Record Reviews

ACOUSTIC ACROBATS ~ LIVE LUNA 277 (Barcode: 5900672922776) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by the excellent Polish Jazz-World Fusion ensemble Acoustic AcrobatsFind albums by this artist, which comprises of clarinetist Piotr SkupniewiczFind albums by this artist, accordionists Jacek HolubowskiFind albums by this artist and Boguslaw ZiebaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jacek FedkowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam LesniakFind albums by this artist. The album, recorded live, includes ten original tracks composed by the ensemble members: seven by Holubowski, one each by Zieba and Skupniewicz and the remaining one co-composed by Zieba and Skupniewicz. There is also a bonus track with one of the composition given a studio overhaul with surprising results. The band lists their manager, lighting and transport man occasional vocalist Damian RekasFind albums by this artist as a sixth member, so I´ll comply as well. The unusual instrumental lineup of the ensemble sets them almost immediately apart from most other Jazz-World Fusion groups. They produce quite an innovative overall sound, with the two accordions collaborating wonderfully, complimented by the great rhythm section, with the clarinet wailing on top. Although the Jazz component is often quite subtle, it is nevertheless the driving force pushing the ensemble at all times and allowing for the extended improvised sections. The World Music influences are quite varied and include Balkan, Jewish, Klezmer, Latin American and African spices, all used with moderation and good taste. The music is after all original, with distinctive melodies and climates, with the World Music additions ornamenting it rather than dictating the final result. The individual instrumental abilities of these musicians are beyond reproach and often border on virtuosity. The level of interplay and mutual respect is also commendable. Experience tells that this kind of music sounds the best when heard live and therefore the unconventional decision of releasing a live album as a debut is definitely the correct one. The fact that it also is the least expensive way to record an album is secondary in this case. Overall this is a first rate album, which is pure fun to listen to, without being simplistic or vulgar. In fact this music is quite complex musically and hides many wonderful moments, which will be revealed by repeated listening. This is definitely a band worth following, going to hear them play in concerts if possible and now also waiting for their next album. Kudos!

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WOJCIECH FEDKOWICZ NOISE TRIO ~ DISTANT HEROES OKO ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Wojciech FedkowiczFind albums by this artist and his Noise TrioFind albums by this artist, which includes pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist and bassist Jacek FedkowiczFind albums by this artist. All three players use electronic effects on their respective instruments. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Wojciech Fedkowicz with three being co-credited to Jacek Fedkowicz and one to Wania. The music is mostly within the mainstream Jazz idiom, with highly melodic themes, mostly very low key and overtly melancholic, with a few more open excursions, which are definitely the most exciting moments on the album. Although the album might at first appear as a regular Jazz piano trio release, it has a very specific sound and harmonic approach, mostly due to the application of the electronic sound effects, which distort the natural sound of the bass and the drums up to a point where the listener needs to readjust his “hearing concept” to be able to listen to this music. These effects are less dominant as far as the piano is concerned, which results in an almost “normal” piano sound. This unique overall approach is definitely controversial, and might scare some of the listeners away from the music, at least at first hearing. It seems that Wania’s genius is able to conquer any obstacle and his playing on this album is as impressive as on any of his other recordings, which of course is always a cause of musical joy. His improvisations are full of brilliant colors and his musical flow is an artistic dream come true. He is, naturally of course, at the very epicenter of the music here, and the fascinating structures of his soli are alone a good enough reason to listen to this music carefully. I personally find the playing around with the sounds more disturbing than productive, but that is of course a question of taste. Wania plays magnificently enough to make me want to listen to this music, and the rest is up to the individual listener. I can be hardly considered as a conservative music connoisseur, but not all types of experimentation or attempts to innovate are automatically acceptable to me, although I do appreciate the audacity to be different. It would be a great fun to hear this album without any electronic effects, just for the sake of comparison… Overall this is a very interesting musical twist and an exercise in “hearing”, with an added value of some superb piano playing by the top Polish Jazz pianist of the day. Highly recommended for the brave hearted…

Updated: 02/03/2021Posted: 02/03/2021

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WOJCIECH FEDKOWICZ NOISE TRIO ~ POST-DIGITAL DREAMERS AUDIO CAVE 2013/002 (Barcode: 5902596954376) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz drummer / composer Wojciech FedkowiczFind albums by this artist and his Noise TrioFind albums by this artist, which includes keyboardist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist and bassist Jacek FedkowiczFind albums by this artist. All three players use electronic effects on their respective instruments. Three guest musicians play / sing on selected tracks. The album presents seven original compositions, five by Wojciech Fedkowicz, one by Jacek Fedkowicz and one co-credited to all members of the trio. I was not aware of the existence of this album and only after recently reviewing the trio’s second album “Distant HeroesFind albums with this title”, Wojciech Fedkowicz sent me this one, which goes almost a decade back in time. It is also one of the earliest albums released by the Audio CaveFind albums on this label label, which in the meantime earned a respectable position on the local music market. The music is in fact quite similar to the second album, with just a bit less electronics involved in the process, again based on highly melodic themes, which are given a distinct rhythmic roll-over, taking the music away from the Jazz idiom, and more into Ambient / Drum & Bass direction, but all done very gracefully and with a dash of irony. Not surprisingly, Wania plays marvelously, although being very out of his element here most of the time, which emphasizes his phenomenal diversity and open-mindedness. For Wania’s followers it is worth to mention that this album is one of his earliest recordings, which already at this point of time sets his aside from most of the competition. But the rhythm section plays also beautifully, juggling around polyrhythmic tempi and atmospheric deep bass sounds, which create a highly unusual ambience. Overall it is great to discover this early gem, as it offers some truly unusual music, surely as far as “around Jazz” is concerned, and for an attentive listener is full of surprising moments, all of which are completely time-resistant. Probably not that easy to find today, but highly recommended, surely for Wania completists, but seriously definitely worth being discovered, better late than never.

Updated: 17/06/2021Posted: 17/06/2021

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