Record Reviews
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  | PATRYCJUSZ GRUSZECKI ~ FACES
BNB 011 (Barcode: 5903714963270) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022
This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Patrycjusz GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, recorded with the same trio that recorded the debut five years earlier, which includes organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Janusz SzromFind albums by this artist sings on one track. The album presents nine original compositions, eight by Gruszecki and one by Lewandowski. The album was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sound quality, close to the classic early Blue NoteFind albums on this label sound.
The music continues the path set by the debut, presenting a series of coherent, melody based compositions, excellently performed by the trio, all strictly within mainstream Jazz and often bordering on Smooth Jazz, which is accessible to a wide range of music lovers, including those beyond the strict Jazz circles.
The trio has a very unique sound due to the unusual instrumentation, which sets it aside from most other Polish Jazz ensembles. Gruszecki has a beautiful rounded sound and technical skill, Galas is an amazing organ player with a wide range of diverse sound techniques and innovative approach to the instrument and Lewandowski is a Master drummer, driving the music with his dense but not overbearing polyrhythmic virtuosity. Together they are a lean and mean swinging machine, which manages to create music, which keeps the listener both fascinated and entertained for the duration.
Overall, this is an excellent album from start to finish, which lets the listener to relax and enjoy the music without too much analyzing or cerebral pseudo-intellectual effort to look beyond what the ears can hear. Despite what the Jazz snobs will probably say, this music is fun, without sacrificing any basic musical qualities. Simply listen and enjoy. It is of course wholeheartedly recommended as far as my taste buds are concerned!
| | Updated: 19/07/2022Posted: 19/07/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | PATRYCJUSZ GRUSZECKI ~ SOMETHING ABOUT
BCD 42 (Barcode: 5906881885420) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Patrycjusz GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio format with organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Gruszecki. The album was recorded at the RecPublica Studios and was engineered by Lukasz OlejarczykFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sonic quality.
The music is well behaved mainstream Jazz, with solid compositions and great Swing / Groove feel, which sways the listener´s body involuntarily from start to finish. The compositions are well structured, with the ballads being my personal favorites, but they present a consistent and well weaved musical fabric. The unusual and minimalistic lineup of trumpet / organ / drums works out perfectly and misses nothing in order to sound round and complete.
All three musicians play splendidly, as expected from Polish Jazz musicians. Personally the Hammond Organ always steals the show for me, as it has been my favorite instrument for over fifty years, but credit is due to the trio for their work as a unit, combining their personal strengths. Gruszecki has a beautiful round sound on trumpet and flugelhorn, but his improvisations are a bit withdrawn and "controlled" at times, which suits this specific recording well, but leaves the listener a bit hungry for more. Galas is superbly melodic and offers great improvised parts with his work being irreproachable all the way through. This is the third album I reviewed, which features his organ work, and he is always perfectly right on the money. Lewandowski also plays excellently, being solely responsible for the rhythmic pulsations of this music (supported by the organ´s bass pedals). His percussive feel is truly exquisite, precise and outward virtuosic – something to learn from.
Overall this is a splendid debut album, catering to the listeners on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, but still excellent in every way, with an atypical lineup and sound, which is fresh and very effective. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 27/10/2017Posted: 27/10/2017 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ZBIGNIEW LEWANDOWSKI ~ ZBIGNIEW LEWANDOWSKI
GAD 121 (Barcode: 5903068120770) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1983 Released: 2020
This is a reissue of the debut album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer / bandleader Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist, originally released on the legendary PoljazzFind albums on this label label. The music was recorded in 1983 during two sessions separated by several months, with two lineups. The first lineup was a quintet which included alongside Lewandowski also iconic trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist, guitarist Pawel ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and bass guitarist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist. The second lineup was extended to an octet and included also saxophonist Andrzej OlejniczakFind albums by this artist, second bass guitarist Mieczyslaw JureckiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose TorresFind albums by this artist. The original LP presented six tracks but this remastered edition was expanded by two additional tracks from the first session, previously unissued. All the compositions were by the musicians participating in the recording except for one standard.
The music, influenced by the revolutionary work of Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, has a distinct Fusion tinge, but is very far from an attempt to copy the great Master. Przybielski, aged thirty-nine at the time of the recording, was already Poland´s most idiosyncratic Jazz musician and trumpet Genius. He displays the full range of his abilities, and the fact that the music is Fusion oriented, offers a rare opportunity to hear him in that specific idiom, rather than within his "usual" Avant-Garde environment. His performances on this album are amongst the most extensive documents of his playing, including his weird sense of humor. In retrospect this album emphasizes the devastating loss Polish Jazz suffered with his untimely death in 2011. I had the immense luck and pleasure to produce the album "The Book Of JobFind albums with this title", just a couple of years after this recording was made, which also featured Przybielski at his absolute best.
Baron, only twenty-two years old at the time, also contributes wonderfully to the album´s overall ambience, offering his compositions, most of the arrangements and excellent soloing. The rest of the players were already more experienced and their professionalism and obvious talents are clearly evident in the resulting music.
Overall this is a momentous recording, perhaps one of the most important Polish Jazz albums from the 1980s, and beyond. Polish Jazz / Fusion fans should be grateful to GADFind albums on this label Records for resurrecting this gem and saving it from oblivion. Brilliant stuff!
| | Updated: 23/09/2020Posted: 23/09/2020 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | ZBIGNIEW LEWANDOWSKI QUINTET ~ A NEW OPENING
PSJ WROCLAW 004 (Barcode: 5906492433102) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024
This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz drummer / composer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist / flautist Tomasz PruchnickiFind albums by this artist, pianist Robert JarmuzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub OlejnikFind albums by this artist and American guitarist Kenny CarrFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which are original compositions, three by the leader and five by Pruchnicki. The album was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, offering a wonderfully worm and clear sound quality.
The album marks a most welcome return of Lewandowski to recording duty, which has been interrupted by a three-decades long gap. Judging by the energy and quality of the new recording, Lewandowski lost none of his skill and talent over time.
The music is somewhere between mainstream and modern Jazz, based on excellent compositions with strong melodic themes and interesting rhythmic textures, flowing coherently for the entire duration. Carr’s guitar work adds a slight Fusiony touch here and there, but all in great taste and impeccable precision.
All the quintet members get ample opportunity to show their chops, and all stand up to the challenge without a hitch. Lewandowski adds a dense rhythmic layer, but without dominating the proceedings unnecessarily, which is excellently complemented by the bass lines, both on bass guitar and acoustic bass.
Overall, this is an excellent mainstream Jazz recording, with a gentle touch of Funk and Groove, which is a real pleasure to listen to and which managed to make me smile when listening, which happened pretty rarely these days. Accessible to a wide Jazz loving audience, this is a true little gem, a nice reminder of the good old days and a pleasant dose of good time!
| | Updated: 18/05/2024Posted: 18/05/2024 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | THREE GENERATIONS TRIO ~ LIVE! IN JAZZ CLUB PINOKIO!
GAD 313 (Barcode: 5903068125904) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1992 - 1994 Released: 2024
This is a reissue of an album by the Polish Fusion trio called Three Generations TrioFind albums by this artist, which comprised of guitarist Marek RaduliFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Wojciech PilichowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live and presents eleven tracks, five of which are original compositions by Raduli, one is by Pilichowski and the rest are by other composers. This reissue adds one bonus track from another album by Lewandowski.
The trio’s moniker originates due to the age differences between the members, but their performance together finds them completely in sync which each other. Although this album, released privately, was overlooked at the time and disappeared pretty quickly, it is a great example of guitar power trio playing classic Fusion, and this reissue is a welcome occasion for the album to be re-discovered by Fusion fans. Raduli is undoubtedly one of the best Polish guitar players, who sadly never achieved the fame and recognition he deserves. Pilichowski, as heard here, is also a highly talented bassist, but he also almost disappeared from the scene. Lewandowski, who is more associated with the Polish Jazz scene, made occasional reappearances over the time, but again it would have been nice to hear more from him over time.
The problem with Fusion is of course, that its musical scope developed rapidly and soon after got stuck in a limbo, which persists to this very day. This means that as far as Fusion is concerned, this album is as actual today as it was at the time it was recorded three decades ago, for good and for bad.
Overall, this is still a scorching Fusion album, which for the lovers of the genre and guitar aficionados is as perfect as it gets. The sound quality is great and the trio storms the stage, taking no prisoners. Considering how rare this album was before the reissue, this is quite a celebration. Well done as usual, GADFind albums on this label Records, the champion of Polish recorded music archeology!
| | Updated: 03/02/2025Posted: 03/02/2025 | CD 1 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
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