Record Reviews

GRAAL ~ CZARNE 13 FOR TUNE 0059 (Barcode: 5902768701630) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2015 This is the sixth album by the cult Polish ensemble GraalFind albums by this artist, founded and led by the legendary trumpeter / composer / bandleader Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist, who is also known for his involvement in such pivotal Polish ensembles as Free CooperationFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist, Tie BreakFind albums by this artist, Woo Boo DooFind albums by this artist, YesheFind albums by this artist and others. This album, recorded four years before it finally gets to be released, presents ten songs, all composed by Gralak and the ensemble with lyrics by the ensemble´s vocalist Jacek SzymkiewiczFind albums by this artist. Two radio edits of two of the songs on this album are added as bonus tracks. In addition to Gralak, who also plays tuba and Szymkiewicz, who also plays acoustic guitar, the other members of Graal are: trombonist Bronek DuzyFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Klaudiusz KlosekFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Aleksander KoreckiFind albums by this artist and Marek PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Locko RichterFind albums by this artist, drummers Ola RzepkaFind albums by this artist and Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist and finally tuba and trombone player Darek SprawkaFind albums by this artist; altogether ten musicians. The music of Graal is a strange amalgam of Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion, with elements of cabaret and theatrics. The "songs" are often full of dramatic exclamations and theatrical displays of emotion, and the "free" lyrics add to the overall atmosphere of "controlled anarchy". The huge brass section sounds at times like a street marching band, or Balkan brass ensemble, or typical Brass-Rock section, constantly changing its ambiance. The sound is rather muffled and often creates an impression of a live recording. The rhythm section sets a groovy paste, with funky bass guitar in charge of the bottom parts and the drums keeping the mayhem in check. The lead vocals are always up front and the brass is always in the background, which makes the solo parts somewhat less prominent in the overall sound, but those are all well worth being discovered by careful listening. The solitary instrumental piece on this album is perhaps the most powerful glimpse to the essence of this ensemble, with the multilayered brass parts creating a mini-suite which is both beautifully organized and free at the same time; a wonderful example of contemporary music. Gralak has a gift of creating stuff, which is always unique and exists outside of the Polish Jazz / Fusion scenes, being a typical Lone Ranger. This music simply creates a universe of its own, which is incomparable to anything else happing on the local scene or anywhere else for that matter. Since this is a typical ensemble project, there are few displays of Gralak´s virtuosic ability as a trumpeter, but it is his leadership that holds this project together. Whether one loves or hates this music, one thing is sure: it´s impossible to say indifferent to it, which is already a huge achievement in comparison to most of the music created today. Gralak is one of those people who make the Polish music scene worth following and admiring!

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ANTONI GRALAK ~ GANGA AUDIO CAVE 2017/011 (Barcode: 5905669566377) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is an album by renowned Polish trumpeter / composer / bandleader Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist, one of the most colorful and fascinating figures on the independent / Avant Garde / anti establishment Polish music scene, who participated in many musical projects like Tie BreakFind albums by this artist, Free CooperationFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist, GraalFind albums by this artist, YesheFind albums by this artist and others. Completely unpredictably, as always, this album finds Gralak, who plays trumpet, bass guitar and keyboards, in the company of three Indian musicians who play tabla, sitar and shehnai (Indian reed instrument) respectively and Polish percussionist Zbigniew BrysiakFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Gralak. The music is heavily influenced by ethnic Indian musical motifs, incorporating Jazz improvisations, Drum & Bass, electronics and other elements, creating a fascinating amalgam of melodies and rhythms, which sounds exotic, vibrant and exciting. The folkloristic, innate to Indian music, improvisations intertwine with Gralak´s Jazzy playing quite naturally and create a cross-cultural dialogue. Parts of this music bring forward a reminiscence of the Miles DavisFind albums by this artist sessions featuring Badal RoyFind albums by this artist, which also showed some Indian influence, albeit much more subtle than here. Of course Indian music is never simplistic and its meditative nature requires attentive listening and submission, which is not easy to a Western ear, even when slightly dressed up in Western ornament. Some listeners might find this music somewhat monotonic in the long range, but hopefully the majority will be able to embrace it and enjoy it in full, as it surely deserves to reach as many listeners as possible. Overall the album shows another facet of the multitude of Gralak´s talents and musical worlds, which always was his personal signature. The restless search for new discoveries and diverse environments is the trademark of progress in Art in general and in music in particular, and Gralak deserves the title of the Great Wanderer probably more than most of his Polish contemporaries. If anybody can sit still while listening to this album, he is either in coma or dead already ;)

