Record Reviews

INWARDNESS ~ SPACE JAZZ OZELLA 085 (Barcode: 4038952000850) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the InwardnessFind albums by this artist trio, which comprises of Polish guitarist / composer Maciek PyszFind albums by this artist, French saxophonist David AmarFind albums by this artist, who also plays synthesizers and French drummer / percussionist Davy SurFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen relatively short original compositions, co-credited to all the members of the trio. The music, which was "spontaneously composed", presents relaxed and melodic but at the same time improvised vistas with strong World Music influences of many origins, but mostly with a Spanish / Middle Eastern flair, with the album´s title being quite appropriate to describe it. The melodic continuity is at times a challenge, and the music often enters almost completely ambient passages, only to return to a more customary path later on. As a result the flow of the music is very slow and requires dedication and attention from the potential listeners, which often is more than those are prepared to offer. Pysz is the front instrumentalist, taking upon himself to provide the melodic content. It is interesting to follow his personal style he has been developing over the last few years. His playing on this album is quite different from his previous recordings. Amar mostly deals with the ambient background and plays the saxophone sparingly. Sur ornaments the proceedings with his percussive contribution, but only marginally "keeps time" in the traditional meaning of the term. Overall this is an interesting album with some Jazz ties, but one that will be of more interest to connoisseurs of ambient, dreamy and meditative music, rather than to hardcore Jazz fans. Definitely worth investigating!

Updated: 31/07/2018Posted: 31/07/2018

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RENATA IRSA ~ CZERWONA SPODNICA SOLITON 1190 (Barcode: 5903684231904) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2019 - 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by Polish vocalist / songwriter Renata IrsaFind albums by this artist recorded with a spectacular team of Polish Jazz musicians, which include the Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist, pianists Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, Artur JurekFind albums by this artist and Canadian John RoneyFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaroslaw StokowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Grzegorz LewandowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarists Maciek PyszFind albums by this artist and Krzysztof PaulFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Piotr SzlempoFind albums by this artist and Emil MiszkFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Dariusz HerbaszFind albums by this artist. Actor Miroslaw BakaFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents twelve songs, eleven of which are original compositions by Roney (2), Jurek (3), Jurek & Irsa (4) and Miszk (2) and one is a standard. Irsa wrote the lyrics to the original songs, all in Polish except one in English. The album, from the very onset, is absolutely amazing, offering a dazzling amalgam of superbly composed songs and brilliant, highly intelligent, witty and humorous, and above all very personal lyrics, which can hardly be found within the Polish Jazz vocal scene lately. Although Irsa’s lyrics are not poetry per se, at least not formally, I personally think they are, and therefore the album easily falls within my favorite Jazz & Poetry idiom. What is poetry after all if not an expression of deeply personal observations, captured in a frame of words, and these lyrics do exactly that. It is a rare occasion when a collection of songs on an album consists of a coherent continuity, with each of the songs fitting perfectly to the ones preceding and following it, despite the diversity of stylistic approaches and arrangements, but Irsa manages to pull this off as well. There are no weak songs here, and each one seems to be simply irreplaceable. The vocal abilities Irsa displays here are also quite remarkable. She floats somewhere between singing and reciting the lyrics, with every syllable and every word clearly articulated and audible, and the whole always telling a story, which is believable and deeply personal. Well, these are her lyrics after all, and she knows exactly what to do with them. Accompanied by a collection of seasoned Jazz musicians, who know exactly how to play the right notes every time, she does not have to worry about what is happening behind her and is able to concentrate on her vocal parts. Her delivery is often wonderfully “old fashioned”, which is meant as a compliment here, with a close association to cabaret and on stage coquetry, and which is all charming. Combined with the excellent sound quality this album offers, it is an unadulterated piece of joy. Even the album’s elegant artwork and booklet with the lyrics are carefully designed and fit the entire picture perfectly. Overall, this is a wonderful album, exceptionally put together and performed, and a blissful reminder of what Jazz vocals can deliver, when properly done. These songs go directly to the listener’s heart, and are perfect sonic companions for rainy days. Sadly, this is one of the very few Polish Jazz vocal albums released this year that make any sense. Definitely a ray of hope and a superb listening pleasure, which could prove to be a best friend in days of need. Wholehearted recommended of course and hats off Milady for this gift of music!

Updated: 30/12/2021Posted: 30/12/2021

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MACIEK PYSZ ~ A JOURNEY DOT TIME 9044 (Barcode: 604043904426) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by Polish (resident in London) guitarist / composer Maciek PyszFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with celebrated Italian bandoneónist / pianist Daniele di BonavenuraFind albums by this artist, Russian bassist Yuri GoloubevFind albums by this artist and Israeli drummer Asaf SirkisFind albums by this artist (also resident in London). The album presents twelve compositions, ten of which are originals by Pysz, one is an original co-composed with Italian guitarist Gianluca CoronaFind albums by this artist and one is composed by Ralph TownerFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the wonderful Artesuono Studio in Italy and engineered by Stefano AmerioFind albums by this artist with spectacular sound quality. Pysz continues the path already established on his debut album, which presents him as a superb composer and a virtuoso guitar player, which in spite of his young age (born 1982) propels him directly to the very top of contemporary Jazz-World Fusion musicians. The beauty and depth of the compositions presented on this album as well as their extraordinary execution are simply marvelous. The music, although obviously deeply personal, is at the same time completely universal, crossing melodic and rhythmic boundaries with ease and amalgamating the absolute best of the diverse Musical cultures from all over the world. Pysz has an ability to weave exquisite melodies, which in spite their sweetness manage to avoid completely even the slightest suspicion of cliché and kitsch. This is a very rare gift and he uses it exceptionally well. The three musicians that accompany Pysz on his journey are all top professionals: di Bonavenura provides the perfect harmonic and melodic counterpart to the guitar parts and his melancholy and delicate lyricism are simply ideally suited to this music, Goloubev is one of the most sophisticated bassists in Europe, his sound is absolutely unique and his emotional intelligence is incomparable, and finally Sirkis, who grew "under my wings" at the early stages of his career, turned into one of the Master drummers of our times, playing very subtly on this album, but his sole solo spot here is such a classic of the trade that it should be studied by all drummers. There is no doubt that this is an amazing album, full of musical beauty, aesthetic pleasure and extraordinary musicianship, an album that has only a very few equals among the numerous other albums released on a world scale. Blessed by the talent and the friendship of his fellow musicians Pysz gives the world a brilliant gift of music, which should leave not a soul untouched. Essential listening for Body and Soul!

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MACIEK PYSZ ~ INSIGHT 33 RECORDS 231 (Barcode: 5020883337319) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is one of those unexpected pleasant surprises that arrive in my mail box from time to time, which are not only musical delights but also have a personal aspect, closing one of the infinite connections woven during my life as a Jazz activist. Maciek PyszFind albums by this artist is a Polish guitarist / composer resident in London since 2003 and is considered as one of the most interesting upcoming players on the scene. His cohorts are Russian bassist Yuri GoloubevFind albums by this artist, a classically trained player living now in Milan, and Israeli drummer Asaf SirkisFind albums by this artist, also resident in London, considered as one of the best players around. Of course Sirkis is one of the many "kids on the block" that grew up under my wings and received their first recording opportunity on my record label, hence I consider him as one of my "musical children" spread all over the world. The trio performs nine original compositions, all by Pysz (one co-composed with the Italian guitarist Gianluca CoronaFind albums by this artist), who was also in charge of the exquisite arrangements. The music is a wonderful amalgam of influences mixing Jazzy improvisations with multicultural backgrounds including Gypsy, Flamenco, Latin and Brazilian folklore and European Classical music. Rhythmic influences also touch upon Middle Eastern pulsations. Together these elements are wonderfully interwoven, producing a completely unique musical identity, which belongs to the guitar based Jazz-World Fusion universe pioneered by such luminaries as Al Di MeolaFind albums by this artist, Ralph TownerFind albums by this artist or John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, among others. Without any exaggeration, this music is every bit as good as the music created by these great Masters. But the excellent compositions and arrangements are also accompanied by superb performances. All three players are obvious virtuosi, each capable of astounding performance, and when combined are capable of truly wondrous music making. Pysz has a superb technique but even more so a deep feeling. The acoustic / classical guitar laughs and weeps, switches between cheerful lightheadedness and moody melancholy. The single notes and the chords are always in harmonious relation to each other and to the two other musicians. Goloubev is already quite famous as a classical player, but his performances here show that his feel and respect for Jazz are of no lesser magnitude. Sirkis, who "holds his horses" and intelligently fits his percussive magic to the delicate acoustic surroundings, simply binds the entire musical experience into a complete and perfect artistic message. As if all the above was not enough, the album is also superbly recorded, with an astonishing sonic ambience and dynamics of the highest quality, which turns the experience of listening to the music into a true delight. This is obviously "guitar heaven" for guitar buffs, but any true music connoisseur should find this album extraordinary in every sense. Wholeheartedly recommended!

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