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  | OLGIERD DOKALSKI ~ MIRZA TARAK
NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz / Improvised Music trumpeter / composer Olgierd DokalskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with an ensemble which also includes vocalist Antonina NowackaFind albums by this artist, flautist Daria WolickaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej RodakowskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Gamid IbadullayevFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, mostly composed by Dokalski but also co-composed or composed by the ensemble members.
The album´s liner notes tell a story of a Polish Tatar Jakub Buczacki, who lived at the end of 18th Century and the beginning of the 19th Century, and who is apparently one of Dokalski´s ancestors. The album therefore explores Jakub´s life story, his wanderings and his discovery of Muslim religion. The music is accordingly soaked with "Eastern" flavors, both melodically and rhythmically, but not necessary related to the Tatar tradition.
It is difficult to define this music stylistically, as it blends Improvisation and Folkloristic motifs in an inconsistent manner. The tonality of the instruments and especially the vocals sound completely weird to European ears and even listeners familiar with Eastern music will find it quite difficult to feel comfortable in this setting. Although parts of the music are meditative, it´s quite impossible to relax even for a moment being constantly subjected to atonal whining or trumpet doodling.
Basically it seems that this music simply misses the point by a mile, trying to be Oriental but performed by musicians who do not know oriental music at all, or trying to be Improvised by failing to make sense or fascinate. I admit that I had to give up at some point and took it out of the CD player, before it actually ended, which happens extremely rarely. My sanity was at stake. Of course it´s only me, others might find this "music" interesting…
| | Updated: 28/09/2016Posted: 28/09/2016 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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