Record Reviews

GARY GUTHMAN ~ HARP CONCERTO / TRUMPET CONCERTO / MARGARITA DUX 1873 (Barcode: 5902547018737) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is a great love story worth of a movie: “An American In Warsaw”. My Friend and buddy, American Jazz trumpeter / composer Gary GuthmanFind albums by this artist meets a beautiful Polish harpist Malgorzata ZalewskaFind albums by this artist (Gosia as we call her) and his heart is lost forever, resulting in his relocation to Warsaw and a process of building not only a new life but also a new career, mostly as a composer. This wonderful album documents some of his prolific output in the last years: a three-part harp concerto, which features Gosia as the soloist, a three-part trumpet concerto, which features Gary as the soloist, and finally a short piece for harp, trumpet and orchestra, which features the love birds together. They are accompanied by the Podlasie Opera & Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted my Miroslaw Jacek BlaszczykFind albums by this artist. The music is absolutely lovely, sort of Jazz-Classical Fusion, but sounding more like a superb cinematic scores, which might have been composed at the heyday of the Hollywood era, when music played a much more important role as part of the film industry, which is sadly not the case these days. Guthman the composer, is deeply soaked in the Jazz tradition, and his music swings at all times, as well as being full of wonderfully crafted melody lines, similar to the modus operandi of all great American composers of musicals and cinematic music. Of course Gosia and Gary are able to show their chops as excellent instrumentalists as well, each in his own capacity. Gosia brings her Classical Music expertise and Gary his Jazz Big Band spark, all in superbly elegant class and aesthetic aura. It’s great to have a husband, who can write music for you, says Gosia, but honestly this music is way more than a family affair and offers an uncompromising Artistic value. Overall, this is a truly splendid musical experience, full of beautiful melodic music, great instrumental work by the soloists and the orchestra, which is wonderfully amicable in this case, and a strong feeling of nostalgia, when this kind of music was at the helm. What can I do, I am after all a lost romantic… A pleasure to be your Friend, my Dears, and I am proud of you!

Updated: 10/03/2023Posted: 10/03/2023

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GARY GUTHMAN ~ SALUTE TO SWING! SOLITON 802 (Barcode: 5901571098029) ~ USA ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 1999 - 2004 Released: 2018 This is a compiled reissue of two albums by the American (resident in Warsaw) trumpeter / composer / arranger Gary GuthmanFind albums by this artist. The albums, recorded and initially released in Canada, are: "Sing, Sing, SingFind albums with this title" from 2005 and "Love TalkFind albums with this title" from 1999. Guthman leads professional Big Bands and is responsible for most of the arrangements, as well as for writing three original pieces on "Love Talk". The rest of the music comprises of well known Swing standards. As the title suggests, the music is a loving tribute to the Swing period in America, which lasted for over two decades between 1930s and early 1950s. The music was mostly played by a plethora of Big Bands and Jazz Orchestras, led by such celebrated composers / bandleaders as Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist, Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, Harry JamesFind albums by this artist, Glenn MillerFind albums by this artist, Count BasieFind albums by this artist, Woody HermanFind albums by this artist, Tommy DorseyFind albums by this artist and numerous others. Although considered as one of the Jazz genres and certainly playing an important role in the development of the idiom, Swing was also a form of popular music and at its peak "the" popular music in the US and to some extent worldwide. Based on solid melodies, many of which became Jazz standards, Swing definitely also included and encouraged improvisation, although limited to relatively short and strictly melodic, but often masterly constructed and incredibly cleverly executed solos. Guthman is not only a great trumpet player, but first and foremost an incredibly sensitive musician in the broadest meaning of the word. He writes absolutely brilliant music, which sounds instantly as good as any Jazz standard from the "fake book", but he is also able to compose contemporary Classical music or entire musicals. He has a pair of great ears, which makes him a skillful arranger able to make the most of any setting, from a quartet to a Big Band or an Orchestra. And he is also a great person, a perfect Gentlemen and a Friend! The two albums presented here are very dissimilar, which makes this compilation even more attractive that it originally appears to be. "Sing, Sing, Sing" is a straightforward tribute to Swing, featuring all the big Swing "hits" that many people are familiar with, without even knowing what Swing means. As such it is a perfect trip down the memory lane for elderly people like yours truly, who still remember their parents dancing while these melodies were being played on the bandstand or on the radio. Guthman delivers several scorching trumpet solos and the music swings like there is no tomorrow. "Love Talk" is a completely different story. It is an exquisite showcase of Jazz arrangement, kept within the general Swing aura, but superbly orchestrated, with the full power of an Orchestra, featuring lush string layers, which is on the whole a piece of elegant, masterly woven musical delight. Guthman´s trumpet playing on this album is much softer, lyrical and Jazz oriented. Overall this album presents the charm and splendor of Swing for everybody. Less experienced listeners will enjoy the evergreens on the first album, which is basically quite danceable, while connoisseurs will delight in the seductive enticement and sophistication of the second album in this set, which is much more suitable for the intimacy a bedroom than the swish of a dancing floor. Since nobody makes music like this anymore, I am not surprised by the fact that this album was so warmly embraced by the listeners. It is after all a piece of musical history, which is still fondly remembered. Way to go, my Friend!

Updated: 01/08/2019Posted: 09/06/2018

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SASHA STRUNIN ~ AUTOPORTRETY SOLITON 943 (Barcode: 9788364175602) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 There is no doubt that Jazz and Poetry were meant for each other. Both are, after all, the enfants terribles of their respective Art Forms, music and literature. Both embody the impossible balance between intellectual and emotional, both led the Avant-Garde movements in their respective fields and their amalgamation into the Jazz & Poetry idiom was simply inevitable. Therefore it is hardly surprising that Jazz & Poetry played a pivotal role during the 1960s Renaissance of the post WWII Culture in Poland and continues to be a vital ingredient of the local milieu ever since. The music and the poetry present on this album are a wonderful example of the vivacity of the contemporary Jazz & Poetry idiom in Poland and in many respects one of the most ambitious attempts of its kind to date. The poetry of Miron BiałoszewskiFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s twentieth Century most important literary figures, is not only expressive and profound but also difficult, complex and often controversial. His unconventional usage of language structures, word games and other idiosyncratic characteristics of his Avant-Garde approach to poetry make his poems extremely awkward to combine with music, requiring an acrobatic ability both from the composer and the vocalist. Gary GuthmanFind albums by this artist, an American composer / arranger / trumpeter and a Jazz veteran living in Warsaw, deserves the highest praise for coalescing Białoszewski´s words with his music, presenting a coherent, harmonious musical flow which compliments the poetry wonderfully. What is even more astonishing is that the music is beautifully melodic and swinging, in contrast to the Avant-Garde spirit of the poetry itself. Perhaps it is a reflection of Białoszewski´s passion of music, which is inherently embedded in his poetry, despite its external enmity. Sasha StruninFind albums by this artist is of course the absolute Diva of this project, singing the thorny, complicated texts with elegance, flair and incredible passion. Her depth of expression and the power of phrasing are truly hair-raising, blood-curdling and spine-chilling. Her total and unconditional dedication to this project is a beacon other Artist should follow. A relative newcomer to the Polish Jazz idiom, Sasha is today surely one of its greatest treasures. Love you my friends, as always! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 05/07/2019Posted: 05/07/2019

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MALGORZATA ZALEWSKA ~ THE TRAVELER / TRIPTYCH & IMPROVISATION ORPHEE CLASSICS 221201 (Barcode: 5902205589197) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish harpist Malgorzata ZalewskaFind albums by this artist, on which she presents the chamber suite “The Traveler”, composed by her husband, the American (residing in Warsaw) composer Gary GuthmanFind albums by this artist, performed by a quartet comprising of soprano singer Kaja MianowanaFind albums by this artist, flautist Lukasz DlugoszFind albums by this artist, cellist Tomasz StrahlFind albums by this artist and Zalewska, and two compositions for solo harp by Polish composer Tadeusz PaciorkiewiczFind albums by this artist, also performed by her. “The Traveler” is based on a series of poems written by Guthman in 1992, which were incorporated into the thirteen-part suite for chamber quartet during the early months of the Covid pandemic in 2020. “Triptych” (1975) a three-part piece for solo harp and “Improvisation” (1951) a miniature for solo harp were composed by Paciorkiewicz, one of the very few contemporary Polish composers writing music for harp. The chamber suite is a series of wonderful “songs”, splendidly correlated and put together, which offers a wide range of stylistic influences, from Early Music, Celtic and American Folk, musicals and Classical Music. Guthman was blessed by a great talent to weave highly melodic themes, without compromising aesthetic values, which is clearly evident herein. The quartet is absolutely superb: Mianowana, whom I had the pleasure to hear live several times, has a beautiful voice and great theatrical presentation, Dlugosz is a truly irresistible piper of Hamlyn, Strahl knows exactly how to caress the right strings, and finally Zalewska, with her magic fingers, makes the harp to sing ever so sweetly. The solo harp pieces are obviously closer to contemporary Classical Music idiom, but Paciorkiewicz also loved a good melody and his dedication to the harp is quite evident here, which leaves Zalewska to interpret the music, which she of course does in her own elegant way and with a perfect touch. Overall, although the quartet and the solo harp pieces are quite different from each other, the album offers a beautiful, intimate atmosphere of divine melodic tranquility and soothing, heartwarming musical experience, which is accessible to a wide audience, not just Classical Music listeners, but every true music-loving listener out there. The album is certainly a balm for the ears in these traumatic times we all go through, an elegant, honest, highly aesthetic and Artistic heart to heart for everybody willing to listen. Thank you for the music, my Friends!

Updated: 12/03/2023Posted: 12/03/2023

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