Record Reviews

KATARZYNA LOPATA ~ OSIECKA SZESCIAN 025 (Barcode: 5902249020199) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the 2nd album by Polish vocalist / composer Katarzyna LopataFind albums by this artist, recorded with guitarist Krzysztof KawalkoFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech KlonFind albums by this artist, drummer Wojciech KurekFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Michael LyczekFind albums by this artist (on selected tracks). The album presents nine original songs by Lopata, all featuring lyrics by Polish poetess / lyricist Agnieszka OsieckaFind albums by this artist. The music is different to categorize and offers a cross-genre amalgam of ambitious Pop / Rock and Jazz, with some ambient and even Avant-Garde insinuations. The result is surprisingly effective and combined with Lopata’s idiosyncratic vocal delivery offers a truly surprising and fascinating piece of music. Lopata’s interpretations of the brilliant lyrics by Osiecka is completely unique and although many Polish songwriters / composers tackled her lyrics over the years, this album is definitely one of the most striking examples of combining her poetry with music. The theatrical vocals, highly stylized and even slightly mannered vocal technique is absolutely fascinating. I have been completely unaware of the existence of this album, released almost a decade ago, and now, thanks to the kindness of one of my friends, who gave me a copy of this album, I finally discovered it. In retrospect it is one of the most interesting and unusual Polish Jazz & Poetry projects in the last decade. It remains pretty anonymous on the local scene, which is a true shame, as albums like this are very rare phenomena. Overall, this is a wonderful lost treasure of Polish Jazz & Poetry, which deserves a much wider recognition that it managed to achieve so far. Hopefully some of my readers will reach out and grab a copy, as it is truly worthwhile to give it a listen. Hopefully we will hear from this Artist again soon!

Updated: 04/01/2024Posted: 04/01/2024

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MARCIN PENDOWSKI ~ KURATORIUM JUDASZ 2024 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 3rd album by Polish bassist / composer / arranger / bandleader Marcin PendowskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. PendofskyFind albums by this artist), released four years after his previous album and following a near fatal motorcycle accident, which put a hold to his prominent career and required a long and difficult convalescence. The album presents ten tracks, all by Pendowski. He plays all the bass parts and some vocals parts and is accompanied by a mighty team of local musicians, which includes guitarist Krzysztof KawalkoFind albums by this artist, organists Marcin CichockiFind albums by this artist and Kamil BaranskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marcin KajperFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Rafal DubickiFind albums by this artist, harmonica player Bartosz LeczyckiFind albums by this artist, percussionists Dominik JaskeFind albums by this artist and Tomasz StarzykFind albums by this artist and drummer Tomasz WaldowskiFind albums by this artist. As if all these were not enough, a fifteen-men strong Warsaw Funky Horn EnsembleFind albums by this artist is also employed to add some serious zets to the proceedings. The music is everything one would expect from Pendowski, i.e. a wonderful mix of Jazz, Funk, Groove, Brass-Rock, etc. with great tunes and superb performances by everybody involved, in addition to his remarkable (despite the injury) bass playing, which makes him one the best electric bass players in the country. Over the years he managed to develop his unique style, which is quite different from the mainstream Polish Jazz activity, and for a blind test listener sounds rather as something created in South America or Cuba, than originating from pale-faced Slavs. This music makes your bottom move involuntarily, and if it doesn’t you are probably deaf or dead. Overall, this is a most welcome return of Pendowski and his mighty Groove, which sounds nothing like anything else recorded in Poland and rocks one’s bottom instantly. It shows a remarkable ability by the leader to get the best out of his companions, and proves that entertaining, danceable music can be aesthetically sound and interesting. Happy to see you back my Friend!

Updated: 15/04/2025Posted: 15/04/2025

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MARCIN PENDOWSKI ~ PENDOFSKY NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2012 - 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album as a leader by the Polish bassist / composer Marcin PendowskiFind albums by this artist, who started his career as a Rock musician (as a member of the band ArtrosisFind albums by this artist) but later on cooperated with many Polish Jazz musicians as well. On this album he presents ten original compositions recorded with a core group of musicians, which includes guitarist Krzysztof KawalkoFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marcin KajperFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Przemyslaw KostrzewaFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Marcin CichockiFind albums by this artist, drummer Tomasz WaldowskiFind albums by this artist and several guest artists. On the album Pendowski plays on two old electric basses manufactured in Czechoslovakia (Jolana Diamant) and Poland (Defil Mamba) during the Socialist regime, which have a very specific ambience. The music is a great mixture of Jazz-Rock Fusion, Funk, Soul, Grove and superb retro / vintage sounding pieces, which are almost never played these days by anybody. The arrangements and instrumentation, including the Hammond organ and the in-sync unisono brass section, the airy guitars and the fantastic bass sound are simply irresistible. Of course the best part is the fact that although this is truly enjoyable music, it is also of the highest quality, with great melodies, riffs and interesting arrangements, supported by virtuosic instrumental work. This music could be an ideal partner for a long car drive, a club setting or a groovy party with your friends, and it would fit all these diverse surroundings perfectly. I must admit that it was quite a while since I enjoyed myself that much listening to an album. Hopefully this won´t be a one off, as that would be a true shame. We need more honest and fun music like this in this world full of phony pretentious garbage. I wholeheartedly recommend this album to people who really love music and are able to enjoy it in full, without inhibitions. For bass aficionados this is a must of course. Very well done Sir, chapeau!

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