Record Reviews
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  | GDYNIA IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRA ~ MILIONY SLONC
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025
This is the 2nd album by Gdynia Improvisers OrchestraFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. GIOFind albums by this artist), recorded live during the celebration of the sixth anniversary of the orchestra’s founding. The orchestra includes nineteen instrumentalists and vocalists (including Zofia EsdenFind albums by this artist) and is conducted by Marcin BozekFind albums by this artist, the founder and leader, who employs a non-conventional conducting technique using body gestures. The album presents four lengthy tracks, which are not credited.
Four years ago I published a review of the debut album recorded by GIO, called "Plastikowy JednorozecFind albums with this title", which was recorded live during the orchestra’s first public appearance. I must say that surprisingly, the main point of my review, which stated that there was almost no improvisation whatsoever in the music on that album, and which makes the usage of “improvised” rather misleading, is still somewhat valid on this album, but I am happy to say that there are many, and more importantly quite wonderful improvised music parts present this time, which makes the whole album way more interesting. But there are still extensive parts, which are obviously pre-composed and rehearsed, same as on the debut album.
Another characteristic, which connects this album to the debut, is the fact that most of the improvisations are performed by the vocalists, and those are unquestionably the most thrilling element of this album. Of course the concept of the large ensemble, which includes musicians from a cross-genre environment, is most welcome and the outcome is a fascinating musical experience, which offers a truly exciting listening adventure.
Overall, this is a much stronger effort by the orchestra, in comparison to the debut, which is of course great news. Although this music is obviously way more interesting when heard live, as is always the case with Improvised Music, this album is definitely a nice document of the event and offers a fascinating listening journey. Well done!
| | Updated: 26/09/2025Posted: 26/09/2025 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | GDYNIA IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRA ~ PLASTIKOWY JEDNOROZEC
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz
Recorded: 2018 Released: 2021
This is the debut album by Gdynia Improvisers OrchestraFind albums by this artist, a gathering of seventeen instrumentalists and vocalists, conducted by Marcin BozekFind albums by this artist, recorded live at the orchestra’s debut appearance. The orchestra’s members originate from various musical genres and their meeting enables them to create music together without stylistic / genre limitations. The album presents nine tracks, which remain uncredited and are assumably largely improvised.
The music, despite the “improvised” moniker it appears under, is in fact much tamer and organized than expected, often entering into melodic Blues sections or straightforward swinging Jazz, which must have been previously agreed upon and rehearsed. It appears that the orchestra was divided into several sections, each playing on one of the tracks, as nowhere on the album one is able to hear the full power of the seventeen musicians creating an improvising mayhem one might have expected.
There are plenty of interesting individual instrumental contributions by the participating musicians, but personally I found the vocals most exciting, as long as no lyrics were used, especially those with a heavy Polish accent singing in English. The vocalese parts and scat exchanges worked much better.
Summa summarum the album offers a selectin of unrelated and unconnected pieces, which, at least for me, lack any conceptual coherence, especially in a concert setting, but are individually entertaining, albeit certainly not challenging. I admit to having a great fun listening to the album, but at the same time felt somewhat “cheated”, like someone who was invited for a gourmet meal and got a plate of pierogi (Polish filled dumplings), delicious enough but definitely not made by a chef.
Overall, this is a pleasant, but hardly very exciting or innovative album, which delivers an experiment rather than a complete concept, but kudos for the effort and searching, which is often more important than finding. I hope they knock me out of my socks next time!
| | Updated: 02/12/2021Posted: 02/12/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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