Record Reviews

BARTOSZ SMORAGIEWICZ ~ HUSTLE & BUSTLE ARTISTS RECORDS ~ POLAND ~ Gypsy Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Polish ensemble led by clarinetist / saxophonist / composer Bartosz SmoragiewiczFind albums by this artist, which also includes violinist Marcin SkabaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Sebastian IwanowiczFind albums by this artist and bassist Piotr DomagalskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader. The music is an updated version of early Gypsy Jazz ensembles going back to the legacy of Django ReinhardtFind albums by this artist, with uses the tango and the waltz as departure points into improvisation, all kept within the melodic and harmonic conventions set up eighty years ago. The acoustic quartet lineup is also faithful to the tradition, although clarinet and violin are not the first association fans of Gypsy Jazz would come up with. Nevertheless the music is all coherent and well weaved, with plenty of excellent melodies and vitality, which are the core of this idiom. Some other musical traditions can be also found within this music, like Hassidic and Spanish motifs Smoragiewicz, who studied with my friend Leszek ZadloFind albums by this artist in Germany, is obviously a very proficient and talented player and his clarinet work is excellent. Skaba plays very nice violin parts and Iwanowicz, although slightly less present as a soloist, plays excellent accompaniment. Domagalski stands solidly in the background serving as the backbone of the quartet´s performances. Although on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, this is overall a very enjoyable album, which at the same shows a high quality of composition and performance and keeps the Gypsy Jazz tradition alive. Definitely worth investigation!

Updated: 03/04/2018Posted: 03/04/2018

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