Record Reviews

ALGORHYTHM ~ MANDALA ALPAKA 001 (Barcode: 191061415527) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by Polish Jazz quintet AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof SlomkowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, three each by Miszk and Burnos, two co-credited to them both and three short (not-credited) pieces. The music on this album is a significant step forward in comparison to what the quintet offered on their already quite excellent debut. It is much more complex, diverse and ambitious and includes many twists and turns, polyrhythmic layers, odd meters and multifaceted dynamics within each composition. Some World Music influences are also present. Therefore, again in comparison to their straight ahead debut album, this one is a whole new game. The performances are also more energetic and focused, with the entire crew taking part in the proceedings, contribution and supporting each other vigorously. The teamwork on these difficult pieces it truly wonderful. The overall sound of the quintet is very contemporary and sparkling with talent and oomph, placing Algorhythm on the list of Polish Jazz ensembles, which deserve to be closely watched and which are definitely very promising in their quest to better themselves. This is European Jazz at its best, bursting with talent, ideas and courage to explore rather than imitate, which of curse is what great music is all about. It makes me very happy to see the quintet to make such a giant step forward and I hope to catch them on stage soon. In the meantime hats off!

Updated: 09/04/2017Posted: 09/04/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL BAK QUARTETTO ~ MICHAL BAK QUARTETTO ALPAKA 002 (Barcode: 191924127741) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz ensemble called Michal Bak QuartettoFind albums by this artist (the Italian reference remains obscure), led by bassist / composer Michal BakFind albums by this artist and also featuring trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. Miszk, Checki and Koryzno are also members of the AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist quintet, with another bass player and a pianist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Bak. In a recent conversation with a fellow Polish Jazz journalist the subject of debut albums by young Polish Jazz groups released in 2017 came up and the conclusion was that relatively very few of those albums dealt with Free (at least to some degree) Jazz, concentrating mostly on melody and harmony. This album, although still based on melodic themes, demonstrates a much wider degree of freedom, which balances the overall output very nicely. The music is typical Modern Polish Jazz, based on beautifully lyrical / melancholic compositions, expanded into lengthy statements, full of opportunities for improvisation by the quartet members, which here demonstrate the freedom and space which can be achieved within music, which is still within the traditional boundaries of the idiom. All the players on this album demonstrate a high level of professionalism and obvious talent, and to those who follow their consecutive recordings, also a consistent path of personal development. The fact that this quartet is pianoless and still manages to sound fully harmonic speaks firmly as to the quality of these musicians and their mutual respect and ability to cooperate. Miszk plays some superb solo trumpet parts and is also a great accompanist when playing behind Checki, who is the romantic soul most of the time but also delivers some truly biting solos. Bak gets a lot of exposure as a bassist, both as part of the rhythm section and as a soloist, and his performances are all top notch. Koryzno is the rhythm machine driving the music forward and he is excellent both as an illustrator on the slow and free parts and the pusher behind the up-tempo swinging parts, demonstrating an overall exquisite drumming technique and feel. Overall this is an impressive debut album, which presents daring, intelligent and adventurous music and brilliant personal abilities by the players. Connoisseurs of Modern Jazz, especially those following the Polish Jazz scene, are in for a refreshing, invigoration experience. Definitely one of the most interesting debuts of 2017 – highly recommended!

Updated: 18/11/2017Posted: 18/11/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DOMINIK KISIEL EXPLORATION QUARTET ~ EXPLORATION ALPAKA 003 (Barcode: 191924149699) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist and his quartet called Exploration QuartetFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Michal Jan CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr SzajrychFind albums by this artist and drummer Antoni WojnarFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Kisiel. The music is a melody based modern Jazz, with typical Polish lyrical inclinations, and melancholic tendencies, which the young Polish Jazz generation seems to have adopted as their favorite modus operandi. The beautiful themes are all wonderfully crafted and serve as ideal vehicles for the musicians to express their improvisational abilities. Some more energetic and more open compositions are also included, to balance the low-key material, and those are equally impressive. Both Kisiel and Ciesielski are able to articulate the melodic motifs and the improvised parts formidably, amicably supported by the rhythm section every step of the way. Together the quartet is able to create a coherent and well balanced ensemble sound, which does not reflect any lack of experience in spite of the of the musicians´ young age. Overall this is a very impressive debut, which emphasizes both Kisiel´s compositional skills and his work as an instrumentalist, superbly supported by his quartet members. Since the album´s release was postponed for technical reasons (it was recorded in 2016) and Kisiel and the quartet also released this year (2018) a live album, with different but no less excellent material, this year is certainly a remarkable jumpstart of his future career, which is definitely worth following. Well done indeed!

Updated: 20/12/2018Posted: 20/12/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MARCIN STEFANIAK ~ UNVEILING ALPAKA 004 (Barcode: 191924268277) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Marcin StefaniakFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz KoperFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Stefaniak. The music is a striking version of modern Jazz, melody based but stylistically not really mainstream oriented, often atmospheric and lyrical with clear World Music influences, especially rhythmically. From the very first note it becomes immediately apparent that Stefaniak is both a brilliant composer and an extraordinary player, with clarity of tone and power of expression that usually characterizes musicians after decades of activity in the field. This sequence of compositions presents a coherent musical vision, which is consistently developed throughout the duration of the album. Stefaniak´s long lines and extensive improvisations are in the best post-Coltrane tradition, with no breathing breaks and stupendous fluidity. He seems to be familiar with all the tricks of the trade and as a newcomer on the scene is nothing short of sensational. He is able to change to tone of his tenor and soprano saxophones quite dramatically within the different compositions, as if changing his personality. The soprano often sounds like a clarinet or even a flute, which is able to charm even the most deadly snakes into trance. The general impression Stefanski is able to make on this album is one of a remarkable gifted saxophonist, who has little, if any, limitations. Although Stefaniak is obviously the centerpiece of the listener´s attention, the rhythm section is very prominently featured and becomes an integral part of the overall sound. Urowski is a very experienced player and his bass lines are the anchor of the music. He plays several solos, all of which are excellent illustrations of his fabulous abilities. Koper does a great job as well, limiting his input to the rhythmic necessities and being overtly melodic in his approach. Taken as a whole, the trio functions together splendidly, better than most saxophone trios around, despite the obvious difficulties involved with this specific combination of instruments. Overall this is a stunning debut effort, definitely one of the best in 2017 on the Polish Jazz scene. On the surface this is perhaps not he most adventurous or unusual effort, but surely one of the most strikingly honest and musically rounded ones - something that happens quite rarely! Chapeau and most warmly recommended!

Updated: 18/12/2017Posted: 18/12/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

EMIL MISZK / THE SONIC SYNDICATE ~ DON`T HESITATE! ALPAKA 005 (Barcode: 191924149736) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album as a leader by young and upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, who has made a significant mark on the local scene lately. On this album he leads an impressive octet, called Sonic SyndicateFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonists Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist and Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist, trombonist Pawel NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Michal ZienkowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by the leader. The stunning music consists of some of the most original Jazz compositions I have heard in many years. Miszk uses brilliantly the power of the octet, which has almost the strength and possibilities of a Big Band / Orchestral scale, to express his complex, suite like compositions, which are all multilayered, with twisted melody lines and constant tempi changes, but which in spite of their devilishly clever intricacy sound completely coherent and complete. The music moves between melodic statements of the composed themes and almost Free Form mini-improvised passages, presenting a fresh and invigorating approach to Jazz composition, which is simply phenomenal. At times the music ventures into the Brass Rock approach, fondly remembered from the work of ensembles like ChicagoFind albums by this artist and ChaseFind albums by this artist (and many more), but of course is completely brought up to date and modernized. All the members of the octet are of course radiant instrumentalists, who are able to execute the convoluted and challenging twists and turns of the music spotlessly. The music calls mostly for an ensemble / orchestral sound and presentation, which means that individual soloing, is not the focus of this music, but rather creating sound vistas that require discipline and collaboration by all the participants; which of course does not exclude some blood-curdling solo work by the leader and others and surprising Rocky guitar statements by Zienkowski. This music is also the epitome of European Jazz, being completely open to all musical styles and influences, managing to amalgamate them in a perfect way. There is a lot of tradition here, some conscious and some subconscious, but absolutely no stagnation or repetition. This is exactly what European Jazz aesthetics is all about – experiment and elegance, good taste and talent. This kind of music can probably only be made in Poland. Any attempt to describe this beautiful piece of music is of course completely futile and does not replace the experience of listening to it, which of course I absolutely recommend. It is very rare that a debut album of this magnitude appears and usually it happens only once or twice in a given year, and for 2018 this is definitely it. Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 07/05/2018Posted: 24/04/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ALBERT KARCH / YUTA OMINO ~ HARE ALPAKA 006 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the quartet co-led by Polish Jazz drummer Albert KarchFind albums by this artist and Japanese bassist Yuta OminoFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Momo OtaniFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Hiroyuki IshikawaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original pieces, three by Karch, two by Omino and one by Otani, and the remaining six pieces are improvised (implicitly credited to all the quartet members). The music presents two quite contrasting facets: the three opening composed pieces and the closing piece are quite mainstream Jazz oriented, whereas the improvised pieces and the rest of the composed pieces clearly tend towards Free Jazz / Improvised Music. Therefore as a whole the album slightly lacks focus and clear musical direction. However considering the fact that it was recorded in a one-day recording session during the quartet´s tour of Japan, it is certainly a worthy and interesting effort. It is obvious that Ishikawa is the more improvisation inclined musician, as Otani is often absent during the improvised pieces and plays melodically at all times. The rhythm section plays splendidly from start to finish, doing a perfect job both in the more melodic pieces and during the improvised ones. Overall this is a most welcome meeting between Polish and Japanese musicians, which will hopefully continue to flourish in the future and encourage additional musicians from both countries to play together. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 14/09/2018Posted: 14/09/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ENTROPIA ENSEMBLE ~ ENTROPIA ENSEMBLE ALPAKA 007 (Barcode: 192914874195) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz quartet Entropia EnsembleFind albums by this artist, which consists of saxophonist Dariusz StanislawskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Marcel BalinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Rafal RozalskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Kacper KazmierskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, six composed by Balinski and one each by Kazmierski and Stanislawski. The remaining three compositions remain mysteriously unauthored. The music was recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist with the usual spectacular sonic quality. The music is a highly interesting collection of modern Jazz compositions, melody based but clearly open to include unexpected twists and turns, polyrhythmic tempi and Free group improvisations, all this without loosing the focus for a single moment. These clever young chaps seem to have a complete disregard of stylistic conventions and frivolously move between tango, Free Jazz and Swing within one tune without even blinking, in the true spirit of the Avant Garde. There is plenty of space on the album for personal expressions and all four members of the quartet get proper exposure. The piano leads the twisted melodic plot, the saxophone improvises on top, the bass takes care of the linkage between the parts as well as carrying the lot together and the drummer adds a steady clockwork beat and frenzy explosions to confuse the listener whenever possible. Overall this is an incredibly intelligent, devilishly clever (perhaps a bit too clever), totally surprising, completely unusual piece of music, definitely one of the most striking (if not the most) debut albums of 2018 on the vibrant Polish Jazz scene. With hundreds of albums released in Poland alone, recording a highly original and completely innovative album is an almost impossible task – but these young musicians stand up to the challenge with eloquence and a fantastic sense of humor (or sarcasm). Absolutely stunning!

Updated: 17/12/2018Posted: 17/12/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

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

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

ALGORHYTHM ~ TERMOMIX ALPAKA 010 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the third album by young Polish Jazz ensemble AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist, this time reduced to a quartet which includes trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. It presents fourteen short compositions, which are not credited on the album´s artwork and therefore assumed to be co-composed by all four members of the ensemble. In fact even the name of the ensemble is (almost) missing from the artwork. The music and the ambience of this album are radically different from their earlier work and moves almost completely away from the traditional Jazz idiom into contemporary ambient / electronic music, Avant Rock and Avant-Garde explorations. However, Jazzy improvisations, are still an important ingredient of the music, and as such are an obvious link with the past. This album must have taken the followers of the group and the Polish Jazz scene by surprise, as it is both quite unexpected and stylistically revolutionary. In order to appreciate this music properly one has to put aside the ensemble´s earlier work and accept the music for what it is rather than judging what it should / could have been, which some "critics" graciously implied. Of course experimenting and searching for new ways of expression is always welcome, even if it produces a less appealing or immediately accepted result. Obviously this music sets a challenge in front of the listeners, who have to decide if they are willing to follow the musicians on their new path or let this music pass them by. The audiences are more often than not much more stagnant and conservative than the music makers, which creates the commonly accepted reserved attitude towards Avant-Garde, blaming the musicians for leaving the listeners behind, but it fact it is the listeners who are lingering behind of their own choice. Personally I find this album as a bold and important experiment, which finds the ensemble in a transitory stage between the established and safe musical environment and a new experimental milieu, without actually quite making up their mind. The future will tell if this was just a one time venture or a start of a new aesthetics which will be further developed. Whatever the future may hold for them, Algorhythm deserve respect for daring to experiment and looking into new forms of expression, threading the less travelled road. Their individual ability as instrumentalists is already well established and now is the time to forge their unique personal musical identities. May the Force be with you ;)

Updated: 16/06/2019Posted: 16/06/2019

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

EMIL MISZK / THE SONIC SYNDICATE ~ ARTIFICIAL STUPIDITY ALPAKA 013 (Barcode: 308175527811) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist and his octet called The Sonic SyndicateFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonists Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist and Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist, trombonist Pawel NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist, guitarist Michal ZienkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist, same lineup as on the debut. The album presents six original compositions, which strangely are not credited on the album´s artwork and are therefore assumed to be all by the leader. The total playing time of the album is just below thirty-five minutes, which is closer to an EP than a full album. The brilliant debut album released a couple of years earlier created enormously high expectations from the sophomore release, which are almost impossible to be fulfilled. Considering the fact that the music on this album is significantly different from that on its predecessor, any attempt to compare the two is practically fruitless. Combined with loosing the element of surprise, the resulting effect is somewhat less exciting. Nevertheless this is still brilliant music, beautifully performed by some of the best young generation Polish Jazz musicians. The compositions are complex and combine several melodic and rhythmic themes within each of the pieces. They are all carefully designed, ordered and planned, cerebral and refined, oriented towards the "big sound" the octet is able to create, at times offering up-to-date Big Band mannerisms. There is no doubt that Miszk and his Sonic Syndicate offer some of the cleverest music on the Polish Jazz scene, which can eventually lead to some level of estrangement with the audience. This album, as already mentioned, has a short playing time, but is so intensive and demanding that perhaps any additional material might have been simply over the top. Miszk obviously gives up almost completely his role as an instrumentalist and is completely absorbed by his role of a composer and arranger. Overall this is a dazzling piece of music, which concentrates on highly complex, sophisticated compositions, which are difficult to follow but highly rewarding to advanced Jazz listeners. The (almost) orchestral arrangements are devilishly tricky and must have been a real challenge to perform and record, which makes me wonder if this music is possible to be played live. In any case Miszk is surely an Artist to be watched closely, as he obviously is just worming up.

Updated: 21/07/2022Posted: 17/07/2020

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

TOMASZ CHYLA ~ DA VINCI ALPAKA 014 (Barcode: 308175527842) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the third album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Tomasz ChylaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, guitarist Krzysztof HadrychFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. A vocal octet, called Art `n` VoicesFind albums by this artist participates on four tracks. The album presents nine original compositions, all co-credited to the quintet members. Following two excellent albums, which offered an extraordinary musical imagination and intellectually challenging concepts, this album offers again a completely different approach from its predecessors, this time being almost completely removed from any Jazz elements, and venturing into contemporary minimalist music, with some elements of Rock Avant-Garde and Industrial Music, dark and alienated, almost atonal at times, and almost completely devoid of melody lines, which at its most intense moments knocks the listener on his head like a sledgehammer. Having said that the music is extremely potent and original, with obvious carefully planned aesthetics and conceptual approach, which challenges the listener for the entire duration. The use of the vocal octet is especially effective, close to modern Classical Music practices. The prominent presence of the electric guitar influences dramatically the intense crescendo moments, emphasizing the proximity to Rock, but within the kaleidoscopic wealth of other elements, it does not dominate the entire approach of this album. Chyla is obviously a musician of great scope, who is still developing his vocabulary and stylistic language. It is fascinating to watch his development, as documented by his recordings so far, and he always leaves his listeners waiting impatiently for more. This album is perhaps the most difficult one to “enjoy”, but repeated listening might remedy this condition. I’d say the album offers a bit too much of everything for my liking, but I still appreciate the ideas and the imagination, as well as the excellent playing by all members of the quintet, which was invested in creating it. Overall this is an important document of the fascinating Polish Jazz scene, which refuses to stay within the preconceived guidelines, slaughtering holy cows by the dozens. For listeners who liked the two earlier albums this is a must and for open-minded seekers of unusual sound vistas, this is a worthy challenge!

Updated: 27/05/2021Posted: 27/05/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DOMINIK KISIEL ~ STOP ALPAKA 015 (Barcode: 308175527859) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut solo piano album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original “improvised compositions” by Kisiel, grouped into three one part pieces and two three-part pieces. Kisiel made an impressive entry into the Polish Jazz scene about five years ago, recording several excellent albums as a leader and sideman and making a rapid progress from mainstream oriented projects into more sophisticated, even Avant-Garde vistas, which are most impressive and mark him as one of the young musicians to be watched carefully. This album follows the a.m. development trend faithfully and takes Kisiel further into the borderline between contemporary Classical Music and Jazz, analogous to his ambitious duo project “Delta ScutiFind albums with this title” with Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist. The music eschews clearly stated melody lines and offers a flow of notes expressed by continuous arpeggios, which are more about dynamics and expressions than the melodic / harmonic development. The intensity of the music is somehow reminiscent of the piano works by Sergei RachmaninoffFind albums by this artist, with a somewhat updated piano technique of course. Despite the fact that the music is improvised, it offers remarkable coherence and continuity, and even without stating explicit melodic themes it creates an impression of being “subconsciously” highly melodic. The entire album sounds like one continuous piece of music, which seems to be “unstoppable” and demands to be heard continuously. Although the music lasts only thirty-three minutes, the emotional and intellectual intensity demanded to listen to it attentively is overwhelming and leaves the listener highly charged. Overall, this is one of the most potent pieces of music I came across in a very long time and although I have listened to it several times, it obviously still hides many wonderful discoveries in its depth. It is a most remarkable piece of creativity, a true musical deliverance from the mundane non-Culture that surrounds us today and a proclamation (no less) of things to come. Regardless of its cross-genre characteristics, it clearly emerges as a prophecy of music merged into “one” higher consciousness of Artistic expression.

Updated: 09/09/2021Posted: 09/09/2021

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

BLED ~ ROOTS AND FUTURISTIC SCI-FI SOUNDS ALPAKA 016 (Barcode: 308175527866) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz duo BLEDFind albums by this artist, which comprises of drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, who both employ also synthesizers and who both played together on several earlier recordings by the AlgorhythmFind albums by this artist quintet and other Polish ensembles. The album presents five original compositions, which remain uncredited on the album’s artwork. The music seems to be mostly improvised, although some preparations surely were made before the recording. Drums / trumpet duets are certainly a rather rare event, although nor entirely unheard off, and improvised music obviously is not limited by any instrumental configuration. This album, and other such recordings, clearly prove that liaisons, like that one, are valid and can be fruitful. Both musicians seem to have a great fun playing together and both are able to display their individual instrumental abilities, as well as the unique rapport between them. The music is diverse and dynamic enough to provide a continuous listening experience to the potential listeners, but the music offers no compromises and might prove to be beyond the attention span of the average listener. Overall, this is an interesting Avant-Garde musical experiment, which combines Ambient, Improvised Music, Free Jazz and even contemporary Classical Music elements, performed by two gifted young Polish Jazz musicians, which proves the versatility and constant searching, which characterizes the scene. This music is very far from the common Jazz denominator, but some listeners might find it fascinating.

Updated: 21/07/2022Posted: 21/07/2022

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL BAK QUARTETTO ~ FORTRESS ALPAKA 017 (Barcode: 308175527897) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by Polish Jazz ensemble Michal Bak QuartettoFind albums by this artist, led by bassist / composer Michal BakFind albums by this artist and also including trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Jakub KlemensiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, five of which are original compositions by Bak, two are his arrangements of Classical pieces and two are original compositions by Miszk. The music is very minimalist, and except for the unisono statements by the trumpet and the saxophone, offers mostly one of the instruments supported by the rhythm section with limited ensemble performances. Lengthy rhythm section passages and bass soli dominate the atmosphere of the album. The bass is high in the mix and obviously sets the framework of the entire affair. The two arrangements of the Classical pieces are a bit of a foreign body within the concept of the album, as far as I am concerned, but perhaps the intention was to create a Jazz-Classical Fusion of sorts, which I am simply just not able to hear. The album offers a dark and daunting ambience, which might challenge some listeners, and although the musicians are obviously highly capable, the minimalist concept restrains them from displaying full-blown statements. The extremely slow paste of the music and the limited developments within are honestly trying the listener’s patience. Overall, although more adventurous that most Polish Jazz albums released this year (2021), this album fails to excite and swap the listener off his feet, despite the obvious talent of the musicians involved. Bak is still probably trying to define his composing aims and a coherent unique style for his ensemble, and will hopefully reach his goal in the future. Whatever worked fine on the debut album is simply not enough anymore for the sophomore outing.

Updated: 08/12/2021Posted: 08/12/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MACIEJ STANIECKI ~ SPIRALS ALPAKA 020 (Barcode: 3663734142902) ~ POLAND ~ Electronic & Ambient Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is a solo guitar / electronics album by Polish guitarist / composer Maciej StanieckiFind albums by this artist. It presents eleven tracks, presumably composed by Staniecki, all named “Spiral” with a number added. The album’s artwork gives no information about dates of recording and seems to be as minimalist as the music. Staniecki has been active on the local scene since the 1990s and released several albums as well as composed music for several Polish movies and theater shows and is a prolific music producer. His musical orientation seems to be multi-disciplinary / multi-genre. I am only familiar with the album “Two SoulsFind albums with this title” recorded with Polish Jazz trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist. I liked that album, as my review shows, but this solo outing is a different case. The music on this album is completely abstract, almost completely devoid of melody, continuity and rhythm, which personally leaves me completely cold, but I can appreciate the aesthetics behind it. The minimalism is quite typical of contemporary Polish music scene, which seems to find escapism from the horrific non-Culture that surround us all by concentrating on saying as little as possible. Although guitar is audible, one can hardly call this a guitar album in the conventional meaning of the term. Overall, this is an Ambient / Electronic album, which fans of the genre might find interesting, but anybody outside that sphere will find weird / uninviting and probably boring. To each his own…

Updated: 12/05/2022Posted: 12/05/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ANNA JOPEK ~ INSIGHT ALPAKA 021 (Barcode: 3663734142872) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Anna JopekFind albums by this artist (not to be confused with the vocalist Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist), recorded with saxophonist / clarinetist Jakub KlemensiewiczFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Adam SkorczewskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Michalina SokolowskaFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Jopek except for the title track, which was co-composed by her and Klemensiewicz. The music is beautifully recorded and offers a sensational sound experience, and is elegantly packaged, including a set of monochromatic photographs, which ideally suit the music. The music is strikingly minimalist, offering mostly duos between the piano and saxophone / clarinet and is spiritually close to 20th Century Classical music with just an undercurrent of Jazz inclinations. There are strong Polish Folklore ties, not surprisingly, and the album is soaked in typical in Polish lyricism and deep melancholy. Klemensiewicz is the focal soloist here and his moving performances perfectly comply with his earlier recordings with Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist, which are amongst the finest examples of the work by the new Polish Jazz generation. This album firmly fortifies that position. Jopek’s piano performances are elegant, but subdued and her role often focuses on introducing the themes and then accompanying the saxophone / clarinet parts. Of course, as the composer, she deserves all the praise for creating this beautiful, moving and highly intelligent music, which despite its seeming simplicity is hugely effective. Even though there is no explicit innovation or revolutionary character in this music per se, it sounds remarkably fresh and intriguing, which is sadly extremely rare in today’s music. As already stated in several of my recent reviews, there is now an obvious tendency in the young Polish Jazz scene toward minimalism and deep exploration of Polish Folklore roots, probably as an antidote to the music pollution surrounding us all incessantly. This music definitely offers a balsam for the listener’s ears. Overall, this is a deeply moving, highly original album, and a sensational debut by a new talent on the Polish Jazz scene, which is definitely worthy of attention and following. Calm, soothing, soul-drenching and above all wonderfully musical, this is a true discovery. Well done young Lady!

Updated: 23/05/2022Posted: 23/05/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

EMIL MISZK / THE SONIC SYNDICATE ~ SCRATCHES FOR 8 MUSICIANS ALPAKA 023 (Barcode: 3663734142964) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the third album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, recorded live with his octet called The Sonic SyndicateFind albums by this artist, which comprises of top young Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonists Piotr CheckiFind albums by this artist (tenor) and Jakub KlemensiewiczFind albums by this artist (baritone), trombonist Pawel NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Michal ZienkowskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Mikolaj BasiukiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist and drummer Slawomir KoryznoFind albums by this artist. The album presents four extended pieces, which are uncredited on the album’s artwork (open for speculation). The music is essentially improvised, with just very few sketchy melodic themes and coherent continuity, at some occasions being more about a sonic atmosphere than music, as most people conceive it. It is fascinating to compare this album with Miszk’s earlier recordings since he first appeared on recording scene in 2014, including the two previous albums with the Sonic Syndicate, which shows a radical estrangement from melodic modern Jazz, gradually moving towards Improvised Music and Avant-Garde. Of course Miszk has every right to experiment and develop his music any way he sees fit, and his qualities are clearly obvious here, as they were in his earlier work. The album, although being more about the ensemble sound that individual soloing, which is typical of European larger ensembles, allows all the members of the octet to show their chops, even in the highly unconventional environment of this music. At best, the ensemble sounds like a Big Band, but during the intimate improvisation moments the ensemble sound gets lost obviously, which is a pity. As a result, the music is very uneven and depends largely on the listener’s attention span and patience. Overall, this is a courageous experiment, exposing the more experimental / searching facets of the young Polish Jazz scene, which refuses to stand still. The music might prove to be trying to an average Jazz listener, but the more open-minded and searching Jazz fans should find this album worth of their attention.

Updated: 16/07/2022Posted: 16/07/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DOMINIK KISIEL EXPLORATION QUARTET ~ LIVE AT RADIO KATOWICE PRK 0137 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is a live recording by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist and his quartet called Exploration QuartetFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Michal Jan CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr SzajrychFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four composed by Kisiel, two by Ciesielski and one by Golicki. The music is typical modern young Polish Jazz, based on excellent melody based compositions and superbly performed by these young musicians, who never cease to amaze how well musically advanced they are despite their young age. It is worth to mention that the material present on this album is completely different from the material included on the quartet´s debut studio album recently released on AlpakaFind albums on this label Records, which proves the prolific compositional capacity of the quartet members. The individual performances are all excellent and the concert setting allows the musicians to stretch out and play long solos without being concerned by time limitation often present in the recording studio. As a result three of the tunes performed here last for over ten minutes in duration. Kisiel skillfully builds up his solos gradually, with excellent usage of dynamics and harmonics, adorned with his technical skill, which is spotless. Ciesielski also stretches out wonderfully, playing with confidence and beautiful sense of lyricism, at all times supported amicably by Kisiel. The rhythm section does an excellent job as well, with Golicki showing his maturity and experience gained over the last few years. Szajrych keeps mostly to the basics, as he seems to be the most inexperienced player in the quartet, but his performance is stable and accurate, exactly what one would expected from a solid bassist in a quartet. Overall this is an excellent effort by the young generation of Polish Jazz players, full of great tunes and superb performances, which is a true fun to listen to and admire their talents and abilities. Definitely well done!

Updated: 06/10/2018Posted: 05/10/2018

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend