Record Reviews
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  | RUTKOWSKI & KOSSOWSKA ~ BLUES ON THE BRIDGE
LUNA 395 (Barcode: 5900672923957) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion
Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016
This is an album by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Milosz RutkowskiFind albums by this artist and vocalist / harmonica player Beata KossowskaFind albums by this artist. They are supported by bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Krzysztof Puma PiaseckiFind albums by this artist appears as guest artist. Together they perform eleven compositions, all of which are originals by Rutkowski except for one Pop standard and one Polish Pop song.
The music is a nice amalgam of Jazz and Blues, pretty unusual these days as the two genres have grown apart despite their common roots. The original compositions by Rutkowski are all excellent, with strong melodic content and perfect harmonic structure, as well as internal Groove and Funky feeling. The basic sound of the album is very Jazzy and the Blues seasoning is emphasized mostly by the harmonica and guitar parts and the vocals.
The instrumental performances are all excellent from start to finish and the album is a great fun to listen to, beautifully balancing the sophistication of the Jazz ingredients and the emotional influx of the Blues. Personally I´m not really excited by the vocals and would have preferred this album in purely instrumental version, which would have made it truly exceptional, buy hey, that´s just me. Kossowska does however contribute some breathtaking harmonica parts. The young rhythm section does a perfect job and Piasecki burns with his electrifying solos.
Overall this is a very enjoyable album, which maintains a classy approach to the Blues along with the basic Jazz attitude, which should easily satisfy connoisseurs of both genres. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 13/05/2017Posted: 13/05/2017 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | VIBRASLAP ~ DIFFERENT WOR(L)DS
MILOR 001 (Barcode: 5907796632000) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019
This is the second album by Polish Jazz ensemble VibraslapFind albums by this artist, co-led by vibraphonist / composer Milosz RutkowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Tomasz GrabowyFind albums by this artist. The current sextet version of the ensemble also includes saxophonist Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist, pianist Robert JarmuzekFind albums by this artist, drummer Lukasz SobolakFind albums by this artist and vocalist Marcin WawrzynowiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by the ensemble members. The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sound quality.
The music is definitely on the easy side of the Jazz spectrum, based on simple melodies and catchy riffs, but altogether offering a pleasant and entertaining listening experience.
The group members are excellent and experienced musicians and their performances are all beyond reproach, appropriate within this specific genre. The vocals are the weakest chain on the album, but again excusable in that context. Jarmuzek and Wendt offer the most ambitious soloing spots, Rutkowski has a nice touch and the rhythm section keeps the music swinging, and all is well.
As I have already stated many times before, Jazz is a wide phenomenon that is flexible enough to embrace more approachable and entertaining facets, including music like what this album offers, which has its following and should not be a priori rejected by condescending snobbery. To each his own…
| | Updated: 13/01/2020Posted: 13/01/2020 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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