Record Reviews

LEGENDARNE ZABKI ~ LEGENDARNE ZABKI REQUIEM 044 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1984 - 1986 Released: 2011 This is a fascinating archival glimpse at the music created in the mid-1980s by the Polish ensemble Legendarne ZabkiFind albums by this artist (Legendary Teeth), which was one of the very few acts playing improvised music and creating Avant-Garde sound collages at the time. The ensemble comprised of saxophonist Ryszard WojciulFind albums by this artist, pianist Robert WyszynskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / cellist Boleslaw BlaszczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Jacek AlkaFind albums by this artist. Several other musicians also participate in these recordings, which were made during a two years period, after which the ensemble disbanded. The album includes twenty one tracks, recorded privately by Alka on amateur equipment at various locations. At the time Legendarne Zabki were active Poland went through the roughest period in its post-WWII history, with the Martial Law imposed upon its population between 1981 and 1983 and a deep economic crisis lasting throughout the decade. Music was one of the escape routes for the young Poles, with the vast majority choosing Rock as their preferential genre, which resulted in the explosion of Rock music in the country. Young musicians, who selected Jazz and Free Jazz in particular, were a tiny minority. Therefore these historic recordings bring to light an almost completely lost chapter of the country´s musical history. The music, presented chronologically, shows a steady development of the ensemble from Free Jazz towards experimental Improvised Music, which also incorporates literary works of philosophy, prose and poetry and Avant-Garde influences. The importance of such music is mostly in the fact that it was done at all at the time. Listening to it today exposes the lack of experience of the young participants and their detachment from other Improvised Music activities in Poland and abroad. Although the ensemble lasted only a couple of years, these musicians continued to make music together from time to time and are still a part of the Polish Improvised Music scene today. The album is released in a beautiful unique packaging and is a Limited Edition of 300 copies only. It is a collectors´ item and enthusiasts of Polish music should find this an intriguing addition to their collection. Check it out!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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WOJCIECH JACHNA / JACEK BUHL ~ ATROPINA REQUIEM 076 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the third album by Polish Jazz duo comprising of trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist and drummer Jacek BuhlFind albums by this artist. Although they released in 2013 a digital-only album of archival Lo-Fi material, called "TapesFind albums with this title" (recorded between 2009 and 2011), which could be theoretically counted as their third release, it was a side-kick project and therefore not a part of the duo´s formal discography, in spite of it´s high quality musical content. The current album includes nine original compositions, all co-composed by the duo members. Musically the duo continues the formula they developed earlier, which mixes ambient atmospheric themes with improvisation and Jazzy expressions, creating a fascinating mixture of sounds, which is absolutely their own. This music is quite beyond classification, and fortunately the local Polish scene nurtures such experimentation, which has a solid fan base there, certainly more opened towards unusual music than in other parts of the world. Jachna is surely one of the most interesting trumpeters arriving on the scene in the last decade or so, with a completely individual sound and phrasing, which I personally find irresistible. It has an edge of suspense and griminess that most straight-forward trumpeters both eschew and find unaesthetic, whereas in reality simply sound marvelous. He also remains a minimalist, playing just the right little notes exactly when they are needed and absolutely nothing more, a quality rarely found among his peers. Buhl is an ideal partner for Jachna, attentive and supportive, filling the space with a wealth of percussive sounds of all sorts but also often carrying the actual melody line. His subtle playing is a showcase of good taste and elegance, as well as incredible musicality and technique. Together they create music, which in spite of its unfussiness is full of expressiveness and emotion. As this album clearly shows, the Jachna / Buhl duo managed to create a music microcosm for themselves, which is a considerable achievement for such relatively young musicians playing together for just a few years. I´m looking forward to their endeavor, which apparently is already underway. Well done again gents!

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted:

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GORZYCKI & DOBIE ~ NOTHING REQUIEM 086 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the third and last part in a triptych of duo recordings by Polish drummer / composer Rafal GorzyckiFind albums by this artist (see his duo albums with Sebastian GruchotFind albums by this artist and Kamil PaterFind albums by this artist), this time with British guitarist / composer Jonathan DobieFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original pieces co-composed by Gorzycki and Dobie. In the last decade or so Gorzycki firmly established his position on the Polish scene as one of the most individual voices, amalgamating Jazz with contemporary Classical music, electronic and ambient influences and above all standing firmly as a symbol of uncompromising music creation. His work as a leader and member of such forward thinking ensembles as Sing Sing PenelopeFind albums by this artist or Ecstasy ProjectFind albums by this artist and his individual projects in duo, trio and quartet settings are all exceptional examples of individuality and excellence. In many respects this duo album is a culmination of Gorzycki´s modus operandi, which presents a minimalistic and fragmented approach to melody and harmony, which often hints at some musical statements rather then expressing them in full, leaving it to the listener to connect the dots. Dobie is obviously an ideal partner and cohort in such circumstances, playing short fragments of rapid guitar fire, which reminds early improvising electric guitarists such as John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist or Jimmy HendrixFind albums by this artist and utilizing ancient fuzz and other sound devices. This retro sound combined with the modern approach creates an absolute stunning effect. Of course, as in every other duo album, the interplay between the two partners is the essential ingredient of the entire project. Gorzycki´s seemingly endless palette of drums and percussion instruments and Dobie´s guitar pyrotechnics are perfectly suited for each other and their dialogs reach telepathic levels. I am very glad that Gorzycki manages finally to achieve at least some recognition by the Polish musical "establishment", after years of being ignored and neglected beyond the small circle of his musical partners. Hopefully this recognition will enable him to create even more of his groundbreaking projects, to the delight of old and new fans. Visiting his personal web site will allow a glimpse at his huge achievements so far. This album is a must have for the many fans of the alternative Polish Jazz / contemporary music scene and is of course is highly recommended.

Updated: 19/01/2018Posted:

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WOJCIECH JACHNA / JACEK BUHL ~ SYNTHOMATHIC REQUIEM 087 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz duo comprising of trumpeter / composer Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist and drummer / composer Jacek BuhlFind albums by this artist. It includes eleven original compositions, all apparently co-composed by the duo members. DJ YakiFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of tracks. Musically the album continues the path set by its predecessors, which finds the duo creating ambient collages of sounds created by their instruments and those created electronically. In many respects this album is the most advanced search for the duo´s identity, being less Jazzy oriented than any of their earlier albums and almost completely immersed in ambient / electronic music. It is accordingly less melodic and more rhythmic, as is most contemporary electronic music. Of course Jachna is a superb trumpet player, as he proves time after time on his Jazz releases, storming mercilessly the Polish Jazz top trumpet league. However his playing on this album is distinctly different and includes extensive use of electronic sound effects and other devices, which distort the trumpet sound considerably. They are of course no less interesting, but might prove difficult to swallow by hardcore Jazz enthusiast. Buhl´s drumming is also quite distant from a steady Jazz rhythm and involves a lot of imagination in order to follow the patterns. Overall this is, as usual, a beautiful soundscape, which needs to be approached with open mind and complete lack of preconceptions in order to be fully appreciated. Full of imaginary worlds, eerie sound bits and distant trumpet cries, this music is a soundtrack of the private movie screening in the listener´s head. Surely not for everybody, but those who are able to appreciate and enjoy this duo´s Art are truly blessed. Well done indeed!

Updated: 19/01/2018Posted:

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MAREK MALINOWSKI ~ ALONE REQUIEM 089 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Marek MalinowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet which also includes trumpeter Michal MichotaFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Albert KarchFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, seven of which were composed by Malinowski and one each by Michota and Urowski. The unusual guitar / trumpet front line of the quartet is immediately apparent while listening to this album, as are the melodic and very lyrical, sometimes almost ambient compositions, which dominate it. The music is pretty standard Jazz mainstream, except for the very last two minutes of the last tune, which are like a wakeup call after a long period of floating between dream and reality; which in my case leads to a question why isn´t more of this album´s music of the same character as the very last verses. Malinowski is a very skillful player, with a nice open, almost acoustic guitar sound, which suits the delicate melodic lines well. There is very little typical guitar flashiness and highly technical showoff, which makes his playing somewhat modest and subdued. However there is a lot of delicate beauty in his playing, which is revealed after patient listening. Michota displays a much flashier attitude, trying to impress with his staccato phrases, which still need some polishing. He is definitely a promising youngster but the trumpet scene in Polish Jazz is incredibly crowded in the last decade. The rhythm section comprises of two already established players, who are usually associated with a much freer musical environments. Both musicians play excellently of course and their input is what makes this music work as a whole. Urowski emerges as one of the leading bass players in the last decade and his work is always a delight. Overall this is a respectable debut effort, which shows a lot of future potential for the leader. The compositions are a bit restricted and after a while bring on a déjà vu impression, with a lethargic Scandinavian atmosphere calling the shots. It is definitely worth checking out.

Updated: 19/01/2018Posted:

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JACHNA / CICHOCKI / UROWSKI / KRAWCZYK ~ THE RIGHT MOMENT REQUIEM 099 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz quartet comprising of trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist, pianist Jacek CichockiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz KrawczykFind albums by this artist. The quartet performs nine original compositions: three by Cichocki, two each by Urowski and Jachna and another two co-composed by all four members of the quartet. Saxophonist Wojciech Piorkowski guests on one track. The music is a typical contemporary modern Polish Jazz, somewhat more "conventional" than what one might expect from such names as Jachna and Urowski, but nevertheless excellent. This musical environment serves as a perfect opportunity to hear Jachna play more melodically than on most of his recordings, showing one more of his excellent qualities as a trumpeter. The atmosphere of this recording and the music bring a fond memory of the modern Polish Jazz period of the 1960s, especially the revolutionary Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist recordings. All the tunes herein have the same melancholic touch of Polish lyricism, which was so archetypal of that period, and which makes them sound quite "retro". It is difficult to say if this effect was intentional, but regardless of the actual intentions, the "spiritual" similarity is very apparent. The performances are, as expected, excellent from start to finish and although Jachna´s trumpet is the most evocative instrument, all four members of the quartet are superb instrumentalist and the quartet plays together like a dream, even when the music gets to be complex and demanding. Cichocki, whom I have not heard earlier, is especially impressive as a newcomer and I certainly hope to hear a lot more of him in the future. Overall this is a superb album, which definitely stands among the best achievements of the current year, even if it is not especially innovative or groundbreaking. Such music continues a tradition that is worth preserving invigorates it and refreshes it with new creative powers. These still relatively young musicians are already the main creative power of the Polish Jazz scene, and the next generations are already puffing on their necks. These are good times for Polish Jazz and it´s great to be alive while they last!

Updated: 28/05/2020Posted:

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TATVAMASI ~ THE HOUSE OF WORDS REQUIEM 103 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by Polish ensemble TatvamasiFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist Grzegorz LesiakFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Tomasz PiatekFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jan MichalecFind albums by this artist, bassist Lukasz DownarFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof RedasFind albums by this artist. The album consists of four lengthy compositions, all by Lesiak. Although not entirely unambiguous, it seems the music was recorded "live in the studio" as it includes applause, but the sound has all the characteristics of a studio recording, contrary to the statement that it was recorded during an open air concert. Following their sensational debut album released on the American CuneiformFind albums on this label label, Tatvamasi continue their tale of success and manage to produce another piece of music, which is fascinating and highly original. The lineup, extended to quintet with the addition of the trumpeter, has more instrumental possibilities and skillfully uses that advantage on this album. All members of the ensemble contribute superb solo parts and participate in the group interplay amicably and intelligently. The music, as usual with Tatvamasi, is quite beyond classification stylistically and merges many different cross-genre elements, mostly World Music melodic lines and repetitive chant-like progression, Rocky rhythmic patterns and Jazz improvisation. Lesiak´s guitar playing also uses electronic and ambient sound effects. The amalgamated sound produces a trance inducing environment, which allows the soloists to spread their wings and extrapolate into their personal dimensions. Hypnotic and absorbing, this music is simply irresistible. In contrast to the three soloists, the rhythm section shows a remarkable restrain, simply driving the music skillfully ahead, but not drawing the listener´s attention away from the centerpiece. Nevertheless their contribution is an absolutely essential piece of the music, which would have been impossible without it. Tatvamasi successfully pass the "second album" test with flying colors and hopefully will continue to produce more of their unique music in the future. As usual in such cases I can´t wait to hear their next album and in the meantime I invite every connoisseur of unusual, challenging music to get hold of a copy of this gem. Well done!

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OLBRZYM I KURDUPEL & WILLI HANNE ~ IN SIDE SHOUT REQUIEM 106 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the fourth album by Polish Avant-Garde / Improvised Music duo Olbrzym I KurdupelFind albums by this artist, or saxophonist Tomasz GadeckiFind albums by this artist and bassist Marcin BozekFind albums by this artist, this time expanded to a trio with the inclusion of German drummer Willi HanneFind albums by this artist. Together they perform twelve improvised pieces, not credited and therefore assumed to be created spontaneously by the participants. The music on this album is quite different from the earlier recordings by the duo, not because of the presence of the third partner, but because it is significantly more relaxed and stretched than before. Whereas the earlier recordings were characterized by their intensity and ferocious interplays, this time the concept involves a lot of silence incorporated within the music, sporadic bursts of energy followed by delicate and very quiet passages. Of course the duo remains to be one of the most interesting phenomena on the Polish scene, which refuses to stay in one place and constantly searches to break new barriers and expand the idiom of musical expression. The addition of the drummer enables a more diverse arsenal of sounds, but does not change the basic modus operandi, which means in this case that they have found a brotherly spirit in Hanne. This album might prove to be slightly more difficult to enjoy, even for the experienced Improvised Music buffs, as it requires total attention and concentration in order to follow the spirit of the music. Nevertheless it is another superb achievement, which represents the European Avant-Garde with pride. As always highly recommended to adventurous listeners who have no pre-conceptions are willing to accept the unexpected.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 14/03/2016

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ATOM ACCORDION QUINTET ~ ATOM ACCORDION QUINTET REQUIEM 120 (Barcode: 5902547013411) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by Polish ensemble Atom Accordion QuintetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of accordionist Rafal GrzakaFind albums by this artist and the renowned string quartet called Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Together they perform four contemporary Classical compositions by young Polish composers: Mikolaj MajkusiakFind albums by this artist, Piotr WrobelFind albums by this artist, Krzysztof Lenczowski and Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist. While the works by the Majkusiak and Wrobel are single-piece compositions, the work by Lenczowski is a four-part Quintet and the work by Kolodziejczyk is three-part suite. The album was released simultaneously on two Polish labels: RequiemFind albums on this label Records and DUXFind albums on this label Records As much as I appreciate the need to expose young composers, which this album is all about, somehow I felt a bit disappointed when the music was over. Contemporary Classical music can be, and often is challenging and groundbreaking but this album has little of these qualities. The sound of accordion and a string quartet works together well but was already explored before, and although the musicians are top class, but the music itself just fails to make a strong impression. Even the music by Lenczowski, who writes wonderful music in the Jazz idiom, somehow does not present his usual excellence here, being simply too conventional, even if it is beautifully melodic and gracefully melancholic. An example of the lack of originality is the very last track on this album (by Kolodziejczyk), which sounds almost exactly like music by Astor PiazzollaFind albums by this artist with string quartet. Somehow the entire album invokes a kind of a déjà vu symptom. The album is supposed to offer, according to the enclosed booklet, an amalgam of Classical Music, Folklore and Jazz. There is Classical music in abundance, there are some Folkloristic motifs, but there is certainly no Jazz at all, as there is obviously no improvisation involved since all the music is strictly written. This of course is not a problem by itself, but simply an unnecessary confusion. Obviously the album has its positive sides as well: a profound European aesthetics, wonderful performances by all five musicians, who are obviously virtuosic players, an excellent recording and sound quality and elegant packaging that includes informative bilingual liner notes. Overall this is a well done and original presentation of contemporary Polish Classical Music, which can be enjoyed by many Classical Music connoisseurs anywhere in the world and serve as a wonderful calling card of Polish Culture.

Updated: 22/11/2016Posted: 22/11/2016

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DOBIE / MADRY PROJECT ~ BODY UP REQUIEM 138 ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by British / Polish duo which consists of British guitarist / composer Jonathan DobieFind albums by this artist and Polish electronics performer Tomasz MadryFind albums by this artist. They are assisted by several additional British and Polish musicians, some of which are well known names in the Avant-Garde / ambient music communities. The album presents two extended original compositions, not credited explicitly on the album´s artwork and therefore assumed to be collective compositions. The music is a wonderful amalgam of ambient / drone / electronic music and Jazz improvisations, combined together in a very original form. The electronic sounds serve as a platform upon which the Jazzy improvisations float like wind above earth. The sublime contrast between the heavy, dark sound of the electronics and the gentle, melodic sound of the saxophone improvisations creates an eerie effect, perfectly suitable as a soundtrack to an imaginary movie. This intuitive and highly adventurous music manages to present a completely coherent structure and sense of direction. In many respects this music could be treated as contemporary "Classical" Music, presenting a completely new gateway into unexplored musical universes. This music offers new discoveries with each listening session and its scope is truly amazing. This is revolutionary music in every sense, as it eschews all conventions and known parameters, simply creating a new form of collective expression, which combines recorded sounds and studio manipulation. Although seemingly depressive and sinister, it is in fact nothing of the sort. It uses the minimalism of the drone background and "white noise" electronic effects as canvas, upon which the improvisations act like brightly colored shapes. Overall this is an amazing piece of contemporary music, which is a wonderful example of ingenuity and limitless searching, which still, thank God, happens on this planet, often against all odds. As usual kudos is due to the Polish Requiem label for the courage and wisdom to release albums like this one; albums that change the perception of what music is, for generations to come.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 29/04/2017

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RAFAL GORZYCKI ~ SYRIUSZ REQUIEM 139 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is a solo album by Polish drummer / multi-instrumentalist / composer Rafal GorzyckiFind albums by this artist, one of the most proactive and prolific musicians on the local scene with a steady stream of excellent releases since the early 2000s, which represent some of the most interesting music created in Poland by the young generation of the country´s musicians. On this album Gorzycki faces his listeners as a soloist, playing a wide array of instruments and even reciting poetry written by Polish poet Krzysztof GruseFind albums by this artist. The album presents eighteen relatively short pieces, obviously parts of a continuous conceptual work. The music is quite different from Gorzycki´s earlier efforts, which were mostly associated with some degree of Jazz or Improvised Music. This time Gorzycki offers music which avoids categorization almost completely, and is conceptually closest to contemporary Classical Music, although it is atypical in many aspects. There is almost no melodic content as such, but rather a kaleidoscopic collection of fragments and allusions, which leaves it to the listener to collect the dots. The overall atmosphere the piece is alienated and creates a feeling of detachment and doom, somewhat similar to soundtracks of Avant-Garde movies, which present a hyper-reality floating in between worlds. Although the album´s artwork does not disclose any clues as to the composer´s intentions, the album´s title and its mythological connotations might support the idea that the ambience was deliberately set as such. As usual with Gorzycki´s projects, this music requires some serious investigation and attention on the listener´s part, both due to its complexity and uniqueness, surely more so that most other albums people come across. The intellectual challenge and the emotional effort might be strenuous at first, but are definitely worth persevering, as in time this music becomes absorbing and rewarding. It is good to see that some musicians are treating their music as a piece of Art rather than a commodity created for financial gain, and Gorzycki is definitely one of these Artists. Perhaps less immediately affable than his early works but definitely worth being discovered, this album is unquestionably a milestone in Gorzycki´s career, which seems to be in full swing with sky being the limit.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 27/02/2017

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IMMORTAL ONION ~ OCELOT OF SALVATION REQUIEM 148 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz piano trio called Immortal OnionFind albums by this artist, which comprises of pianist Tomir SpiolekFind albums by this artist, bassist Ziemowit KlimekFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech WarmijakFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, which are not credited on the album´s artwork. The music is quite original and surprising, stylistically resembling the early work by the Progressive Rock legends Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, i.e. Classically influenced melodic themes featuring improvisation, odd meters and a basic Rocky attitude, emphasized by the rhythm section (electric bass and energetic drums work). But the music is diverse and offers a very interesting and pleasurable listening experience. Although only marginally Jazz related, this music, like most Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion is also of interest to most Jazz enthusiasts. Although this album is based on the rich Progressive Rock legacy and other influences, it is not an attempt to copy or repeat these patterns but rather a courageous effort to innovate and develop. As such is deserves praise and attention as well as my worm recommendation to music lovers to seek out this little gem and give it a serious listen. Considering the young age of these musicians, one can only hope for more great music they will hopefully offer us in the future. Overall this is an excellent debut offer which deserves to be heard. Kudos to the superb Polish label RequiemFind albums on this label Records for consistently supporting music, which does not easily fit into established categories and supporting experimentation.

Updated: 19/01/2018Posted: 19/01/2018

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KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI ~ RZECZY OSOBISTE REQUIEM 169 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second solo album by Polish cellist / composer Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist and his first solo cello recording. Lenczowski is primarily known as a member of the celebrated Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, but he is often involved in other projects as well. The album presents eleven compositions, including three originals and one improvised piece, and the rest are his interpretations of Jazz, Pop and Classical standards, both international and of Polish origin. This eclectic collection of musical sources serves Lenczowski well, since a solo cello album is a trying experience both for the artists and the listeners. It allows Lenczowski to display his diversity and obvious technical proficiency, as well as to create a multi-faced portrait of his talents. As the album´s title suggests ("Personal Things" in Polish) he selected this time a gathering of pieces that he likes, rather than offer a novel musical concept. This bold decision might result in criticism from some "critics", but Lenczowski is obviously way beyond that by now. The album is a very pleasing listening experience, changing moods and stylistic approaches constantly. The very personal interpretations are often quite removed from the origins, which of course is all for the better. What Lenczowski is saying here is that genres are simply points of reference and music is one. It either works and manages to move the listener or doesn´t work, regardless of the genre; a statement I also adhere to. Overall this is a very unusual, highly personal statement by a superb musician, who wishes to share his personal musical preferences with his listeners, rather than venture into a specific musical venture. Beautifully played and full of elegance and sensitivity, it is a little gem one can return to when the world seems bleak and gloomy. The album is warmly recommended to appreciative listeners, who are tired of flashy and empty statements and need something to hold on to, which is unpretentious and genuinely embracing.

Updated: 27/07/2018Posted: 27/07/2018

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STANIECKI / JACHNA ~ TWO SOULS REQUIEM 194 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by the duo comprising of Polish guitarist / composer Maciej StanieckiFind albums by this artist and Jazz trumpeter / composer Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine pieces, not credited on the album’s artwork and assumed to be co-created by the two musicians. The music is an amalgam of Electronic / Ambient layers of background sounds and trumpet improvisations floating on top of this background, creating a relaxed, almost lethargic atmosphere of contemplation and bordering on cinematic aural excursions. As I have already stated repeatedly, there seems to be a distinct movement in Polish music lately, which offers a “protest” / counterbalance attitude, characterized by minimalistic / subdued musical forms, as a reaction to the incisive noise (musical or otherwise), that we are all drenched in and which completely blocks our contact with the world and other humans around us. This album is a “classic” representative of this new wave. Although the layers of sound created by Staniecki are very creative and often inspiring, the focus of this album is naturally on the wonderful performances by Jachna, who perfected his sound and intrinsic lyricism over the years, bringing it to such unprecedented level, that today there are but just a few other trumpeters on the European scene with equal capabilities. Combined with his improvisational strength, Jachna is a poet of his instrument and every moment of his playing on this album is a pure aesthetic delight. With well over twenty excellent albums recorded in the last decade, spanning a wide and diverse stylistic range between modern Jazz and Avant-Garde, Jachna steadily climbs to the position of top Polish Jazz trumpeter, and this album is a clear example of his genius. This album, although fully immersed in Jazz, is likely to find its way to a large audience of listeners, who do not listen to Jazz on a regular basis. The music works like a balsam for every human soul, inspiring healing and inward escape away from our troubles. This is truly an outstanding offering of music, which deserves to be embraced by us all.

Updated: 27/02/2021Posted: 27/02/2021

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SZTUROMSKI / MAZZOLL / WOSKO / CHAMOUN / SZCZYCINSKI ~ PTAKI POLSKI REQUIEM 256 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is an album by a quintet of Polish musicians, led by producer / electronics manipulator Michal SzturomskiFind albums by this artist, with clarinetist Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist, percussionist Adeb ChamounFind albums by this artist and bassist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist. They perform music inspired by the calls and songs uttered by bird species common in Poland, which are described by texts written by Alexandra Kornelia MajFind albums by this artist and recited by Filip KosiorFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, each dedicated to a different bird. The music is mostly improvised, with Mazzoll being the leading voice in most cases, beautifully accompanied by the rest of the quintet, with plenty of space for individual contributions. Although improvised, the music is wonderfully melodic, with strong influences of Mediterranean accents, flowing gently and dreamy, almost contemplatively. The three elements, i.e. the birds’ calls, the music and the recitation are balanced delicately and offer a coherent whole, which is moving and highly enjoyable. Obviously, as a Mazzoll admirer, I enjoy immensely his contributions, which prove again how comprehensive his talent is, always fitting perfectly to whatever musical environment he finds himself in. He is a modern Pied Piper of Hamelin, at least for me, always taking me wherever he is going with his music, where I can only follow blindly and submissively. Of course this particular assembly of musicians is truly amicable and talented, which makes everything even more perfect aesthetically. Chamoun is especially fitting and I always admire his special sense of rhythm, which we share instinctively. Overall, this is a remarkable piece of musical Art, carefully put together, as always in the case of RequiemFind albums on this label Records, beautifully packaged and bearing a sublime musical gift. My sincere thanks to all participants and contributors.

