Record Reviews

DORUZKA / WYLEZOL / BARANSKI / MISKIEWICZ ~ WHEN THE CHILD WAS A CHILD BIVAK 013 (Barcode: 8590233092832) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is the debut album by the Czech / Polish Jazz quartet, comprising of Czech guitarist / composer David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist / composer Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, bassist / composer Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist. Harmonica player Nicholas PatuFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. The album presents nine tracks, four composed by Doruzka, two by Wylezol, one by Baranski, one by American multi-instrumentalist / songwriter Sufjan StevensFind albums by this artist and finally one is by a Czechoslovak Folk songwriter Anna DrevjanaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded in Poland by Michal KupiczFind albums by this artist, and offers a sublime sound quality. The music is beautifully lyrical, relaxed and reflexive, with strong melodic base and rather delicate Jazz improvisations, recorded all acoustically except for the guitar amplification. The prevailing mood is melancholic, slightly blue or perhaps romantic, which altogether offers an exquisite excursion into the delicate side of the Jazz experience, which often proves to be the most demanding, both from the performers and the audience, as it requires attentive and patient listening. All for musicians are of course true Masters of the trade, with extensive recording legacy behind them, completely versatile and up to any challenge, so it is hardly surprising that their performances are as good as one might expect, with every note perfectly in the right place and every nuance just impeccable. Combined with the wonderful compositions, the album just flows seamlessly, filling the listener’s ears with acoustic bliss. Doruzka manages to keep an incredibly high standard as far as his recordings are concerned, and his position as top East European Jazz guitarist is well established by now, which makes me very happy, as I have been following his steps from day one and he never disappointed neither me nor his many followers. Overall, this is another splendid album by Doruzka and his Polish cohorts, somewhat demanding and overtly melancholic, but exquisitely beautiful and aesthetically elegant, which leaves me in no position but to recommend it wholeheartedly, as it truly deserves to be heard!

Updated: 16/04/2025Posted: 16/04/2025

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KSAWERY WOJCINSKI ~ THE SOUL FOR TUNE 0041 (Barcode: 5902768701401) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut solo album by the Polish Jazz bassist / composer Ksawery WojcinskiFind albums by this artist, best known for his work on the vibrant Polish Avant-Garde scene and his role in the HeraFind albums by this artist ensemble, led by Waclaw ZimpelFind albums by this artist. On this album Wojcinski plays bass, piano, guitar, drums and sings. The album comprises of thirteen tunes, eleven of which were composed by Wojcinski, one was co-composed by him and the sound engineer Michal KupiczFind albums by this artist and the remaining one is a traditional song. As much as I like musical experimentation and unconventional excursions, the music on this album leaves me completely cold. Although the album´s liner notes speak about a dialogue between the musician and the listener, personally I hear just a bunch of self indulgent ditties, which lack any consistence, don´t convey any musical message and make no aesthetic sense whatsoever. There is no doubt that Wojcinski is an excellent bassist, which he had plenty of opportunities to prove, and a sensitive musician. Somehow this music simply does not make any sense to me nor is it satisfactory on any of the planes I relate to music, like melody, harmony, improvisation, compositional depth and virtuosic performances. None of the above is present here as far as I am concerned. Of course solo albums are particularly difficult and perhaps Wojcinski is simply not ready yet to take such a heroic plunge? Or perhaps it is only me not getting it? I have no idea, but this is not something I´ll consider listening to again in the foreseeable future.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

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