Record Reviews

HANKA GREGUSOVA / ONDREJ KRAJNAK ~ TWIN FLAME NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 8588006797015) ~ SLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by Slovak vocalist Hanka GregusovaFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Hanka GFind albums by this artist), recorded in an intimate duo setting with pianist Ondrej KrajnakFind albums by this artist, who also arranged the music. It presents eight songs, six of which are classic Jazz standards, one is a composition by Slovak composer Ernest OlahFind albums by this artist and one is an original composition by Krajnak. Gregusova wrote original lyrics in English to three of the standards (which are originally instrumentals) and to the Olah and Krajnak compositions. The album, recorded following her move to NY, finds Gregusova returning to her Gospel / Blues / Jazz roots, away from the direction of her previous album, which was dedicated to Slovak Folklore. The intimate vocals / piano setting inspires a unique atmosphere of a smoke filled Jazz club sometime in the 1950s, where a vocalist delivers her heartbreaking vocals to mesmerized listeners holding a glass of whiskey in their hands. The piano provides a wonderful accompaniment to her vocals, somewhat back in the background, carefully trying not to veil the velvety vocals. Most of the songs are very low key, slow tempo ballads, which of course are the most difficult to be performed by a vocalist. Gregusova shows no signs of hesitation or shyness and moves through the material with ease and elegance. Amicably supported by Krajnak, who plays a few wonderfully lyrical solos, the vocalist delivers her sensuous phrases with theatrical dramatics and highly musical approach. Although English is not Gregusova´s mother tongue, her delivery of the English lyrics is completely acceptable, in contrast to the attempts by other Eastern European vocalist, who usually fail pathetically in this department. Overall this is a wonderful intimate vocal album, which is best listened to with a glass of wine in one´s hand and a dimmed room, which is the next best thing to hearing Gregusova live. The album offers excellent music beautifully performed, which is simply everything one can ask for. A must for Jazz vocals connoisseurs!

Updated: 31/05/2017Posted: 31/05/2017

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ONDREJ KRAJNAK ~ FOREVERNEST HEVHETIA 0067 (Barcode: 8588005257046) ~ SLOVAKIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is a wonderful solo piano album by Slovak Jazz pianist / composer / arranger Ondrej KrajnakFind albums by this artist. It is a loving and beautiful tribute to the music of Slovak pianist / composer Ernest OlahFind albums by this artist, an outstanding figure of the first post WWII generation, who never truly achieved the recognition and fame he deserved, and who died prematurely in 2002 at the age of sixty, never releasing even a singular album as a leader during his lifetime. This album presents six original compositions by Olah and one original composition by Krajnak, dedicated to him. The album was produced by Ernest Olah´s son Roman OlahFind albums by this artist. Olah was not only a great pianist but also a wonderful composer of Jazz and contemporary Classical music and it is sad that his work is almost unknown. This album remedies the situation slightly, but hopefully more of Olah´s music will be rediscovered in the future. Olah admired Oscar PetersonFind albums by this artist and was able to imitate his playing very reliably, but of course his most important contributions were his original works. Krajnak emerges as an ideal choice of a pianist, who was trusted with the responsibility to present Olah´s music as perhaps he would have done himself. A pianist of virtuosic ability but more importantly exceptional feeling Krajnak is able to expose all the wonderful Eastern European lyricism of Olah´s compositions. Delicate, sophisticated and aesthetically challenging, every touch of the keyboard is simply right there exactly where is fits the music in the best way possible. This album is like a string of pearls with the individual notes sitting next to each other, gleaming in the light of a flickering candlelight, building the overwhelming effect of the whole string, which is after all much more than a collection of the individual pearls. A true gem in every respect, it is timeless, beyond classification and comparison; it simply is…

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