Record Reviews

DZIOBON / WIECZOREK / WIELGOSZ ~ PAYOFF NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish Improvising Music trio, which comprises of drummer Michal DziobonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dawid K. WieczorekFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Bartlomiej WielgoszFind albums by this artist. The music, recorded during an improvised session, was then split into ten tracks, and those were later given titles. Contrary to most Improvised Music meetings, this trio´s music is relatively mild, non-aggressive and even melodic to some extent. Although the guitar often plays with distortion and electronic feedback, it is balanced by the acoustic saxophone and down to earth percussive approach. Overall it is after all just an artistic experience shared by three musicians, captured and frozen in time by the recording. There is definitely a dialogue (or trialogue) going on and the musicians have played together earlier on and listen to each other attentively. They employ a wide range of sound effects, especially the electronically aided guitar, but also the unusual usage of drums, which are quite effective and make this music quite interesting for the listener. On the other hand, however, freely Improvised Music is by definition relevant almost exclusively only while it is performed live, and recordings of such material are simply drained of the emotional as well as artistic essence in most cases. I find it hard to believe that anybody would listen to such music on record more than once, except for extreme devotees. Overall this is an interesting endeavor, sadly limited to a miniscule specialized audience. Artistically of course it is completely relevant and engaging.

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

PAYOFF ~ GORZKIE ZALE AUDIO CAVE 2016/002 (Barcode: 5905669566087) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the second album by the Polish Improvised Music trio PayoffFind albums by this artist, which consists of saxophonist Bartlomiej WielgoszFind albums by this artist, guitarist Dawid K. WieczorekFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal DziobonFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine pieces, which are not credited on the album´s cover and therefore are assumed as being co-composed by the trio members. The music is spiritually related to the Polish Catholic Church devotion called Lenten Lamentations, comprising of many hymns, which was developed in the 18th Century and is not celebrated outside of Poland. The music, although improvised, contains strong melodic elements, which make it accessible to a much wider circle of listeners than the strictly Improvised Music albums. Additionally the usage of electric guitar and sound effects places the music somewhere in between Improvised Jazz and Improvised Rock, again expanding the potential audience. The recording uses a lot of echo and delay, creating an effect simulating a live recording made in a wide space, possibly a church, which adds to the spirituality of this music. The overall effect moves between deep contemplation during the quiet passages and eruptions of despair during the more intense moments. The album manages to create a lasting tension and expectation from start to finish, which is one of its best qualities. The level of performance by all three members of the trio is impressive and includes elements of originality and an obvious sense of aesthetic beauty. The level of interplay is also quite remarkable and the trio sounds like an organic amalgam of its members, achieving together a much stronger effect than the individual contributions, all this being another reason to give the album your ears. Although this kind of music is often too complex for the average listener, this album has plenty of merits which make it worth listening to. The music is absorbing, constantly developing and often fascinating, which overall promises a very interesting sonic experience. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 17/06/2021Posted: 14/05/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend