Record Reviews

ADAM JARZMIK ~ ON THE WAY HOME AUDIO CAVE 2019/005 (Barcode: 5905669566742) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the third album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Adam JarzmikFind albums by this artist recorded with the same quintet that accompanied him on the two previous albums: saxophonist Jakub LepaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist, but expanded to a sextet by the presence of the American guitarist Mike MorenoFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by Jarzmik. The music was recorded at the Monochrome Studio by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, and offers the expected excellent sound quality. The music is again kept strictly within the mainstream Jazz idiom and although the compositions are solid and well developed, they seem to be stuck in the same mold that created the two earlier recordings. Usually by the third album young Polish Jazz composers come up with a more open formula, which allows them to spread their wings and move into new territory, but this does not happen on this album. This does not mean that the music is not valuable, but it does not fulfill the high hopes that were expected. Of course the musicians involved are all highly professional players, with slick licks and polished technique, and the music is definitely very well performed, but remains somewhat mechanical and lackluster. Moreno, albeit his experience and reputation adds very little, if anything at all to the album´s contents, and the music would have sounded about the same without him. Overall this is a relatively less successful effort by Jarzmik and his excellent team, definitely not up to par with his earlier work, but still offering highly professional original mainstream Jazz. Better luck next time I hope ;)

Updated: 14/04/2019Posted: 14/04/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GRZEGORZ LESIAK ESSENCE / PIOTR DAMASIEWICZ ~ ON THE WAY L.A.S. 006 ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album recorded live by the trio EssenceFind albums by this artist, led by Polish guitarist Grzegorz LesiakFind albums by this artist with Spanish bassist Alex ReviriegoFind albums by this artist and drummer Vasco TrillaFind albums by this artist, which was expanded to a quartet with the addition of Polish trumpeter Piotr DamasiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents four lengthy tracks and was released on the L.A.S.Find albums on this label label, owned by Damasiewicz. The music is completely improvised and offers a sonic / atmospheric experience, excluding any conventional melodic continuity, which of course is not unusual for Improvised Music. However, for listeners familiar with such intense sound explorations, it proves to be highly fascinating. The musicians utilize unconventional approach to their instruments, which often sound completely not as they are “supposed” to sound, especially so in case of Lesiak and Damasiewicz, who also adds some vocal layers. For Damasiewicz this recording is a step aside from his “back to nature” sonic excursions, which he developed in the last few years, taking him back to his Free Jazz / Improvised Music period from a decade or so ago, but with a much more introvert and intimate approach, with the “less is more” attitude in the helm. Lesiak is the biggest surprise herein, leaving the role of the Fusion guitarist and leader of the excellent TatvamasiFind albums by this artist ensemble if favor of this highly improvisational environment, although early signs of the forthcoming transformation were already evident on the last (so far) album by the ensemble “The Third Ear MusicFind albums with this title”. Overall, this is a fascinating piece of Improvised Music, strictly for the connoisseurs of the idiom, but full of great ensemble playing and striking individual contributions by all four participants. This is “something else” by every standard, and fearless explorers of the sound space are wholeheartedly invited to take a plunge!

Updated: 10/09/2023Posted: 10/09/2023

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OWL ~ ON THE WAY FSR 2017/07 (Barcode: 5905279364219) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Polish trio called The OwlFind albums by this artist, which comprises of violinist / composer Marcin HalatFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist (the last two well known as the rhythm section of the famous RGGFind albums by this artist trio). The double CD album presents fourteen original compositions, nine of which were composed by Halat and five were co-composed by all three members of the trio. On the Polish Jazz violin scene, which is pretty crowded these days, Halat arrives as a newcomer, although he has years of experience of playing Classical Music. His sound is quite unusual and unconventional in many respects, surely not typically Jazzy, with obvious Classical phrasing, fingering, and voicing. But when placed opposite one of the mightiest Polish Jazz rhythm sections Halat is pulled into the Jazz idiom, seemingly almost against his will. His improvisation is also atypical and stays relatively close to the core themes, which after a while gets a bit too uniform. The musical themes are generally simple, folkloristic little ditties, not really fully developed melodies, which are fine as starting points for the mostly improvised pieces, but hardly able to stand on their own. Nevertheless the music flows smoothly and is able to sound coherent mostly thanks to the incredible swinging feel of the rhythm section. Time after time the listener is faced with the dilemma if he is listening to a Jazz recording or a contemporary Classical piece, all relative to the measure of involvement of the rhythm section. There is a lot of freedom and space in this music, which characterizes both modern Jazz and Classical idioms. This allows a lot of different forms of dialogue and trialogue conversations within this music, which becomes the most interesting ingredient of the music, especially when it becomes completely improvised as in the five collective pieces. It seems that Halat was extremely lucky in finding these two partners to record his debut Jazz offering, which probably would have not been possible otherwise. Garbowski and Gradziuk, who have consistently moved towards more open / improvised music in the last few years, prove here that they are able to carry on a full album just on their own, and their contribution here is simply invaluable. As to Halat being the next "thing" on the Polish Jazz violin scene, I´d definitely need to hear more and give it some time. This is a very unusual, surprising and even promising album, but it does suffer from some inhibitions which need to be resolved, before Halat earns his honorable place on the pedestal. Overall this is definitely music that should be investigated and even embraced, as it does offer a novel approach and a lot of courage. Highly recommended!

Updated: 19/01/2018Posted: 28/11/2017

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KENNY WHEELER / JOHN TAYLOR ~ ON THE WAY TO TWO CAM JAZZ 5054 (Barcode: 016728505420) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2005 Released: 2015 This is an exquisite duo album by two British Jazz icons: trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist. Starting in 2004, Wheeler and Taylor recorded together on many occasions for the Italian CAM JazzFind albums on this label label, commencing with their debut duo album for the label, entitled "Where Do We Go From Here?Find albums with this title". In 2005 Wheeler recorded the album "What Now?Find albums with this title" in a quartet setting which included Taylor, and also the second duo album for the label with Taylor (recorded with a string quartet) entitled "Other PeopleFind albums with this title". But ten years later the label announced that another duo album was recorded by the two musicians that year, so far unreleased, and it was decided to release it to commemorate the first anniversary of Wheeler´s untimely passing. Taylor, who wrote a moving epitaph in memory of Wheeler for the album´s liner notes, tragically died shortly before the album was released, which made this album a tribute to them both. The album offers ten tacks, nine of which are original compositions (five by Wheeler, three by Wheeler and Taylor and one by Taylor) and one is a standard. In retrospect the collaboration between Wheeler and Taylor proved to be one of the most lasting and incredibly fruitful relationships in British / European Jazz. Although it spans many stylistic variations and settings, including the legendary AzimuthFind albums by this artist trio with Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist, Wheeler and Taylor always complimented each other wonderfully, displaying typical European aesthetics and artistic finesse. Their collected recorded legacy is an incredible treasure chest of musical wonders and the essence of Jazz as a creative and developing idiom. The music on this album continues the trumpet / piano dialogue, which these two musicians simply brought to perfection. Beyond the melodic and harmonic beauty of the music, there is also the incredible personal rapport, the mutual respect and the obvious friendship, all exquisitely reflected in the music. Although released posthumously, this album is one more piece of the wondrous puzzle Wheeler and Taylor managed to construct in their lifetime, for all of us to enjoy and cherish. They both were magic song weavers of rare quality, and the world became sadly less livable with their passing. This is definitely a must have for all Wheeler / Taylor many connoisseurs all over the world, a missing crown jewel and a proverbial cherry on the top. Don’t even think about it twice, just grab it!

Updated: 10/04/2020Posted: 19/06/2018

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