Updated: 01/04/2025Posted: 01/04/2025

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ETNOS ENSEMBLE ~ GARDEN REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2019/3 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz-World Music Etnos EnsembleFind albums by this artist which comprises of clarinetist Bartosz PacanFind albums by this artist, accordionist Konrad MertaFind albums by this artist, cellist Piotr GachFind albums by this artist and bassist Lukasz MazanekFind albums by this artist. A few guest musicians play on selected tracks. The album presents eleven tracks, nine of which are original compositions by the ensemble members and two are traditional Folklore melodies. The music covers a wide range of folkloristic influences, such as Balkan, Slavic and Jewish traditional music, as well as many others sources. But it is first and foremost a wonderful collection of beautiful original melodic themes superbly arranged for the ensemble. The serene, brilliantly clear and totally acoustic sound, which enables the listener to enjoy every individual note, turns this music into an uplifting experience of purity and bliss. Although the music is only marginally associated with Jazz per se, it includes plenty of improvisation, similarly to Klezmer music, which of course at its essence is spiritually akin to Jazz. All four members of the ensemble are obvious professionals, but more importantly they are all clearly emotionally involved in the process of creating this music. Although limited to just four instruments, the ensemble often sounds like a small orchestra. The album offers plenty of musical diversity and dynamics, which creates the illusion that the music is over in the blink of an eye. Overall this is a delightful album, full of great music, delicate spirituality, high aesthetics and superb musicianship. Enthusiasts of chamber Folk music and Jazz-World Fusion should find this very enjoyable and satisfying. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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

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DARIUSZ PETERA ~ FLASHOVER REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2019/4 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Dariusz PeteraFind albums by this artist recorded in a sextet setting with some of the top Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Petra. The music was recorded at the excellent RecPublica Studios and offers a superb sound quality. It also offers a highly aesthetic packaging. The music is a wonderful example of contemporary Polish / European Jazz, which combines melodic themes with open structures, which enable the music to spread freely in many different directions not being limited by traditional Jazz pre-conceptions, resulting in many unexpected manifestations of the compositional palette. Petera certainly arises as a new talent on the local Jazz scene and the fact that the last time he took part in recording an album happened six years ago is very intriguing. But the long wait was certainly worthwhile, as the compositions on this album are all perfectly rounded and coherent, mature and most importantly present unique personal stylistic idiosyncrasies, characterized by the dominant role of the rhythmic pulse, which stands on the same level as the melodic and harmonic contents. The performances are all absolutely stellar, which of course is hardly surprising. Kocinski, Swies and Szmanda, who together with Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist at the piano played together for many years as the sublime SoundcheckFind albums by this artist quartet, one of my favorite Polish Jazz ensembles which sadly dropped off the horizon, are of course Masters of the trade. Lenczowski, who made a spectacular career with the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist and recorded superb solo albums, is a Superstar. And finally Miszk, who is the most in demand young generation upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeter. In short Petera might have as well called this ensemble All Stars. Of course Petera also plays excellently, but respectfully shares the spotlight more or less evenly with the rest of the sextet members. Overall this album is undoubtedly a notable event on the Polish Jazz scene, especially in view of the incredibly high competition that scene generates. It is also a splendid debut effort, which hopefully will be followed by many similar achievements of the same significance and Artistic scale. Well done indeed!

Updated: 30/05/2019Posted: 30/05/2019

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BRASS FEDERACJA ~ GO, GO, TO BE ON TIME! REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2019/5 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Polish Brass ensemble Brass FederacjaFind albums by this artist, led by sousaphone player / composer Piotr WrobelFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeters Maurycy IdzikowskiFind albums by this artist and Marcin MalarzFind albums by this artist, trombonists Andrzej RekasFind albums by this artist, Bartek LupinskiFind albums by this artist and Szymon WojdakFind albums by this artist and drummer Maciek WojcieszukFind albums by this artist. Six additional brass players guest on one of the tunes. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Wrobel, and one arrangement of a standard. There is also a humorous hidden bonus track! Wrobel might be familiar to the Polish Jazz buffs as the sousaphone player of the fabulous Jazz Band Mlynarski - MaseckiFind albums by this artist, which also works without a bass player in its ranks. The music is on the Funky side of the Brass ensemble music spectrum, offering straight forward melodic themes, which serve as vehicles for all the brass mania around, spiced by wonderful soloing by the ensemble members. The entire sound of the ensemble works wonderfully with the unique sousaphone / drums "rhythm section", which adds full bodied bottom range and swings wonderfully. The music is somewhat similar to what the Brass Rock ensembles of the 1960s and 1970s were doing at the time, missing of course the guitar / keyboards / bass guitar Rocky side of things, but still being quite attractive to lovers of that idiom, which sadly disappeared from the face of the earth. The music displays an affinity to Traditional Jazz on some of the tracks, and an entire album of more Traditional Jazz oriented music might also work excellently – perhaps sometime in the future? Overall this is an absolutely delightful piece of music, very different from everything else appearing on the Polish Jazz scene and showing the limitless extent of the genre. It is full of originality and passion and is of course wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 13/08/2019Posted: 13/08/2019

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TOMASZ PAWLICKI ~ BASNIOWE GRY (TRIAL) REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2019/6 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut solo album by Polish flautist / multi-instrumentalist / composer Tomasz PawlickiFind albums by this artist, recorded with the help of seven additional Polish instrumentalists from various genres, including trumpeter Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist, drummer Jacek BuhlFind albums by this artist and others, each appearing on between one and four of the tracks. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Pawlicki. The music is a minimalist, chamber Jazz-Classical Fusion presented by the relatively short pieces, which although unrelated melodically, can be easily conceived as parts of a suite like coherent whole. Since Pawlicki is usually associated with the Polish Avant-Garde Jazz scene, this music seems at times somewhat "tame", but it is in fact a logical continuation of his work with the Ecstasy ProjectFind albums by this artist ensemble or the trio with Rafal GorzyckiFind albums by this artist and Jakub ZiolekFind albums by this artist. Both the compositions and the performances are brilliant all the way through and although this music is targeted towards the more refined audiences, it can be enjoyed by a relatively wide range of listeners from the Avant-Garde contemporary Classical Music and / or Jazz echelons to any member of the open-minded and curious public. The subtle use of electronics adds another interesting layer to the music, without changing the overall chamber effect. I have enjoyed immensely listening to this unusual, ambitious and beautiful music, with the solo violin piece played by Filip LipskiFind albums by this artist being my favorite piece on this album. But all the music offers a highly aesthetic experience and deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. Definitely well done!

Updated: 07/08/2020Posted: 07/08/2020

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MALGORZATA MARKIEWICZ ~ BRING THE LIGHT REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2020/07 ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 Although her career goes back over two decades, this is finally the debut album by Polish vocalist Malgorzata MarkiewiczFind albums by this artist. It was recorded with the vocals supported by a basic trio consisting of keyboardist Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal BryndalFind albums by this artist. In addition a string quartet, which is 3/4 of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist (Malgorzata´s husband) and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist) and violinist Marta ZalewskaFind albums by this artist takes part in the recording as well as eight other musicians playing / singing on selected tracks. The album presents twelve original songs, nine of which were composed by Markiewicz (two co-composed with others) and three were composed by Gabriela KapczukFind albums by this artist. She also wrote three of the lyrics and co-wrote one with the rest being by different authors. Six of the songs feature lyrics in Polish language and the other six feature lyrics in English. The album is elegantly packaged and offers the lyrics, arty photographs and stylish design. The songs are all typical contemporary Polish Pop, very melodic and solidly written but slightly samey. The album offers a modern production and sound, which I personally don´t appreciate very much. But the instrumental arrangements, with just a tinge of Jazz here and there, and the playing / singing are absolutely perfect and professional. If not for the Polish lyrics, this album might have been mistaken for an American album, which proves that the Poles can beat the Americans at their own Smooth Jazz production game, but as such does not offer much originality. With that said, Markiewicz proves she can write great tunes and sing them with true feeling, even in English, which most of her local vocal colleagues fail at badly. It is obvious that a lot of thought and work was invested into creating this album and the result is highly entertaining and offers a great listening experience, which Pop and Smooth Jazz listeners should enjoy immensely. Overall this is an excellently produced and beautifully performed album, full of great tunes and typical Smooth Jazz feel, which should make aficionados of that genre perfectly happy.

Updated: 09/01/2021Posted: 25/03/2020

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MODERN BLUES QUARTET ~ BLUES ON BACH REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2020/08 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz quartet called Modern Blues QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of flautist / composer Ryszard BorowskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Rafal SarneckiFind albums by this artist and bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Borowski. As the title suggests, the music is "inspired" by compositions of Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist, and follows many similar Jazz projects mentioned in the album´s liner notes. The liner notes also state that there is very little of Bach´s music as such on this album, and the proximity is mostly associative, which is quite correct. The resulting music is easy on the ear and quite entertaining, obviously meant for wider audiences. The musicians are of course some of Polish Jazz top instrumentalists, as their individual performances attest, providing plenty of excellent solo showcases. The delicate sound of a drumless quartet works very well and the excellent bass parts manage to keep the music swinging, even without percussive support. Smoczynski´s parts take the music into the Gypsy Jazz idiom and are (for me) the highlights of this project. Sarnecki plays some tasty swinging guitar parts, but is less dominant. Overall this is a nice amalgam of Jazz-Classical Fusion and Smooth Jazz, which many listeners on the lighter side of the Jazz idiom can enjoy immensely.

Updated: 09/01/2021Posted: 27/09/2020

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TRIO PBP ~ SCHUBERT WINTERREISE REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2020/12 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz Trio PBPFind albums by this artist comprising of young (fifteen years old when the project commenced) pianist Stanislaw PantaFind albums by this artist, flautist Ryszard BorowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the trio plays ten interpretations of songs from the Winterreise song cycle by Franz SchubertFind albums by this artist, with the music being credited to Borowski (?). The music is rather predictable, with the original themes clearly audible and the improvisations kept within the strictly mainstream Jazz idiom, resulting in a pleasant, easy going Jazz-Classical Fusion outing, which can be easily enjoyed by a wide audience, not necessarily associated with Jazz. Pawel Panta is an excellent bassist with an impressive recording legacy and his work on this album is the key element which keeps the music together, being in charge of the pulse (especially in a drumless setting) and providing the music with some sense of swing. Stanislaw Panta is still very young of course, but he plays nice harmonic structures and accompanies the flute work amicably, soloing modestly, but displaying talent and obvious understanding of the Jazz principles. Borowski, who is a Classical flautist, arranger, composer and educator, has been involved with Jazz for years, as a performer, educator and recording artists, always combining the cross-genre attitude, with various degrees of success. Overall, this is a pleasant, but hardly challenging piece of easy Jazz-Classical Fusion, which borders on Smooth Jazz.

Updated: 20/09/2021Posted: 20/09/2021

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ STANISLAW MONIUSZKO: Z DOMOWEGO SPIEWNIKA REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2020/13 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is one of many albums recorded by Polish Jazz artists as part of the birthday bicentenary celebrations of the Polish Classical composer Stanislaw MoniuszkoFind albums by this artist (1819-1872). This album presents Jazzed up arrangements of eight songs taken from his "Home Songs" collections, performed by mezzo-soprano operatic singer Aleksandra OpalaFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marcin ZupanskiFind albums by this artist and accordionist Wojciech GolecFind albums by this artist. The approach is quite original, and offers a direct contrast between the Classic songs performed by Opala and the improvised / Jazzy parts by the three instrumentalists, which harmonize beautifully, even when they "clash" stylistically when the instrumental parts are almost Free Jazz oriented. As a result this is definitely one of the most interesting Moniuszko related Polish Jazz projects the "Moniuszko year" produced. As magnificent and interesting as the Polish Jazz scene is, easily topping the European scene in the last two decades or so, it suffers from local "obsession" when dealing with its National Musical heritage. A huge part of Polish Jazz recordings is related either to Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist (the Godfather of Polish Jazz) or Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist (the National composer), and lately Moniuszko – all totally out of proportion and in complete contrast to the need to respectfully leave the past behind and look ahead. Of course such projects find support more easily from the Ministry of Culture and other financial support bodies, but such opportunism should be kept at bay as much as possible. Having said all that, this project is definitely "forgiven" for riding on the Moniuszko wave, due to its originality and overall splendid music it offers and for being quite different from most Jazz-Classical Fusion offerings the world over. Personally I enjoyed this music immensely, as weird as it sound at first – well done Lady and Gentlemen!

Updated: 15/07/2021Posted: 04/01/2021

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CUP OF TIME ~ MODERN TANGOS REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2020/15 (Barcode: 5906874951354) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish quartet Cup Of TimeFind albums by this artist, comprising of four classically trained musicians: flautist Ryszard BorowskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Agnieszka CyprykFind albums by this artist, accordionist Rafal GrzakaFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist. This time the quartet picked the Tango as the theme of their album, and presents lesser known facets of the passionate Argentinean dance, mostly taken from Classical music, composed by the Czech / Jewish composer Erwin SchulhoffFind albums by this artist, who died in a Nazi concentration camp, French composer Charles-Camille Saint-SaensFind albums by this artist, Russian composer Igor StravinskyFind albums by this artist, Czech composer Bohuslav MartinuFind albums by this artist and Argentinean composer Alberto GinasteraFind albums by this artist. In addition, one piece composed by the American Jazz pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Gil EvansFind albums by this artist and another one composed by Borowski are also included. Many Tango lovers will be obviously surprised by these glimpses of their favorite music appearing in such broad spectrum of chameleonic exposures, often very different to what is usually taken for granted when Tango comes to mind. And since broadening one’s horizons is always something people should strive to do, listening to this album can be quite educational, as well as enjoyable. Of course the music is highly professionally performed, and offers a broad spectrum of modern Classical Music, which is relatively little known to most listeners. Although I find the albums by Cup Of Time a bit of a hit-and-miss sometime, this one is definitely worth exploring and offers many nice surprises, and as such welcome and recommended!

Updated: 03/03/2022Posted: 18/04/2021

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KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI ~ LOST JOURNEY REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2021/17 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz cellist / composer (and now also guitarist) Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, primarily known as a member of the superb Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, but with a rich and exciting recording legacy of dozens of albums by top Polish artists. This album finds him in an exciting organ trio format with the wonderful organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartek StaromiejskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Lenczowski. The music is absolutely delightful, like a ten-course meal in a tree-star Michelin restaurant. Each and every of those compositions is completely different and the diversity is simply astounding, including Classical Music, Rock, Prog, Fusion, World and other influences, skillfully exploited to create a dazzling kaleidoscope of sounds. It is hard to believe that all this music is performed by just three instrumentalists, which emphasizes their individual skills and talents. Lenczowski is a brilliant cellist of course but here he demonstrates amazing scale of different sounds he is able to create on his cello. Galas, whom I have been following closely for a few years now, is a stunning talent, able to express a myriad of feelings using the keyboards. Staromiejski adds his robust drumming to drive the music steadily through the rapid turns and twists and frequent mood changes with sensitivity and skill. It is very difficult to accurately define this music stylistically, and for luck of a better term, it would probably be best described as Jazz-Rock Fusion, although that might not do the music justice, as it is way more rich in textures than what usually passes as Fusion. The leagues of Prog fans should also feel perfectly comfortable with this music, as in fact should all lovers of ambitious melodic music, full of surprising vistas and virtuosic performances. There are very few musicians today, who can match Lenczowski’s compositional ingenuity and chameleonic cross-genre and cross-idiom approach. A retrospective glance at his recorded legacy so far is already highly impressive, and one can never guess what he will come up with next – which of course is one of his many virtues. Overall this is an absolute gem of an album, which a great appeal to all Artistic souls out there, of all ages and all musical affiliations. I can’t imagine anybody not loving this music, and if they don’t I am really sorry for them…

Updated: 01/04/2021Posted: 27/03/2021

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IMPROOPERA ~ IMPROOPERA REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2021/18 ~ POLAND ~ Pop-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish duo ImprooperaFind albums by this artist comprising od mezzo soprano opera singer Aleksandra OpalaFind albums by this artist and Jazz keyboardist Piotr MatusikFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, three composed by Polish Classical composer Karol SzymanowskiFind albums by this artist and one each by Maurice RavelFind albums by this artist, Pyotr TchaikovskyFind albums by this artist and Stanislaw NiewiadomskiFind albums by this artist, all arranged by Matusik. Most of the material is treated very closely to its original form, as composed, with Matusik employing some synthesizer parts in addition to his acoustic piano playing. There are just a few moments of instrumental improvisation by Matusik, and his arrangements of the original music are extremely respectful and delicate. The vocal parts are beautifully performed and Matusik already proved himself as an excellent keyboardist playing on several records in the past, which of course makes this album a true pleasure to listen to. Although personally I’d prefer to hear the duo taking a bit more risks and moving further away from the Classical core into open ventures, but I respect their choices. This album is closely linked to the “Stanislaw Moniuszko: Z Domowego SpiewnikaFind albums with this title” album, also featuring Opala and Matusik and following a similar musical concept, which I also liked very much. Overall this is a very unusual and stimulation album, definitely worth being discovered, and it might build another bridge between Classical Music and Jazz, or in this case Opera and Jazz to be more specific. Well done!

Updated: 15/07/2021Posted: 15/07/2021

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LESZEK HEFI WISNIOWSKI / EWA LIPSKA ~ AWARIA SWIATA REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2021/23 (Barcode: 198002738196) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is an album by the Polish Jazz flautist / saxophonist / composer Leszek HeFi WisniowskiFind albums by this artist, who plays on a plethora of flutes, saxophones and other “virtual” instruments, and Polish poetess Ewa LipskaFind albums by this artist, who recites her poems originating from two collections of her works. The album presents nineteen short tracks, four of which are instrumental intros and the rest include recitations of the poems accompanied by Wisniowski’s improvisations. The album is an obvious Jazz & Poetry project, but it’s minimalism and the fact that the poetry is recited rather than sung, makes it a completely unique and deeply moving piece of aesthetic wonder. This album makes me extremely happy not only because Lipska’s poetry is one of my favorite contemporary manifestation of Polish Poetry, but even more so because she remains relatively little known in her own country, despite the fact that her poetry has been translated into many languages and published outside of Poland. Sadly, this kind of “Cultural anomaly” repeats itself way to often in Poland. As if this was not enough, Wisniewski is also highly underappreciated on the Polish Jazz scene, so this album is a double vindication of sorts. Wisniowski’s improvisations fit the poetry like a glove, subdued and lethargic they emphasize the “dark” nature of the poetry, often bordering on tragic or even macabre, with the music and words intertwined with each other in a perfect way, which is truly magical. I am full of admiration for Wisniowski and Lipska for their courage and vision to instigate this project and execute it with such deep devotion and artistry. Obviously poetry and music are some of the most directly stimulating phenomena and while combined, their power of expression becomes an emotional tsunami. Overall, this is a stunning piece of Art, a Cultural capsule, which should inspire deep emotions and reflections in those, who are still open to such input. I hope this album gets the exposure it deserves, but lately life makes us all even more pessimistic than our age requires, so the outcome is as fragile as our lives. Nevertheless, I remain deeply grateful to the creators of this treasure, raising my virtual hat in a gesture of gratitude…

Updated: 03/03/2022Posted: 03/03/2022

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ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ ESSENCE REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2022/24 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2022 This is the 8th album by Polish ensemble Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, a string quartet comprising of violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, which is the world leading string quartet combining Jazz and Classical Music. The album presents ten original compositions, all by the quartet members, composed between 2010 and 2016. The album was not released through common distribution and can only be obtained during the quartet’s concerts or bought directly from the label that released it. The album is a kind of summary of the quartet’s decade long activity and presents mostly compositions, that were already recorded by the quartet on their earlier albums, like “PlacesFind albums with this title” and “AtomsphereFind albums with this title”, except three compositions that appear here for the first time as quartet performances, all newly arranged and performed with the benefit of a decade of experience and afterthought. There is no doubt that Atom String Quartet managed to establish a unique position for their music not only on the Polish scene, but internationally as well, primarily because it unites four exceptional instrumental virtuosi, who are able to interact telepathically, but also because of the incredible level of compositions these four individuals are capable of creating. If this is not enough to make them stand out, they also manage to combine the worlds of Jazz and Classical Music in such brilliant way, that it sounds like a natural amalgam of the two quite distant universes. Classical structures and harmonies swing perfectly to Jazzy rhythms and phrasing, and every note falls exactly in its perfect place. It is also important to emphasize the great respect the members of the quartet treat Polish musical tradition with, both Classical and Folklore, shades of which are clearly perceptible within their music. The Polish melancholy and sublime lyricism are felt strongly throughout this music, and they are heart melting. Overall, although the material on this album is not new per se, and is a kind of “best of” compilation (well, an oxymoron of sorts, as it is already the best), it offers absolutely wondrous music and heavenly performances, which can move the souls of stones. I cannot imagine any music lover on this globe to stay emotionless when this music is playing, so although it’s not going to be easy, grab a copy of this treasure!

Updated: 27/06/2024Posted: 24/03/2022

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LESZEK HEFI WISNIOWSKI / EWA LIPSKA / GERARD KILROY ~ WORLD FAILURE REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2023/23 (Barcode: 3265584557891) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 The concept of cross-pollination between various disciplines of Art is as ancient and Culture itself, but its potency is never exhausted. Being a lover of Jazz music and Poetry, the combination of the two fascinated me since my adolescence, when I was exposed to some of its early appearances, both in Poland in the 1960s, and later in different counties around the World. There seems to me a mighty affinity between Poets and Jazz musicians, which of course is not really that surprising, since improvising with notes or words is not all that different after all. Sadly, poetry, as opposed to music, has one limitation, of which music is free, i.e. the language barrier. As a result, often upon hearing a sublime Jazz & Poetry album, I immediately ponder on the fact that people, who do not understand a specific language, like Polish for example, are deprived of the ecstatic pleasure associated with the interplay between words and notes. Therefore, it brings me a great pleasure to see this excellent Jazz & Poetry album, which combines the exquisite poetry of Ewa LipskaFind albums by this artist with the sublime improvisations by Leszek HeFi WisniowskiFind albums by this artist, to be now available with the English translations of the poems, opening the possibility to enjoy this union of words and notes to a much wider audience. The poetry is recited by Gerard KilroyFind albums by this artist. The album is an obvious Jazz & Poetry project, but it’s minimalism and the fact that the poetry is recited rather than sung, makes it a completely unique and deeply moving piece of aesthetic wonder. This album makes me extremely happy not only because Lipska’s poetry is one of my favorite contemporary manifestation of Polish Poetry, but even more so because she remains relatively little known in her own country, despite the fact that her poetry has been translated into many languages and published outside of Poland. Sadly, this kind of “Cultural anomaly” repeats itself way to often in Poland. As if this was not enough, Wisniowski is also highly underappreciated on the Polish Jazz scene, so this album is a double vindication of sorts. Wisniowski’s improvisations fit the poetry like a glove, subdued and lethargic they emphasize the “dark” nature of the poetry, often bordering on tragic or even macabre, with the music and words intertwined with each other in a perfect way, which is truly magical. I am full of admiration for Wisniowski and Lipska for their courage and vision to instigate this project and execute it with such deep devotion and artistry. Obviously poetry and music are some of the most directly stimulating phenomena and while combined, their power of expression becomes an emotional tsunami. Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 25/02/2024Posted: 25/02/2024

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KRZYSZTOF LENCZOWSKI ~ UNICORN REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2023/31 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the 4th album as a leader and second solo album by Polish cellist / composer Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist, who plays many different instruments herein, like violin, guitar, percussion instruments and of course cello, which were recorded on separate tracks and finally overlaid to create a group / orchestra sound. The album presents five tracks, all original compositions, three short ones, appropriately called “Prelude”, “Interlude” and “Postlude”, and two lengthy pieces, both about twenty minutes in duration. Lenczowski, primarily known as a member of the celebrated Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, is a versatile and completely cross-genre musician, who shuns from none of the many music genres, and stunningly excels in them all, as evident on his numerous recording with the Atoms and his appearances as guest musician on albums by other musicians, and of course his albums as a leader. The music is as cross-genre as imaginably possible, with beautifully romantic and lyrical themes, strong emphasis on improvisation and some World Music elements, all combined intelligently and skillfully, resulting in a splendid musical tapestry, which makes perfect sense and offers beauty and highly aesthetic approach to composition and performance in one. The two main pieces, called simply “Chapter One” and “Chapter Two”, are in fact two cello concertos, which remain so far unrecorded, and still wait for their full scale realization, performed here by the virtual one-man Lenczowski orchestra. Both are, not surprisingly, absolutely stunning pieces of music. But all the five pieces, combined, are a perfectly coherent and deeply moving piece of music, which, at least for me, are simply irresistible in their beauty and elegance. Overall, this is another brilliant album by Lenczowski, whose trademark is a quality symbol of the highest standard. I had the pleasure the observe his development since the very beginning of his career as a recording artists, and he never failed my highly demanding expectations even once, which is truly remarkable. Thank you for the music, my Friend, and I wish many, many more listeners will find it as delightful as I do!

Updated: 13/05/2024Posted: 13/05/2024

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MAGDALENA ZAWARTKO ~ SATYAGRAHA REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2023/33 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist is certainly not a newcomer on the Polish Jazz scene, but she kept us all in suspense before releasing her debut album as a leader. So here it is, finally, and I am sure we should all agree that it was definitely worth the wait. Surrounded by a team of experienced and highly talented musicians, led by pianist / composer / arranger Michał TokajFind albums by this artist, who is probably the best choice of an accompanist when recording a vocal album with Polish Jazz musicians, Zawartko delivers a highly unique and atypical piece of music, as far as vocal Jazz is concerned, which is almost entirely based on her singing vocalese, rather than lyrics, and when she chooses (in one case) to sing lyrics, those are in Hebrew. The fact that the album was recorded at what I consider to be the best recording studio in Poland, and engineered by the best sound engineer in these parts, is also an asset that can’t be ignored, and the results speaks plainly for itself. The material, both the original compositions and those composed by others, that Zawartko selected to be included on this album, are all unified by a distinct spirituality, which is omnipresent throughout. Spirituality in the most universal sense, not akin to any specific religion or philosophy, although some of the inspirations are religion related. The improvised Jazz language and its rhythmic potency bring all these influences to a common ground, which offers elegant aesthetics and blissful, almost meditative peace of mind. Zawartko’s angelic voice, which moves between operatic and gospel nuances, combined with the instrumental abilities of her colleagues, create a magic aura, which engulfs the listener, asking only for a moment of undivided attention, and rewarding plentifully in return. Simply give in… Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 02/12/2023Posted: 02/12/2023

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KASIA LISOWSKA ~ AURA REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2023/36 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the second album by Polish vocalist / pianist / songwriter Kasia LisowskaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded with several accompanying musicians, playing on selected tracks, like bass guitarists Piotr ZaczekFind albums by this artist and Wojciech StaniszFind albums by this artist, drummer Przemyslaw KuczynskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jakub ChmielarskiFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr KrzeminskiFind albums by this artist. The music was arranged and produced by pianist / sound engineer Lukasz KowalskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight songs, all by Lisowska (music & lyrics), and lasts slightly above half an hour, being rather an EP than a full album. The music is pretty straightforward, very melodic and somewhat repetitious, in contemporary Pop stylistics but with minimal background accompaniment, only at times somewhat Jazzy, which makes it more listenable. Lisowska has a nice and well trained voice, and she is certainly capable of singing a much more ambitious material, than what is present on this album. But to be fair, the album is well produced and all of the songs offer meaningful lyrics and nice melodies, which could be potential radio favorites, if there was still a radio to listen to. It is a typical singer / songwriter offer, which is easy to like, sounds slick and polished, but is certainly too good for contemporary Pop listener, who expects Hip Hop / Rap vulgarity, and these sentimental lyrical songs are boring to him. Overall, this is a nice collection of melodic / sentimental songs, well performed and produced, somewhat out of sync with current Pop sensitivities, but certainly a pleasant listening experience. Nor exactly my cup of tea but I appreciate the honest effort and of course talent by everybody involved.

Updated: 01/04/2024Posted: 31/03/2024

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MODERN BLUES QUARTET ~ ELLINGTONIAN SUITE REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2024/37 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the third album by Polish Jazz ensemble called Modern Blues QuartetFind albums by this artist, led by flautist / composer Ryszard BorowskiFind albums by this artist, which features a changeable lineup around the leader, this time featuring violinist Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Rafal SarneckiFind albums by this artist and bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all credited as compositions by the leader, but as the title suggests, the music was heavily “inspired” by the music of Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, including the track titles, which are all puns of titles of well-known pieces by Ellington. The almost completely acoustic sound of the quartet offers a nice, relaxed and almost playful atmosphere, offering a mixture of the hinted Ellingtonian themes with semi-classical arrangements and elegant improvised soli by the four musicians, all of which are true Masters of their trade. This is definitely an “out of the box” approach to the music of the great composer, but the result certainly does not offend or belittle the seriousness of the origin. Borowski has strong ties to Classical music, which are more than evident in all his recordings, but he certainly knows the Jazz idiom well enough to tie the two together skillfully and intelligently, despite the possible criticism of taking the liberties too far. Nevertheless, the music, although somewhat stiff at times, is beautifully performed and both Smoczynski and Sarnecki (both among my favorite Polish Jazz musicians) show their respective virtuosic abilities at all times, with the solid and rhythmic support by Jaros. Overall, this is a very nice, highly entertaining and perhaps even educational exercise in the Jazz aesthetic, probably intentionally meant not be taken too seriously to start with, with a wink of humorous homage to the great Ellingtonian tradition. I had a great time listening to this album, but admittedly the music did not leave a lasting impression.

Updated: 18/05/2024Posted: 18/05/2024

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DAWID LUBOWICZ ~ HUMAN FATE REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2024/40 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2014 This is the 3rd solo album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in quartet setting with keyboardist Jakub LubowiczFind albums by this artist (his brother), bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Patryk DoboszFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, one of which is a four-part composition, seven of which are original compositions by Dawid Lubowicz and one is by Jakub Lubowicz. Dawid Lubowicz is primarily known as a member of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, Poland’s famed Jazz-Classical Fusion ensemble, which produces exemplary and innovative music, which flirts with Classical form and Jazzy improvisation. This album, however, is quite different form that facet of Dawid’s activity. For the first time it features him playing the mandolin in addition to the violin, and the music is more relaxed, beautifully melodic and closer to mainstream Jazz approach. It also touches upon Pop and World Music genres, but basically is as cross-genre as one might imagine. This new stylistic direction does not mean that the music is less sophisticated or classy, but simply signifies that it is somewhat different from what listeners of Dawid’s earlier work might expect. All four musicians are top notch and highly experienced performers, which is evident for the entire duration of the album. Dawid gets the center stage, as expected, but everybody gets to display their chops and the almost completely acoustic sound, which is well balanced and round, creates a pleasant, fluid listening experience. I highly value the directness, honesty and unpretentious openness that this album offers, which sometimes manages to deliver more aesthetic value than hyper ostentatious efforts, which often cover for the lack of contents. Of course Dawid’s virtuosic parts are not absent and Kubiszyn’s amazing bass soli spice the proceedings highly effectively. The mandolin parts work splendidly as well, adding another touch to the overall sound. Overall, this is another splendid piece of music by Dawid Lubowicz, who never fails his followers. Although perhaps more accessible than his “usual” outings, it lacks nothing to satisfy the taste buds of music connoisseurs. The music is as universal as music can be, so National or stylistic boundaries are completely meaningless herein.

Updated: 18/11/2024Posted: 18/11/2024

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MATEUSZ STRZELECKI / ANDRZEJ PAWEL SLAZAK ~ DEDYKACJA REQUIEM / OPUS 2018/30 ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 As the title of this album suggests and the liner notes describe, it is "…a tribute to the outstanding Polish (Classical Music) composers of the first half of the 20th Century, whose lives were marked by the war and oppression..." It includes compositions by Karol RathausFind albums by this artist, Aleksander TansmanFind albums by this artist, Wladyslaw SzpilmanFind albums by this artist, Jozef KofflerFind albums by this artist and Roman PadlewskiFind albums by this artist performed by violinist Mateusz StrzeleckiFind albums by this artist and pianist Andrzej Pawel SlazakFind albums by this artist. The music includes six relatively short pieces composed between 1925 and 1949, five of which are violin / piano duets and one is a solo piano suite, some of them multi-part, altogether fifteen tracks. The recording quality is excellent. To set the record straight Rathaus was not Polish; although born in the Ukrainian city of Ternopil, which has obvious Polish roots, at the time of his birth it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Rathaus was educated in Vienna and Berlin and is considered of Austrian-German heritage. Of course he was also, or perhaps primarily Jewish, as were Tansman, Szpilman and Koffler, a fact not mentioned in the album´s otherwise erudite booklet. Since the album also celebrates Poland´s hundredth Independence Anniversary, perhaps it also symbolizes the depth of the Jewish contribution to Polish Culture. The music is marvelous from start to finish, offering a kaleidoscopic display of modern Classical Music as diverse as one may wish for, moving between Neo-Romanticism, Impressionism, Dodecaphony and even Folkloristic influences. Seemingly limited by the scope of the duet (or solo piano) it offers a rich and elegant fabric, harmonic sophistication and above all ingenuity. Listeners, who would usually avoid Classical Music, could be easily enthralled by what this album has to offer. Both instrumentalists heard on this album are sophisticated performers and Masters of their instruments, which becomes immediately apparent from the opening notes. Their superb teamwork makes even the most complex parts of the compositions present on this album to sound coherent and effortless to absorb by the listener, which of course is admirable. Kudos are due to the classy RequiemFind albums on this label Records label for releasing highly prestigious, well researched and artistically significant projects like this one. Their collected catalogue includes some of the most interesting and challenging music made in Poland, always beautifully packaged and excellently produced. Hats off!

Updated: 17/06/2019Posted: 17/06/2019

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MILOSZ WOSKO ~ URBAN RESIDENTS` BELIEFS REQUIEM / OPUS 2019/35 ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by young Polish pianist / composer Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist, one of the upcoming Polish contemporary Classical Music activists. The album presents three instrumental works: "Dawn" for strings and accordion, played by the excellent AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist and accordionist Maciej FrackiewiczFind albums by this artist, "Urban Dances" a five part suite for string quartet, piano and percussion played by the Kwartet PolonikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Emilia SitarzFind albums by this artist and percussionist Hubert ZemlerFind albums by this artist and finally "Five Discussions On Difficult Topics" for brass quintet played by the Polish Brass QuintetFind albums by this artist. Although quite diverse stylistically and tonally the music of Wosko seems to have a close association to cinematic themes, which is hardly surprising considering his work as composer of film soundtracks and other audiovisual concept works. As he writes in the album´s liner notes, his music is about our day-to-day 21st Century hectic life under constant pressure of time and routine, and the possibility to find the emotions that the human race seems to be losing on its path. The music, although modern, is not Avant-Garde per se, maintaining a strong melody contents and using familiar Classical Music vocabulary. It also offers much of the typical Polish melancholy, that characterizes the works of Polish modernist Masters, and which is probably unavoidable, almost genetically implanted within all Polish music across the genres and generations. The diversity of the compositions makes this album a superb listening experience, never allowing the listener to get too comfortable within the framework of one piece and moving into another one, which requires a swift intellectual reboot. And yet all three compositions have common characteristics, even when performed by different instrumental settings, which again is hardly surprising and indicates that Wosko has already managed to achieve a voice of his own. Overall this is a splendid piece of music, highly interesting and aesthetically pleasing as well as excellently executed and recorded. This music should by highly appealing to a wide range of music connoisseurs, not necessarily only Classical Music buffs, but all quality music lovers. Congratulations are in order and wishes of good luck in the future!

Updated: 11/01/2023Posted: 26/11/2019

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ENSEMBLE TUNING XIII ~ MUZYKA NA TRZY INSTRUMENTY REQUIEM / OPUS 2021/55 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2019 - 2020 Released: 2021 This is the third album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer / bandleader Rafal GorzyckiFind albums by this artist, recorded under the Ensemble TuningFind albums by this artist moniker, now with a new variant of the moniker, i.e. Ensemble Tuning XIIIFind albums by this artist. The new lineup is extended into a quartet, which now includes alongside the leader clarinetists Piotr MelechFind albums by this artist and Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist and pianist Jakub KrolikowskiFind albums by this artist, which explains the album title, which in English means “Music For Three Instruments” (i.e. clarinet, piano and drums). Guitarist Jakub ZiolekFind albums by this artist guests on the final track. The album presents six original compositions / improvisations, credited to various combinations of the quartet members. The album is a continuation of the two previous recordings by Gorzycki: “PlayingFind albums with this title” (2016) and “Ensemble TuningFind albums with this title” (2018). I have been following Gorzycki and his work for the last two decades since he first arrived on the Polish Jazz scene as the leader of the Ecstasy ProjectFind albums by this artist (debuted in 2000) and Sing Sing PenelopeFind albums by this artist (debuted in 2004). He is certainly one of the constantly searching and horizon expanding Polish Jazz musicians / composers, with a strong tendency to amalgamate Jazz and contemporary Chamber music. This album is somewhat surprising as it presents almost entirely Improvised Music elements, which are not necessarily the usual modus operandi as far as Gorzycki is concerned. But the two clarinets, played by my favorite Polish Jazz clarinetists, add some thrilling moments and by the fifth and longest track the ensemble finally finds the nirvana spot and the music becomes magical. Personally the labeling of the music is somewhat misleading, as this certainly is not contemporary Chamber Classical music, so why try and use that particular label? But besides labeling, this music offers a lot of unexpected vistas, demanding dot-connecting and other cerebral exercises, which are always welcome. Overall, this is a very unique, unusual and highly demanding listening adventure, but at the same time a highly rewarding experience for open-minded music lovers, who are prepared to take risks in order to expand their horizons. Hats off to Gorzycki for his consistency and tireless searching!

Updated: 02/10/2021Posted: 27/09/2021

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GAWLAS / WISNIOWSKI / HERZYK ~ ABSTRACT TRIO REQUIEM / OPUS 2021/68 ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish trio comprising of synthesizer / electronic music sound creator / composer Krzysztof GawlasFind albums by this artist, Jazz flautist / saxophonist / composer Leszek HeFi WisniowskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Wojciech HerzykFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, all being improvisations by the trio members and therefore uncredited as far as composing credits are concerned. The music is all about searching and experimentation, which of course means that it has much in common with Avant-Garde Rock and Jazz Improvised Music, being perhaps a tad more restrained and “cultural”, but in general displaying the characteristics of Freedom and spur of the moment music making, common to all such genres. The presence of Wisniowski naturally takes the music closer to the Jazz spectrum, whenever he becomes the focus of the music, whereas during his absence the music drifts more towards outer space, but the entire affair stays well within well-behaved so called “New Music”, which the Classical Academics like to call such experiments for the lack of a better term. The same question as to the validity of such music in a recorded form applies here as much as it does in Jazz Improvised Music – it might be quite a powerful and emotional experience when performed live in front of an audience, but the likelihood of someone listening to this music in a home environment is highly questionable. Nevertheless, artistic freedom and aesthetic expression make the recording of such music perfectly legitimate and praiseworthy. Overall, this is a very interesting and somewhat challenging aural experience, which although directed toward a narrow / limited audience, is definitely worth investigating by those fearless sound explorers, who are not avoiding challenges and exploring uncharted territories. I, for one, had a great time listening to this album!

Updated: 05/03/2022Posted: 05/03/2022

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DAWID LUBOWICZ ~ STORIES REQUIEM / OPUS 2022/75 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the 2nd solo album by Polish violinist / composer Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in an unusual setting of violin duo, with Argentinian, resident in Poland, violinist Christian DanowiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are original compositions by Lubowicz. Lubowicz, primarily known as a member of the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, Poland’s Jazz-Classical Fusion ensemble, is by now well recognized first-class violinist and composer of his own right. On this album the music is primarily within the Classical vein, at least at the first encounter. But as the music develops, there is plenty of World Music influences, both Polish lyricism and melancholy and other livelier streaks, all subtly incorporated into the music. Although the music is obviously strictly written, the performances, especially the exchanges within the duo, offer some improvisation. As expected, the music is brilliantly performed and superbly recorded, which results in a most pleasurable ambience and aesthetic atmosphere, which keeps the listener enchanted for the entire duration. Lubowicz masterfully sculpts the miniature melodies, which are adorned by the duo’s virtuosic touches, as if dressed up in delicate musical satin-like fabric. The music crosses centuries between Baroque and Modernism, Tango and Polonaise but ever so smoothly and cleverly avoiding any clashes or clichés. Overall, this is a delightful, highly unusual piece of music, which manages to eschew precise classification, but delivers a solid dose of heartwarming, sophisticated and emotional experience, which should keep all connoisseurs of truly gorgeous music happy for a long time.

Updated: 02/01/2025Posted: 02/01/2025

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BKK ~ JAZZ FOR MR IVES, JAZZ FOR MR SEROCKI REQUIEM / OPUS 2023/87 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the BBKFind albums by this artist (Bydgoski Kolektyw KompozytorskiFind albums by this artist / Bydgoszcz Composer CollectiveFind albums by this artist) trio, which comprises of drummer Rafal GorzyckiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mikolaj SaradFind albums by this artist and electronic sound designer Bartlomiej ChmaraFind albums by this artist. Clarinetist Mateusz SzwankowskiFind albums by this artist appears as a guest. The album presents one lengthy track with a two-part composition, co-composed by the trio members and dedicated, as the title suggests, to the Classical composers: American Charles IvesFind albums by this artist and Polish Kazimierz SerockiFind albums by this artist. The music, although strictly composed, sounds often like Improvised Jazz and of course has closed links to Avant-Garde modern Classical Music, which of course means that it is not intended for an occasional listener, but rather for an advanced connoisseur of Modernism and seasoned Avant-Gardist. There is almost completely no melodic continuity as such or typical harmonic gestures, but rather a series of seemingly unrelated sonic sculptures. Having said that, the music certainly offers a coherent flow, and despite the limited instrumentation, certainly manages to present a highly interesting development, with all the participants displaying highly skilled abilities, albeit the minimalist approach. The decision to dedicate the music to two pivotal representatives of modernism, both still being only partly recognized and appreciated in their full might and glory, may perhaps allude to the career of Gorzycki, who despite the fact that he is one of the most inventive and fertile Polish Jazz (and beyond) musicians, receives relatively little recognition, which is sadly completely inexcusable. His collective discography, which includes over three dozen albums, among them some of Polish Jazz most interesting releases, is a solid body of his instrumental, compositional and leadership qualities. Overall, this is a highly unusual and uncompromising piece of music, which deserves to be heard by open-minded modern music connoisseurs, and is another step in the developing career of Gorzycki and his cohorts, which takes no shortcuts and firmly stand behind their aesthetic standpoint. Great to see the Requiem / OpusFind albums on this label label to support this kind of music!

Updated: 17/09/2023Posted: 17/09/2023

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