Record Reviews

KRZYSZTOF FETRAS ~ ODPUST GM 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 - 2015 Released: 2015 This is the fifth album by polish guitarist / composer Krzysztof FetrasFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Tomasz KrolFind albums by this artist, bassist Marcin FidosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaroslaw GasFind albums by this artist. It is a second album by the rather unusual double-guitar fronted quartet and continues the path set four years earlier by the "Different GuitarFind albums with this title" release. The album presents nine compositions, all originals by Fetras, which were also arranged by him. Both guitarists play acoustic and electric guitars interchangeably, but the overall ambience of this album is completely "acoustic", as no reverb or echo is used during the recording process. Such natural guitar sound is very rare these days, when guitars are usually recorded using a plethora of electronic effects and devices. This clean approach enables the listener to hear the instruments exactly the way they were played and concentrate on the musical content rather than on sound effects. The music that Fetras writes is very melodic, relaxed and honest. It develops slowly from the initial themes, which are then improvised upon by the guitarists, each supporting the other in tandem, and eventually brought to an anticlimactic finale. This formula works beautifully and any excessive pyrotechnics would have simply demolished the delicate perfection. Both guitarists are of course excellent players, who respect each other and listen attentively to each other. The bass provides a superb support for the guitars, being right there behind the solo efforts and the drummer carries the music forward with his energetic, but restrained rhythmic support, always remaining unobtrusive. Overall this album is a wonderful extension to its predecessor and establishes Fetras as one of the top guitar players on the Polish scene. Although it does not offer any flashy guitar extravagances, it is something both guitar fans and guitar players should carefully listen to, in order to grasp how the "less is more" concept is being applied intelligently and effectively. Well done!

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KRZYSZTOF FETRAS PROJECT / TOMASZ KROL ~ DIFFERENT GUITAR GM 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 Polish guitarist / composer Krzysztof FetrasFind albums by this artist and his trio, which consists of bassist Mikolaj NowickiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jaroslaw GasFind albums by this artist, are joined on this album by the young guitarist Tomasz KrolFind albums by this artist, creating together an unusual double-guitar quartet, which plays quite differently from what listeners usually associate with guitar led Jazz music. The album includes eight tracks and the music is almost entirely original, with the exception of one tune by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist, and was composed by Fetras or co-composed by him and his wife Iwona FetrasFind albums by this artist, with one tune credited solely to Iwona and another credited to Krol, Fetras and Nowicki. Although the guitarists use both electric and acoustic guitars, the sound of the guitars is not that much different from each other, as the session has largely an acoustic ambience. The melodies are stated usually quite overtly at the start of each track, to be followed by extended improvisations by both guitarists, some straightforward and other quite free. The guitarists play mostly together, accompanying each other on their respective solos, with the acoustic and electric guitars blending together harmonically and textually and there is plenty of inspired interplay. Both guitarists offer quite excellent phrasing, playing around the melody lines and sometimes flirting with time, wrapping things up nicely by the end of each tune. The rhythm section provides a solid and mostly delicate background, which is essential for the soloists to be able to soar above it. Their playing is elegant and imaginative, without being obtrusive on one hand and over-ornamental on the other. It is a relief to find people who treat the guitar differently from what the fashion dictates, i.e. flashy Fusion oriented doodling, which makes little sense and provides no challenge whatsoever. The music you´ll find here keeps the listener on his toes at all times, either in order to follow the complex improvisations or the multilayered ambient atmosphere the music evolves into at times. Overall this is an album guitar lovers everywhere should listen to attentively, as it presents a unique and quite unusual guitar playing, which offers a pleasant listening experience without being trivial or simplistic. Warmly recommended!

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