Record Reviews

DZWIEK-BUD ~ OSTRE NOZE NASZE NAGRANIA 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the second album by Polish improvising collective Dzwiek-BudFind albums by this artist, founded by guitarist Suavas LewyFind albums by this artist, which also includes viola player Malgorzata BoguszFind albums by this artist, violinist Michal RupniewskiFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Pawel SokolowskiFind albums by this artist, but they play many other instruments as well. The concept of the ensemble is to create music inside a specific environment, which reflects that specific environment and its ambience. This album presents nine (well there is also a hidden tenth) improvised pieces reflecting the atmosphere of marketplaces around the Polish town of Lodz, Suavas´ home town. The music is not specifically credited to anybody so one can assume it is by proxy credited to the ensemble members. The improvised pieces are accompanied by a collage of field recordings, made by Suavas at the markets, which are the authentic voices of people and other related ambient environmental sounds. This is Avant-Garde music at its most extreme manifestation, which for most people is most probably way above their heads and ears. The violin and viola create mostly a sound close to Avant-Garde Classical music, which has been around for almost a century, although continues to be consistently ignored by the Classical snobs stuck with Ludwig van BeethovenFind albums by this artist and Wolfgang Amadeus MozartFind albums by this artist. When the guitar and saxophone join in, we are transported into the Steve LacyFind albums by this artist / Lol CoxhillFind albums by this artist / Derek BaileyFind albums by this artist area of expertise, which of course also continues to be consistently ignored, this time by the Jazz snobs; life is a bitch… Of course the question often arises if this music (if it is music at all) has a raison d´être, since it is not very communicative, certainly isn´t entertaining and most people hate it? Well, one should not ask moronic questions like these, unless one intends to question the raison d´être of Art or even Culture itself. If someone creates this music as a means of his expression, this a priori validates its right to exist. Perhaps best appropriate as a soundtrack of a documentary movie, this music standing alone offers the advantage to be able to become a soundtrack to whatever imaginary movie the listener wishes to create inside his head. It takes a lot of courage to make music like that. The fact that such music is being created, recorded and released in Poland is truly amazing. Often considered backward and primitive by its western neighbors and across the pond big brothers, 21st Century Polish Jazz in its full splendor and diversity actually is able to teach everybody a lesson or two.

Updated: 08/09/2021Posted:

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JOLANTA SOSNOWSKA & FRIENDS ~ BAROCK & VIENNA FOR TUNE 0082 (Barcode: 5902768701746) ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2012 Released: 2015 This is the first album in a new "silver" series of releases by the distinguished Polish record label For TuneFind albums on this label, which is dedicated to Old Music, i.e. music written during the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Polish violinist Jolanta SosnowskaFind albums by this artist performs seven Baroque compositions, six of which originate in the last quarter of the 17th Century, and only the Antonio VivaldiFind albums by this artist´s Violin Sonata in D major dates from 1716 / 1717. Four of these pieces were created in Vienna but all have a Viennese connection (hence the album´s title), and three of them are world premiere recordings. Sosnowska, who plays a baroque violin, is accompanied by Magdalena MalecFind albums by this artist (harpsichord and organ), Mirko ArnoneFind albums by this artist (theorbo and baroque guitar) and Tore EketorpFind albums by this artist (G violone). The background information about the music is eloquently described in the album´s liner notes in German, Polish and English. Old Music is a niche territory which often suffers from neglect and prejudice. The snob Classical Music connoisseurs who discredit anything before Wolfgang Amadeus MozartFind albums by this artist and after Ludwig van BeethovenFind albums by this artist have little interest in it and therefore it is relatively rarely recorded. This important album shows that Old Music can be both a lot of fun and a serious aesthetic experience. This is definitely worth checking out and opening the horizons or thinking outside of the box we so often close ourselves in. Well done!

Updated: 08/09/2021Posted: 24/02/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ LIVE IN MARCIAC TELARC 34112 ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2011 This is the third DVD by the extraordinary Japanese female pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the first outing with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the legendary veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The DVD comprises of seven original compositions by Hiromi and the trio´s interpretation of Ludwig van BeethovenFind albums by this artist´s sonata. Five of these pieces are from her seventh album called "VoiceFind albums with this title" (please follow the link to read more about this album), performed here live and in a slightly different order than on the studio album. Two more pieces originate from her debut album and the remaining one was previously unrecorded. Seeing Hiromi on stage, which I was fortunate to experience several times already, clearly reaffirms the impression that Hiromi is in a class of her own and that she is blessed by powers of the magnitude of a force of Nature. The moment she steps on the stage the fragile and modest women turns into a Diva with an irresistible personality and overwhelming performing skills, simply stunning her audiences for the entire duration of the concert. She is a complete pianist, able to play in every style and in every genre with the same ease and elegance, regardless if she plays a Classical piece or a Jazz improvisation or a Rocky riff. Of course a DVD is not exactly being there when this DVD was filmed, but it is as close as those who were not fortunate enough to be there in the flesh will ever get. Enjoy every moment of it!

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

HIROMI UEHARA ~ VOICE TELARC 32819 ~ JAPAN ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the seventh album by the extraordinary Japanese pianist / composer Hiromi UeharaFind albums by this artist, and the first recording with her current trio (called The Trio ProjectFind albums by this artist) with the wonderful veteran American bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and the outstanding British drummer Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of eight original compositions, all by Hiromi, and an interpretation of a Classical piece (Ludwig van BeethovenFind albums by this artist´s piano sonata No. 8, "Pathetique"). During the last decade since Hiromi first "exploded" on the scene, drawing immediate attention, she managed to produce an extensive body of work of outstanding quality, which has very few, if any, parallels. Immensely gifted as a composer and blessed by virtuosic piano ability, in addition to her personal charm, beauty and above all heavenly smile, she is talent incarnate. Her studio albums, live videos and cooperation projects with other musicians, like Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist, Stanley ClarkeFind albums by this artist and others are all examples of her versatility and limitless abilities. Hiromi´s output with this particular trio is some of her best, which is not surprising considering the level of experience and talent of her rhythm section. Jackson´s electric bass pulsations are funky and wonderfully fill the space between the piano chords, always exactly on time and in tune, beautifully supportive and inventive at once. Phillips, who is a very "busy" and dynamic drummer, suits her quirky music perfectly, seemingly being all over the drum set as if he was an octopus. The unity, perfect match and obvious musical coherence and almost telepathic mutual understanding turn this trio into a "scary" music making machine. Hiromi is often criticized for being "all over the place", both as a composer and a player, but this kind of critique is completely senseless. She can play faster and more accurately than most, and her music is multi-layered, with melodic lines and funky rhythm vamps co-existing logically and harmonically. Therefore one can suspect that most of any criticism towards her is primarily motivated by envy. This trio can be seen and heard playing live on the "Live In MarciacFind albums with this title" DVD, which was recorded a few months later, performing mostly material from this album. Obviously Hiromi fans need no special arguments to grab this one ASAP, those who are still unfamiliar with her wonderful output should not waste any more time ignoring her, just give her a chance and you won´t regret it. Superb stuff!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend