jazz idiom, often with ferocity and ingenuity, which were impossible to hold back by the political regime. The grammar mistake in the English version of the title (preserved for historic consistency) is a nice reminder of Socialist bureaucracy (an insider´s joke). As usual it is my duty to thank GADFind albums on this label Records for taking care of the Polish Jazz heritage, who is sadly a lonely rider on that trail. This superb music definitely needs to be fondly remembered and discovered by new generations!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SWIADECTWO DOJRZALOSCI ~ HULAJ DUSZA GAD 043 (Barcode: 5901549197563) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1977 Released: 2016 This is an archival album presenting material recorded by an excellent but sadly short-lived Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion band Swiadectwo DojrzalosciFind albums by this artist, which consisted of saxophonist Szczepan DudekFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Krzysztof OrlowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dariusz KozakiewiczFind albums by this artist (BreakoutFind albums by this artist, TestFind albums by this artist), bassist Wojciech BruslikFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech MorawskiFind albums by this artist. The material originates from a radio session which produced five tracks and a live performance at the Jazz Nad Odra Festival which produced four tracks, both from 1977. Overall the album presents six original compositions (since three are repeated twice in studio and live versions), five by Bruslik and one by Kozakiewicz. Both the music and the execution are truly excellent from start to finish and the album is a hidden gem of Polish Fusion, which finally is able to reach a wider audience. Although the live tracks were released on vinyl at the time, they are long lost and with the addition of the radio recordings this album finally pays proper homage to this splendid group. The music is very melodic and presents well written themes, which are ideal vehicles for the improvisations by the group members. The funky rhythm section supports the saxophone, guitar and keyboards solos amicably and the music moves forward elegantly and intelligently, which is typical of European Fusion bands, which put sophistication and harmonic complexity ahead of flashy instrumental show-off. Kozakiewicz is the most surprising soloist on this album since his guitar work is as brilliant as ever, sadly being rather a rarity in the Polish Jazz, Rock and Blues recorded legacies, although he definitely is the best Polish guitar player of all times. This is another blessing bestowed upon the Polish music lovers by the splendid GADFind albums on this label Records label, which manages time after time to uncover hidden treasures, which are all more than worthy to be available to the wide public. Considering the superb quality of the music and the great sound quality, this album is an absolute gem!

Updated: 08/03/2020Posted: 17/03/2017

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

RYSZARD SYGITOWICZ ~ BEZ GRAWITACJI GAD 029 (Barcode: 5901549197372) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1983 - 1984 Released: 2015 This is a reissue of an instrumental album by Polish guitarist / composer Ryszard SygitowiczFind albums by this artist, which was recorded during several sessions for the Polish Radio and released on a small independent label WifonFind albums on this label in 1985, achieving quite unexpectedly a big success on the local market at the time. This album includes, in addition to the nine tracks that were included on the original album, four bonus tracks originating from the same sessions. The music was recorded mostly in a trio format with bassist Arkadiusz ZakFind albums by this artist and drummers Dariusz SygitowiczFind albums by this artist or Wojciech MorawskiFind albums by this artist. Renowned Polish Jazz saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and percussionist Adam LewandowskiFind albums by this artist on one track. The music is a refined instrumental guitar oriented Jazz-Rock Fusion, which is comparable to similar efforts by Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist, Carlos SantanaFind albums by this artist and many others and by all means not inferior to any of them. Sygitowicz has a great talent to weave wonderfully melodic themes and play them on his guitar with great feel, tone and skill. As a result these tracks sound as great today as they did at the time they were recorded, losing nothing of their validity over time. Over the years Sygitowicz was a member of several Polish Rock ensembles and a busy session musician, which resulted in his leaving a mark on dozens of releases by numerous Polish recording artists. He is still very active on the local scene after spending some time in the USA in the late 1980s. In retrospect this album is still a highlight of his career and thanks to the splendid work of GADFind albums on this label Records we are able to enjoy this fabulous music again. Guitar connoisseurs and classic Jazz-Rock Fusion fans should have a field day with this gem!

Updated: 20/02/2016Posted: 20/02/2016

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend