Record Reviews

JOANNA BEJM ~ JESTES SOLITON 972 (Barcode: 5901571099729) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Polish vocalist / songwriter Joanna BejmFind albums by this artist recorded with a Jazz trio consisting of keyboardist Rafal StepienFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Violinist Marcin SkabaFind albums by this artist plays on six tracks and several additional guests participate on selected tracks. The album presents ten original songs, all composed by Bejm or co-composed by her and Skaba. All the lyrics are by Polish poetess Halina PoswiatowskaFind albums by this artist, one of Poland´s most striking literary figures. As such the album falls comfortably within the Polish Jazz & Poetry idiom. As someone familiar with Poswiatowska´s poetry I admit approaching this album with great anticipation mixed with some trepidation, considering the depth and intellectual complexity of the literary layer. I am glad to say that Bejm managed to embrace the poetry with considerable talent and respect, carefully selecting the poems and dressing them in appropriate musical attire. There is always a danger that profound literary work could be trivialized by inappropriate musical treatment, which sadly does happen from time to time, but certainly did not happen in this case. The music is, as expected, full of typical Polish melancholy and lyrical emotionality, which Polish Jazz warmly embraces on a day to day level, but in particular within the Jazz & Poetry projects. Low key ballads with slow intrinsic motion are like a gentle wind carrying the words like yellow autumn leaves. The deep sadness, which characterizes the poetry, is somewhat softened by the music, making it perhaps more approachable to the listeners. The instrumental parts are all excellent, as expected from these seasoned veterans. The rhythm section is steady like a rock and sensitive like velvet, Stepien is a superb player both on the acoustic piano and the electric keyboards, always playing only what is truly needed and his piano soli are the cherry on top. The guests add their part amicably and the entire album offers a coherent musical continuity. Bejm manages the vocal parts with respect and restrain, which of course is ideal in this case. She is an instrument delivering the poems, which are the focus of this album and she cleverly eschews unnecessary theatrics, which would have spoiled the magic. Considering the fact that this is her debut album, she does a remarkable job. The only small criticism I could think of is the packaging of the album, which sadly does not include the printed version of the poems – an addition that as a Jazz & Poetry buff I consider absolutely necessary. Of course there are copyright issues, etc, but it would have been nice to have them. Overall this is a beautiful piece of Art, an absolute must for all Jazz & Poetry lovers around the world, even those who are not native Polish speakers – the music transcends language barriers. Well done Milady!

Updated: 25/11/2019Posted: 25/11/2019

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MARIUSZ BOGDANOWICZ ~ SYNTONIA CONFITEOR 007 (Barcode: 5902020591047) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the third album by veteran Polish Jazz bassist / composer Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet which also includes saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, pianist Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Several guest musicians participate on selected tracks. The album comprises of nine original compositions, all by Bogdanowicz, eight of which are instrumentals and one features vocals. The music is typical modern Polish Jazz mainstream, with beautiful melancholic melodies, lyrical moods and almost Scandinavian gloominess in the air. All the performances are excellent technically and proficiently executed, with some brilliant moments, especially when trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist joins the ensemble and the overall atmosphere becomes somewhat less constrained. The compositions are all quite gorgeous and sometimes it seems that they could have served as a basis for a much more adventurous approach. Bogdanowicz plays delightfully from start to finish and his partners all deserve applause. It is almost impossible to say anything negative about this album; it is after all a superb mainstream recording by any criteria. Many Jazz lovers, especially Americans (if this album was to reach the US market – which it won´t) would simply love it to bits. However, as good as it is, it does not break any conventional barriers and contributes very little to the development of the genre. But who says every album has to do so? So here we have a very pleasant mainstream album, well played and excellently recorded and full of good music, lacking only a bit of the audacious spark. Perhaps next time?

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DOMINIK BUKOWSKI ~ TIMES GET CHANGED ECNALUMBA (Barcode: 5907476693314) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 This is the second album as a leader by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent representatives of Poland´s Baltic seashore scene. Bukowski´s output over the years is quite prolific and impressive, but stylistically it is mostly associated with lyrical and melodic Jazz, whereas on this album he presents a brass oriented Hard Bop setting with a distinct "retro" sound and brass dominated arrangements. The album consists of eight original compositions, all by Bukowski (assumedly as credits are not mentioned on the album´s cover). The music is performed by a sextet, which besides Bukowski includes also trumpeter Piotr WojtasikFind albums by this artist, trombonist Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Lukasz PoprawskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. It was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist with excellent results, as usual. The music is dominated by the brass section and Bukowski plays solo sparingly, which altogether reflects his position as a leader of this session in the composer´s and arranger´s seats rather than upfront as an instrumentalists. That unselfish decision is of course praiseworthy and also creates a superb ensemble sound, which is after all one of the centerpieces of the Jazz experience. Needless to say the individual performances by all the participants are above reproach. The brass players perform numerous excellent solos, the vibraphone lays out the harmonic parts and the excellent rhythm section moves the music forward with considerable drive but without being overbearing. In retrospect this is a remarkable album, well worth discovering and re-visiting. It is sadly rarely mentioned among the important Polish Jazz recordings, although it definitely deserves an honorable mention, as it is quite different from most other albums recorded in Poland in the first decade of the 21st Century. It is definitely worthy a place in any Jazz connoisseur´s collection and a proud item in Bukowski´s already remarkable legacy.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

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ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ ~ HENDRIX PIANO PIANOART 5907760035028 (Barcode: 5907760035028) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2010 This is the fourth album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic Jazz piano trio setting with bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist (bassist Daniel BielFind albums by this artist plays on three tracks) and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist as his partners. The music, as the title suggests, is a tribute to the legendary American guitarist / songwriter Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist and presents nine instrumental arrangements of songs from his repertoire, seven of them composed by Hendrix and two composed by others. The album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and was engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist with spectacular sonic results This album was recorded at the same sessions which produced the previous album by Dutkiewicz, called "Niemen ImprowizacjeFind albums with this title", which pays tribute to the music of Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist, the legendary Godfather of Polish Pop / Rock. Therefore these two albums share not only the recording dates but also basically the same musical concept, i.e. the transformation of Pop / Rock music into the mainstream Jazz environment. Of course the music of Hendrix, who was a major Rock star with a worldwide following, was already arranged and performed by many Jazz artists earlier, with varying results, some absolutely spectacular and other utterly worthless. Although seemingly words apart, Niemen and Hendrix shared one obvious characteristic: their deep affinity to the Blues, which Dutkiewicz cleverly exploits on both these albums, and uses this opportunity to highlight his own Blues chops. The fact that these two albums were recorded basically together and present a common concept obviously "asks for" a comparison, which I´d rather avoid, but unfortunately that is quite impossible. Personally this album works slightly less effectively for me than its companion, which probably has nothing to do with the music but my own perception of the music Hendrix created and I was fortunate to hear live on several occasions. I seem to be unable to free myself from the stunning guitar sound which my memory / brain stores under the Hendrix pointer. This music played by a piano, however well, simply does not cut it for me as well as it should. But of course this album shares many of the same beautiful qualities present on its companion: great performances, intelligent arrangements, wonderful interplay between the trio members and so on. It is a great piano trio album in every respect and an admirable tribute to the Genius of Hendrix. Obviously Jazz connoisseurs all over the globe should be able to enjoy this music without reservation.

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ARTUR DUTKIEWICZ ~ NIEMEN IMPROWIZACJE PIANOART 5907760035011 (Barcode: 5907760035011) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2009 This is the third album as a leader by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Artur DutkiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic Jazz piano trio setting with bassist Darek OleszkiewiczFind albums by this artist (bassist Daniel BielFind albums by this artist plays on one track) and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist as his partners. The music, as the title suggests, is a tribute to the legendary Polish singer / songwriter Czeslaw NiemenFind albums by this artist and presents ten instrumental arrangements of songs from Niemen´s repertoire, eight of which were also composed by him and two which were composed by others. The album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist with spectacular sonic results Niemen was always associated with Jazz and was a pioneer of the Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion movement, but he actually never quite crossed over into Jazz, and this album does it for the first time. Niemen´s songs, stripped of their dramatic vocals and poignant lyrics, can be hear here for what they really were; a superb amalgam of Blues soaked Rock, Rhythm And Blues, Soul, Groove and Folkloristic themes, which are all obviously quite timeless. Dutkiewicz took quite a risk here, as transforming Niemen´s music into a swinging Jazz environment might have trivialized it or even turned it into grotesque muzak. Luckily all this was cleverly avoided by the intelligent arrangements and highly sensitive performance, which simply transformed the music into a completely different plane. Many musical Icons seem to be simply untouchable, and most attempts, which try to utilize or update them, fail miserably. This is a rare example of a successful attempt of transplanting iconic music to a new environment without destroying the original. The trio´s performance is of course spotless, as nothing less should be expected from musicians of such class. The players concentrate on playing the music and there are no lengthy individual solo sports, which would be quite inappropriate here, but a wonderful togetherness and concise delivery. Intelligence, sensitivity and grace are the name of the game and the music is never trivial or banal. Listeners familiar with Niemen´s original performances of these songs will find this album quite fascinating of course, when trying the find the parallels and the divergences. But even people who never heard of Niemen (obviously beyond Poland´s borders) should find this to be an excellent piano trio album worthy of repeated listening.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ KARNAS HEVHETIA 0050 (Barcode: 8588002496776) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / arranger Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and talented representatives of the young generation of the local Jazz scene. Separated by five years from its predecessor "Ballady Na Koniec SwiataFind albums with this title", this album is significantly different from his earlier work and presents several novelties as far as his recording career is concerned, for example the inclusion of songs not composed by him, usage of lyrics in several different languages, a new instrumental concept, etc. The singer is accompanied by a splendid quartet, which features pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Except for the bassist the other three musicians are long time collaborators on his earlier recordings. The presence of a bassist allows Oles to play his cello more in the way it was originally intended, as opposed to the earlier recordings, where it was mostly playing the bass parts. The album comprises of no less than nineteen tracks, some quite short (under a minute) and other fully developed and lasting around seven minutes. One song (Laurie AndersonFind albums by this artist´s "Langue D´Amour") appears four times in different incarnations and two other songs are reprised. Karnas composed or co-composed six of the pieces, four other pieces are credited to the band accompanying him, one is an instrumental composed by Tokaj and three are songs from the canonic Rock repertoire like StingFind albums by this artist´s "Roxanne", Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist´s "Black Crow" and the a.m. song by Laurie Anderson. It is immediately obvious that this is Karnas´ most ambitious album to date. The complexity and versatility of the material is overwhelming and music moving from one theme to another creates a charming flow, which makes the listener whish for it never to stop. Instrumentally this album, with Tokaj taking over the role of the main soloist, is finally perfect and Tokaj´s beautiful tango is the best original piece of music on the album. Oles finally shows what he´s made of and plays some amazing sounds. The vocal performances are also excellent, obviously more mature and relaxed than ever before. This time Karnas is pretty minimalistic, not trying to overemphasize his part and treating the entire project as a whole rather than another solo album. The group effort is definitely what makes this album tick so wonderfully and takes it a few notches up the scale. Overall this is a truly amazing vocal Jazz album, which plainly stands out as an artistic achievement, leaving most other albums of its kind way behind. Suffice to listen to the vocalist´s interpretations of the three well known songs, in order to appreciate his originality. Add to this the strength of his original material and Karnas emerges as an artist worth following and already leaving his mark on the contemporary scene, with very few contenders. An absolute must!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ SNY DEBIES 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2002 - 2004 Released: 2004 This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / arranger Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, one of the most unique and talented representatives of the young generation of the local Jazz scene. Born in the southern Polish province of Upper Silesia, Karnas graduated form the Jazz Institute at the Katowice Academy of Music, where a large percentage of the young Polish Jazz musicians get their initial graduate education. His debut album "ReinkarnasjaFind albums with this title", released in 2000, created quite a stir on the local scene and immediately established him as one of the most significant newcomers. He is accompanied on this album by a superb team of excellent players: pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist (who plays the Fender electric piano here rather than his usual acoustic piano), guitarist Damian KuraszFind albums by this artist, bassist Robert KubiszynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. In addition several guest artists also participate: legendary veteran saxophonist Tomasz SzukalskiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, cellist Adam OlesFind albums by this artist (a future close collaborator, who also hails from Silesia), vocalist Patrycja GolaFind albums by this artist and congas player Bogusz WekkaFind albums by this artist. The album consists of twelve pieces, ten of which were written (music & lyrics) by Karnas, one was co-written by Karnas and Oles and one is a standard. Karnas wrote all the arrangements, which are quite unusual and beautifully atmospheric. Of course Karnas´ vocal performances are the focal point of the album, but his ability to involve all these wonderful players to become an integral part of the overall result is absolutely astounding. Szukalski plays wonderfully here, but for me Tokaj and his incredible electric piano phrasing are the cherry on the cake. Karnas is a unique vocalist, a power of Nature. Although many of the tricks of the trade he so skillfully utilizes can be traced back to other great vocalists, like the great Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist and the Polish diva Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, but he is truly original. First and foremost he completely disregards any conventions, allowing himself a total freedom as far as his vocal expressions are concerned. Regardless if he sings lyrics, vocalese, scat or just utters sounds from his throat, there are no rules involved. His pronunciation of the lyrics is completely off the wall and probably would give his primary school Polish language teacher a heart attack, but the effect is overwhelming. He also twists the melody any way he wants and his disregard of "proper" timing is simply scandalous; and yet all these elements put together create an amalgam, which is just so beautiful and intelligent, that any experienced music connoisseur simply melts away. Vocal Jazz or more exactly interesting and challenging vocal Jazz is unfortunately a rarity on contemporary Jazz scene and therefore any Artists of the level presented by Karnas is a most welcome addition. People who truly love music will love this music immediately and unconditionally. Not to be missed!

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GRZEGORZ KARNAS ~ VANGA BMC 209 (Barcode: 5998309302091) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist, recorded with his trio including bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist and Hungarian cimbalom player Miklos LukacsFind albums by this artist, who appears as a guest. The album was recorded live at the Opus Jazz Club in Budapest and presents nine tracks, most of which are original compositions by Karnas. Karnas is a unique phenomenon on the vocal Jazz scene, one of the most original Masters of the trade, who incorporates lyrics and vocalese in his personal style, which is unequalled by anybody else except perhaps Bobby McFerrinFind albums by this artist. He is a brilliant improviser and uses his voice like an instrument and hearing him performing is a life changing experience. His long time collaboration with the rhythm section present here explains why the trio sounds like one organic music making body, with the trio members communicating telepathically, which enables the neck-breaking difficult rhythmic patterns and topsy-turvy melody lines to sound completely natural and coherent. This live recording proves that he is able to re-create his amazing Artistry live without any studio trickery. For some strange reason this album failed to land on my desk until now, so I am happy to bridge the gap now, especially in view of the fact that it’s been five years since Karnas released his last album; definitely way too long! Overall, this is a brilliant album from start to finish, completely different from almost anything one might come across in Jazz in general and vocal Jazz in particular. Lovers of human voice and vocal Jazz will absolutely love this to bits. I really long to hear Karnas live on stage again, but a new album will do in the meantime. This gem is still available, so don’t even think twice.

Updated: 31/03/2022Posted: 31/03/2022

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LESZEK KULAKOWSKI ~ WITKACY NARKOTYKI SOLITON 1227 (Barcode: 5903684232277) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish pianist / composer Leszek KulakowskiFind albums by this artist, which presents a live recording of a spectacle, featuring music composed by Kulakowski and texts written by the Polish writer / poet / painter WitkacyFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Stanislaw Ignacy WitkiewiczFind albums by this artist). The participants comprise of Kulakowski, who plays electronic keyboards rather than piano, vocalist Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcin WadolowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Konrad ZolnierekFind albums by this artist, drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist and actor Jerzy KarnickiFind albums by this artist, who narrates the texts. The album presents seven tracks and is beautifully packaged with an informative booklet, which also includes all the texts, as well as Witkacy’s paintings. Witkacy’s literary / philosophical / artistic heritage remains to be controversial and more often than not misinterpreted since the day it was conceived and published, and the state of affairs did not change much during the last century. Many of the subjects touched upon by Witkacy in his works, like sex, drugs and social relationships remain a taboo in Poland to this very day, despite the superficial openness and modernism. Therefore, his artistry is often treated as scandalous and sensational, rather than prophetic and educational. This is not the first attempt to interpret Witkacy’s “aura” within the Polish Jazz setting of course. In the mid-1980s iconic Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist made a groundbreaking recording inspired by Witkacy’s legacy, which also related to the subject of drugs, which of course was a household issue among many Jazz musicians, not only on the west side of the Iron Curtain. The trumpet duos between Stanko and Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist are certainly some of the Polish Jazz highlights of that period. Dabrowski’s parts on this album serve as a bridge between that momentous album and this new creation. But Kulakowski managed to create a completely new and original approach herein in every respect. The music is highly melodic, with clearly defined themes, the Funky, Fusion oriented rhythmic background makes the music sound contemporary and vigorous. The synthesizers suit this environment way better than acoustic piano, and Kulakowski certainly made the right choice here. Wadolowski’s guitar fits the scenario perfectly as well as the round and pulsating bass parts. But the greatest asset of this album are the vocal / vocalese parts by Skolias, who is as demonic and fascinating as only humanly possible. Overall, this is an important, courageous attempt to interpret Witkacy and his legacy, highly original and moving, and beautifully performed, especially considering the fact that this is a live recording, which offers a superb sound quality. Kulakowski never ceases to re-invent himself, and despite the fact that I know him and his music for so many years, he still manages to surprise me time after time. Hats off, Maestro!

Updated: 22/02/2022Posted: 22/02/2022

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SZYMON LUKOWSKI ~ SHORT SKETCHES HEVHETIA 0197 (Barcode: 8588005258753) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the third album by young Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with keyboardist Adam LemanczykFind albums by this artist and superb veteran rhythm section comprising of bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, four by Lukowski and one each by Lemanczyk, Pulcyn and Stankiewicz. The music was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usual first class sonic quality. The music is all within the modern mainstream Jazz convention, but Lukowski´s progress as a composer and instrumentalist is again clearly apparent in comparison to his earlier work. His bass clarinet parts expand the sonic palette considerably and his compositions are more complex and excellently arranged for the quartet, which results in these performances being highly absorbing from start to finish. The strength of the quartet as a tight musical unit also adds to the success of this material. Lemanczyk is equally effective on acoustic piano and electric keyboards, playing some truly mesmerizing parts. Pulcyn, as always, keeps everything in check and his highly melodic bass lines offer a steady ground for the music to lean on. Frankiewicz adds a highly percussive and dynamic drum parts on the up-tempo numbers and delicate ornamentation on the ballads, like a professional he truly is. Overall this is a truly fine piece of Jazz music, diverse, interesting and aesthetically satisfying, which all Jazz lovers should find worth listening to. As usual it perfectly reflects the high level of original music being created in Poland these days, which is as good, if not better, as Jazz created all over Europe these days, without any inferiority complex. Well done indeed!

Updated: 21/02/2020Posted: 21/02/2020

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SZYMON MAKOHIN ~ TRYIN` TIMES MUZA 1449 (Barcode: 5907783424496) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2008 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist Szymon MakohinFind albums by this artist, which was recorded in 2008 and waited for four years to finally see the light of day. It presents Makohin performing eleven Pop / Blues / Soul standards, beautifully arranged by pianist Michal TokajFind albums by this artist, who leads the excellent quartet accompanying the singer, which also includes saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. On two of the tracks Makohin performs duets with female singers, the incredible Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist and Irena KijewskaFind albums by this artist. It seems that most Polish Jazz (and not only Jazz) vocalists consistently repeat the fatal mistake of trying to sing in English, which unfortunately in most cases, including this one, simply does not work. It becomes especially apparent in the duet with Zaryan, where the singer´s accent and phrasing contrasts with those of Zaryan, who is one of the very few Polish vocalists able to sing properly in English. Therefore, regardless of how good this album is on the instrumental level, the vocals are a priori an obstacle. Makohin has a very nice tone and obvious vocal talents, but his battle is lost the minute he opens his mouth. It´s a pity he didn´t follow in the steps of other Polish vocalists, like Grzegorz KarnasFind albums by this artist for example. The selection of the material is also quite problematic, as all the songs have a strong common bond of sounding "sweet", with very little diversity, and none of them are challenging vocally. All these songs were performed brilliantly by their original authors, and this slightly Jazzed up version has very little added value. The only case of a Jazz standard present here is more a showcase of a brilliant bass accompaniment than vocal ability. Of course Tokaj and the quartet play spotlessly and brilliantly, as always. The instrumental work keeps this album alive and kicking, which in retrospect is a pity, since this could have been such a great album under different circumstances. However, considering this is a debut album, it should not be judged too severely; there is a lot of potential here and Makohin has a lot to offer, so I´m looking forward to hear his next album, hopefully in Polish this time. I certainly wish him all the best and keep my fingers crossed.

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JERZY MALEK ~ BLACK SHEEP NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the eighth album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic Jazz quintet setting with saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, pianists Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist or Aga DerlakFind albums by this artist, bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Malek. Stylistically the music is all within melodic Jazz mainstream, close to the American Jazz tradition, quite atypical to the contemporary Polish Jazz scene, which is more modernistic and experimental. That said, the music is wonderfully crafted and perfectly executed by seasoned musicians and sound every bit as good as the best of what American Jazz has to offer, proving again that Polish Jazz deserves to be completely free from any inferiority complexes in comparison to what is happening across the pond. Malek has a brilliant ability to weave perfect tunes, all of which are well rounded and based on coherent melodic themes, especially so with his marvelous ballads. On the whole his compositions are truly classic examples of post Bebop idiom at its finest. Although not very innovative, this kind of music is still perfectly valid and has many followers the world over and albums like this are a perfect fit to their bill of fare. Of course Malek is also a wonderful trumpeter, with perfect skills and intelligence, which guides him to avoid empty flashy displays of technique. His playing is always soulful and heartfelt, and a true pleasure to listen to. The other quintet members are all seasoned veterans and even the young Aga Derlak, who plays on two tracks, does an excellent job and showcases the next generation of the Polish Jazz stars. Overall this is a perfect mainstream Jazz album in every respect, full of wonderful music and perfect musicianship, which should completely satisfy all connoisseurs of that idiom regardless of their geographical location. It is also an excellent example of the quality of Polish Jazz and the abilities of Jerzy Malek as a composer and a trumpeter, which he earned fair and square by hard work and a heap of talent. Well done!

Updated: 26/05/2019Posted: 26/05/2019

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JERZY MALEK ~ GRAVITY ECHO (Barcode: 5904335215953) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the 7th album by Polish trumpeter / composer Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Krzysztof PacanFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Five guest musicians appear on selected tracks, including my American (resident in Vienna) buddy, saxophonist Andy MiddletonFind albums by this artist, Polish saxophonists Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist, Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist and Maciej KadzielaFind albums by this artist and percussionist Jose Manuel Alban JuarezFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all composed by Malek, two of which were co-composed with Smoczynski. The music is a superb collection of modern Jazz compositions, which are arranged to include contemporary studio trickery of electronic effects, creating a club ambience, which is very effective. As expected, all the instrumental work is simply perfect, and Malek, who is featured right there in the epicenter of everything, plays highly melodically, yet expressively and of course technically as perfect as one might wish for. Despite the pleasant, almost informal atmosphere, the album is full of meaningful music, which simply needs to be listened to carefully. But listeners might just enjoy the joyful stream of melody and relax, if that is what they are into. In short, this music is quite multilayered, and highly aesthetic, despite the exterior subtlety. Overall, this is an excellent album, which is accessible to a wide Jazz loving audience, but does not relent a deeper layer of subtle Jazz elegance for a more attentive listener. Personally I enjoyed every moment of the music and I am sorry to write about it only now, as it lingered to reach me in time. Definitely well done!

Updated: 23/08/2025Posted: 23/08/2025

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MYRCZEK & SCHMIDT QUINTET ~ MLYNARSKI. BYNAJMNIEJ. SJ 080 (Barcode: 5905489720904) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is an album by a Polish Jazz quintet co-led by vocalist Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, which also includes pianist Krzysztof HerdzinFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. French percussionist Mino CineluFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks and the AUKSO Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Marek MosFind albums by this artist, performs the strings arrangements. The album presents nine tracks, composed by various Polish composers and arranged by Herdzin (six tracks), Sabina MeckFind albums by this artist (two tracks) and Joanna SzymalaFind albums by this artist (one track), all with the lyrics by Wojciech MlynarskiFind albums by this artist, a distinguished Polish lyricist, who contributed lyrics to numerous classic Polish songs, whose talent this album celebrates by presenting them in a Jazzy framework. The music is all absolutely perfectly suited to the purpose, with superb arrangements that go hand in hand with these mostly highly lyrical / romantic songs, emphasizing their beauty. Myrczek, often called “the Polish Frank Sinatra” which is not entirely without a basis, is absolutely ideal for the job. Schmidt ornaments the songs by his short, concise but again perfectly crafted soli, and the rest of the participants are all Masters of their trade, and as usual do all in their power to make everything work as planned. Encrusted with the delicate string arrangements, this music is a true “whole package” in every sense. Of course I can only pity all my friends, who are not Polish language speakers, who are obviously destined to miss the pleasure of enjoying these sophisticated, intelligent and masterly woven lyrics by Mlynarski, but on the other hand my better half, whose knowledge of the Polish language is limited to “pierogi” and “prosze Pani”, loves this album and anything else by Myrczek, she just ignores the lyrics and enjoys the velvety voice, so here you are. This honestly is a universal piece of music. Overall, this is a beautiful vocal Jazz album, which borders on “Jazz & Poetry” due to Mlynarski’s sublime lyrics, with superb instrumental parts performed by some of the best Polish Jazz players, masterfully arranged and altogether delightful. What a joy!

Updated: 07/02/2025Posted: 07/02/2025

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NOWICKI / SWIES / FRANKIEWICZ ~ OVERTONES AUDIO CAVE 2021/003 (Barcode: 5908298549230) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the second album by the Polish Jazz trio comprising of saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, five by Nowicki, three by Swies and one by Frankiewicz. Following the debut recorded and released almost a decade ago, this release offers a much more coherent and mature piece of music, based on excellent compositions and outstanding performances by the trio members. The music is mostly contemplative and develops slowly, but is wonderfully expressive and offers a most satisfying listening experience, which is a vast improvement in comparison to the earlier effort. Although the saxophone trio is an extremely difficult vehicle to steer, this trio works just perfectly, offering a perfect balance between the three musicians. It is nothing like a lead instrument supported by a rhythm section, but from the very onset it becomes completely clear that they work in unison and shoulder to shoulder. As a result, the saxophone, bass and drums are fully present for the entire duration, recorded on the same level and offer an organic trio sound, which is very rarely achieved by other similar outfits. It is usually expected from the saxophone to set the tone, but it is impossible to decide who is leading the trio at any given moment, while the music lasts. Swies paves the path with his deep and rounded pulsations and his performances here are absolutely stunning. Frankiewicz does not stay behind, driving the music lice a hurricane during the crescendo moments and pushing it gently during the delicate passages. Nowicki states the melodies gently and improvises with conviction and obvious Masterly touch. Overall this is a great album from start to finish, with no dull moments in between, superbly played by three Masters of the trade, who push their abilities to the max. The music manages to create a unique sonic climate, and the no bullshit playing is convincing and strikes right where it is most effective. This is Polish / European Jazz at its best - Kudos my friends! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 09/04/2021Posted: 09/04/2021

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NOWICKI / SWIES / FRANKIEWICZ TRIO ~ PATHFINDER MULTIKULTI 005 (Barcode: 5907529223468) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz trio comprising of saxophonist Radek NowickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. There are nine tracks on the album, eight of which are original compositions (four by Nowicki and two each by Swies and Frankiewicz) and one is the trio´s interpretation of a RadioheadFind albums by this artist song. The album was recorded in the legendary Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, the studio owner, a guarantee of superb sonic quality. These three talented young musicians have all quite impressive musical achievements behind them and therefore it is not surprising that they sound remarkably mature as performers. Stylistically, however, they seem to be still somewhat undecided as to the degree of freedom they want to incorporate into their music, which remains mainstream oriented on this recording. The saxophone trio is one of the most difficult Jazz formats and demands a lot of discipline in order to present a cohesive whole and this trio definitely stands up to the challenge with flying colors. Naturally saxophone trios tend to put the focus of the listener´s attention on the saxophone player and are less about interplay and cooperation than say piano trios. On this recording there are plenty of bass and drums spots, showcasing the individual talents of the participants, but in most cases it is the sax up front supported by the rhythm section. The music, although quite appropriate for the format, is somewhat lacking in the melody department. Mainstream Jazz is usually based on strong melody lines, which last at least as long as the tune is being performed. The melodic content here is somewhat abstract and difficult to follow, which works fine for a free form setting, but in a mainstream is contra productive. It seems as if the trio members intended to play a much looser set, but were reluctant to "cross the line". However, all things considered, this is still a very strong debut with great performances and a lot of interesting moments, which should make the trio members proud of their work. Definitely worth investigating!

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LENA PIEKNIEWSKA ~ COS PRZYJDZIE: MILOSC LUB WOJNA POLSKIE RADIO 2265 (Barcode: 5907812247256) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is a live recording at the Polish Radio of a wonderful Jazz & Poetry project by vocalist Lena PiekniewskaFind albums by this artist and her quartet, which includes clarinetist / saxophonist Michal GorczynskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Jacek KitaFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. It presents ten songs composed by Pawel SkorupkaFind albums by this artist with lyrics by Jewish / Polish poets, mostly children, who all bar one perished during the Holocaust. They were Abram CytrynFind albums by this artist from Lodz, who died in Auschwitz at the age of seventeen, Zuzanna GinczankaFind albums by this artist (real name Sara GinzburgFind albums by this artist), who was executed in Krakow at the age of twenty seven, Janka HeschelesFind albums by this artist (today Janina AltmanFind albums by this artist), who is the only survival now living in Israel and finally Abramek KoplowiczFind albums by this artist from Lodz, who died in Auschwitz at the age of fourteen. One poem is by an unknown author, found in Auschwitz after liberation. This project was premiered during the third edition of the Singer Jazz Festival (2016) in Warsaw, of which I am the Artistic Director. It is impossible to describe the emotional upheaval involved in listening to this song cycle, especially to people like myself, who have a direct Holocaust involvement. Everything connected with the memory of the Holocaust, and in this case also Holocaust children, is always immeasurably painful and this is why when I was first introduced to this project I did not hide my skepticism. I am very happy to say that Skorupka, Piekniewska and her team managed to shatter my skepticism completely and when the music was over my eyes were full of tears but my heart was full of joy upon realizing that this project certainly does not trivialize the memory of the Holocaust victims and pays a loving tribute to the loss and the bitter destiny of Polish Jews, being an important document of times and souls lost but not forgotten, as well as the integration of Polish Jews in creating Polish Culture. Of course this project can be also viewed on pure aesthetic ground, detached from its historic legacy. Skorupka composed truly beautiful melodies, full of the typical Polish Jazz melancholy, which suit the often extremely difficult lyrics absolutely ideally. The instrumentalists, some of Polish Jazz finest of course, stand up to the challenge with flying colors, as expected. Gorczynski is the absolute star of the evening as his brilliant soloing expresses simply magnificently the anguish and suffering inherent in these songs, sometimes only indirectly, emphasizing the dichotomy between some of these poems and the circumstances in which they way created, which is often astounding and heartwrenching. And finally Piekniewska, with her delicate, as if reserved delivery, manages to create the magic atmosphere of this project. She beautifully eschews theatrics and unnecessary boastfulness, which might have hurt the essence, deciding to take the "less is more" path, with grace and elegance as well as full of deep emotion. I would like to thank all the people involved in this project for creating such an important tribute to the tragedy and pointing towards hope. It is wonderful to see this project finally available on record, better late than never of course. This is an absolute must have for every Polish Jazz connoisseur and Jazz & Poetry lover, wherever they might be.

Updated: 01/11/2019Posted: 01/11/2019

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WOJCIECH PULCYN ~ TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE HADEN FOR TUNE 0125 (Barcode: 5906395808274) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album as a leader by veteran Polish Jazz bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist, dedicated as the title suggest, to the great American bassist / composer Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live at the Polish Radio studio by a group of Pulcyn´s cohorts, which include trumpeter Tomasz DabrowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Mateusz SliwaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist and Pulcyn´s eight years old son Piotr PulcynFind albums by this artist (who plays cello) appear on one track each. The album presents nine pieces, six of which were composed by Haden, two by Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist and one is a traditional tune. Over the years I have had the immense pleasure to hear Pulcyn live many times and his performances were always impeccable and inspiring. His affinity with his instrument is as close as humanly possible and his humility and kind manners are an example of musical chivalry. Therefore this album, which finally puts the spotlight on his musical skills, is a long overdue opportunity to pay dues to his talents and personality. The music should be pretty familiar to serious Jazz listeners, in particular those who follow the long and impressive career of Haden from his early days as a member of the revolutionary Ornette Coleman quartet, which changed the face of the Jazz idiom, to his work as a leader of his own ensembles. It is modern, often groundbreaking music, which remains completely relevant to this very day, and to be honest it is still on the forefront of the genre, despite the years that have passed sine it was originally composed. The really fascinating aspect of this album is the fact that this music, created and performed originally by American musicians, is treated here with a completely new and more importantly European approach, which sets new meaning to the music and invigorates it immensely. I am tempted to say that this specific treatment of the music is more fascinating than the original in many respects, and for sure it is as far from imitation as can be imagined. The performances are all stellar, as expected from the participating musicians. Dabrowski, who consistently earned a position of one of the top European Jazz trumpeters, fondly fits the shoes of the great Don CherryFind albums by this artist, again displaying his personal style and approach rather than imitating the Master. Sliwa, a young and upcoming player, stands shoulder to shoulder with the veterans, playing like a pro. Stankiewicz, a marvelous pianist, is a symbol of lyricism and never misses a note, always knowing when to touch the keyboard ever so delicately and Frankiewicz, a faithful companion in endless rhythm sections, supports the bassist amicably and telepathically. From the opening solo bass track to the very last moment of this album Pulcyn´s bass is prominently featured in many diverse roles and intonations, always perfectly in accord with the music and the rest of the band, a true silent hero behind the scenes, who makes everything perfect. This album is definitely a superb tribute to Haden´s genious, but at the same time it is a tribute to Pulcyn´s legacy as one of the top Polish Jazz bassists and an icon of stability, perfection and personal standing. Thank you Wojtek for all those beautiful moments!

Updated: 21/10/2017Posted: 21/10/2017

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MACIEJ SIKALA ~ LIVE IN CLUB ZAK SOLITON 762 (Barcode: 5901571097626) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is a live recording by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, captured in a septet setting with trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Grzegorz NagorskiFind albums by this artist, bass clarinetist Tomasz KlepczynskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Piotr WylezolFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist – all of which belong to the commonly accepted top league of the local jazz scene. The album presents six original compositions, all assumed to be by Sikala, as the album´s artwork fails to confirm this. The sound quality is excellent despite the fact that this is a club live recording. The music is all completely mainstream oriented, following the patters set by Bebop and Hard Bop some five or more decades ago. That said, the original compositions are very strong and the performances are all excellent, which means that this music is a real pleasurable listening experience for mainstream Jazz connoisseurs, who after all are the majority of the Jazz crowd. Also the Polish Jazz accents can be heard throughout this music very distinctly, not influential enough to change the character of the music, but appealing enough to make it much more interesting than parallel music performed across the pond. Although Sikala started his Jazz career within the adventurous Yass idiom as a member of MiloscFind albums by this artist and other experimenting ensembles, in time he "returned" to the American influenced mainstream, retaining his wonderful fluency and improvisational power. All the projects he was involved with over the years and numerous recordings he made always represented a high quality of music and musicianship. Overall although the music on this album is quite predictable, it is full of wonderful individual statements by the musicians involved in this project and should keep mainstream Jazz fans vey happy. The original compositions are coherent and well woven and the septet playing is nothing short of perfection in this specific musical scenery.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted: 12/06/2018

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ KOCHANOWSKI PIESNI KSQ 002 (Barcode: 5903796604009) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is an album by Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist recorded in a classic quartet setting with saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve songs composed by Stankiewicz and sung by vocalist Jacek KotlarskiFind albums by this artist, which feature poems by Polish Renaissance (16th Century) poet Jan KochanowskiFind albums by this artist, who is considered the Godfather of Polish Poetry and modern Polish language. Stankiewicz undertakes a highly risky task in his attempt to write contemporary music to the poems by Kochanowski, which was attempted by Polish composers many times before with radically different results, especially so when this attempt is to be within the Jazz idiom. I must say that although I know Stankiewicz since many years, he managed to knock my socks off, as the music he managed to create here is simply sensational, both in its beauty and incredible sensitivity to the subject matter. It combines the best of the Jazz tradition, all sounding like a collection of wonderful standards that the listener is somehow familiar with, despite the fact that they appear here for the first time. He also uses the core of Polish folkloristic themes, that every Polish composer is unable to avoid, and which bring the music closer to its literary / linguistic source. And yes, Stankiewicz is the greatest contemporary Polish romantic composer, which is plainly apparent on this album. The rest of the team are all seasoned veterans, who play with Stankiewicz since many years and are all top Polish Jazz figures, which guarantees the spectacular result achieved here. Kotlarski is also an excellent choice, fitting like a satin glove to this project. His extensive stage experience comes handy and his performances here are simply perfect. During my recent visit in Warsaw, stuck between the returning Covid-19 waves, Kuba was one of the very few people we managed to meet and spend a lovely evening with, which is always a great experience. His charming personality and true friendship, as well as mutual respect that we share towards each other, are a rare treasure. He gave me this and one more album (which will be reviewed soon) and I had no idea how superb this music is going to be, so now is the time to thank him. Overall, this is an exceptional Jazz & Poetry album, one of the best of its kind that appeared on the Polish scene in many years. I simply can’t imagine any Polish Jazz lover and poetry lover not to grab a copy of this album instantly, especially in these dark days of sickness and despair. This is a true out-of-body experience! Thank you, my Friend, for sharing your talent with us – you make the reality easier to bear.

Updated: 20/11/2021Posted: 20/11/2021

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KUBA STANKIEWICZ ~ SPACES KSQ 001 (Barcode: ) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is a wonderful new album by the veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet, which includes also saxophonist Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Wojciech PulcynFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of nine original compositions, all by Stankiewicz. The music is mainstream Jazz, or rather classic Jazz, with the typical Polish tinge; lyrical, romantic and brilliantly melodic. For some reason the new generation of the Polish Jazz players diverged largely into new areas, neglecting the unique approach that identified the early days of the scene, which placed composition above everything else. Stankiewicz seems to have returned to that principle here, with his compositions being the centre of attention. Both the beautiful ballads and the up-tempo numbers have splendid melody lines, which serve as perfect vehicles for the saxophone and piano solos. The actual performance of the music is also kept in very traditional form, without any adventurous undertakings, which would have been out of place here. Sikala, who is the principal soloist here, plays excellently, especially on the soprano, with his long, somewhat sentimental twisted lines being absolutely perfect for this kind of music. The rhythm section plays a refined and tight background, which is always right there, when needed and always balanced with the soloing instruments keeping the music afloat. Stankiewicz plays superbly in the background, but solos sparingly, avoiding drawing too much attention to himself, which is quite unusual for a leader. When he plays solo, he does so with exquisite taste and humility. He obviously prefers the ensemble sound as best suiting his compositions. In spite of all that "retro" setting, this is a great Jazz album by all means. It´s been quite a while since I´ve had the pleasure of listening to such refined music, which is both aesthetically and artistically pleasing. There is nothing wrong with mainstream Jazz, as long as it is so elegantly performed and presents intelligent and heartfelt music. There is little to be added here, except for the fact that this is an album every true Jazz lover around the world should be able to cherish wholeheartedly. I can only prompt everybody to try. Satisfaction guaranteed!

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LORA SZAFRAN ~ EWA DEMARCZYK: INSPIRACJE POLSKIE RADIO 2444 (Barcode: 5905610871109) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz vocalist Lora SzafranFind albums by this artist, supported by a formidable team of instrumentalists, fronted by pianist / arranger Milosz WoskoFind albums by this artist, drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam KowalewskiFind albums by this artist and others. She also invited three guest: vocalist Aga ZaryanFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist and accordionist Jaroslaw BesterFind albums by this artist, who appear on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, all being songs associated with the repertoire of the Polish Diva Ewa DemarczykFind albums by this artist, six of which were composed by the legendary Zygmunt KoniecznyFind albums by this artist, two by Andrzej ZaryckiFind albums by this artist and the remaining two by others. The lyrics are mostly by renown Polish Poets, like Julian TuwimFind albums by this artist and others. Any attempt to touch an icon / legend / idol of the class of Demarczyk is a highly risky and virtually impossible task. Although the new arrangements of these songs, which are taken more into the Jazz environment, rather than the original chanson / theatrical idiom created matchlessly by Demarczyk, the comparisons are inevitable, and sadly come out rather oddly in the ears of anybody familiar with the original. Of course one has to give credit to the new arrangements and the excellent work by the instrumentalists involved, as well as Szafran’s vocal abilities and the throaty coloring of her voice, all of which are truly admirable. Still, the mind does not allow to separate oneself from the deeply seeded impressions and memories of the original. Some things are obviously better left alone… Overall, this is an impressive production / arrangement / execution in every respect, but I am simply too old to let my personal memories be forgotten, which is apparently needed in order to enjoy this album, beyond appreciating the effort. Of course these songs are still absolute treasures of Polish Culture.

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 29/12/2023

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LORA SZAFRAN / BOGDAN HOLOWNIA ~ WARS SZPILMAN WASOWSKI – I TAK SIE TRUDNO ROZSTAC… POLSKIE RADIO 2177 (Barcode: 5907812247904) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is a live recording by Polish Jazz vocalist Lora SzafranFind albums by this artist accompanied by a quartet led by pianist Bogdan HolowniaFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeter Robert MurakowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve Polish evergreens (often called Polish standards), composed by three renowned Polish composers: Henryk WarsFind albums by this artist, Wladyslaw SzpilmanFind albums by this artist and Jerzy WasowskiFind albums by this artist and featuring lyrics by celebrated Polish poets and lyricists. The music holds no surprises to the Polish listeners, as these are songs that the older generation is very much familiar with and which have been around for many years being clearly an integral part of the Polish Cultural heritage. Of course, as such, they have all been performed and recorded many times before and as a result this album offers nothing new in this respect. Szafran and the instrumentalist are all veteran performers and professionals, so this material offers no challenge whatsoever, especially in view of the fact that it was meant as entertainment and a nostalgic revisit of this material, rather than a Jazz event. Of course the performance was first class from start to finish. Overall this is a nice tribute to beautiful Polish songs, which offer wonderful music and intelligent, sensitive lyrics, and as such is sadly a symbol of how the values of popular music changed over time from artistry to trash.

Updated: 22/10/2018Posted: 22/10/2018

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ZBIGNIEW WEGEHAUPT ~ ZBIGNIEW WEGEHAUPT QUARTET NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005 Polish composer / bass player Zbigniew WegehauptFind albums by this artist (or Wege to his friends – born in the same Polish town like myself!) is one of the most distinguished jazz musicians in the country. In the last 20 years he’s been one of the most intelligent and reliable bassists in the country and a member of bands led by top Polish players like Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, Janusz MuniakFind albums by this artist and many others. His flawless intonation and incredible swing served as a basis for countless recordings and concert performances. Unfortunately his recordings as a leader have been rather sparse and therefore this new album is a most welcome addition to his discography. For this album Wege formed a new quartet with 3 young and incredibly talented Polish Jazz players: Marcin MaseckiFind albums by this artist on piano, Jerzy MalekFind albums by this artist on trumpet and Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist on drums. The music is a collection of Wege’s Jazz compositions from the past, which remained previously unrecorded. With the quartet as a vehicle the music is presented in full glory, flowing and swinging straight to the heart. This is modern Jazz at its best, full of beautiful melodies, superb expression and dramatic crescendos. The level of musicianship is truly astounding and it’s very hard to believe that such young musicians are capable of such mature statements. This is a great joy to see that the new generation of Polish Jazz musicians is living up to the expectations left by the glorious Polish Jazz tradition. Absolutely not to be missed!

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ADAM WENDT ~ MY CHOICE SOLITON 1304 (Barcode: 5903684233045) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Adam WendtFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with some of the best local musicians: pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist, bassist Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian FrankiewiczFind albums by this artist. Trumpeter Ignacy WendtFind albums by this artist (Adam’s son) guests on two tracks. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader. The music is all within the familiar modern mainstream Jazz idiom, driven by the excellent, highly melodic compositions and superb performances by all the musicians involved. Wendt is clearly a representative of the “old school” approach (in the best possible meaning of the phrase), with each and every note precisely where it should be, which of course does not limit his dynamic expressionism, perfected over the years, and driven by his talent. The compositions are all perfectly coherent and well crafted, as appropriate for a musician of such class, covering a wide range from lyrical ballads to energetic up-tempo Bebop inspired tunes. There is a typical Polish Jazz sound and feel present at all times. The accompanying trio is absolutely stellar, with Wania playing his highly imaginative phrases in the background and inserting blood-curdling solos into the proceedings. Bogdanowicz and Frankiewicz are both Masters of their respective trades and musicians, who can be always relayed on with perfect confidence. Overall, this is a great mainstream Jazz album, which offers good music and exciting performances, which can be appreciated by all Jazz lovers the world over. These musicians don’t need to prove anything anymore and therefore the music they create is full of the joy of music making. This is definitely something worth listening to with love and attention.

Updated: 22/01/2023Posted: 22/01/2023

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