Record Reviews

DOROTA BAROVA ~ DOTYK ANIMAL MUSIC 100 (Barcode: 8594155997312) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the second album by Czech vocalist / cellist / songwriter Dorota BarovaFind albums by this artist, recorded with guitarist Miroslav ChyskaFind albums by this artist, bassist Milos KlapsteFind albums by this artist and vocalist Jan JakubecFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original songs, all composed by Barova, five of which have also lyrics written her and one each features lyrics by Polish poetess Teresa DrozdaFind albums by this artist and poet Krzysztof Kamil BaczynskiFind albums by this artist. All the lyrics are in Polish language, a language Barova inherited from her Mother. The album continues the unique aesthetic climate of the beautiful Barova’s debut album, presenting minimalist approach which puts the vocals and their lyrics in the center of attention, with the instrumental accompaniment being somewhat subordinate, but absolutely not of lesser importance. Although the music is not Jazz oriented per se, it has a strong Jazz undercurrent and therefore it does belong, as far as I am concerned, to the Jazz & Poetry idiom. The music is very melodic, albeit the melody lines are often quite complex and quirky, which of course requires dedicated, attentive listening in order to follow the twists and turns, those being further complicated by the instrumental accompaniment. However, despite all that complexity, the result is able to flow smoothly and often gently, letting the listener to absorb the lyrics as well. Barova clearly manages to create a consistent sonic environment, which suits her ideally. Preferring the “less is more” modus operandi, she is able to create music, which speaks strongly, even penetratingly, despite the low volume and subdued expressionist, which is masterly achieved by her and her companions. Overall, this is a beautiful album, which is a coherent follow up to her debut and establishes her as a musical figure worth being followed closely. As most Jazz & Poetry albums, this one can be enjoyed perfectly by audiences beyond the language barrier, with the lyrics serving as a bonus to native speakers of Slavic languages. This is an absolutely delightful piece of music, which seams as an island of sanity in this crazy world we live in. Thank you, Milady, for your talent and dedication!

Updated: 10/10/2022Posted: 10/10/2022

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MARCEL BARTA ~ EPISODES FROM THE SPINNING BALL ANIMAL MUSIC 142 (Barcode: 8594211850636) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025 This is an album by Czech Jazz saxophonist / composer Marcel BartaFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quintet, which includes trombonist Stepan JanousekFind albums by this artist, pianist Vojtech ProchazkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Milos KlapsteFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan ChalupaFind albums by this artist and the Prague Radio Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Bastien StilFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, which are parts of a suite composed, arranged and orchestrated by Barta. The album was recorded live during the premiere concert performance of the music. It offers exceptional sound quality, which seems to be always the case by Animal MusicFind albums on this label releases. Barta has been active on the local Jazz scene since several years as a member of a number of leading Czech Jazz ensembles, like VertigoFind albums by this artist and recorded with Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist, David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist and others. This is his debut album as a leader. The music is quite a unique amalgam of Jazz and Symphonic music, which is completely integrated with the quintet’s performances, often creating a “wall of sound” effect and acting as imaginary gigantic instrument, which turns the quintet into a “virtual sextet”. This level and sophistication of the integration between the orchestra and the quintet is truly exceptional. The music is based on strictly melodic themes, but there is plenty of instrumental improvisation by the quintet members, all of which are highly skilled and potent musicians. The music flows much like a cinematic score, which might have been an illustration to imaginary scenes, which inspired the musical stream. Overall, this is a highly successful Fusion of Jazz and Orchestral music, which is aesthetically coherent and adventurous at the same time. The music keeps the listener completely enthralled, unable to guess what will come next, which of course is exactly what every composer wishes for. A remarkable debut indeed!

Updated: 29/12/2025Posted: 29/12/2025

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