Record Reviews

CHICK COREA ~ ANTIDOTE CONCORD 888072103351 (Barcode: 888072103351) ~ USA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 As 2021 nears its end it’s time to commemorate the passing of one of the greatest heroes of American Jazz, keyboardist / composer / bandleader Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, who sadly passed in February this year. This is the last studio album by Corea, recorded with an octet, which includes also drummer Marcus GilmoreFind albums by this artist, bassist Carlitos Del PuertoFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / flautist Jorge PardoFind albums by this artist, guitarist Nino JoseleFind albums by this artist, trombonist Steve DavisFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Michael RodriguesFind albums by this artist and percussionist Luisito QuinteroFind albums by this artist. Tap dancer Nino de los ReyesFind albums by this artist and vocalists Ruben BladesFind albums by this artist, Gayle MoranFind albums by this artist and Maria BiancaFind albums by this artist also appear on selected tracks. The album re-visits Corea’s compositions from the albums “My Spanish HeartFind albums with this title” and “TouchstoneFind albums with this title”, presents two newly composed pieces for this album and also two pieces by other composers (Paco de LuciaFind albums by this artist and Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist) and finally a short treatment of a Classical composition, together eleven tracks. The music is distinctly more Latin oriented that the original albums, taking it somewhat away from the Jazz facet and deeply into the grooves and rhythms of Spanish, Cuban, Brazilian and other areas of Latin music, all beautifully arranged, orchestrated and performed by these splendid musicians, under the guidance of the leader. This international team, which includes players from Cuba, Spain and American based musicians born in Latin countries, adds the authentic flavor, which was somewhat more hinted on the original albums. In the liner notes Cores says: “I might be of Italian heritage, but my heart is Spanish”, which certainly explains his adoration for the Latin zest. Although the album does not introduce anything innovative as far as Corea’s musical heritage is concerned, it certainly confirms his unique talents as composer and player, which have always been beyond reproach. Overall, this is certainly a proper document of one of the many facets of Corea’s music, which embraced a plethora of styles, genres and approaches, from Avant-Garde to Fusion, always brilliant and completely unique. His Artistry will be sadly missed and his sweet personality, to those who met him, will be always a cherished memory.

Updated: 28/12/2021Posted: 28/12/2021

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

CHICK COREA ~ PLAYS CONCORD 888072171442 (Barcode: 888072171442) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is a 2CD album of solo piano performances by iconic American Jazz pianist / composer Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist. The recording dates and places are not specified, which is highly unusual, but the album was released first on Chick’s label in 2018, and this is the second edition released in 2020, just a few months before his death. The recording quality is absolutely sublime all the way through. Corea plays some of his original compositions as well as his interpretations of works by Classical Music composers like Wolfgang Amadeus MozartFind albums by this artist, Domenico ScarlattiFind albums by this artist and Frederic ChopinFind albums by this artist or other Jazz composers like Bill EvansFind albums by this artist, Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist, George GershwinFind albums by this artist, Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist and Paco De LuciaFind albums by this artist. A couple of piano duets (played on one piano) are also included, one with Israeli pianist Yaron HermanFind albums by this artist and another with French pianist Charles HeisserFind albums by this artist. Corea also adds his spoken word commentary about the music he is about to perform. Although the music does not add anything new to listeners familiar with Corea’s music, it is a great document of his Artistry, versatility and his excellent contact with his audience, which always was one of his virtues. Overall this is a wonderful addition to the extensive recording legacy left to us by Corea, which sparkles and shines, and as always brings infinite joy to the listeners. He was a unique musician and a beautiful human being, and I have been lucky to enjoy both of these qualities at first hand.

Updated: 18/02/2022Posted: 18/02/2022

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KRZYSZTOF DYS ~ TOYS FOR TUNE 0115 (Barcode: 5906395808199) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2016 This is the debut album in the classic piano trio format by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, recorded with his usual cohorts: bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The trio performs eleven classic modern Jazz compositions by famous American Jazz musicians / composers, except for one track which was composed by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist and in addition one original composition by Dys is also included. Although not mentioned anywhere on the album´s artwork, this is the first Polish Jazz album dedicated to re-composition or de-composition of music composed by others, which does what other albums claimed to do but didn´t. It is of course a speculation on my part if this was the intended procedure by Dys and his colleagues, but the treatment of the well known compositions offered by the trio is very radical and most listeners will have a very hard time to identify these compositions simply by listening to the music, which seems to support my guesswork. As a result this is definitely one of the most intellectually challenging Polish Jazz albums released lately and a true masterpiece, which deserves but the highest praise. The sublime balance between the hidden melodies and the Free Improvisations is magical and truly fascinating. The superb technique and virtuosity displayed by all the members of the trio clearly puts them in the high echelons of the Polish Jazz scene, which is no surprise to people following that scene closely Dys gradually earns the respect and the position of "musician´s musician", which sadly does not always go in parallel to his popularity with the critics and Jazz listeners, and this album is an excellent example of such dilemma. It is simply to "witty" to be loved by the average Jazz fan. On the other hand considering his versatility and proficiency, Dys should sooner or later reach the level of popularity he truly deserves. His recorded legacy so far definitely proves his abilities beyond any shadow of a doubt. Overall this is a excellent piece of highly sophisticated European Jazz, even if it is based on music written by American composers, which although challenging and demanding is very much worth the effort of several listening sessions, which should suffice to let the music sink deeply and be appreciated in full. Great stuff!

Updated: 27/01/2017Posted: 27/01/2017

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DIZZY GILLESPIE ~ POLISH RADIO JAZZ ARCHIVES VOL.25 POLSKIE RADIO 2057 (Barcode: 5907812249793) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2016 This is the twenty-fifth installment in the series of releases initiated by the Polish Radio, which presents archive Jazz recordings from the radio vaults. Radio recordings are always a fabulous source of remarkable material, and as far as Polish Jazz history is concerned, the Polish Radio, which was a state monopoly for 45 years, recorded over time a plethora of invaluable material, which apart from the albums released by the Polskie Nagrania record company (also a state monopoly), is the only available additional source of Polish Jazz recordings. For many years Polish Radio recorded concerts presented during Poland´s most important Jazz venues, including the annual Jazz Jamboree Festival and many other festivals as well. The tracks presented here were recorded live on December 7, 1965 during the eighth Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw. The Dizzy GillespieFind albums by this artist Quintet included also saxophonist / flautist James MoodyFind albums by this artist, pianist Kenny BarronFind albums by this artist, bassist Chris WhiteFind albums by this artist and drummer Rudy CollinsFind albums by this artist. Of the seven tracks five are original compositions by Gillespie, one is by Moody and one is by Brazilian Godfather of Bossa Nova Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist. The Quintet plays a superb set, with Gillespie, the Godfather of Bee Bop, expanding the basic Jazz lines with World Music elements, being one of the earliest pioneers of Jazz-World Fusion. His love of Cuban and other Latin music motifs made him one of the great propagators of Latin Jazz. All the members of the Quintet are of course top class musicians. Especially interesting is the young Barron at the piano, later to become one of the great American pianists of all time. The historic importance of this album is to emphasize the crucial role that the Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw played for the entire Jazz scene behind the Iron Curtain. It was the only opportunity for the thousands of musicians and hundreds of thousands of fans living in the Socialist Countries to hear top Western Jazz musicians. The picture of the thick crowd in front of the Sala Kongresowa in Warsaw, trying desperately to get in, is something I will remember as long as I live. The yearning for Jazz was a yearning for Freedom, an expression of individuality and a window of hope in those long dreary years of the Socialist Regime. Therefore the Jazz Jamboree is something way beyond just a music festival, it should be remembered as a symbol of struggle for Freedom, and this is how the people organizing it envisaged it. The beautifully restored sound quality is excellent and the warm ambience of the analog recording is a true joy. As usual with this series, which is very reasonably priced, I miss the presence of "in depth" liner notes / booklet, which should convey the circumstances at which this music was recorded and its importance to the development of Jazz in Poland. Nevertheless this is an absolutely essential piece of Jazz history which every Jazz fan will surely consider an absolute must.

Updated: 03/10/2016Posted: 03/10/2016

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES RHINO 081227977061 (Barcode: 081227977061) ~ BRAZIL ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1980 Released: 2011 This Box Set collects five albums by the Brazilian music genius Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, all released in the USA on the Warner Bros.Find albums on this label label. The first three, released between 1965 and 1967 are classic Bossa Nova albums, containing many of Jobim´s evergreens. The first if those ("The Wonderful World Of Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums with this title") features brilliant arrangements by Nelson RiddleFind albums by this artist, the second ("Love, Strings And Jobim: The Eloquence Of Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums with this title") is an instrumental only album arranged by Eumir DeodatoFind albums by this artist and the third features arrangements by the great Claus OgermanFind albums by this artist, who was in charge of most the arrangements of Jobim´s albums over the years. The fourth album included here, "UrubuFind albums with this title" from 1976, present Jobim´s return to Brazilian Folklore and his Classical Music ties and is much more advanced and complex musically than his earlier albums, being sort of a symphonic poem. The fifth album included here, a double LP originally, "Terra BrasilisFind albums with this title" from 1980, presents a new look at some of Jobim´s most popular songs, rearranged for a Jazz combo and strings, which includes many "definite" versions of those songs. Both albums were arranged by Ogerman. Overall this is a very strange selection of material, which is far from ideal as a package, but nevertheless includes some absolutely divine music, which should not be missed by any serious music lover. Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 05/04/2024Posted:

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ENRICO RAVA / STEFANO BOLLANI ~ THE THIRD MAN ECM 2020 (Barcode: 602517373228) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007 This is a wonderful duo album by the two Italian Jazz Masters, trumpeter / composer Enrico RavaFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Stefano BollaniFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve tracks, two of which are alternate versions, which means there are ten compositions, five composed by Rava, one by Bollani, one co-composed by them, one by Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist and two by other composers. The music is superbly recorded and despite the sonic “incompatibility” between the two acoustic instruments, the result is absolutely stunning. Separated by more than a generation (Rava born 1939, Bollani 1972) these two musicians share the Italian lyricism and melodicism, which underlays all Italian music, Jazz included. Bollani considers Rava as his Mentor, and rightly so, as Rava’s illustrious career paved the way for the international recognition of Italian Jazz. His vast recorded legacy, which goes back as far as the late 1960s and includes dozens of albums as a leader and sideman; is one of the most impressive on the European scene. Bollani started his career playing with Rava in the mid-1990s and they recorded many albums together. In many respects this album is a retrospective and perhaps somewhat sentimental “summary” of sorts of the common path during the first decade of their work together. I have no idea what the title means, but the cover hints the famous film noir thriller Masterpiece “The Third Man”, which of course is always worth revisiting. Although most of the music is quite melancholic and melodic, some of the tracks offer much more free-spirited improvisations, which manage to offer a melodic framework, but are less immediately accessible than the rest of the material. The entire album is a brilliant example of the “Art of the Duo” concept, which is brought to perfection by these two virtuosi, emphasizing their telepathic interplay and yeas of common experience. Overall, this is a truly exquisite piece of music, which should be enjoyed by all true Jazz lovers, perhaps requiring a bit of effort, attention and patience, all of which will by fully rewarded. Personally, this is one of my favorite albums by these two great musicians, together or separately, and has filled my heart with comfort on many gloomy days.

Updated: 05/08/2024Posted: 05/08/2024

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ AQUARIUS: THE ORCHESTRAL SESSIONS STM 006 (Barcode: 602577499500) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the 9th album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, recorded with her more or less regular musical companions: vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Violin virtuoso Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist guests on a couple of tracks. Additionally the Sinfonia VivaFind albums by this artist Orchestra, conducted by Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the orchestral arrangements, provides the orchestral accompaniment. The album presents ten songs, three of which were written by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, two by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, four are Jazz standards and one is a Polish cabaret song. Musically this album is a direct continuation of Stanko´s previous album "Novos AnosFind albums with this title", which was characterized by a distinct Bossa Nova flavor, which is also present here. The same idea of presenting well known songs in a very personal interpretation applies also here. The superb instrumental work by the excellent musicians who accompany the vocalist, are enhanced here with the addition of the orchestral arrangement, wonderfully and cleverly put together by Herdzin. Altogether the instrumental work on this album is every bit as impressive as the vocal parts. Bukowski uses the vibraphone and the marimba like a snake charmer, adopting his solos to every tune. Wadolowski plays quiet acoustic guitar parts but also excellent electric solos and consistently proves that he is one of the top guitar players on the local scene. Lemanczyk, as usual, keeps everything under control with his caressing bass lines, which fill all the spaces. Konrad is steady like the Rock of Gibraltar, and his delicate, but firm drum parts, which are the heartbeat of the music. Herdzin´s arrangements deserve praise not only for their sophistication, but more importantly for their incorporation within the overall framework of the sound, staying respectfully in the background and ornamenting the sonic whole rather that dominating it. Stanko, as usual, balances between singing lyrics and vocalese, in order to keep the things interesting. Her sensuous and dreamy voice is charming as always, and she is not trying to sound like anybody else simply being herself, a quality I always admired in her career. Her understanding of the fact that there is nothing wrong with singing standards, as long as the result is both musically solid and uncompromising, is a key ingredient of her musical mission. Overall this is a beautiful album full of superb music and outstanding performances, which can be enjoyed by a wide spectrum of Jazz listeners, from complete beginners to experienced connoisseurs, with each one being able to find something that touches them. Thank you again, my Baltic Siren, for sharing your musical heart with me and everybody else who will listen to this music and enjoy it. You are the one and only, as always!

Updated: 23/03/2024Posted: 02/04/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

KRYSTYNA STANKO ~ NOVOS ANOS FOR TUNE 0113 (Barcode: 5906395808151) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the eighth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna StankoFind albums by this artist, recorded with her regular wonderful Baltic crew which includes vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr LemanczykFind albums by this artist and guest Brazilian drummer / percussionist Ze Luis NascimentoFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist on three tracks. Together they perform eleven songs (one is repeated twice), six of which were composed by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, and the rest by different composers like Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Mongo SantamariaFind albums by this artist and others, all with a distinct samba and bossa nova character. All the songs use English lyrics. This album marks a significant diversion in Stanko´s career, which is usually focused on singing original material composed by her or her band members. When I visited her in Gdansk three months ago, not long after this album was recorded, she told me that this was a conscious decision to create an album which could be enjoyed by a much wider audience than her previous recordings, without compromising the artistic and aesthetic values. There is no doubt that she and her band managed to do just that. The album includes mostly very well known songs, which have been previously recorded many times by artists all over the world. This album offers however a slightly different approach, with the instrumental arrangements being much more Jazzy than similar efforts. The presence of Bukowski adds another dimension, normally not present on such recordings and the brilliant bass playing by Lemanczyk firmly places these interpretation within the Jazz idiom rather that the usual Pop or easy Jazz genre. Wadolowski adds some beautiful guitar parts, which are also quite different from the standard guitar parts used on samba albums and so does Gawdzis, albeit briefly. Of course having a Brazilian drummer / percussionist on boards ensures that rhythmically everything works perfectly. Stanko´s deep sensual voice is of course ideally suited for these songs, and her vocal theatrics fit the bill perfectly. Although her pronunciation is not exactly "perfect" English, it is not significant as these songs have been sung in English by Jobim himself, Astrud GilbertoFind albums by this artist and countless other non-native English speaking vocalist and a slightly foreign accent in this case is perhaps an asset rather than a weakness. Stanko of course has the perfect feel needed to perform these songs and does it with obvious passion and love. She uses superb vocalese parts in addition to the lyrics, which are truly delightful. For me the most touching song of the album is the intimate trio which finds Stanko supported just by vibraphone and bass, which is perfection itself. Stanko respectfully leaves a lot of space for instrumental parts, which is most appropriate. If this album will bring Stanko to a wider public attention, it will serve its purpose ideally. She deserves to be heard and adored by everybody as much as I do adore her, regardless what she does, not because she is my friend, but because she is a true Artist and a wonderful human being. Well done Krystyna, Dear!

Updated: 26/11/2016Posted: 20/11/2016

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

STARONIEWICZ / JAGODZINSKI / RAJSKI ~ TRANQUILLO ALLEGRO 025 (Barcode: 5901157049254) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 Lush saxophone, gently strumming piano and a string orchestra sound more like a recipe for a soundtrack to a third-rate erotic movie (i.e. porn flick) than a serious musical venture. The iniquitous "Sax and Strings" trap made many of the best Jazz saxophone players sound like muzak junkies, leaving only a few of them, who managed to create some superb music out of this unforgiving format. I was prepared for the worse when I placed this album into the CD player and hesitantly pushed the Play button. Lo and behold, the music turned out to be simply delightful… what a relief. Veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Wojciech StaroniewiczFind albums by this artist combines forces with pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist and his trio, which also includes bassist Adam CegielskiFind albums by this artist and Master veteran drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist. The resulting quartet is accompanied by the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Sopot, conducted by Wojciech RajskiFind albums by this artist. The album consists of eleven compositions, two of which are originals by Staroniewicz and the rest are standards (four of those are by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist). The orchestral arrangements of seven of the tracks were written by another veteran Polish Jazz hero Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist, three are by Jagodzinski and the remaining one by Artur JurekFind albums by this artist. The music is presented on three overlaying platforms: the saxophone, the piano trio and the orchestra; each of those with its separate content, and merging with the other two to create the overall effect and compliment each other. Staroniewicz is a superb sax player and his wonderful tone and flow are absolutely perfect for this music. He plays the melodies, but also improvises constantly, although staying well within the harmonic boundaries. Jagodzinski and his trio are also one of the finest Polish Jazz ensembles, and although their role on this album is mostly limited to provide the Jazzy atmospheric background and rhythmic backbone, the trio´s leader plays several beautiful lyrical solos and the rhythm section swings like there´s no tomorrow. The strings are the biggest surprise of them all; the arrangements are quite unusual and often not what the listen might expect at all – intelligent, challenging and with a life of their own. Combined with the quartet playing on top they enhance the overall result enormously and one must admit they do it most pleasantly. Yes, this is the gentle side of Jazz. It is sweet and romantic and beautiful, but it is also clever, perfectly done and heartwarming. It manages to avoid being kitschy, which is so damn difficult under these circumstances. OK I admit, I´m a dead romantic at heart and I love this stuff, exactly for what it is – bite me ;) The album´s artwork is also beautiful, one of the few cases when the artwork fits the album´s contents perfectly. Great stuff!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

WANDA WARSKA ~ DOMOWE PIOSENKI POLSKIE RADIO 1984-1985 (Barcode: 5907812249847) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 1964 - 2015 Released: 2016 This is a phenomenal collection of radio recordings by the iconic Polish Jazz vocalist Wanda WarskaFind albums by this artist, the wife of the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / trumpeter / trombonist / composer / arranger / conductor / bandleader Andrzej KurylewiczFind albums by this artist. In retrospect, considering the criminally limited recorded legacy by Warska, in spite of her status and immense talent, she was perhaps overshadowed by the colossal figure of her husband and perhaps decided to support his career rather than develop her own. Whatever the reasons might have been, there is almost nothing available on the Polish music market that reflects her incredible artistry and this collection is a most welcome, albeit much belated, tribute to this Wonder Women! This 2CD album presents thirty seven stunning songs, all of which have two things in common: Warska sings them all and she wrote the lyrics to all of them, unveiling a part of her creative nature less know to the public. As if this wasn´t impressive enough, she also composed twenty four of these songs. Those she did not composed are mostly by Brazilian composers: Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist, Vinicius de MoraesFind albums by this artist, Dorival CaymmiFind albums by this artist and Joao GilbertoFind albums by this artist, the Godfathers of Bossa Nova and modern Brazilian music (total nine songs). Warska started her career as a lyricist in 1964, when she translated into Polish the a/m Bossa Nova songs, which swept the Polish scene as they did all over the world at the time. The remaining four songs come from other sources and interestingly none of the songs on this album were composed by Kurylewicz. These songs were recorded during a number of recording sessions as follows: one song was recorded in 1963, five songs were recorded in 1964, seven songs were recorded in 1966, one song was recorded in 1971 and seven songs were recorded in 1972; on all of the above twenty one songs Warska is accompanied by various ensembles led by Kurylewicz, lineups of which are unknown. Thirteen songs were recorded in 2002 and one in 2004 with a quartet which included Kurylewicz on piano, guitarist Marek NapiorkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. Two more songs were recorded in 2015 (after the passing of Kurylewicz in 2007) with a trio featuring pianist Andrzej JagodzinskiFind albums by this artist, Napiorkowski and Panta. The songs composed by Warska are all pearls of the Polish Jazz & Poetry idiom, full of that heartbreaking lyricism, Slavic melancholy and beautiful melodies, that only Poles are capable of weaving. Warska´s interpretations of these songs are absolutely divine, although she was always the absolute Queen of Cool, playing around with her beautiful voice and using cleverly the idiosyncrasies of the Polish language and diction, but eschewing theatrics and drama. This perfect minimalism is her trademark, and sets her apart from all other Polish Jazz vocalists, regardless of their age. In truth this album is a wonderful opportunity to compare Warska to her alter ego, the legendary Polish Jazz vocalist Ewa DemarczykFind albums by this artist, who also enjoys an iconic status based mostly on a very limited number of recordings done decades ago. Demarczyk and Warska are the two most important figures of the Polish Jazz vocal artistry, and they both remain unchallenged so far. Demarczyk, the absolute Drama Queen, is the devilish face of Polish Jazz vocals whereas Warska is the absolute angelic face of it. They compliment each other perfectly, like Yin & Yang and a prospect of seeing them both on one stage and / or the possibility of them making an album together gives me the Goosebumps. As usual in such cases, the lyrical content of this album is sadly limited to those listeners who understand the Polish language, however I´m pretty sure that the beauty and the power of these songs is much stronger than language barriers and all sensitive listeners anywhere on this planet should be able to enjoy this album immensely. As far as Polish Cultural Heritage is concerned, this is an absolute National Treasure, which deserves to be cherished and studied by young musicians in Poland, first and foremost by vocalists of course. For us, the humble admirers, this is an essential addition to our record collections, no questions asked. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Updated: 05/05/2016Posted: 05/05/2016

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend