Record Reviews
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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: | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | OLES BROTHERS ~ ALONE TOGETHER
AUDIO CAVE 2019/013 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019
I can hardly think of a more appropriate way to wrap up (well almost) the Polish Jazz releases for the year 2019 than by writing about this album by two of the most prominent Polish Jazz musicians: bassist / composer Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist and his twin brother, drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist (collectively known as Oles BrothersFind albums by this artist), who also happen to be my friends. The album consists in fact of two separate mini-albums (on two separate CDs), each presenting a solo album: "Lapidaria" by Marcin with six original solo bass compositions and "The Drum Tower" by Bartlomiej with a five-parts suite for solo drums composed by him. The album celebrates the twentieth anniversary of their activity on the European Jazz scene and was recorded at the MaQ Records Studio and engineered by Michal RosickiFind albums by this artist with spectacular sonic quality.
In the early days of their musical journey Marcin and Bartlomiej already released solo albums ("Ornette On BassFind albums with this title" and "FreeDrum SuiteFind albums with this title" respectively), which makes this album into a symbolic closing of a creative circle. In spite of the extremely difficult naked environment, their solo music is full of intrinsic melody even if not explicitly articulated. They are always able to tell a "story" with their music, which keeps the listener mesmerized for the duration.
Anybody listening attentively to these two mini-albums should be easily convinced that the Oles Brothers turned their skills and experience in time into an Art Form. Their essence outgrew the basic rhythm section role they so splendidly demonstrated on the many records they took part in during the last two decades, and eventually produced a couple of visionary musicians, who, whether separately or together, are always able to achieve the highest levels of spiritual and emotional expressionism.
The intimate music that this album offers is obviously less spectacular than most other albums released this year, but its depth easily defends its importance and significance. Minimalism is so much more difficult to be understood and appreciated, and yet alone or together Oles Brothers are iconic musicians and their statements, individually and collectively, remain the core of European Jazz aesthetics.
It makes me happy to hear a new album by the Oles Brothers after a period of relative inactivity, as it is able to fill my heart with joy and my mind with gratitude for their music and the inspiration it generates. Thank you, as always!
| | Updated: 28/02/2022Posted: 26/12/2019 | CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | QUIDAM ~ ALONE TOGETHER
ROCK SERWIS 068 (Barcode: 5907729906826) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007
7th album by Polish Prog group QuidamFind albums by this artist and 3rd by the second version of the group with their new lead singer Bartek KossowiczFind albums by this artist. It is certain that this is truly the first “proper” album of this version of the band, as they have been searching for a direction for quite a while and although the two previous albums have been more that adequate, this one overshadows them completely. They did finally find their balance, coming back to the beautiful melodies and superb instrumental passages that made the group famous to start with. Bartek is an excellent vocalist and the new material suits his voice perfectly, as he’s much better with the lyrical side of music than the rockier one. The music and performances are brilliant and it’s so good to see them again at their peak, taking back the position at the very top of contemporary Prog, which sadly suffers from stagnation. I’d still prefer if the lyrics were in Polish, but I suppose a band of their caliber just has to go internationally with lyrics in English. At least the lyrics make sense as opposed to the usual blabbering one finds so often on Prog releases. Definitely a major piece of work and a full swing return to good old times – truly great album. A must to every Prog fan!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | TEN JINN ~ ALONE
MUSEA 4566 (Barcode: 3426300045669) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003
2nd album. American Prog band Ten Jinn seem to be more popular in Europe then they are at home and for the second time they release their album on a Swedish label (and distributed by a French one). The music is quite different to what was present on the debut album. The group now sound much closer to Prog Metal and there is much more song oriented material rather then complex Progressive stuff. They are still very good at what they do of course.
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | STAN TRACEY / MIKE OSBORNE ~ ALONE & TOGETHER
CADILLAC 014/015 (Barcode: 5020675971424) ~ UK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1974 Released: 2015
This is an expanded 2CD reissue of the solo piano album by iconic British Jazz pianist / composer Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the Wigmore Hall on June 18, 1974 and originally released as “AloneFind albums with this title” later that year on the CadillacFind albums on this label label. This reissue adds another CD of previously unreleased music recorded at the same concert, which was a duo of Tracey with saxophonist / composer Mike OsborneFind albums by this artist. Each of the CDs includes just one continuous improvised music piece, lasting 42 and 45 minutes respectively.
The Osborne / Tracey duo released an album “OriginalFind albums with this title” on the Cadillac label in 1973 and another album “TandemFind albums with this title” on the OgunFind albums on this label label in 1977, and the duo recording herein expands significantly their common recorded legacy.
The music is of course nothing short of stunning, a prime example of the dramatic change of the British Jazz scene during the preceding decade, from Jazz based on the American tradition, including anything between Swing and Bebop, into a full-blown unique genre, which created a new Jazz language, embracing the tradition but expanding it with European music influences and embracing new forms like Free Jazz and Improvised Music.
The two CDs in this set differ significantly on many levels and yet have also a wide common ground. Both musicians travelled a long road on their musical paths, and although Osborne was a much more radical and complex musician and personality, they both obviously made many giant steps, before this music was recorded.
Solo piano is by definition the most “naked” format and as such the most difficult one altogether, but Tracey managed to record several solo piano album and each of those was a triumphant achievement on many levels – Artistic, aesthetic, technical and intellectual as one. This solo recording is one of them – a brilliant piece not only of music, but an example of how Tracey’s mind worked, constructing the flow of themes and free improvisations glues together as if pre-conceived, which of course it was not so in reality. His brilliant technique is in a way secondary here, as a solo performance is always first and foremost an emotional affair and this music simply explodes with emotions.
In complete contrast to the solo performance, a duo is all about combining forces, exchanging ideas, supporting each other, pulling and pushing, leading and following, which is beautifully documented here. The sublime balance between Tracey’s “sanity” and Osborne’s “insanity” is the key to understand what is going on here, and the resulting music is a fascinating example of the “Art of the Duo” idiom. As much as Osborne is pushing the music toward Free Jazz, Tracey is “holding him back” so to speak with his melodic accompaniment, only allowing himself to fully explode during the crescendos of emotions the music leads to.
Overall, this is an iconic release, a sublime document of the most productive period of the British Jazz explosion, a point of reference and a milestone of everything that happened on the British Jazz scene at the time. Considering how short Osborne’s career lasted and how limited his recorded legacy is, this is album is nothing short of a Holy Grail, with the Trace’s album remastered as a cherry on top. Absolutely essential piece of British Jazz legacy and a must in any serious record collection. In memory of John JackFind albums by this artist (died 2017), the owner of the Cadillac label, for all his contributions to British Jazz, of which releasing this music is just a tiny part.
| | Updated: 30/01/2023Posted: 30/01/2023 | CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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