Record Reviews

JOANNA DUDA ~ KEEN ALPAKA 008 (Barcode: 193428487826) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Electronic Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the second album by Polish keyboardist / composer / electronic music artist Joanna DudaFind albums by this artist, this time recorded solo. It features a collage of sounds created using acoustic piano and prepared piano, electronically generated sounds and human voices. The album presents nine tracks, all played, composed and produced by Duda. Although Duda can play "conventional" music, for example when she plays with Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist´s ensemble, this album is dedicated to her more experimental / Avant-Garde side, which offers little melody based music and exposes the listener to her intimate inner world of sounds, which resembles imaginary soundtracks of Science Fiction movies or sound vistas by early electronic composers like Charles IvesFind albums by this artist or Edgar VareseFind albums by this artist and later Pierre SchaefferFind albums by this artist or Pierre HenryFind albums by this artist. With just fragmented tones or short phrases, repeated by loops and other electronic devices, these collages are more about stimulating the listener´s cerebral cortex than his heart, and for the Avant-Garde prone brave hearted listeners can be a marvelous experience. Duda should be admired for her uncompromising and unconventional approach to music and her courage to pursue her heart rather than seeking easy solutions and mainstream recognition. This album is an example of her determination to follow the path less travelled, inviting open-minded listeners to share her world with them. Personally I find this music fascinating and engaging, but obviously it is not destined to reach a wide circle of listeners, which is the price Avant-Garde Artists are ready to accept in return for their independence and personal fulfillment. Definitely highly recommended to people with wide horizons!

Updated: 03/01/2020Posted: 03/01/2020

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LION VIBRATIONS ~ LION VIBRATIONS & FRIENDS V 005 (Barcode: 5903111377052) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is a wonderful album by veteran Polish Reggae ensemble Lion VibrationsFind albums by this artist recorded with guests, which presents an ambitious and completely unique amalgam of Reggae and Jazz. The ensemble members, many of which are familiar names on the Polish Jazz scene as well, and their guests perform eleven songs, ten of which are Jazz standards, some of them with new lyrics in Polish, and one is an original song. Beautifully and cleverly arranged these songs preserve the Reggae rhythmic patterns, but become a synthesis of Jazz, Funk and Soul, which is very rarely heard anywhere else. The list of participating guests includes some of the top Polish Jazz & Pop names, like vocalists Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, Kamil BednarekFind albums by this artist, Natalia NiemenFind albums by this artist and others, saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist (his son and daughter in law are members of the ensemble) and bassist Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist. The album is full of fabulous instrumental solos and not too shabby vocals and altogether is a wonderful example of intelligent and sophisticated music that is also brilliant fun to listen to. Thanks to the excellent arrangements, the familiar standards sound completely natural in the Reggae setting, which is perhaps the album´s greatest success. Albums like these are great examples of the cross genre approach, which is able to achieve superb results and prove again and again that music knows no borders and talent and dedication are what matters. This album should be accessible to the majority of musical audiences, regardless of the age brackets and people who are able to open up to unusual ideas will have a great time listening to it. Excellent idea and perfect execution!

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WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI ~ GRZYBOBRANIE UNIVERSAL 602517939738 (Barcode: 602517939738) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 This is the debut solo album by Polish bassist / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, well-known as the founder / leader of the legendary Polish Jazz ensemble Pink FreudFind albums by this artist, which managed to achieve considerable success on the local and international scene. He is supported on this album by a group of musicians, who were at the time members of Pink Freud or were associated with the group in one way or another. They are: trumpeters Kamil SzuszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and Tomasz ZietekFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Irek WojtczakFind albums by this artist and Tomasz DudaFind albums by this artist, pianist Marcin MaseckiFind albums by this artist and his wife Candelaria Saenz ValienteFind albums by this artist, who provided the vocal parts, drummer Kuba StaruszkiewiczFind albums by this artist and percussionist Lukasz MoskalFind albums by this artist. The album includes nine tracks, which although not specifically accredited to Mazolewski on the album´s cover, are his compositions. Recorded shortly after the excellent "AlchemiaFind albums with this title" album, which Mazolewski recorded with Pink Freud, this solo album is in many respects a continuation of the musical direction initiated there, i.e. a return to highly improvised Jazz. The music is not completely free and is based on pre-composed motifs, but with a lot of freedom awarded to the individual musicians, leading to lengthy expanded improvisations. Being very atmospheric, it develops slowly from delicate hints and low volume statements, gradually arriving at magnificent crescendos, with all the musicians playing together. There are many World-Music influences, some more obvious than others, like the distinctive Flamenco feel on the pieces featuring the Spanish vocals, which Candelaria delivers with a chilling sensitivity. Although all the performances on this album are truly outstanding, I personally think that the work done by Masecki is the dominant factor, which turns this music from excellent to absolutely brilliant. The piano parts just keep everything together, filling the blanks and hinting towards the possible directions to be taken by the entire ensemble. Although not really up-front most of the time, his contribution is simply invaluable. This is a complex album, which requires several (if not many) listening session in order to truly digest it and to appropriately comprehend its depth as well as appreciate its beauty. Regardless of one´s favorite Jazz sub-genre, there is definitely something for everybody here, without compromising the quality or musical truthfulness herein. This is something no serious Polish Jazz lover should ignore, so if you don´t have it yet, get it as soon as possible. This stuff is timeless and although only a few years old, already feels like a classic.

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WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI QUINTET ~ BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WMQ 09 (Barcode: 5908252861705) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the 6th album by Polish bassist / composer / bandleader Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist and his quintet, which current lineup includes Slovak trumpeter Oskar TorokFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, pianist Marcel BalinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tymoteusz PapiorFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Tymek PapiorFind albums by this artist). The album presents ten tracks, nine of which are original compositions by Mazolewski and one is co-credited to all the members of the quintet. Two of the compositions are repeated twice in different versions and the last track is annotated as a “bonus track” (bonus to what?). The music follows the established pattern of the quintet’s previous albums, with solid melodic compositions and excellent performances by the quintet members, but in the long run the album, as nice as it sounds, adds nothing new to the cumulative output, which means that a strong déjà vu feeling is in the air, for listeners who faithfully follow the quintet’s output. That said, this is still a very pleasant listening experience and for Polish Jazz lovers, who enjoy the melancholic lyricism and the acoustic Jazz sound, this is as good as it gets. Overall, this is another well played and pleasing Jazz experience, which can be universally enjoyed, without being groundbreaking or innovative.

Updated: 05/01/2025Posted: 05/01/2025

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WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI QUINTET ~ LIVE POLKA NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is a live recording by Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist and his quintet, which presents live versions of the material recorded for his last studio album entitled "PolkaFind albums with this title". The lineup is not listed on the album´s minimal packaging, so one must assume that it is the same as the lineup which recorded the studio album. The album presents just three compositions from the studio album, with the title track repeated twice, one time lasting for over nineteen minutes and the second time for almost twenty six minutes. These live versions are dramatically different from the concise studio versions and show the quintet stretching out and playing extensive solo sections, group improvisations and trance like repetitions, which are absent from the studio album. In short this album could be seen as "the other side" of "Polka". Of course a live album always turns the attention of the listener to the individual players checking out their chops and technical skills. Although these musicians are experienced and talented, they definitely are not up to the challenge to keep the listener captivated for extended periods of time and the album fails in that respect. If one wants listen to long solo bass solos, there are plenty of other bassists to choose from. Perhaps shorter pieces would have worked better? In addition the sound quality of the album is rather hollow and unfocused, which does not help. The album also shows the punkish attitude of Mazolewski towards his listeners, a hype he has been demonstrating since his Punk and Yass days, which honestly is passé today. The charm of being rebellious works for a while, but eventually what the musician has to offer artistically should kick in, which in Mazolewski´s case somehow does not happen too often lately It is difficult to understand what the reasoning behind releasing this album was. If it means to serve as an invitation to the quintet´s live shows, it is definitely not the best advertisement that could have been chosen. This album and the latest Pink FreudFind albums by this artist album both find Mazolewski away from his best days that are well remembered.

Updated: 05/01/2025Posted: 28/05/2016

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WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI QUINTET ~ POLKA AGORA 9788326813801 (Barcode: 9788326813801) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 - 2014 Released: 2014 This is the third album by Polish Jazz bassists / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist and his quintet, which also includes Slovak trumpeter Oskar TorokFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marek PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Joanna DudaFind albums by this artist and drummers Qba JanickiFind albums by this artist and Michal BryndalFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve compositions (one repeated twice), six of which are originals by Mazolewski, two are originals by Duda, one is credited to the entire quintet and three are covers. The music on this album was written over a long period of time and reflects the personal life of the leader and the touring experiences by his quintet, as well as their musical preferences. It is a mixed bag of various influences, including Jazz but not necessarily strictly connected with Jazz, as usual with Mazolewski´s albums. His tap-dance between Jazz and more popular Pop & Rock idioms seem to work miracles during the quintet´s live shows, which are extremely well attended by enthusiastic audiences, but it does not translate that well into albums, like this one, which are a mixed, unfocused bag. Of course these are top-notch players, especially Duda, who displays a remarkable ability to adopt her playing to the various musical environments present herein and sets her own voice in her compositions. The sound is smooth and likeable as is the music and overall this album is a lot of fun to listen to, but leaves very little of an afterthought. The album is beautifully packaged in a fancy digibook format, with great photos and Mazolewski´s reflections about the music. BTW the work "Polka" has a double meaning: a Folk dance (of Czech origin) and a Polish female person; a dichotomy Mazolewski explores in detail. I had a lot fun listening to this album but at the same time, as with all albums by Mazolewski, I feel a bit cheated, always getting a bit less than I hoped for. Some music simply does sound better live…

Updated: 05/01/2025Posted:

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WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI QUINTET ~ SMELLS LIKE TAPE SPIRIT MYSTIC (PL) 163 (Barcode: 5903427874627) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz quintet led by bassist / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, who is a well known figure on the local scene way beyond the Jazz circles, mostly as a member of several Rock groups and later a founding member of the top Polish group Pink FreudFind albums by this artist. Obviously, this album presents an attempt to create a “serious” Jazz album in the splendid tradition of the Polish Jazz heritage, which in fact is by and large quite successful. Carefully composed, arranged and beautifully played, the album is mostly melancholic and lyrical, very melodic and full of internal tension, which is extremely effective. The quintet includes Slovak trumpeter Oskar TorokFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marek PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Joanna DudaFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal BryndalFind albums by this artist, all excellent and very sensitive players. The music was mostly composed or co-composed by Mazolewski, with one track credited to the entire ensemble and two tracks composed by the pianist. In his liner notes Mazolewski makes clear how he longed to return to the double bass and play Jazz again (he mostly plays electric bass) and explains how this music was influenced by the arrival of his first-born son. He also credits his partners in the quintet for contributing to the final result, and so he should, as it definitely is a group effort. Overall it is a beautiful album, which gives the listener a truly satisfactory listening experience, at least until the last (bonus?) track of the album, which states the obvious: “White men can’t jump and they can’t play reggae either”. Highly recommended!

Updated: 05/01/2025Posted:

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WOJTEK MAZOLEWSKI QUINTET ~ WOJTEK W CZECHOSLOWACJI MYSTIC (PL) 195 (Barcode: 5903427875198) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd album by the Polish Jazz quintet led by bassist / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, who is a well known figure on the local scene way beyond the Jazz circles, mostly as a member of several Rock groups and later a founding member of the top Polish group Pink FreudFind albums by this artist. The quintet includes Slovak trumpeter Oskar TorokFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marek PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Joanna DudaFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal BryndalFind albums by this artist, all excellent and very sensitive players. The music was mostly composed or co-composed by Mazolewski, with four tracks credited to the entire ensemble and one track composed by the pianist. One additional track was contributed by Polish DJ Maceo WyroFind albums by this artist, who participates in the recording with his electronic effects and another one is by famous Jamaican reggae artist Max RomeoFind albums by this artist. In contrast to the quintet’s previous album (“Smells Like Tape SpiritFind albums with this title”) this one is quite confusing. The confusion starts right with the album’s title (the Czechoslovak connection being a mystery) and continues throughout the album’s content, which includes several re-makes of compositions already present on the last album and new compositions, which are stylistically quite remote from earlier material. Of course the album has its moments and such high-class musicians can definitely play well, but the overall disorder, lack of direction or aesthetic unity makes it more difficult to enjoy. Of course it’s entirely possible that Mazolewski knows exactly what he’s doing and it’s only me missing the point? Investigate at your own risk!

Updated: 05/01/2025Posted:

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PINK FREUD ~ ALCHEMIA UNIVERSAL 602517578845 (Barcode: 602517578845) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 This is the 6th album by Polish ensemble Pink FreudFind albums by this artist, which managed to gain considerable popularity on the local scene, both with Jazz and non-Jazz listeners and critics alike. Formed in 1998 by bassist / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, the group changed its lineup several times over the years but succeeded to maintain its popularity and gradually achieved a cult following and a large fan base. Musically the group offers a unique amalgam of genres and musical directions, originating with Jazz and improvisation, but also encompassing elements of Punk Rock, dub, jungle, drum and bass and electronic music. In many respects it is a direct continuation of the Yass movement, which flourished in Poland in the 1990s, and could be referred to as post-Yass. Since Yass was initially intended as an expression of rebellion against the established Jazz canons, which many young musicians felt to be stagnant, post-Yass took the rebellion a bit further out, emphasizing the cross-genre trend, groove and even dance elements, which resulted in the music being much more widely accessible. As opposed to the intellectual image that Jazz is usually associated with, this music is intelligent fun music, with some Jazz associations, and should be treated as such, no more and no less. This album, which was recorded live at the legendary Jazz club "Alchemia" in Krakow, finds Pink Freud in an expanded quintet lineup, with trumpeter Tomasz ZietekFind albums by this artist and drummer Kuba StaruszkiewiczFind albums by this artist supported by saxophonist Tomasz DudaFind albums by this artist (who recorded with the group earlier) and brilliant young keyboardist Marcin MaseckiFind albums by this artist. Five of the six expanded tracks (all over 10 minutes long) on this album are originals by the band members and the remaining one is their interpretation of a Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist tune. In many respects this album is a "back to the roots" experience for the band, which returns to extensive Jazz improvisation, which although always present at the root of their music, was often subdued on their previous albums. The special atmosphere and ambience of the club and above all the presence of Masecki transform the band into a full-fledged Jazz combo and a great one at that. The trumpet / saxophone front line enables the players to stretch out, supported comfortably by a full rhythm section, with Masecki supplying some breathtaking solo spots as well. The emotional and more importantly musical level of the band heard here surpasses everything they managed to achieve earlier, and is truly exquisite. True to their basic approach, the band emphasizes personal expression and spontaneity rather that elaborate skills or scholarly musical background. For listeners, who can appreciate such approach to music, this is quite an experience. But this music is important enough to be heard by any music connoisseur and definitely should be re-visited for in-depth listening experience. Great stuff!

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PINK FREUD ~ HORSE & POWER UNIVERSAL 602537026203 (Barcode: 602537026203) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the 8th album by Polish ensemble Pink FreudFind albums by this artist, one of the country´s top acts both in the Jazz and non-Jazz spheres. Formed in 1998 by bassist / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, the group changed its lineup several times over the years but succeeded to maintain its popularity and gradually achieved a cult following and a large fan base home and abroad. This album was recorded in a new quartet lineup, which features, alongside the leader, trumpeter Adam Milwiw-BaronFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tomasz DudaFind albums by this artist and for the first time new drummer Rafal KlimczukFind albums by this artist. All the ten tracks on this album are original compositions by the group members with Mazolewski being credited or co-credited for all but one composition. In full contrast to their last album ("Monster Of JazzFind albums with this title"), recorded almost three years earlier, this album is a complete stylistic "about face", marking the group´s return to almost acoustic Jazz, with the electronic, dub and other non-Jazz elements completely gone. Of course this is still Pink Freud, with their unique brand of post-Yass, characterized by non-Jazz rhythm patterns, nonchalant treatment of chord changes and other signs of the "coolness" poise, but also full of passion and surprising ventures into Free Jazz soloing and funky bass parts, all of these happening out of the blue, which of course is absolutely marvelous, if one likes such atypical musical approach. And those great melodies, which were almost completely lost on the preceding album, are back, haunting the listener, turning him into a humming zombie. People familiar with Mazolewski´s activities should not be taken by complete surprise by this album, since his excellent solo album "Smells Like Tape SpiritFind albums with this title", released in between the two last Pink Freud albums, already hinted as to the return of the prodigal son to Jazz. So here we have a group that changes like the proverbial chameleon, adopting to contemporary developments and returning to the tradition, and yet managing to keep their musical originality and integrity intact, which is definitely a great accomplishment. Above all, this music, apart for its quality, intelligent compositions and excellent execution, manages to be such fun. Imagine hearing this stuff live and one can understand why the group mesmerizes audiences all over the world taking no prisoners. So regardless if this music is driven by horse power, steam power or nuclear power, it is worthy of music connoisseurs attention and should not be missed, for fun´s sake. Brilliant stuff!

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PINK FREUD ~ MONSTER OF JAZZ UNIVERSAL 602527377025 (Barcode: 602527377025) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is the 7th album by Polish ensemble Pink FreudFind albums by this artist, which managed to gain considerable popularity on the local scene, both with Jazz and non-Jazz listeners and critics alike. Formed in 1998 by bassist / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, the group changed its lineup several times over the years but succeeded to maintain its popularity and gradually achieved a cult following and a large fan base. Musically the group offers a unique amalgam of genres and musical directions, originating with Jazz and improvisation, but also encompassing elements of Punk Rock, dub, jungle, drum and bass and electronic music. In many respects it is a direct continuation of the Yass movement, which flourished in Poland in the 1990s, and could be referred to as post-Yass. Since Yass was initially intended as an expression of rebellion against the established Jazz canons, which many young musicians felt to be stagnant, post-Yass took the rebellion a bit further out, emphasizing the cross-genre trend, groove and even dance elements, which resulted in the music being much more widely accessible. As opposed to the intellectual image that Jazz is usually associated with, this music is intelligent fun music, with some Jazz associations, and should be treated as such, no more and no less. This album was recorded by an expanded sextet version of the group, which includes, apart from the leader, trumpeters Adam Milwiw-BaronFind albums by this artist (son of the great Polish saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist) and Tomasz ZietekFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Tomasz DudaFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Jerzy RogiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Kuba StaruszkiewiczFind albums by this artist. Of all the Pink Freud albums, this is the most "radical" one, with the electronics, dub and jungle elements taking the lead, pushing the Jazz improvisations aside considerably. As a result this album will be probably the least "appealing" to listeners with a strong Jazz background. Of the twelve tracks present on the album, eleven are original compositions by the group members and the remaining one was adopted from a composition by the British electronic duo AutechreFind albums by this artist, a choice which hints as to the general direction of this album. Although there is plenty of inspired blowing by the horns, the overall mood is somewhat hectic and lacks a clear musical direction. There is an apparent absence of well formed melody lines, which characterized the groups´ earlier outings. As much as the group´s intention to continue their restless journey in search of new expressions is commendable and admirable, it often is a treacherous path which could lead to disaster if moderation is not applied. One must hope that they will re-invent themselves anew with their future efforts, leaving this one behind as a document of their quest. Of course there is plenty of music here to be enjoyed and the album is worth listening to, even if one somehow expects something more from such a great group.

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PINK FREUD ~ PLAYS AUTECHRE MYSTIC (PL) 294 (Barcode: 5903427879066) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 Four years after their previous album Polish group Pink FreudFind albums by this artist, led by bassist Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, hits the market with their ninth album, dedicated, as the title suggests, to the music of the British electronic music duo AutechreFind albums by this artist. Although the album´s booklet gives absolutely no information about the recording or even the band´s current lineup, which of course is sloppy, arrogant and plain stupid, a short research on the web will tell us that this is a live recording and the remaining members of the group are trumpeter Adam Milwiw-BaronFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Karol GolaFind albums by this artist and drummer Rafal KlimczukFind albums by this artist. They perform eight pieces composed by Autechre. What the booklet does include is a lengthy rant by Mazolewski, who tells the listeners how this album is a realization of a dream, which he has been planning since many years and why he thinks Autechre are the next best thing to silence. Personally I find the music of Autechre terribly boring and comparing them to John ColtraneFind albums by this artist or Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist is a cultural sacrilege Following the good advice of "don´t judge the book by the cover" I was ready to disregard the shortcomings of the album´s booklet, giving the music a fair chance, but alas to no avail. The music is simply going nowhere, repeating the simplistic, mechanical rhythmic patterns ad nauseam and saying very little. Milwiw-Baron is of course a very talented player and I have always enjoyed his performances, but he is by far not able to save this album by himself. Contrary to the hopes that we all developed about Pink Freud returning to playing Jazz, this album takes us again off the target. This repetitive and dull music lacks everything that Jazz stands for: originality, aesthetics and innovation. Better luck next time.

Updated: 13/05/2016Posted: 13/05/2016

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PINK FREUD ~ PUNK FREUD UNIVERSAL 602517235328 (Barcode: 602517235328) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2008 This is the 5th album (and the first on UniversalFind albums on this label) by Polish ensemble Pink FreudFind albums by this artist, which managed to gain considerable popularity on the local scene, both with Jazz and non-Jazz listeners and critics alike. Formed in 1998 by bassist / composer Wojtek MazolewskiFind albums by this artist, the group changed its lineup several times over the years but succeeded to maintain its popularity and gradually achieved a cult following and a large fan base. Musically the group offers a unique amalgam of genres and musical directions, originating with Jazz and improvisation, but also encompassing elements of Punk Rock, dub, jungle, drum and bass and electronic music. In many respects it is a direct continuation of the Yass movement, which flourished in Poland in the 1990s, and could be referred to as post-Yass. Since Yass was initially intended as an expression of rebellion against the established Jazz canons, which many young musicians felt to be stagnant, post-Yass took the rebellion a bit further out, emphasizing the cross-genre trend, groove and even dance elements, which resulted in the music being much more widely accessible. As opposed to the intellectual image that Jazz is usually associated with, this music is intelligent fun music, with some Jazz associations, and should be treated as such, no more and no less. On this album Pink Freud appear as trio with the leader and two other founding members: trumpeter Tomasz ZietekFind albums by this artist and drummer Kuba StaruszkiewiczFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Tomasz DudaFind albums by this artist appears on five of the ten tracks and two female strings players guest on two of the tracks. Nine of the ten tracks on this album are original compositions by the participants and the last track is their interpretation of a Charles MingusFind albums by this artist tune. The music is a typical Pink Freud mix of musical ideas, stylistically all over the place, but unified by the highly energetic and expressive delivery. The music definitely retains the rebellious spirit and often lacks the precision and flawlessness a Jazz fan might expect, but one must not forget this music is not about these qualities at all and therefore should not be judged by them. The ultimate question is the overall impression and effect this music has on a listener and if it is successful to make the listener spend an hour having fun while listening, it achieved its goal. Let´s make no mistakes here; parts of this music are quite complex and advanced, requiring attentive listening and seriously challenging the listener´s ear. Some listeners will mentally "skip" these parts at first, but might (hopefully) discover them later. Regardless of what one might think about Pink Freud and their music, one thing is sure: they can not be ignored. Definitely worth investigating!

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