Record Reviews

DAVID DORUZKA ~ SILENTLY DAWNING ANIMAL MUSIC 007 (Barcode: 8594155990078) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 This is the second album as a leader by Czech guitarist / composer David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with Swedish vocalist Josefine LindstrandFind albums by this artist and a Polish rhythm section: bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Doruzka except for one piece which is a short percussion interlude by Zyta. Nine of the compositions feature lyrics based on poems by American poetess Emily DickinsonFind albums by this artist (four), Czech Jewish poet Jiri OrtenFind albums by this artist (two) and Lindstrand (three), one is an instrumental and another one is a vocalese / guitar duo. Lindstrand sings all the poems in their original language, i.e. English, Czech and Swedish, which of course is highly unusual and admirable. The album is elegantly packaged and all the poems are presented in appropriate translation in three languages – an obvious publishing labor of elegance and typical Czech care of details, designs and respect towards Culture. The entire album is of course a highly challenging Jazz & Poetry project, which as my readers know is one of my favorite idioms. The music is fitted to the lyrics in most of the pieces, being minimalist and beautifully delicate. The entire aura is deeply melancholic and introvert, even fragile, which is hardly surprising considering Dickinson´s moody, Orten´s mystical / philosophical and Lindstrand introvert poetry, all creating a rather intense atmosphere, which is even more emphasized by the character of the music. Doruzka, despite his age (he was only twenty-seven years old when this music was recorded) manages to compose the highly demanding musical framework for the poetic content, which is remarkably mature and respectful. Most of the vocals are accompanied only by guitar and the rhythm section is featured rather sparingly, wisely minimized to achieve the optimal effect. Baranski contributes several wonderful soli, which serve as interludes but are kept within the clear boundaries of the fragile architecture of this project. Doruzka plays both the acoustic and the electric guitar, always at low volume but certainly no less expressively. The principle of "less is more" is obviously a basic assumption, which proves to be highly effective here. Overall this is a beautiful, elegant and deeply aesthetic piece of music, utilizing the deeply European approach to interdisciplinary concept of Art and Culture, expressed here in the best possible way. It is a true joy to see David grow into a bona fide Jazz musician, especially in view of the fact that his Grandfather, the great Czech writer / music critic / Jazz activist Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist was a dear friend of mine for many years and whom I remember fondly to this very day. The apple did not, obviously, fell far from the tree ;) Godspeed!

Updated: 23/10/2020Posted: 23/10/2020

CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend

JAROMIR HONZAK ~ EARTH LIFE CUBE / METIER 20-09 (Barcode: 8591562000093) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 2000 This is the second album as a leader by Czech bassist / composer Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist, recorded with two Polish Jazz musicians: saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist and pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist and Spanish drummer Jorge RossyFind albums by this artist. Three guests are featured on selected tracks. The album presents eight pieces, seven of which are original compositions by Honzak and one is a Thelonious MonkFind albums by this artist standard. The album´s liner notes were written by my Friend and Mentor Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist. During his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston Honzak met fellow students Stankiewicz and Rossy and invited them to take part in this recording. Stankiewicz brought over Baron and Honzak invited David Doruzka (only eighteen years old at the time of the recording), a promising young musician and future Berklee student, an association that would flourish for years to come. Already at this early stage of his career, Honzak proves his strength as a composer and each of the original compositions presented here are exceptionally well written and coherent, already showing the European musical aesthetics and avoiding the dominance of the Bebop tradition. The beautiful harp / bass duo closing piece and the delicate piano trio and vocalese piece are superb examples of the forthcoming inspirations, which will dominate Honzak´s compositional palette. However the Berklee schooling and American Jazz tradition can be more clearly heard in the way the music is performed on the straightforward quartet numbers, but even those are spiced by Baron´s fiery almost-free soloing and superb piano touches by Stankiewicz. Overall this is a wonderful early recording by Honzak, which is definitely worth of being discovered, even some twenty-two years after it was recorded. The music proves to be timeless and the heartfelt execution still manages to excite. Like great wine, this music ages well over time…

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 26/10/2020

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

SHQ ~ SH / JAZZ QUINTET INDIES HAPPY TRAILS 730 (Barcode: 8595026673021) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 1964 Released: 2016 This is the third of a series of eight reissue / archival albums presenting the recorded legacy of one of the Godfathers of Czechoslovak modern Jazz, vibraphonist / pianist / saxophonist / composer / bandleader Karel VelebnyFind albums by this artist and his SHQFind albums by this artist ensemble. All the music is beautifully remastered and the album comes with extensive liner notes, extremely well researched and full of discographical information, sadly only in Czech language (which works fine for me, but probably less so for other enthusiasts who also might be interested). This album presents material captured during three recording sessions from 1964. The first eight of the ten tracks that were recorded during these sessions were released as the first full SHQ LP. Of the two remaining tracks, which are added here as bonus tracks, one was released as part of a Various Artists compilation LP and another one was a part of an EP release. The SHQ lineup on these sessions included Velebny, who played tenor saxophone and piano, tenor / baritone saxophonist / flautist Jan KonopasekFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Laco DecziFind albums by this artist, bassist Jan ArnetFind albums by this artist and drummer Laco TroppFind albums by this artist. On five tracks the lineup was extended to a sextet with the addition of trombonist Zdenek PulecFind albums by this artist. The music, surprisingly and with the exception of one track composed by Velebny, includes nine American Jazz standards, which contrasts with the direction preferred so far by SHQ to play almost exclusively original material. It is difficult to analyze in retrospect what let to this decision; probably the fact the SHQ started to play abroad and wanted to present more familiar material to their audiences there. My dear Friend and Mentor, Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, in his review of the album published in 1965, also wanders about the choice of the repertoire, which after all is not really challenging, being just a collection of Bebop tunes, which by that time were already a bit dated. However, SHQ being already a formidable ensemble at that time, plays this material with such professionalism and vengeance, that it easily stands up to any American combo active at the time. If anything, this material proves that European musicians at the time, even those separated from the West by the Iron Curtain, were truly up to date not only with American Music but also with the latest Jazz techniques and trends, and were able to perform them without any inferiority complex. For fans of European Jazz and its history, the entire series is an absolute must, and the fact that most of this music is available on CD for the first time makes it an absolute treasure. Absolutely brilliant! My personal thanks to Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, the owner of Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label, for his friendship and the incredible job he is doing to keep this music alive! Side Note Since the 1950s Czechoslovakia had a highly developed Jazz scene, certainly in proportion to its population, which included many successful ensembles and even Big Bands, as well as Jazz clubs, festivals and publications, all this in spite of state censorship and political limitations. The similar situation existed since the 1960s as far as Rock (including Progressive Rock and Jazz-Rock Fusion) was concerned, resulting in many excellent, interesting and innovative ensembles. The music was relatively well documented by the three state owned record labels: SupraphonFind albums on this label (founded in 1927), PantonFind albums on this label (founded in 1968) and OpusFind albums on this label (founded in 1971 and based in Bratislava, created on the base of Slovak division of Supraphon). Following the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the state owned record labels were privatized, with Supraphon dominating the local market. However, Supraphon was quite reluctant as far as exploring its vast back catalogue is concerned, and this is where the small independent Indies Happy TrailsFind albums on this label Records, a reissue label dedicated to the preservation of the recorded legacy of Czechoslovak music, owned and run by the devoted enthusiast / historian Jaromir KratochvilFind albums by this artist, founded in 2007, comes in. Over the years the label released a plethora of brilliant music, reissuing long deleted LPs and extensively exploring the archives in search of bonus material. The quest of Indies Happy Trails is similar to what the GADFind albums on this label Records label, run by Michal WilczynskiFind albums by this artist, is doing for Polish music, with similar consistency and praiseworthy dedication.

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 26/02/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

AGA ZARYAN ~ SARA WARNER MUSIC POLAND 5054197336003 (Barcode: 5054197336003) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture”. I often ponder about this maxim, especially in cases when I write about music, which is particularly close to my heart, overwhelmingly emotional and with personal association, and as such possibly clouding my judgment, which some people think should be “objective”. I have been aware of this project from its very conception, being close to its creators on so many physical and metaphysical levels. Anna CiciszwiliFind albums by this artist, who wondrously translated the poems by American poetess Sara TeasdaleFind albums by this artist into Polish, recently published in a book, became practically a Family member, when the miracle of human contact joined together her and my Families forever. Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist, whom I admire since so many years, is a symbol of Polish Jazz in its most Artistic revelation and such a wonderful Human being. Andrzej RejmanFind albums by this artist, who inspired this project and composed one of the melodies, is an old acquaintance. Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, who is a grandson of my dear friend Lubomir DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, who in turn was an inspiration to me in my early days of writing about Jazz, and who is one of the most talented young guitarists and composers around, as is Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, who’s career I have been following closely since his first days on the stage, and who is also a superb songweaver. In short, everything connected with this album is extremely personal to me. The poetry of Teasdale, deeply lyrical and often mysterious, deserves a serious study and admiration, and her life, tragically ended by suicide, is also highly fascinating. The fact that she was the first winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry speaks volumes about her talent, but during the century following her death her life’s work was largely forgotten, which makes this album especially important. The album presents twelve songs, based on Teasdale’s poems, in one case featuring a Polish translation and the rest sung in English. The music was written mostly by Doruzka and Mika, with one song by Rejman and three by Zaryan in cooperation with Doruzka and Mika. The entire instrumental accompaniment is created solely by the two guitarists, which of course is uniquely original and striking as a musical concept. The music completely eschews all attempts of classification by accepted genre genealogy, with obvious Jazz lineage, but at the same time a completely unique amalgam of stylistic heritage. The sublime work of the guitar duo, which puts the vocals up there at the very front of the stage, and yet supports the singer most effectively, is a true revelation. The constant role changing between the guitarists, shifting the focus between accompaniment and soloing, is breathtakingly beautiful and intelligent at the same time. The harmonizing and role-sharing is a great example of the “Art of the Duo”, even if the duo consists of two musicians playing the same instrument and appears in “supporting” role only. Zaryan is completely at her element here. Being a romantic at heart, she fits Teasdale’s poetry expressionism perfectly, weather she sings the lyrics or just improvised vocalese. Her identification with the underlying messages of the poetic values is as impeccable as one might have wished for. Although this is not her first encounter with the Jazz & Poetry idiom, it seems that this time her personal intimate involvement with the text goes way beyond that, which is expected, perhaps somewhat motivated by her own recent personal experiences. Thank you, my Friends, for the gift of music! Overall, this is a milestone album, which bears unique approach to treating poetry within the Jazz milieu, focusing on the Art of delivery and a conceptual triumph in a minimalist setting. The poetry itself is deeply emotional, almost hunting, and the execution nothing short of miraculous, which of course happens all too rarely. The album grows on the listener with each listening session, expanding the intimacy as experienced within a developing love affair. This is definitely a paradise for the hopeless Romantics, whatever the price might be.

Updated: 23/11/2022Posted: 23/11/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend