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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