Record Reviews

STEPANKA BALCAROVA ~ EMOTIONS ANIMAL MUSIC 117 (Barcode: 8594211850247) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by Czech Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic quartet setting with Czech bassist Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which are original compositions by Balcarova. This is only the third album by Balcarova as a leader, but she has quite a remarkable recording legacy already, which includes albums by the Concept Art OrchestraFind albums by this artist (4 albums), which she leads, as well as the Czech / Polish Inner SpacesFind albums by this artist quintet (3 albums), all recorded since 2010 and all quite noteworthy, which makes her a busy bee of the local scene. This album offers a double focus: Balcarova’s trumpet playing, which is more prominent here than on any of her previous recordings, as well as her superb compositional talent, which is of course already her trademark. This is also her most relaxed, intimate and perhaps also mature statement to date, after reaching a point in her career, where she does not need to prove anything anymore, and is free just to express her innermost self. The music is mostly very introvert and lyrical, almost romantic at times, with gentle melodic themes floating in the air, waiting for ears willing to get enchanted. The minimalist format of the quartet is ideal for the music and the wonderful team supports the leader superbly, with Kolodziejczyk delicate harmonic support and brief and well-structured soli balancing the melodic layer and of course Honzak on bass, the anchor able to hold any musical ship steady, is there at all times with his round, solid notes, with Maslowski delicate rhythmic support always there when needed and silent, when not essential, a rare quality among drummers. As all Animal Music releases, this album offers a wonderfully warm and perfect sound quality, achieved by the masterful Milan CimfeFind albums by this artist, which makes listening to the music a true pleasure. Overall, this is another beautiful album in Balcarova’s treasure chest, which is a sublime sonic experience and uplifting aesthetic adventure for every true Jazz lover on this planet. It might take more than just a brief listening exposure to discover the depth and gorgeousness of this music, but patience is a virtue and the reward is absolutely worth the effort. Thank you Milady, as usual, for this gift of music!

Updated: 12/08/2023Posted: 12/08/2023

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INNER SPACES ~ INNER SPACES JAZZ FORUM ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 This is the debut album by Czech / Polish quintet Inner SpacesFind albums by this artist which comprises of Czech trumpeter Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lubos SoukupFind albums by this artist and pianist Vit KristanFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, three composed by Balcarova and two each by Soukup and Kristan. It took me a while to get hold of a copy of this album (a mere decade – thank you Stepanka!), but it was definitely worth waiting for. The music is absolutely beautiful from start to finish, presenting wonderfully woven melodic themes, which serve as basis for impressive improvisations. Despite of the young age of the musicians (at the time of the recording) and their lack of experience, this is a most impressive debut in every respect. It is also great to see that the potential present on this album proved to be fully justified considering the achievements of these musicians during the decade that followed. The music, which is strictly within the modern European Jazz mainstream idiom, offers a lot of space for the instrumentalist to develop their individual statements without any conceptual limitations, including the rhythm section, which also displays a remarkable flexibility. The melodies display typical Eastern European melancholy and Romanticism, which are often inseparable from the very inner soul of musicians originating from Eastern Europe, regardless of their education and musical influences, which of course is a part of their collective charm. Many debut albums prove to be rather naïve in retrospect, but I am happy to say that this one lost absolutely nothing of its original magic and is completely immune to time. I had a delightful time listening to the album a few times in a row, which in my case happens rather rarely. Thanks to everybody involved and if anybody is able to find a copy of this little gem, don’t you dare to miss it!

Updated: 01/02/2021Posted: 01/02/2021

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INNER SPACES ~ JARNI / VERNAL AMPLION 172001 (Barcode: 8594179225576) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by Czech / Polish quintet Inner SpacesFind albums by this artist which comprises of Czech trumpeter Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lubos SoukupFind albums by this artist and pianist Vit KristanFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, three composed by Balcarova and two each by Soukup and Kristan. The music was recorded live during a concert at the Czech Radio. The music is typical modern Eastern European Jazz, with excellent compositions full of melancholy and lyricism and a rather foggy atmosphere of contemplation and anticipation, personally for me evoking fond memories of Czechoslovak New Wave cinema, with the film noir influences and characteristic black and white imagery, also present in Polish cinema at the time. I don´t know why, but this music sounds to me like something that might have been recorded in the 1960s rather than 2010s, which is of course meant as a compliment. All the members of the quintet are seasoned players with considerable recording legacy behind them, and their performances on this album attest to their technical proficiency and artistic depth. The music is performed with a certain modesty and reserve, with the soloing being far from flashy displays of abilities and more a matter of elegance and good taste. Considering the fact that this music was recorded live, the final result is truly impressive. Although this music seems perhaps not very innovative or far reaching, it manages ideally to preserve the qualities of the Eastern European Jazz tradition, and by creating the retro atmosphere, also pay tribute to the decades during which Jazz functioned under an oppressive regime where it managed not only to prevail but also break the glass ceiling (or the Iron Curtain). As a result this album is not only a superb piece of Jazz music, but also a time of reflection and remembrance of an era, that happened before any of these wonderful musicians were born, but which they inherited in their cultural genetic code. God bless for the music and for invoking the memories!

Updated: 08/11/2020Posted: 08/11/2020

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LUBOS SOUKUP ~ THROUGH THE MIRROR ANIMAL MUSIC 038 (Barcode: 8594155997022) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 - 2013 Released: 2013 This is the second album as a leader by Czech saxophonist / composer Lubos SoukupFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which also includes German pianist Christian PabstFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Joel IllerhagFind albums by this artist and Danish drummer Morten HaesumFind albums by this artist. The lineup is expanded by the addition of a not less international six-piece horn section and a Czech string quartet. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Soukup. The music is a wonderful example of modern European Jazz, based on excellent compositions, which amalgamate some glimpses of European Classical Music influences and Jazz ensemble music, brilliantly arranged and perfectly executed by these, mostly young but already very experienced and well educated musicians. Soukup demonstrates his highly unusual melody weaving skills, which have been amply reflected by his work in the years since this album was released, both on his own recordings and albums with other people. He is a member of the Prague SixFind albums by this artist composers’ collective, whose work was wonderfully recorded by the Czech Concept Art OrchestraFind albums by this artist (of which he is also a member), the Inner SpacesFind albums by this artist quintet and other ensembles and in the last few years he is definitely one of the most active and prolific figures on the Czech Jazz scene. The scope of the music is pretty amazing, elegantly floating between the more Jazz oriented pieces, performed by the ensemble and the more somber Classical oriented compositions, performed by the string quartet, but always keeping the listener mesmerized by the depth of the music and the intricate / multi-level arrangements, which become an intrinsic part of the concept that Soukup is trying to create on this album. Considering the fact that he was only twenty-seven at the time this music was recorded, the achievement is even more impressive. Overall this is a very striking piece of European Music, which exemplifies not only the incredible powers of these individuals but also their unprecedented ability to join forces in international projects, like this one, which are very common in the last decade in the borderless Europe. Soukup is definitely a musician / composer worthy of being followed by lovers of European Jazz and all his recordings deserve attention. Hats off!

Updated: 07/05/2021Posted: 07/05/2021

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