Record Reviews

JERZY MAZZOLL ~ BYC WYTWORNIA KRAJOWA 17 (Barcode: 5902860147176) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz clarinetist / composer Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, one of the mythical figures of the Avant-Garde / fringe Polish Jazz since the late 1980s. Although presented as a solo album, the music is co-credited to Mazzoll and producer / multi-instrumentalist Michal SzturomskiFind albums by this artist, who co-composed the seventeen pieces of instrumental music with Mazzoll. Pianist Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist, bassist Franciszek PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, percussionist Artur ChaberFind albums by this artist as well as a couple of other musicians perform alongside the two composers. For someone, who knows Mazzoll and his music since ages, the album comes as a complete surprise in many respects. But Mazzoll states clearly on the album’s artwork that: “This album came to be as a result of my desire for calmness and beauty, which lately I am able to experience again”. That motto reflects the character of the music perfectly, as the album presents a series of beautiful, highly melodic tunes, often meditative, sometimes close to Hasidic Nigunim, which Mazzoll states on plethora of various clarinets like the Pied Piper of Hamelin. The clarinet is accompanied on some of the tracks by the superb performances of Wosko and Pospieszalski, which ideally suit the concept and paint the entire proceedings with s subtle Jazz tinge. However, on other tracks the accompaniment is more “mechanical”, i.e. synthesizes, samples and other electronic paraphernalia, which I prefer much less, but am able to accept, in view of the charm of the music and the concept at large. Mazzoll’s clarinet parts are of course brilliant and one can simply not get enough of them, which makes one long for more when the music is over – the only solution being to put the album on repeat. He is a true sound magician, which I have always known to be true, but his convoluted recording / life history not always managed to reflect it. I am thankful that he finally found his peace of mind, which enables him to play as magnificently as herein, and live his life “under his wine and his fig tree”. Overall, this is a magnificently moving piece of music, seemingly simplistic at times, but able to reach the deepest heartstrings of the listener’s soul. This is Mazzoll the Gentle Giant, the Buddhist Monk, the Hassid thankful for the Almighty’s Grace… Thank you my Friend, for this gift of Music!

Updated: 07/06/2022Posted: 06/06/2022

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SZTUROMSKI / MAZZOLL / WOSKO / CHAMOUN / SZCZYCINSKI ~ PTAKI POLSKI REQUIEM 256 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is an album by a quintet of Polish musicians, led by producer / electronics manipulator Michal SzturomskiFind albums by this artist, with clarinetist Jerzy MazzollFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist, percussionist Adeb ChamounFind albums by this artist and bassist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist. They perform music inspired by the calls and songs uttered by bird species common in Poland, which are described by texts written by Alexandra Kornelia MajFind albums by this artist and recited by Filip KosiorFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, each dedicated to a different bird. The music is mostly improvised, with Mazzoll being the leading voice in most cases, beautifully accompanied by the rest of the quintet, with plenty of space for individual contributions. Although improvised, the music is wonderfully melodic, with strong influences of Mediterranean accents, flowing gently and dreamy, almost contemplatively. The three elements, i.e. the birds’ calls, the music and the recitation are balanced delicately and offer a coherent whole, which is moving and highly enjoyable. Obviously, as a Mazzoll admirer, I enjoy immensely his contributions, which prove again how comprehensive his talent is, always fitting perfectly to whatever musical environment he finds himself in. He is a modern Pied Piper of Hamelin, at least for me, always taking me wherever he is going with his music, where I can only follow blindly and submissively. Of course this particular assembly of musicians is truly amicable and talented, which makes everything even more perfect aesthetically. Chamoun is especially fitting and I always admire his special sense of rhythm, which we share instinctively. Overall, this is a remarkable piece of musical Art, carefully put together, as always in the case of RequiemFind albums on this label Records, beautifully packaged and bearing a sublime musical gift. My sincere thanks to all participants and contributors.

Updated: 01/04/2025Posted: 01/04/2025

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