Record Reviews
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  | ZOFIA BIELAK ~ THERAPY
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 739988493831) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Zofia BielakFind albums by this artist, recorded with clarinetist Jakub KlemensiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Julia PrzybyszFind albums by this artist, drummer Maciej ChrzeszczykFind albums by this artist, cellist Michalina SokolowskaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Magdalena KurasFind albums by this artist. Ksenia WitekFind albums by this artist recites texts she wrote, on two tracks. The album presents nine tracks, all original compositions by Bielak.
The music is very startling, highly emotional and often somewhat Avant-Garde oriented, combining melodic elements with Free Improvisations and contemporary Classical echoes, creating a challenging Chamber Jazz atmosphere, which one normally does not expect from such young musicians.
The album’s title suggests a process of emotional therapy / healing via music, which the author went through, sharing her experiences with the listeners, which is a demanding and thought-provoking process, and as such not an easy musical experience, but definitely one worth exploring and experiencing, full of excellent instrumental and vocal parts, often quite unconventional and moving. The vocal parts are especially striking, and unique, but the entire album offers constantly inspiring musical environment.
Overall, this is a highly interesting, unusual and potent debut album, full of emotionally charged music, which combines conventional and Avant-Garde elements with elegance and aesthetic approach. Bielak is definitely someone to keep a keen eye on in the future. Well done, young Lady!
| | Updated: 05/07/2024Posted: 05/07/2024 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ANNA JOPEK ~ INSIGHT
ALPAKA 021 (Barcode: 3663734142872) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022
This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz pianist / composer Anna JopekFind albums by this artist (not to be confused with the vocalist Anna Maria JopekFind albums by this artist), recorded with saxophonist / clarinetist Jakub KlemensiewiczFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Adam SkorczewskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Michalina SokolowskaFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Jopek except for the title track, which was co-composed by her and Klemensiewicz. The music is beautifully recorded and offers a sensational sound experience, and is elegantly packaged, including a set of monochromatic photographs, which ideally suit the music.
The music is strikingly minimalist, offering mostly duos between the piano and saxophone / clarinet and is spiritually close to 20th Century Classical music with just an undercurrent of Jazz inclinations. There are strong Polish Folklore ties, not surprisingly, and the album is soaked in typical in Polish lyricism and deep melancholy.
Klemensiewicz is the focal soloist here and his moving performances perfectly comply with his earlier recordings with Dominik KisielFind albums by this artist, which are amongst the finest examples of the work by the new Polish Jazz generation. This album firmly fortifies that position.
Jopek’s piano performances are elegant, but subdued and her role often focuses on introducing the themes and then accompanying the saxophone / clarinet parts. Of course, as the composer, she deserves all the praise for creating this beautiful, moving and highly intelligent music, which despite its seeming simplicity is hugely effective. Even though there is no explicit innovation or revolutionary character in this music per se, it sounds remarkably fresh and intriguing, which is sadly extremely rare in today’s music.
As already stated in several of my recent reviews, there is now an obvious tendency in the young Polish Jazz scene toward minimalism and deep exploration of Polish Folklore roots, probably as an antidote to the music pollution surrounding us all incessantly. This music definitely offers a balsam for the listener’s ears.
Overall, this is a deeply moving, highly original album, and a sensational debut by a new talent on the Polish Jazz scene, which is definitely worthy of attention and following. Calm, soothing, soul-drenching and above all wonderfully musical, this is a true discovery. Well done young Lady!
| | Updated: 23/05/2022Posted: 23/05/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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