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  | BASZTA ~ BASZTA (SWINGING TRICITY VOL.1)
SOLITON 074 (Barcode: 5901549899740) ~ POLAND ~ Brass Rock
Recorded: 1976 - 1978 Released: 2011
This is the first installment in the excellent archival series documenting Polish Jazz created in the country´s Tricity on the Baltic Sea, one of the important centers where Polish Jazz thrives and over the years produced numerous first-rate musicians and superb bands. The series presents material, which in most cases never previously appeared in any form and therefore is of immense historic importance.
This chapter presents the BasztaFind albums by this artist ensemble, a Jazz-Rock Fusion / Funk outfit, which was very popular locally as it held the position of the house band at the local student club. The group was founded in 1976 and existed for about five years until the late 1970s, and unfortunately never managed to record even one album, which sadly was the fate of many Polish Jazz artists during the Socialist regime. However they did record for the Tricity Polish Radio station in Gdansk, where about half of the material included on this album comes from, the other half being live recordings from the student club, which was their residence.
Baszta was one of few Polish Jazz ensembles playing Brass Rock, i.e. horns oriented Jazz-Rock Fusion, similar to Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist, ChaseFind albums by this artist and many other ensembles representing this particular sub-genre. It was founded by trumpeter Edward KolczynskiFind albums by this artist and over the years featured the following musicians present on this album: guitarist Leszek DranickiFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Jerzy GlowczewskiFind albums by this artist and Zbigniew KedzierskiFind albums by this artist, trombonists Adam OchockiFind albums by this artist and Stanislaw SucheckiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Lech WosFind albums by this artist, bassist Aleksander SliwaFind albums by this artist, drummer Jan RuckiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Piotr SapiejaFind albums by this artist.
The group performed both their original compositions, mostly by Kolczynski and some by Wos, which were first-rate, as well as their arrangements of Jazz, Rock and Pop standards, which were quite witty and intelligent. The radio recordings have excellent sonic quality, but the live recordings are somewhat low-hi, but still definitely worth listening to. The overall level of performances is superb, except for a few vocal tracks (among the live tracks), which is less appealing.
This is another great piece of Polish Jazz history, which should definitely be told and preserved as part of the country´s Cultural Heritage. Kudos to Marcin JacobsonFind albums by this artist for creating this series and keeping it going!
| | Updated: 17/04/2020Posted: | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | ZBIGNIEW PREISNER / LISA GERRARD ~ IT`S NOT TOO LATE
PREISNER PRODUCTIONS 003 (Barcode: 5903111904050) ~ POLAND ~ Special Products
Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022
This is a new chapter in the continuous cooperation between Polish composer Zbigniew PreisnerFind albums by this artist and Australian vocalist / composer Lisa GerrardFind albums by this artist. In addition to Gerrard’s vocals, the music is created by Preisner, who plays the Hammond organ and other instruments, pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, cellist Magdalena PlutaFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Jerzy GlowczewskiFind albums by this artist. The vocals were recorded at the Synagogue in a small town of Bobowa in southern Poland and the instrumental parts in Preisner’s studio. The album presents nine tracks, five co-composed by Preisner and Gerrard, three composed by Preisner and one partly based on a piece from the soundtrack of the film “Man Of God”, composed by Preisner. Gerrard sings in her metaphysical language.
As usual with Preisner’s projects, the music is simply beyond classification. Obviously, considering his legacy as a cinematic composer, cinematic music comes instinctively to mind, by that would be a gross simplification, as cinematic music basically means nothing beyond music written specifically for cinema. The music on this album builds an entire universe of musical associations, encompassing Classical, Sacred, Contemplative, Ceremonial and so on, but honestly the most important is the emotional message this music is trying to convey, which offers a rainbow of sensations between deep despair and elated hope. Obviously deeply influenced by the reality of the world we live in, including the calamities of Pandemic and War, this music tries to rise a ray of hope, as the title suggests.
The music is very minimalistic, restrained and slowly developing, with an aura of a medieval piety, Jewish prayer, operatic arias and Ambient meditative vistas, led by Gerrard’s virtuosic vocals and delicately supported by instrumental passages, with occasional solos by the piano, cello or saxophone. The vocals are encircled by the sublime natural echo of the Synagogue, which inspires the very special ambience of the entire album.
Gerrard’s vocal improvisations are Godly in every respect, not surprising but always stunning anew, and combined with the music and instrumental support sound perhaps more convincing here than ever before. Both Preisner and Gerrard are natural phenomena of epic proportions, and combined here enhance and complement each other in a perfect win-win manifestation.
Overall, this is a deeply moving album and a very unique piece of music, which is completely universal, ageless and borderless musically. Created by an amalgam of great talents and deep conviction, this is an example of music which is able to move mountains. Thank you, my Friends, for the gift of music!
| | Updated: 22/10/2022Posted: 22/10/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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