Record Reviews

MAZZOLL / BURNOS / ZIENIAWA ~ BROMBERGER STRASSE MAZZOLLEUM ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is an album by Polish Free Jazz / Improvising Music Trio, led by bass clarinetist Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, with keyboardist / live electronics manipulator Szymon BurnosFind albums by this artist and percussionist Liliana ZieniawaFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded “live in the studio”, and is presented “as is”, completely untouched, except for the “field recordings” of street noise, which were incorporated later into the sound fabric. The album presents eight tracks, which are uncredited and obviously were co-created by the trio members. The music was recorded in a new studio, which is located in a newly restored building on the Bydgoska street at number 50 in Torun, previously called Bromberger Strasse, when Torun was under the German / Prussian rule for over two centuries, hence the album’s title. Mazzoll and his cohorts recorded the music soon after the restored building was opened as a cultural hub, including a recording studio, and he often resides there, creating music and recording it. For music lovers familiar with Mazzoll’s output, this album is a natural continuation of his modus operandi, which circles around spontaneous improvisation, of which he seems to be prophet like figure since many years. His unique sound and playing technique are immediately recognizable and the hypnotic, mantra-like waves of sound are completely overwhelming. The presence of the two younger musicians adds vigor and energy to the proceedings, and the resulting music is, as least partly, more energetic than usual, but preserves the characteristic of his earlier endeavors. His incredible virtuosity and power of expression remain at their full bloom. Overall, this is another great addition to Mazzoll’s impressive recording legacy, which is always a great pleasure to see being expanded by new releases. Although his music is obviously intended for selected audiences, who are able to appreciate its Artistic values, he keeps faithful to his chosen path, which I personally always see as a blessing.

Updated: 15/09/2026Posted: 15/09/2026

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ANDRII SACHEVA ~ ELUSIVE SIGNS SJ 021 (Barcode: 5912596066245) ~ UKRAINE ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album (an EP lasting just under twenty minutes) by the Ukrainian (resident in Poland) violinist / multi-instrumentalist / composer Andrii SachevaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded by various lineups involving musicians from six different countries. The five tracks on the album, all original compositions by Sacheva, feature female vocalists, and in the case of three of them it is the Polish vocalist Julia KaniaFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the English lyrics for these songs. Other young Polish participants are keyboardist Bartosz KalickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Mateusz SzewczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Liliana ZieniawaFind albums by this artist. The music is basically melodic Pop with rich instrumental arrangements, which include in addition to the conventional instruments also some electronically generated sounds. The arrangements are elaborate and include some cross-genre influences from Jazz, World and Ambient music. The overall sound and atmosphere of the music is rather somber and melancholic, quite appropriate for soundtrack of a mystery / thriller movie. Sacheva plays a plethora of instruments in addition to the violin, but his performances on this album are not extensive enough to learn in depth about his abilities as an instrumentalist. Judging by whatever can be heard he is definitely a gifted musician. The performances by all the other participants are first-rate, especially the vocalese parts by Lithuanian vocalist Ida SevelkaityteFind albums by this artist on one track. Overall this is a promising debut effort, but still very ambivalent musically. Although these tracks present a coherent approach, the exact stylistic maturity is still to be clarified in the future, which of course usually happens in time.

Updated: 30/09/2017Posted: 30/09/2017

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