Record Reviews

ADAM BALDYCH & LESZEK MOZDZER ~ PASSACAGLIA IMAGINARY MUSIC 001 (Barcode: 5905817210015) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by a two Polish Jazz musicians: violinist / composer Adam BaldychFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Leszek MozdzerFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen relatively short tracks, six composed by Baldych, two composed by Mozdzer, four co-composed by them both and finally three Classical compositions, one by Eric SatieFind albums by this artist, one by Medieval 12th Century composer Hildegard von BingenFind albums by this artist and one by Renaissance 16th Century composer Josquin des PrezFind albums by this artist. I have followed closely the development of Baldych’s career from the very early stage, noticing immediately not only his exceptional talent as a musician, but also his determination and understanding of the investment needed to build an international career, which was quite unique among his Polish peers. He asked of me to write the liner notes for one of his early albums, the “Magical TheatreFind albums with this title” from 2011, which I did with pleasure. This might have led to his acceptance as part of the roster of the German ACTFind albums on this label Records label, a step which boosted his international career tremendously. Baldych released a series of highly successful albums on ACT over the years, but this new release marks the next step in building his career, the establishment of his own record label / publishing company, called Imaginary MusicFind albums on this label, with this album being its debut release, and his Wife’s album “ButterflyFind albums with this title” appropriately released hand in hand. Considering the classy, fashionable design and packaging of these products, he certainly knows what he is doing. Classically trained, Baldych obviously feels close to his sources and knows perfectly well how to incorporate them in his music, which is always characterized by a deeply melodic appeal, with the Jazzy improvisations ideally suited to caress and delicately embellish the melodic core. He uses the beautiful sound of his Renaissance violin, in addition to the usual instrument, to extend the palette and uses plucking extensively, which makes the violin sometimes sound almost like a guitar, and again expanding the sound variety. Baldych always had an incredible talent to compose incredibly touching melodies, which are simply irresistible, and which are often heart-melting even in the case of most hardened opposition. While listening to the album I had often a notion that the music was somewhat out of contemporary time-frame, perhaps something one would expect from a Baroque-period collection of pieces. Although there is plenty if improvisation, it remains so “well-hidden”, almost camouflaged, as if being an integral part of the compositions, rather than their extrapolations. This might be a very clever way to bring listeners nor used to improvisation to listen to this music without any predispositions. Overall, this is a sophisticated cross-over between Jazz-Classical Fusion and almost cinematic contextual music, which offers beautiful melodic themes, richly encrusted in delicate improvisations, which should apply a wide range of listeners, mostly not necessarily Jazz oriented ones. It is a step into a different musical dimension from what used to be Baldych’s modus operandi, but not so radically different than it may appear at first glance. Almost meditative at times, it is surely a magical sound experience.

Updated: 28/03/2024Posted: 28/03/2024

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JOHANNA BORCHERT ~ ORCHESTRE IDEAL WHYPLAYJAZZ 008 (Barcode: 4050486078013) ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the debut solo album by German pianist / composer Johanna BorchertFind albums by this artist, which comprises of thirteen relatively short solo piano pieces, nine of which are freely improvised and four are improvisations based on her compositions. Although mostly spontaneously improvised this music has very little if anything to do with Improvised Music as in the Avant-Garde Jazz idiom and is deeply rooted in contemporary Classical music, mainly in the vicinity of the French modernists like Claude DebussyFind albums by this artist, Eric SatieFind albums by this artist, Oliver MessiaenFind albums by this artist and others. Some of these pieces are minimalist, others more developed, but the overall atmosphere is predominantly characterized by the sonorities typical of these composers and their particular approach to music. The music is mostly very delicate and introvert, which makes it quite difficult for most of the listeners, who have little experience with such demanding and ambitious ventures. Therefore this music might work well when played live but listening to it at home might prove to be over the top for most people. Of course one must support artists willing to take risks and statements like this one are always a sign of the intellect overcoming the musical futility that overwhelmingly surrounds us. Sadly I´m probably one of very few people who really like this music, as it unfortunately falls in between; the Jazz oriented people will find it to romantic and the Classical buffs to bold. So ye brave-hearted embrace this little gem wholeheartedly and others, please investigate other recordings by Borchert, which are surely of the same quality but probably slightly more accessible.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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ANAT FORT ~ AND IF ECM 2109 (Barcode: 602527332161) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This is the second album on the prestigious ECMFind albums on this label label by Israeli pianist / composer Anat FortFind albums by this artist and her third release to date. Fort is the first Israeli musician to release an album on ECM. Recorded with her regular trio with bassist Gary WangFind albums by this artist and drummer Roland SchneiderFind albums by this artist, the album presents a set of new original compositions / improvisations by Anat, who manages to create her own musical universe, unique and distinct from any other music made on this planet, quite an accomplishment for any musician today. Somewhere between modern Jazz, contemporary Classical music, late 19th Century Romanticism and Eric SatieFind albums by this artist´s Minimalism, the music of Anat Fort is like an impressionist painting, full of melancholy and lyricism and yet sparkling with color and emotion. Her music is always receptive to the listener´s mood, enabling him to discover a different facet every time he listens attentively. It sounds great in early mornings and late at night, being invigorating and soothing at the same time. Of course there is also Anat, the player, gently caressing the keyboard and masterfully applying pressure, when necessary. The rhythm section accompanies her with a kind of humility, which is inspired by respect and understanding, always there at her side, but never pushing her around. Together they are a harmonic unit, an ideal piano trio, which epitomizes Jazz more that any other combination of players known to men. And yet the album is not an easy listening experience, especially at the first attempt. As all good Art, it requires attentive and repetitive listening, slowly breaking the barrier of assimilating with the listener´s perception. It sneaks on you slowly, going deeper and deeper every time, until you are completely hooked, left helpless and fully exposed to its beauty. What bliss! In retrospect I prefer this album to its predecessor "A Long StoryFind albums with this title", which was recorded with a cast of most reputable musicians, but lacks the true personal touch of Anat´s musical true-self. Uninhibited by the presence of strong personalities she is able to express herself more fully on this album, which is all for the best. I can´t imagine any serious music lover not falling in love with this album eventually, even if it takes some effort. Therefore I urge everybody to give it a try, as you surely won´t regret it in the long run. Music of this quality is too rare to be left unnoticed!

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RICHARD GALLIANO ~ AROUND GERSHWIN PENTATONE 8717306262293 (Barcode: 8717306262293) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 - 2024 Released: 2024 This is a solo album by French Jazz accordion / bandoneon virtuoso Richard GallianoFind albums by this artist, which as the title indicates, is dedicated to the music of George GershwinFind albums by this artist, but also other early 20th Century composers, like Sergei RachmaninoffFind albums by this artist, Eric SatieFind albums by this artist, Claude DebussyFind albums by this artist, Maurice RavelFind albums by this artist and Gabriel FaureFind albums by this artist, all adapted for accordion by Galliano, and also including a couple of pieces composed by himself. The album presents fourteen tracks and offers a splendid sound quality. I have been following the career of Galliano since as long as I can remember (he is almost exactly one year older than me) and he was always one of my favorite Jazz musicians, long before he achieved the international fame and recognition. His incredible sensitivity and power of expression are almost unparalleled, and his openness to other musical cultures and genres makes him a true total Artist. His accumulated contribution to European Jazz is simply colossal. This is not the first album which finds Galliano interpreting Classical music, and his earlier albums with music by Johann Sebastian BachFind albums by this artist, Antonio VivaldiFind albums by this artist or Wolfgang Amadeus MozartFind albums by this artist are all warmly recommended, but this album is closest to my heart, for several reasons. Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is my all-time favorite piece of music (as irresponsible as that kind of statement might sound), and Galliano’s interpretation of it is simply Godly. I have heard hundreds of recordings of RIB, but this is definitely one of the most profoundly moving ones, especially in view of the completely new environment and the ability to overcome the devilishly difficult score and underlying changes of mood / melody / tempo, etc., which Galliano conquers with his usual wit, intelligence and charm. But perhaps more important is the statement, subtly hidden behind the vail, which places Gershwin with his “serious” Classical Music contemporaries, recognizing his position as a no less “serious” composer, which is more often than not denied from Gershwin, mostly recognized for his work as a songwriter, with his Classical compositions often ignored and neglected, and which deserves to be put straight. Overall, this is a marvelous album, full of delightful music, brilliantly performed and cleverly put together, which puts a new light on the sublime music composed by Gershwin, and offers an hour of tete-a-tete between the listener and one of the greatest musicians out there. Another great production by the PentatoneFind albums on this label label and of course, this is something way beyond recommendation…

Updated: 04/10/2024Posted: 02/10/2024

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KASIA KADLUBOWSKA / DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ TRANSIENT DUX 1221 (Barcode: 5902547012216) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2012 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by Polish marimba player / composer Kasia KadlubowskaFind albums by this artist recorded in a duo format with renown Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine compositions, two of which are original compositions (one each) by Kadlubowska and Bukowski and the rest are by contemporary Classical composers like Terry RileyFind albums by this artist, Philip GlassFind albums by this artist, Steve ReichFind albums by this artist, Arvo PartFind albums by this artist, Eric SatieFind albums by this artist and American marimba player / composer Paul SmadbeckFind albums by this artist. As the names of the composers suggest, the music is mostly contemporary Classical Music, with belongs to the Minimal Music idiom. Although most of the music was not originally written for marimba or vibraphone, it was arranged and transcribed for these instruments by Kadlubowska and Bukowski. Marimba and vibraphone, although both percussion instruments, are of course capable of playing melody and harmony, which means that the music offers a lot of melodic content, kept within the limitations of Minimal Music, which calls for slowly developing themes and cyclic repetition. It can be quite demanding on the listener, who is not a priori a fan of the genre, but it is great for relaxation and meditation, in addition to its strictly musical values. Both Kadlubowska and Bukowski play with incredible feeling and obvious virtuosity, and despite the intrinsic lethargy of the music, the albums offers a diversified listening experience to open-minded listeners. Minimal Music has its fans around the world and enjoyed a peak of popularity during the New Age explosion between the 1970s and 1990s, but a steady interest in it remains in the Classical field over the years. Bukowski’s appearance on this album, which is rather unexpected since his main field of activity if Jazz, proves his diversity and well schooling, as well as highly aesthetic approach to music in general. The two original composition stand proudly shoulder to shoulder with the well-known Classical material, adding another level of credibility to this album. I have no idea why it took seven years for this album to arrive on my operating table, but as usual better late than never, as it is definitely worth exploring and a great fun to listen to.

Updated: 23/05/2021Posted: 23/05/2021

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BARTLOMIEJ OLES ~ CAT`S SONGS - 17 HAIKU FOR PIANO AUDIO CAVE 2023/016 (Barcode: 5908298549780) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is a rather surprising album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Bartlomiej OlesFind albums by this artist, which presents seventeen short pieces for solo piano, composed by Oles and performed by pianist Mira OpalinskaFind albums by this artist, appropriately called Haiku, referring to the Japanese poetry tradition of short poems containing seventeen phonetic units (5-7-5 syllables). The album is the first recording of music composed by Oles, on which he does not take part as a performer. The minimalist music is very melodic and despite its format limitations it is also very expressive. As Oles mentions in the album’s liner notes, there is a certain delicate wink in the direction of Eric SatieFind albums by this artist’s solo piano pieces, although he also mentions Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist’s “Children`s SongsFind albums with this title” album as a source of inspiration. This music is very distant to what Oles and his twin brother, bassist Marcin OlesFind albums by this artist are usually associated with, which of course is Jazz and Improvised Music. The decision to record this album marks a new path in the personal development of his career and is also quite a bold step, which might raise some eyebrows among his usual listeners. Courage and artistic integrity are characteristics I always support wholeheartedly, which of course I do also now. Overall, this is an excellent collection of solo piano pieces, beautifully played and splendidly recorded, which should satisfy every music lover, regardless of stylistic preferences. This music is naked and completely lacking pretentiousness or pose, it simply is…

Updated: 23/02/2024Posted: 23/02/2024

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RGG ~ MYSTERIOUS MONUMENTS ON THE MOON VOICE MUSIC 1002 (Barcode: 5906489287206) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the twelfth album by Polish Jazz trio RGGFind albums by this artist, which celebrates its 20th Anniversary these days, with a remarkable recording legacy to its credit. Pianist Lukasz OjdanaFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist present this time fifteen mostly short pieces, nine of which are improvisations, eight called “Monuments” (numbered I to VIII). Three pieces are composed by Ojdana, one is by Eric SatieFind albums by this artist, another one by Artie ShawFind albums by this artist and one remains mysteriously uncredited. The music was recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and was engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, offering not surprisingly excellent sound quality. RGG is obviously a very unique music-making setting, a leaderless ensemble of three dominant and very different personalities, which manage to combine their relative talents significantly more efficiently than any of their Polish Jazz colleagues, despite the fact that the Polish scene is blessed with incredible abundance of wonderful musicians. The trio excels in is uncompromised pursue of individuality and eschews commercialism, even if it means to remote itself from the “fame and glory” of the legendary “Polish Jazz” series, where their previous album was released on, an association which ended with a painful divorce. There is no doubt that this album marks a new approach in the trio’s music making, with an emphasis on Free Improvisation. Although their earlier albums included plenty of advanced improvisation, it was never a focus of their recorded statements. The need to search for new forms of expression is not surprising in view of the fact that Polish Jazz scene is experiencing, perhaps to some degree influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, a period of self-examination. RGG’s path in the last two decades is a reflection of the stellar development of the Polish Jazz during that period, which produced some of the best Jazz music on a world scale, but also seems to experience an identity / aesthetics crisis with the entry into the third decade of the 21st Century. Perhaps playing “more of the same” is simply not enough anymore? Jazz, like most other things, is mostly about balance… How much Free Improvisation is needed to express “freedom” in music is often heatedly discussed. This album does not expel completely melody, harmony and even romanticism from the music, but makes it more difficult for the listener to identify them, which sometimes might prove too difficult for some. Well, too much freedom causes chaos, and too little causes frustration, a question of balance… Personally I see this album as a “transitional experiment” by one of my favorite Jazz ensembles, and love and respect always require slack and acceptance. Their music always makes me want to hear the next album, and this one is no different. Overall, this is a courageous statement by mature Artists, who know what they want to say, obviously much better than anyone can guess. It takes a few listening sessions to get into, but, as usual in RGG’s case, the music becomes irresistible. This was a long and painful birth, well worth waiting for.

Updated: 09/12/2024Posted: 28/10/2021

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