Record Reviews

ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ A-TRANE NIGHTS FOR TUNE 0040 (Barcode: 5902768701395) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2014 This is an "archival" album by the veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes Australian (living in Germany) trombonist / didgeridoo player Adrian MearsFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the Berlin A-Trane International Jazz Club (hence the title) in 2008, immediately following the studio recording of the same material, which was released a couple of years later as "El BuscadorFind albums with this title" on the German JazzwerkstattFind albums on this label label, on which Pieronczyk releases his albums in the last few years. The album presents eight original compositions, seven of which were composed by Pieronczyk and one which was co-composed by Pieronczyk and Mears, exactly the same as the studio album and in almost identical sequence. Naturally these live versions are expanded and provide a much broader basis both for individual explorations and ensemble interplay. Three of the pieces have a duration of over fifteen minutes and two others of over ten minutes, which obviously emphasizes the relaxed atmosphere and creative frame of mind of the quartet members at the time. The music is quite deceiving, as it does sound a bit simplistic at first, but careful listening reveals a depth much beyond the exterior layer of the melodic themes in each of the pieces. There is an intrinsic dimension of freedom in this music, which never actually crosses over to the Avant-Garde or even free form, but is sufficiently removed from straightforward mainstream to be both aesthetically elegant and intellectually intriguing. As I have already said on previous occasions, Pieronczyk seems to have developed a niche of his own within modern Jazz, which came to full fruition on his recent solo saxophone album "The Planet Of Eternal LifeFind albums with this title". The sound of the quartet is another challenge; a pianoless saxophone and trombone / didgeridoo fronted ensemble is obviously significantly less "user friendly" than a traditional harmonically supported lineup. But whatever is lost from the absence of the piano is gained by the sonic space stretched between the brass instruments. The "air" or empty space plays a significant role in the overall effect the quartet members achieve collectively as a group. Of course the individual performances are all quite splendid. Pieronczyk has a superbly mellow tone, which contrasts nicely with the somewhat rough trombone and didgeridoo sound. The soloists are supported admirably by the rhythm section, which of course is solid like a rock and flexible like a breeze. Big kudos is due to For Tune for putting this music out and saving it from getting stale and lost in the tunnels of history, as it surely deserves to see the light of day and make the music lovers happy!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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ROLF KUHN ~ ROLLERCOASTER JAZZWERKSTATT 039 (Barcode: 4250079758012) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2008 This is the debut album by veteran German clarinetist / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist (born 1929) recorded with his sensational new (at the time) quartet, which features also the veteran bassist Johannes FinkFind albums by this artist and two excellent representatives of the young German Jazz scene, guitarist Ronny GraupeFind albums by this artist and drummer Christian LillingerFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine pieces, eight of which are original compositions: six by Kuhn, one by Graupe and one by Kuhn´s younger brother Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist. The remaining piece is a composition by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist. The creation of this quartet and the recording of this album mark a remarkable rejuvenation in Kuhn´s extraordinary career. Since his return to Germany in 1962 from his US stint, Kuhn has been on the forefront of European Jazz, taking part in the stylistic development of the genre from Swing to Free Jazz and Improvised Music. It was only natural that Kuhn, whose mindset was always completely separate from his biological age, would decide to play with the new generation of the flourishing German Jazz scene, and of course the decision paid off in full as this album explicitly emphasizes. The combination between Kuhn´s wonderful clarinet sound, which is still rooted in the Swing tradition, and the modern sound of the younger musicians, creates a beautiful amalgam, which is by far more powerful than the simple sum of its parts. This music still swings beautifully, but also has a lot of space and openness, which allows the musicians to stretch beyond the restrictions of straightforward Jazz and contribute some remarkable musical inventiveness. As usual, Kuhn´s superb compositions, which are the core of the music, provide ideal vehicles for the quartet to display its qualities in full, both as an ensemble and as individual players. The music is completely absorbing and uplifting on one hand, but also elegant and sophisticated on the other, which of course is everything one might hope for and what makes it so extraordinary. This album is a must have for all European Jazz enthusiasts, clarinet lovers and connoisseurs of great music. It is recommended to check out the second album entitled "Close UpFind albums with this title" and the brilliant 2015 release "StereoFind albums with this title", both recorded with the same quartet. Hats off!

Updated: 10/01/2017Posted: 10/01/2017

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ EL BUSCADOR JAZZWERKSTATT 064 (Barcode: 4250079758517) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2010 This is an album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international quartet, which also features Australian (residing in Germany) trombonist / didgeridoo player Adrian MearsFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Krzysztof DziedzicFind albums by this artist. Together they perform eight compositions, seven of which are original compositions by Pieronczyk and one is co-composed by Pieronczyk and Mears. The material present on this album was also recorded live in Berlin´s A-Train Club immediately following the studio recording and that live version of the music was released in 2014 by the For Tune label as "A-Trane Nights". Comparison of the two versions, i.e. studio and live, is very educational. The music is an excellent example of modern European Jazz with strong World Music influences, both harmonically and rhythmically. The sound, which is characterized by the absence of a harmonic instrument (i.e. piano), is very original and requires some effort to get used to, but eventually turns out to be very effective. The tribal feel dominates the music and the superb saxophone / didgeridoo duo featured on one of the tracks is definitely one of the highlights of the album. The individual contributions by all the musicians are excellent from start to finish. Pieronczyk is obviously one of the top saxophonists on the Polish Jazz scene and his performances are always beyond reproach. Mears is an obvious virtuoso player and his trombone parts are wonderfully structured. Cox has a beautiful warm tone and his pulsations are the glue upon which the music moves forward. Dziedzic is a versatile drummer and his elegant and very intelligent work on this album is nothing short of inspirational. Overall this is a brilliant album and a milestone in Pieronczyk´s career, which over time earned a well deserved place in the pantheon of the Polish Jazz recorded legacy. Absolutely not to be missed by all Polish Jazz connoisseurs and listeners who enjoy less obvious musical thrills.

Updated: 10/01/2017Posted: 10/01/2017

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ROLF KUHN ~ CLOSE UP JAZZWERKSTATT 089 (Barcode: 4250079758487) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009 This is the second album by veteran German clarinetist / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist (born 1929) recorded with his sensational new (at the time) quartet, which features also the veteran bassist Johannes FinkFind albums by this artist and two excellent representatives of the young German Jazz scene, guitarist Ronny GraupeFind albums by this artist and drummer Christian LillingerFind albums by this artist. Another young and upcoming German musician, trumpeter Matthias SchrieflFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album presents nine pieces, eight of which are original compositions: five by Kuhn, two by Graupe and one by Fink. The remaining piece is a special arrangement of a standard. Kuhn´s musical life is almost completely parallel to the entire Jazz lifeline and he is one of the very few musicians, who managed to say "on top of things" for the entire duration of his life up to now. Anybody listening to this music, not aware of Kuhn´s biography, could easily assume that the clarinetist belongs to the same generation as his young quartet members, although they are separated by more that half a Century, which of course is absolutely amazing. The music is contemporary modern European Jazz, not entirely Free Form and including melodic themes, but performed completely openly, with huge degree of freedom allowed to all the participants. Full of virtuosic contributions by the leader and the rest of the crew, the music flows briskly and is over way too soon. There is not a dull moment on this album and the music is filled with elegance, typical European aesthetics and sophistication. Kuhn´s clarinet sound is completely unique and beautifully merges the long tradition of the instrument with contemporary approach. He is not only one of the most technically brilliant clarinetists, but more importantly is able to pour his soul into the instrument, producing a most heartwrenching sound, which is simply irresistible. This album is a must have for all European Jazz enthusiasts, clarinet lovers and connoisseurs of great music. It is recommended to check out this album´s predecessor entitled "RollercoasterFind albums with this title" and the brilliant 2015 release "StereoFind albums with this title", both recorded with the same quartet. Hats off!

Updated: 09/01/2017Posted: 09/01/2017

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ KOMEDA – THE INNOCENT SORCERER JAZZWERKSTATT 104 (Barcode: 4250079758715) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is an album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist dedicated to the music composed by the Godfather of Polish Jazz pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. Pieronczyk recorded the album with an international quintet, which also features American saxophonist Gary ThomasFind albums by this artist, Brazilian guitarist Nelson VerasFind albums by this artist, American bassist Anthony CoxFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. Together they perform six compositions (one repeated twice), all composed by Komeda. The Polish Jazz scene produced dozens of albums dedicated to the music of Komeda. Many of these records are pretty derivative and often not in par with Komeda´s memory, but some are simply brilliant, and this is definitely one of the latter. Pieronczyk manages to transform Komeda´s music into new dimensions, completely unconventional and unexpected, which is very effective and creates a new perspective of Komeda´s music. The unique lineup of the quintet, which includes two saxophonists and guitar, which replaces the piano one would expect to be present on an album dedicated to Komeda´s music, is just one of the surprises on this album. Then there is the fact that the tempi of each of the compositions are changed dramatically from the original ones, often using World Music influences like bossa nova and Cuban rhythmic patterns. The fact that this album includes two American Jazz players and manages to incorporate them into this very non-American music is also a very significant contribution. They both leave their Bebop roots behind and step boldly into the new territory, contributing beautifully. Since these are all very talented musicians, the fact that everybody contributes excellent solos and plays along splendidly with the others is of course no surprise whatsoever. The amalgam of Polish, American and Brazilian musical cultures works out wonderfully and Komeda´s music is again verified as being beyond National borders and as all great music successfully transcends any Cultural diversities and as such this is a very significant tribute to Komeda´s music. This album deserves an honorable place in every serious collection of Polish Jazz recordings.

Updated: 09/01/2017Posted: 09/01/2017

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ADAM PIERONCZYK ~ THE PLANET OF ETERNAL LIFE JAZZWERKSTATT 149 (Barcode: 4250317419958) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is a solo soprano saxophone album recorded live by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam PieronczykFind albums by this artist. It comprises of fifteen tracks, twelve of which are his original compositions and the remaining three are standards. Pieronczyk, who has been active on the scene since the late 1990s, has already an impressive discography to his credit listing dozens of albums both as a leader of various projects and as a sideman. Solo saxophone albums are pretty rare phenomena in general, and those few that are actually recorded and released are usually associated with the Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene. Pieronczyk is basically a modern mainstream player and therefore his music is based on clearly defined melody lines, as evident on this album as well. However, the intrinsic level of Freedom present on this album is much more extensive than in most mainstream recordings, basically putting this recording very much in a class of its own; somewhere between "melodic free" and "experimental mainstream". But labels aside, the musical content herein, and this is what really matters, is truly excellent from start to finish. Pieronczyk displays a wonderful fluency in his performances, as well as sensitivity and improvisational qualities, which place him among the finest soprano saxophone players around. This, combined with his beautiful tone, create some truly magic moments. Of course one must also praise his courage to face his audience exposed and alone, an act of artistic statement attempted by but a few. The album might have a problem with finding listeners, who will be able to appreciate its beauty, since as already mentioned earlier, is sort of falls in between categories, One can only hope that true Jazz connoisseurs will be able to cross nonexistent boundaries and discover this gem and then enjoy it in full.

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THEO JORGENSMANN / CONTACT 4TETT ~ WUNDERTUTE JAZZWERKSTATT 224 (Barcode: 4250317420732) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by the veteran German clarinetist / composer Theo JorgensmannFind albums by this artist and the Contact 4tettFind albums by this artist, which also includes guitarist Evert BrettschneiderFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Kai KanthakFind albums by this artist and drummer Sascha SauerbornFind albums by this artist, who is also in charge of electronic effects. The album presents eleven tracks, three of which are original compositions by Jorgensmann, two by Brettschneider and the remaining six co-composed by all four members of the quartet. The music is a wonderful example of contemporary European Free Jazz / Improvised Music, literally electrified by the presence of electronics, electric guitar and bass, and the ever-young spirit of my Friend, Theo Jorgensmann, who seems to remain completely ageless and comfortable with whatever musical environment he is surrounded by. Although almost completely improvised and with little straightforward melodic continuity, the music is beautifully delicate and even intimate, shunning the “wall of sound” effect that many Improvised Music projects often indulge in. Jorgensmann’s fluid clarinet chant has the “Piper of Hamelin” effect, luring the listener into the intricacies of the abstract improvisations, which of course is as enchanting as music can be. The arrhythmic, but perfectly cohesive drumming drives the music forward, avoiding lethargic slipping off into the aural sphere, and the electronics, guitar soundscapes and bass pulsations keep everything alive on multiple planes, which offer a wonderful magic carpet sonic ride. Overall, this is a truly magical Improvised Music album, which is almost meditative / Ambient at times, and offers a relaxed, but not slack, musical experience of the highest aesthetic level. My sincere thanks to the musicians involved in creating this timid gem, which I can only wholeheartedly recommend to all true lovers of challenging beauty. Hats off!

Updated: 16/04/2023Posted: 16/04/2023

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