Record Reviews

JACEK NIEDZIELA-MEIRA ~ PARTYTURISM SJ 050 (Barcode: 5902596066604) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1997 - 2019 Released: 2020 This 2CD album includes two albums by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist, recorded twenty two years apart. The first CD presents the new album "Sketches For Bass And OrchestraFind albums with this title", recorded in 2019 with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist and the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus OrchestraFind albums by this artist. The second CD presents a reissue of the 1997 album "Sceny Z MacondoFind albums with this title", recorded by the same trio plus saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist and the IFR Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist. This pairing makes perfect sense as the music offers somewhat similar stylistic character and ambience and brings back to life the older album, which has been unavailable for a long time and deserves to be heard again. Following are my liner notes written for the "Sketches For Bass And Orchestra" album, which generally apply to the older album as well. Musicians have been crossing swords between Classical Music and Jazz for ages, which is hardly surprising. After all many Jazz musicians / composers often originate from Classical Music education, and some Classical musicians are curious or even genuinely interested in Jazz, the freedom it offers and its elusive element of improvisation. The result of such amalgams vary dramatically, producing over time some brilliant pieces of Art, but sadly more often than not a whole bunch of schmaltzy kitsch. To be able to find the thin line that connects these two seemingly incompatible idioms is indeed an Art in itself. The music presented on this album, which was composed, orchestrated, conducted and performed by bassist / composer / author / educator Jacek Niedziela-Meira is not only able to illustrate the ability to magically combine the two idioms, but also demonstrates the incredible diversity of the Polish Jazz scene, which by the turn of the Millennium became a fountain of youth as far as Polish Culture is concerned. Of course the seeds were secretly planted during the dark days behind the Iron Curtain, but the incredible explosion of talent occurred when Poland regained its Freedom and the new generation of Polish Jazz musicians, faithfully educated by the bearers of the torch, Jacek Niedziela-Meira among them, took over the stage. The continuous, almost forty minutes long piece of music, which involves a classic piano trio, bass soloing and orchestral parts, is based on highly melodic themes, intertwined, meshed and weaved into a coherent fabric, which flows swiftly and completely naturally changes moods and ambiences. The solo bass parts often introduce the themes, which are then picked up and expanded by the orchestra and then suddenly, but almost expectedly, switch into swinging piano trio or solo bass parts, those in turn falling back into the orchestral setting. All of the above are not only brilliantly conceived but also exquisitely executed, with obvious panache and elegance, but above all good taste and clear aesthetic vision. This music is not specifically targeted for any genre oriented audience. It can and most probably will delight listeners, who simply love good music, regardless of its idiomatic associations. One can only hope this reaches as many appreciative people, who are able to tell great music from rubbish, as possible. Thank you Jacek for undertaking this mammoth task! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 22/08/2020Posted: 22/08/2020

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ DARK FORECAST SJ 052 (Barcode: 5902596066635) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 Polish trumpeter / composer Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist returns, undeterred by the pandemic that is changing the face of our globe, to share with us some joyful moments inspired by the music we love so much. Supported by his regular quartet, which includes top Polish Jazz musicians: pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, Schmidt presents a set of nine wonderful original compositions and two arrangements of compositions by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, which offers a highly aesthetic Jazz experience, superbly amalgamating the mainstream Jazz tradition and more open European attitudes. Two North American players, Canadian guitarist Matthew StevensFind albums by this artist and US saxophonist Walter Smith IIIFind albums by this artist, guest on six of the tracks, transforming the quartet into a quintet and spicing the proceedings with an enhanced instrumental variety. Although the majority of the music is firmly based on the beautifully weaved melodic themes, there is also plenty of space for more freely improvised playing, which characterizes contemporary Polish Jazz tendencies, clearly proving that the quartet is able to operate brilliantly in both idioms with the same ease and elegance. Attentive listening will reveal the incredible level of musicality and creativity displayed by these seasoned musicians. The quartet is by far more than just a trumpeter accompanied by a piano trio; it is an organic body performing music as one, which fully shares the responsibility for the final result. Just close your eyes and listen… The album closes with a tune called "A Place Of Hope…" which clearly reflects the universal human sentiment we all share today. Hope for times when the dark forecast will change into brightness and this and every other kind of music can be shared by thousands of people attending live concerts again… Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 17/01/2021Posted: 17/01/2021

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ SAXESFUL SJ 032 (Barcode: 5912596066658) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 What is this thing called Jazz? This question seems to reverberate for over a Century now among Jazz musicians, connoisseurs of the genre and scholars of the idiom, with the answer intractably remaining as elusive and mysterious, as the very nature of the music itself. Perhaps the splendor of Jazz is characterized by the inability to define or even properly describe it? Jazz keeps evolving and growing as an Art Form, combining its tradition with new discoveries and innovation, which soon after become part of the essence of the same Jazz idiom, in a perpetuum mobile like fashion. Polish Jazz, one of the most vital and ingenious local scenes on the world scale, which started while the country was still isolated from the rest of the world by the Iron Curtain, managed to flourish and explode artistically over the years, against all odds. Today Poland is a Jazz Super Power, leading the European Jazz scene in every aspect, all thanks to the seemingly inexhaustible influx of young and talented musicians, who treat their Jazz as seriously as their life. Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist (born 1985) is certainly one of those Polish Jazz mavericks. Not only is he well educated, talented and ambitious, but he is also a restless entrepreneur, record label owner, bandleader and educator who keeps constantly coming up with new ideas, maintaining his Jazz alive and kicking. This album is only one of such ideas, but the scale and audacity required to put such a project into life can be understood only by the cognoscenti of the Jazz scene. This album is a multilayered tribute to the Jazz tradition. It presents seven classic Jazz standards, each performed by the core quartet and featuring a different saxophonist. The list of the saxophonists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz and is also an obvious tribute to Polish Jazz itself. With their ages ranging from Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist (born 1936), Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1939), Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (born 1951), Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Adam WendtFind albums by this artist (born 1962) and finally Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1974), i.e. four generations of Polish Jazz players, they represent the incredible power and stylistic versatility of the scene. The core quartet is by no means less impressive, featuring Schmidt on trumpet, pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and Poland´s top rhythm section comprised of bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, all of which have a most impressive list of achievements under their arms. But tributes and history aside, this album is also a wonderful collection of great tunes, beautifully performed and entertaining, in the most positive meaning of the word. Jazz is, after all, also a source of unadulterated pleasure to those, who love it, and this album is certainly a concentrated dose of such pleasure. Enjoy! Adam Baruch, August 2018 Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 19/09/2018Posted: 19/09/2018

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ SAXESFUL VOL II SJ 056 (Barcode: 5902596066703) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2021 It’s not a secret that when recording an album, the producer often “thinks ahead” and takes the opportunity of the studio sessions already in place to record much more material than actually needed to complete one album. This is exactly the case with the recording sessions for the album “SaxesfulFind albums with this title”, which took place in 2018, recorded by Polish Jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader, record label owner and producer Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. Following the hiatus of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent passing of Piotr’s Father, Prof. Andrzej SchmidtFind albums by this artist, an iconic figure on the Polish Jazz scene, whom I had a great pleasure to meet many a time, Piotr decided to return to the unreleased material from the “Saxesful” sessions and release a follow up album with that material, among other things to commemorate his Father’s memory. The concept of “Saxesful” was to present a series of Polish Jazz saxophonists, each playing on a different track. This second volume does exactly the same, presenting six classic Jazz standards, each performed by the core quartet and featuring a different saxophonist. The list of the saxophonists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz and is also an obvious tribute to Polish Jazz itself. With their ages ranging from Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist (born 1936), Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1939), Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (born 1951), Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Adam WendtFind albums by this artist (born 1962) and finally Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1974), i.e. four generations of Polish Jazz players, they represent the incredible power and stylistic versatility of the scene. The core quartet is by no means less impressive, featuring Schmidt on trumpet, pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and Poland´s top rhythm section comprised of bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, all of which have a most impressive list of achievements under their arms. My Grandmother loved to quote the Polish proverb, which says: ”Those, who eat the leftovers are smooth and beautiful” (In Polish: “Kto zjada ostatki, ten jest piękny i gładki”). The meaning of this proverb is, that leftovers are as good, if not better, than the original food and should not be discarded, which applies exactly to the music on this album in every sense, and it would have been a shame to leave this music unreleased. Once again we have here a feast great classic Jazz music and first rate performances, which is a tribute to the genre itself, Polish Jazz history and tradition and a great listening experience. Enjoy! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 30/08/2021Posted: 30/08/2021

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ TRIBUTE TO TOMASZ STANKO SJ 038 (Barcode: 5912596066696) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader / entrepreneur Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve compositions, eight of which are credited to all four members of the quartet, two were composed by Schmidt and one each were composed by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist. The death of the Polish / European Jazz icon, trumpeter / composer / bandleader Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, in June of 2018, marked an end of a chapter, or rather an end of an era in European Jazz. Although in recent years many of the most prominent representatives of post WWII European Jazz sadly departed, Stanko was in many respects more than most an epitome of modern European Jazz and his life and career exemplified the most important characteristics of the idiom. His relentless search of uncharted territory, complete disregard of fads and fashions, his open-mindedness and chameleonic, often extremely dramatic changes in his stylistic approach to Jazz and above all his aesthetics, with reminded uncompromising till the very end, were all also often characteristic of many other leading European Jazz Masters, who managed to create an entirely new form of the Jazz essence, completely free of the limitations and shackles enslaving the genre in the past. Tributes are a tricky business, especially so in the case of iconic figures, which were active for decades and managed to produce not only a rich legacy of recorded music, but more importantly were constantly groundbreaking and innovative. How can a "tribute" album express a respectful and artistically coherent picture of an icon? It takes a lot of courage and determination to attempt a tribute recording, which will be meaningful and offer some intrinsic value beyond being just a reflection of the light of a Giant, with the possibility of failure always lurking in the background. Considering the fact that Stanko´s legacy was to a large extent involved with Avant-Garde, Improvised Music and Free Jazz, whereas Schmidt consistently dedicates his career to more mainstream manifestations of the Jazz idiom, always emphasizing melody, harmony, ambience and lyricism, the first reaction to the idea of Schmidt recording a Stanko tribute might be that of disbelief and surprise. But Schmidt already proved to be a mastermind of invention in the past and this time he has surely outdone himself, by finding an ingredient of Stanko´s legacy that fits like a glove to his own modus operandi. As a result Schmidt, rather than creating a "general" tribute to Stanko, decided to put the spotlight on the gentler side of the Stanko´s heritage – Stanko the charmer, the balladeer, the weaver of heartbreakingly beautiful melodies, in short Stanko the Gentle Giant. The resulting concept presents an album full of beautiful, melodic, lyrical Jazz, which strongly resembles that gentle side of Stanko that we all love, but at the same time is completely original as far as the music itself is concerned. The atmosphere and ambience of the album are wonderfully coherent and the music flows serenely penetrating directly the very soul of the listener. The decision of not using and specific tunes composed by Stanko, but creating instead music that "might have been composed" by him is of course brilliant in every respect. The quartet performing the music is ideal for the task. Garbowski and Gradziuk played with Stanko in the recent years and know his music intimately, and their position as one of the leading Polish Jazz rhythm sections is fully justified. They add the ingredients of space and freedom to the quartet´s playing, which is exactly what this music needs to make it completely unwavering and related to Stanko´s musical spirit. Niedziela is beautifully romantic and expressive, with each and every note he plays being exactly what is needed to make the overall sound perfect. Schmidt plays delightfully as well, rather sparingly and delicately, again exactly right for what this music needs. At times, with the eyes closed, his trumpet sounds exactly like Stanko´s, but obviously Schmidt is not trying to imitate Stanko´s playing but, as the entire album does, reproduce the very Stankoish ambience and spirituality. Overall this is a wonderfully executed and cleverly planned piece of music, which achieves the ambitious goal assigned to it in full. It is also a textbook example of what "tribute" albums should sound like, as well as a wonderful example of a bridge over a chasm of the infamous generation gap, which enables a smooth transition of the heritage from one generation to another. Polish Jazz at its best!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted: 23/11/2018

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PIOTR SCHMIDT / WOJCIECH NIEDZIELA ~ DARK MORNING SJ 024 (Barcode: 5912596066269) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz duo comprising of trumpeter / composer Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, nine by Niedziela, two by Schmidt and one co-composed by them both. Separated by a generation gap (Schmidt born 1985 and Niedziela born 1961), they share not only their Silesian roots, but first and foremost their deep love of Jazz music. This quite unexpected duo brings Schmidt back to his Jazz roots, which he partially abandoned lately in favor of more electric endeavors, but proves that he is definitely able to play almost completely traditionally. The music is deeply rooted in the Polish Jazz idiom, with melancholic and lyrical themes, delicately and subtly performed in perfect harmony and concord by these two superb musicians. They manage to create a full musical experience, which perfectly holds water, emphasizing the beauty and sincerity of the musical contents. The age and stylistic differences out the window, they simply perform as one symbiotic entity, complementing each other wonderfully. Schmidt´s acoustic trumpet sound is refreshing and he wisely does not avoid committing small "imperfections", which add a charm to the proceedings and testify as to its spontaneity and authenticity. Niedziela, in charge of the harmonic background and musical flow, is beautifully minimalistic and avoids being overbearing. The music is perfectly balanced between the two instruments and is a pure pleasure to listen to from start to finish. Overall this is a quiet, contemplative album, which in spite of its apparent minimalism is full of wonderful music, which is performed with elegance and deeply aesthetic devotion. For lovers of melodic mainstream Jazz, which is able to make the listener think out of the box, this album is an absolute must. Lush, velvety and sensuous, this is a small gem of an album, which happens only once in a blue moon. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 23/10/2017Posted: 23/10/2017

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LORA SZAFRAN ~ LONESOME DANCER (POLISH JAZZ VOL.76) MUZA 1076 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1989 Released: 2006 This is the excellent debut album by female Polish Jazz vocalist Lora SzafranFind albums by this artist, the best new arrival on the local scene in the 1980s in the vocal department. She was blessed with great musicality, versatility and superb vocal abilities, which are rare and precious. On this album she is accompanied by an exceptional quartet called New PresentationFind albums by this artist, consisting of the best young Polish Jazz musicians at the time: pianist / composer / leader Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, his brother bassist Jacek NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, drummer Adam CzerwinskiFind albums by this artist and the excellent trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist. Together they perform nine songs, two of which were composed by Wojciech Niedziela, two others are by other Polish composers and the rest are Jazz standards. The overall level of performance is truly excellent from start to finish and for people who love mainstream Jazz delivered with taste and virtuosity, this is a must. Side Note: This is the last album released under the "Polish Jazz" series, and as the volume number suggests the entire series consists of 76 albums released between mid-1960s and late 1980s. Some of the best European Jazz ever recorded can be found in this exceptional collection of recordings, which is often collected by Jazz fans around the world. A giant Box Set with all the 76 albums in mini-sleeve replicas would be a "dream come true" for true lovers of Polish Jazz. Hopefully soon!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ADAM WENDT AND FRIENDS ~ RHYTHM & JAZZ SOLITON 862 (Barcode: 5901571098623) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam WendtFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Zbigniew WrombelFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. American trumpeter Randy BreckerFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and guitarist Dean BrownFind albums by this artist on one track. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Wendt. The album was beautifully recorded at the RecPublica Studios and engineered by Lukasz OlejarczykFind albums by this artist and offers a truly spectacular sound, The music, as the title suggests, is all mainstream Jazz that emphasizes the Rhythm And Blues stream in American Jazz popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It is pretty astounding how American this music sounds, although it is completely "Made in Poland"! When blindfold tested this music might have been identified as a "lost" Cannonball AdderleyFind albums by this artist album. For the Jazz cognoscenti the Adderley´s great hit "Mercy, Mercy. Mercy" comes immediately to mind when this music plays, but we should remember it was written by Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist, who was as European as they come. Niedziela´s vamping on this album and his piano parts are a great tribute to Zawinul. The execution is absolutely perfect in every respect – the sound, the beat, the feel and everything else sounds like top American musicians at work. But considering the fact that these are original compositions, one can only take the hat off in full respect and admiration. Although this album does not overall offer anything new or unexpected, it presents a truthful reproduction and a tribute to the lighter side of American Jazz, with originally contributed music, which does hold its ground perfectly. For the many enthusiasts, who still love this kind of Jazz, this album is a true delight and an irrefutable proof that "White Man Can Jump", especially if they are Polish.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 29/12/2018

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JAN PTASZYN WROBLEWSKI ~ MOI PIERWSI MISTRZOWIE BOOGIE 007 (Barcode: 5903292108902) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is a live recording by one of Polish Jazz Godfathers, saxophonist / composer Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist and his sextet, which also includes trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist, pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Slawomir KurkiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist, all renowned Polish Jazz musicians. As the album´s title suggests, Wroblewski (born 1936) pays tribute to three Polish Jazz icons, with whom he played as a young musician: Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist (born 1931), Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1933) and Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist (born 1932). Sadly all three are no longer with us. Of the six tracks on the album, three were composed by Komeda, two by Trzaskowski and one by Kurylewicz. In the liner notes Wroblewski lists the many differences between these three legendary figures and his personal experiences from the encounters with them. The music is kept well within the mainstream modern Jazz idiom, perfectly and flawlessly performed by all the musicians involved, but somehow lacking the excitement and exhilaration one might expect but such classy company and such ambitious task. The arrangements of the remarkable compositions presented herein are also not in par with the expectations, especially the Komeda tunes, which sound as if they were simplified and sound way too "smooth" in comparison to their original form, as intended by the composer. Overall this is a first class collection of classic Polish Jazz compositions, played by a highly professional sextet, which sadly fails to reach the level of depth and sincerity these tunes deserve. Of course mainstream Jazz enthusiasts will find this album to be perfectly adequate, but for me a feeling of a missed opportunity is lingering as this music plays in the background. The individual solo spots, which are quite impressive in some cases, fail to save the day. I´m sure Wroblewski and his cohorts will rise to the challenge again next time.

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JAN PTASZYN WROBLEWSKI ~ ON THE ROAD VOL.1 FOR TUNE 0160 (Barcode: 5906395808755) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 - 2020 Released: 2022 As the title suggests, this is the first volume of an archival live album by the Polish Jazz Colossus and Godfather of the local Jazz scene, saxophonist / composer / bandleader Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, born in 1936. The album presents five tracks recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassists Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist or Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. The first three tracks were recorded in 2003 and the other two in 2020. Four tracks are original compositions by Wroblewski and one is a standard. The music is all mainstream oriented, combining elements of Bebop and typical Polish Jazz lyricism, based on beautiful melodic themes, which Wroblewski has been spinning for decades with great skill and craftsmanship. Despite his age, his saxophone playing remains masterful and unblemished. Although the first and the second recording are separated by seventeen years, there is no noticeable / audible difference in his performing ability. I had ample ability to hear the Master perform live during these years, and was always amazed by his longevity and imperishable gift of handling his instrument. The four musicians accompanying Wroblewski, all much younger than him, reflect the incredible level of the local talent, carrying the torch he and a few others ignited decades earlier. Their performances are all impeccable. This beautifully produced and released album is an obvious tribute to the Man behind the notes, a symbol and a living history of the Polish Jazz movement. The album’s booklet (bilingual) includes an interview with the Master, which sheds light on his personal relationship with Jazz, which is a fascinating read. Overall, this is a loving tribute to a man, who symbolizes the Polish Jazz scene for decades and who contributed enormously to its development, admired by his peers as much as the by the younger generations of Polish Jazz musicians. Luckily he can enjoy this gift of love and admiration, while still with us.

Updated: 07/01/2023Posted: 07/01/2023

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JAN PTASZYN WROBLEWSKI ~ ON THE ROAD VOL.2 FOR TUNE 0162 (Barcode: 5906395808779) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2003 - 2020 Released: 2023 As the title suggests, this is the second volume of an archival live album by the Polish Jazz Colossus and Godfather of the local Jazz scene, saxophonist / composer / bandleader Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, born in 1936. The album presents five tracks recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassists Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist, Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist or Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist. The tracks were recorded between 2003 and 2020. One track is an original composition by Wroblewski and the rest are standards. Everything I wrote about the first volume of this album (“On The Road Vol.1Find albums with this title”) still applies, so I am simply repeating it again below, in case someone reads this first. The music is all mainstream oriented, combining elements of Bebop and typical Polish Jazz lyricism, based on beautiful melodic themes, which Wroblewski has been spinning for decades with great skill and craftsmanship. Despite his age, his saxophone playing remains masterful and unblemished. Although the first and the second recording are separated by seventeen years, there is no noticeable / audible difference in his performing ability. I had ample ability to hear the Master perform live during these years, and was always amazed by his longevity and imperishable gift of handling his instrument. The five musicians accompanying Wroblewski, all much younger than him, reflect the incredible level of the local talent, carrying the torch he and a few others ignited decades earlier. Their performances are all impeccable. This beautifully produced and released album is an obvious tribute to the Man behind the notes, a symbol and a living history of the Polish Jazz movement. Overall, this is a loving tribute to a man, who symbolizes the Polish Jazz scene for decades and who contributed enormously to its development, admired by his peers as much as the by the younger generations of Polish Jazz musicians. Luckily he can enjoy this gift of love and admiration, while still with us.

Updated: 01/06/2023Posted: 01/06/2023

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend