Record Reviews

GROOVOSOPHERS ~ GROOVOSOPHERS NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz ensemble called GroovosophersFind albums by this artist, a quintet comprising of saxophonist Tomasz KaraszewskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Filip WyrwaFind albums by this artist, organist Grzegorz MadejFind albums by this artist, bassist Marcin EssenFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz BauerFind albums by this artist. Three guest musicians appear on selected tracks. The album presents nine tracks, eight of which are original compositions, five by Wyrwa and three by Karaszewski, and finally one is by John ScofieldFind albums by this artist. The music is all within the Jazz / Groove / Funk idiom, which offers a pleasant listening experience without compromising the high quality of the performances and based on excellent, coherent and well-constructed tunes. The level of performance is excellent and these are all professional musicians, who know exactly what they are doing. The sound and recording quality are also immaculate. Although this is music, which is meant to be fun, which is even danceable and which makes one’s body sway – all of the above meaning that it is more of an entertainment then a deep musical statement, but as usual I see nothing wrong with such music, as long as it is not insultingly trivial, sloppy and intellectually insulting. Since this music has none of the above vices, it does well what it is supposed to do, and I appreciate the work and talent it requires. Overall, although definitely on the easier side of the Jazz spectrum, this music is well put together and offers entertaining values, which can make the listeners happy and offers them some much deserved good time.

Updated: 23/07/2025Posted: 23/07/2025

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SEGUE ~ HOLOGRAMS LYNX 176 (Barcode: 5906395942671) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by the Polish ensemble The SegueFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist Robert WierciochFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Karolina WierciochFind albums by this artist, bassist Marcin EssenFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist. Three other musicians guest on selected tracks. The album presents seven original compositions by Robert and Karolina (authorship is not specifically stated on the album´s artwork, which does specify the date of the recording either – beginners´ blunders). The music is a mixture or Jazz-Rock Fusion with a dash of Prog and even Rock, which takes no prisoners and kicks ass from the very first note. Like the saying goes, it is one of those albums which start with a full blast and then step on it! But let´s make no mistakes here – this is far from being just a show off of instrumental abilities by these musicians, although there are enough blood curdling moments, but a highly organized presentation of musical ideas, based on well weaved melodic themes and highly developed sense of Fusion aesthetics, such as one finds for example on albums by Jeff BeckFind albums by this artist and other Masters of the genre. Robert is definitely the more Prog / Rock personality here, with his superb guitar work and ability to come up with riffs that don´t let the listener to sit on his behind. Listening to his playing is like watching an imaginary documentary about Fusion guitar Masters. Karolina on the other hand is way more Jazz oriented and her piano and keyboards improvisations have a distinct Jazz tinge and wonderful fluidity. The rhythm section is able to keep up with the two dominant leaders amicably, doing exactly what this music requires, which is to create a steady and solid background base for the lengthy improvisations. Although perfect in every sense and working like clockwork, it does not reach the same level of extrovert expressionism, perhaps rightly so as this might have been a tad too much on the whole. But fans of funky bass and tasty drum rolls will be definitely fully satisfied. Overall this is a brilliant, highly refreshing album, especially so in view of the fact that both of these genres show advanced stages of decay. Definitely the best Polish Fusion / Prog album of 2019 and hopefully just the first light of more exciting things to come!

Updated: 17/01/2020Posted: 17/01/2020

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