Updated: 17/12/2018Posted: 21/03/2018

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OLES BROTHERS / ANTONI GRALAK ~ PRIMITIVO FOR TUNE 0118 (Barcode: 5906395808212) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz trio comprising of bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist) and trumpeter Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist, known as member of such Polish cult ensembles as Free CooperationFind albums by this artist, GraalFind albums by this artist, YesheFind albums by this artist, Tie BreakFind albums by this artist and Young PowerFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten pieces, three of which are based on traditional folkloristic motifs, one is a collective improvisation, two are composed by Gralak, one is composed by Bartlomiej Oles, one is co-composed by Marcin Oles and Gralak and two are compositions by others. The music, as the title suggests, is a very fascinating journey exploring early, or so called "primitive" music, which naturally deals with basic human emotions, like sadness and joy, as reflected in contemporary musical environment of Jazz and Improvised Music. The folkloristic themes originate mostly from Africa - the cradle of Man – but venture also as far as Tibet and Mexico. The modus operandi in these sessions relays completely on the ability of the three musicians to converse and express their "primitive" emotions towards each other, based on whatever thematic sub-context was chosen for each of the pieces. This cooperation with Gralak takes the Oles Brother back in time to the period when they cooperated closely with another Polish trumpet legend, Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, who died six years ago (in 2011). Therefore the setting of trumpet accompanied only by a rhythm section is not a new concept to them. Gralak, accidently (or maybe not) shows many similarities in his playing and general attitude towards music to those displayed by the late Przybielski. Even the tone of his trumpet brings immediate fond memories of Przybielski´s work. In any case it´s great to see the older generation of Polish Jazz Trumpet School alive and kicking. This album is very intimate and does not pretend to dazzle or swap anybody off their feet. It does however propose a serious re-examination of what the essential elements of music are and what can be considered as superficial worthless deception that often pretends to be the real thing. Oles Brothers have always taken their music seriously, and this time is no different. Listeners willing to explore new (albeit in fact very old) territory will find this album fascinating in every respect: the musical choices, the candor of the attitude and of course the perfection of execution. Fans of the trumpet should expect a revelation, and if this is the first album they hear with Gralak on it, they will surely try to find his other work. Overall wholeheartedly recommended, as usual with Oles Brothers projects, when buying an album is completely risk-free!

Updated: 03/02/2017Posted: 03/02/2017

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KRZYSZTOF POPEK ~ FRESH AIR PROJECT POWER BROS 00197 (Barcode: 5906295856610) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 - 2016 Released: 2016 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz flautist / composer Krzysztof PopekFind albums by this artist, which breaks his seven years long period of silence. It was recorded in a sextet setting with Polish trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, Romanian saxophonist Nicolas SimionFind albums by this artist and an American rhythm section: pianist George CablesFind albums by this artist, bassist Cameron BrownFind albums by this artist and drummer Victor LewisFind albums by this artist. Together they perform seven pieces, of which just one is an original by Popek and another is a short outro by Cables and the remaining five are standards. As the lineup suggests, the music is typical mainstream Jazz, which has almost nothing to do with Polish or European Jazz, and is soaked in American tradition with a very predictable results. Although these are excellent musicians, the music they perform offers no intellectual challenge whatsoever to the listener. There are plenty of great instrumental passages, especially Simion´s bass clarinet parts, but again nothing outstanding, which does not appear on almost every CD recorded in the US. Popek´s flute still sounds beautifully romantic, but the instrumental performances alone are simply not enough to make this album exceptional. I still hold fond memories of Popek´s work as the leader of the legendary Young PowerFind albums by this artist, which I´d rather listen to than to this album. Overall this is a highly professional post Bebop mainstream album, well recorded and pleasurable, but not different from thousands of other similar albums of this type.

Updated: 28/02/2017Posted: 28/02/2017

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TIE BREAK ~ TIE BREAK (BOX SET) NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1984 - 1995 Released: 2014 This incredible Box Set is a long overdue tribute and homage to Tie BreakFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s most important ensembles in the country´s modern music history, a cult phenomenon known mostly only to insiders and a cradle of the Polish rebellious musical underground, which kept the flame of uncompromised Artistic expression burning for decades, while the rest of the scene was drowning in opportunistic nothingness and anticultural shite. Of course analyzing the importance of Tie Break is impossible without explaining the political, social, economic and historical background of Poland during the period spanning about three decades from the early 1970s to the late 1990s, which is the period when the ensemble was active in one form or another. However, as usual, a scope of a music review is definitely way too limited to even attempt such a challenging task, therefore my references to these subjects will be naturally limited. It is important to remember that these were the most tumultuous years for the Polish People, and amongst them Polish Artists, which saw a gradual but dramatic transformation from the darkest pits of Socialist Regime to a free Democratic society, a process of unparalleled National trauma and Social upheaval. Tie Break hails from Czestochowa, a provincial Polish town (which happens to be the birthplace of my Father), famous as one of Poland´s most important religious centers, with the Pauline Monastery of Jasna Gora and its Black Madonna painting drawing millions of Catholic pilgrims every year from the world over. Even during the darkest times of the Socialist Regime the town kept being flooded by pilgrims, to the dismay of the ruling party officials. In order to change the town´s image a huge steel mill and other industrial enterprises were constructed in the area, which caused a rapid expansion of the town (and of course massive pollution). In retrospect Czestochowa had its share of unholy activities, with dozens of Beat and Rock groups active in the city since the late 1960s, and the early days of Tie Break are largely a result of this background, leading to the formation of the ensemble in the late 1970s. Music was, after all, a most popular method of escapism for young people living at the time on both sides of the Iron Curtain. The need to escape reality was as strong in the case of deep economic depression in the West as it was in the case of oppressive ideology in the East. The group went through many personnel changes during its early days, but eventually the core crystallized around four musicians: trumpeter Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mateusz PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Janusz Yanina IwanskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Marcin PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist. The booklet accompanying this Box Set lists twenty three musicians, who cooperated with the ensemble for various periods of time over the years. The music of Tie Break was a completely unique and immediately recognizable amalgam of Rock, Funk, Jazz, Avant-Garde and World Music influences, which was light-years ahead of its time and kept developing constantly during the time of its existence. In parallel to their activities with Tie Break, the ensemble members also took part in other revolutionary enterprises on the local scene, like the legendary Free CooperationFind albums by this artist ensemble or the Young PowerFind albums by this artist ensemble, and appeared under different monikers playing more Rock oriented material, such as the SvoraFind albums by this artist group with vocalist Stanislaw SojkaFind albums by this artist or the WooBooDooFind albums by this artist group. And yet in spite of their obvious talents and brilliant music-making the musicians of Tie Break and the ensemble itself were left to vegetate on the very outskirts of the local scene, with obvious animosity and dislike from almost everybody connected to the music scene: media, record labels, press and even fellow Jazz musicians, especially those mainstream veterans who felt threatened by their innovative and uncompromising approach to music. Tie Break had to wait for over ten years to record their debut album, the eponymous live album recorded in 1988 and released a year later, and recorded only four proper albums altogether during their career. Although their music was mostly instrumental, they used sometimes lyrics in an imaginary gibberish language. Their fourth and last album was an outstanding Jazz & Poetry project, which featured the great vocalist of Greek origin, Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, singing poems written by the priest / poet Jan TwardowskiFind albums by this artist. Listening to the music of Tie Break brings on in retrospect the obvious influences that shaped the ensemble´s creations: first and foremost the improvisational freedom of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, which seems to be the most significant ingredient linking the ensemble members, but there are also obvious shades of the late Miles DavisFind albums by this artist bands with their heavy Funk, as well as contemplative Indian music, tribal chants and other folkloristic elements. And of course above all there is the omnipresent spice of craziness, madness, artistic folly and zaniness, which turn the music from being just great into being divine. Some music critics credit Tie Break for being precursors of Yass, but personally I don´t support this line of thought. Yass was motivated mainly by protest and revolt against old ways (of Jazz), whereas Tie Break were simply inventing new Jazz in a most positive way they could think off, in complete disregard of commercialism, opportunism and fads of fashion, as appropriate for true anarchists, and as most anarchist they never achieved fame and fortune, but they managed to expand the borders of our culture more than most others, for which they deserve our eternal gratitude. This Box Set includes remastered versions of the four Tie Break albums and three additional CDs with archive and radio recordings by Tie Break, Svora and WooBooDoo. Beautifully packaged and accompanied by a gorgeous booklet with original artwork and in-depth interviews with Tie Break members, this is obviously a labor of love and finally a much deserved retrospective of one of Poland´s most meaningful musical contributors. This is an absolute must to any serious Polish Jazz or Polish Culture connoisseur.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 7 Digipak Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ZBIGNIEW JAKUBEK AFRO VIBE 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2013 - 2023 Released: 2023 This is a 2CD album paying tribute to Polish Jazz keyboardist / composer / arranger Zbigniew JakubekFind albums by this artist, a prominent figure on the Polish Jazz scene for many decades and member of such ensembles like Walk AwayFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist and others. Jakubek recorded many albums with the groups he was a member of, as well as a sideman in numerous projects with other top Polish Jazz musicians, but sadly never managed to record a solo album as a leader. Following his death in May 2023, guitarist / composer Marek RaduliFind albums by this artist, who was a close friend of Jakubek, undertook this splendid project to record an album with original music by Jakubek, with the help of many of the musicians Jakubek played with, such as bassists Michal GrottFind albums by this artist, Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist, Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist, drummers Michal DabrowkaFind albums by this artist, Wojciech FedkowiczFind albums by this artist and Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist, vibraphonist Bernard MaseliFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents ten tracks (five on each CD), nine of which are original compositions of Jakubek and one is composed by Raduli, with lyrics by Bartlomiej SkubiszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. EskaubeiFind albums by this artist). Seven of the tracks are based on tracks left by Jakubek, recorded as sketches / preparations for his solo album and other sources, two are taken from Walk Away albums and the last one, was written (see above) especially for this album. The music is all brilliantly melodic, with typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, excellently performed by all the participants and offers an excellent sound quality. Raduli’s guitar playing is absolutely sensational and his emotional involvement with this project is evident and his dedication to carry it out is exceptional. Overall, this is a brilliant tribute album to a great musician / composer, warmly remembered by his peers and friends, and the music offers some of the finest guitar oriented Jazz / Fusion music recorded in Poland. For the lovers of the genre, this album is an absolute must, but all Jazz lovers around the world should be able to appreciate the superb compositions by Jakubek and enjoy the music wholeheartedly. Hats off to those who contributed to make this project a reality!

Updated: 09/04/2024Posted: 09/04/2024

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YESHE ~ PIASTOWSKA 1 SONY 887654098221 (Barcode: 887654098221) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012 This is the second album by the Polish ensemble YesheFind albums by this artist, led by the legendary trumpeter / composer Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist, who was a member of such groundbreaking Polish ensembles as Free CooperationFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist and Tie BreakFind albums by this artist and participated in countless other projects over the years, including leading his ensembles like GraalFind albums by this artist and Yeshe. This incarnation of Yeshe includes also guitarist Piotr PawlakFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Darek MakarukFind albums by this artist who is in charge of a plethora of electronic effects and sampling. The music, all original by Gralak, was recorded live and is dedicated to the Polish pioneering visual Artist Andrzej UrbanowiczFind albums by this artist. Stylistically the music presents a wide spectrum of contemporary musical trends and incorporates such diverse influences as Avant-Garde Jazz, electronic music, Techno, Industrial and World Music. The amalgamated result is a completely original and unique blend, which is fascinating and electrifying from start to finish. The basic formula presents Gralak improvising on top of an ambient / sampled background, which changes from track to track both rhythmically and conceptually. A trained listener will hear many citations form Indian and other Far Eastern Cultures, as well as samples of exotic instruments like sitar, tabla and a plethora of others. Gralak´s trumpet work is nothing short of brilliant and brings immediately memories of his Free Cooperation cohort Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, who is sadly no longer with us. Throughout the entire duration of this album Gralak improvises almost without a break, in a truly phenomenal form. This album is not only a rare musical gem, but also a wonderful example of completely boundless music, which crosses cultural, stylistic and time borders effortlessly and elegantly. It definitely deserves a much wider recognition that it actually has today. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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