Record Reviews

SIRKIS / BIALAS INTERNATIONAL QUARTET ~ COME TO ME STONED BIRD 004 (Barcode: 702811649729) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by the quartet co-led by Israeli drummer Asaf SirkisFind albums by this artist and Polish vocalist Sylwia BialasFind albums by this artist, both currently resident in London, which also includes two excellent British musicians: pianist Frank HarrisonFind albums by this artist and bassist / chromatic harmonica player Patrick BettisonFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, five each composed by Sirkis and Bialas, who also wrote the lyrics (in Polish) to five of the album´s tracks. Thank God that Bialas had the common sense to stick to her mother tongue, when singing lyrics, rather than trying to sing in English, a fatal mistake made by most Polish Jazz vocalists, which in most cases simply devastates their efforts. But Bialas also balances wisely and beautifully between singing lyrics and using her voice as an instrument, improvising scat and vocalese passages. As a result this album immediately arises to the level of one of the best vocal achievements I had the pleasure to hear this year. But of course the vocal parts are only one of the ingredients of this album, which also includes excellent compositions and superb performances, turning the entire listening experience into a most pleasing aesthetic adventure. The overall mood of the album is overtly melancholic, consistent in a sense with the Polish Jazz attitude, which means that Bialas is a dominant influence here, which does not surprise me at all. Sirkis, who is usually quite a powerful drummer, plays delicately and beautifully melodically all the way through. Harrison, who carries the main accompanying responsibility, is simply exquisite in what he does, both as a soloist and as a supportive pillar behind the vocalist. Bettison keeps supplying the pulsating bottom lines, which pave the way for the music and move it forward. His harmonica solos are a nice icing on the cake, but personally I could do without them. In short the entire quartet seems to act as a symbiotic organism, in complete contrast to the usual singer / band circumstances. As I keep saying lately, the freedom of movement, which characterizes contemporary Europe, results in many international encounters, which have a high potential of becoming marvelous mixtures and exchanges between Artists. This album is a typical example of such encounter, and the listeners are blessed to receive this piece of music into their laps. Intelligent, emotional, moving music of this magnitude is rare in today´s chilling reality of non-culture and gems like this one should be embraced and admired. One can only hope this is but a beginning of a lasting creative force. This is an outstanding debut by all means and hopefully many people around the world will be eventually exposed to it.

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STAN SULZMANN ~ FEUDAL RABBITS AH UM 011 ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1990 Released: 1991 This is a wonderful and completely obscure album by British saxophonist / flautist / clarinetist / composer / bandleader Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, recorded with bassist Mick HuttonFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Patrick BettisonFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve ArguellesFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Sulzmann, one is by Hutton and finally one is a Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist composition. The album was released on the short-lived legendary Ah UmFind albums on this label label. The unusual instrumentation, which presents a double bass lineup, presents the electric bass as a lead instrument and the acoustic bass as part of the rhythm section. The music is based on melodic themes, masterfully, as usual, weaved by Sultzmann and the intimate quartet setting is ideal for this delicate, often fragile music, which is deeply touching. Sultzmann is of course brilliant as one might expect, but Bettison’s bass guitar parts are a delightful surprise, full of romance and wonderful feeling, in complete contrast to the Fusion oriented way the instrument is usually played. Overall, this is a hidden British Jazz gem, which took me years to find a copy of, but the wait was definitely worth it big time. If you can find a copy, grab it, no questions asked! Side Note British composer / arranger Nick PurnellFind albums by this artist founded the short-lived Ah UmFind albums on this label label in 1989, which existed until 1993 and released a total of sixteen albums with some of the top British Jazz musicians of that period and a few American guests, which remain as of the finest recordings of that period. For some inexplicable reason all these albums are almost completely obsolete today, despite their excellent musical value, which is a shame, as they all deserve an honorable place in any decent British Jazz collection.

Updated: 10/03/2025Posted: 10/03/2025

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