Record Reviews

DIOMEDE ~ PEOPLE FROM THE EAST SJ 025 (Barcode: 5912596066276) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz duo DiomedeFind albums by this artist comprising of pianist Grzegorz TarwidFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Tomasz MarkaniczFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, which are not credited on the artwork and therefore are assumed to be co-composed by both members of the duo. The music is a surprising collection of highly melodic tunes, mostly melancholic and introvert, performed by the duo with certain amount of pathos and theatrical drama, overall quite effective and aesthetically pleasing, but definitely only partly involved with the Jazz idiom. There are elements of Classical Music and folkloristic influences, New Age emotionalism and of course improvisations, all amalgamated into a unique musical blend, which is very communicative and enjoyable to a potentially wide audiences. Both players perform very well, but Tarwid offers a much more diverse palette of sounds and techniques, whereas Markanicz sticks to pretty straightforward saxophone parts, which state the melodic themes and then improvise quite closely to the core melody lines, utilizing dynamics, intensity and wall of sound effects. The most important asset of this music is its "strangeness" and unconventional approach to music making, which is always welcome, even if the purely musical value of the music is not entirely apparent. These musicians are clearly searching for a new path and the process of searching is the essence of this music. This music is perhaps more appropriate for cinema / theater or other applications than for conventional listening, but regardless of the way it is heard, it has its merits. Recommended for more adventurous listeners, who like taking chances!

Updated: 25/11/2017Posted: 25/11/2017

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DIOMEDE ~ PRZYSPIEWKI AUDIO CAVE 2020/008 (Barcode: 5908298549056) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2020 This is the second album by Polish Jazz outfit DiomedeFind albums by this artist, which started as a duo of keyboardist Grzegorz TarwidFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Tomasz MarkaniczFind albums by this artist and on this album was expanded to a trio with the addition of drummer Hubert ZemlerFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten original compositions, which are not credited on the alum´s artwork and assumed to be co-composed by all three musicians. The music seems to stick to the modus operandi of the debut album, presenting melodic pieces, which are only partly related to the Jazz idiom, but involve the element of improvisation and the adventurous spirit, and which could be easily perceived as Art Rock, cinematic music, World-Jazz Fusion and many other sun-genres. This chameleonic character of the music is truly charming and fascinating, and keeps the listener on his toes for the entire duration. Tarwid emerges as one of the most interesting representatives of the young Polish Jazz scene, and his recorded legacy so far offers an astonishing stylistic diversity and unusual level of excellence, which are certainly worth watching closely. His contributions on this album are a clear indication of his multi-talented musical personality. Markanicz evidently matured since the recording of the debut and his improvising skill and power of expression are certainly more impressive, placing him shoulder to shoulder with the two more experienced colleagues. Joining forces with Zemler, who is another example of the strength and diversity of the Polish scene and a remarkable performer, certainly added a lot of new creativity into the outfit´s presence and strengthened the overall sound significantly, now able to present a full palette of an bona fide ensemble. Overall this is a very impressive album, wonderfully unusual, rich in musical contents and surprising variety, excellently performed and obviously standing out as far as creativity and exploration are concerned. Absolutely well done, Gentlemen, and congratulations are in order for passing the critical sophomore album test.

Updated: 22/06/2020Posted: 22/06/2020

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TOMASZ MARKANICZ ~ LADOLOD NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is a solo saxophone album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz MarkaniczFind albums by this artist. The album presents fourteen relatively short tracks, all composed by Markanicz and captured during a field recording in the North-Eastern Polish lake district, where Markanicz hails from, with a beautiful and natural sound ambience. Markanicz recorded a couple of earlier albums with the DiomedeFind albums by this artist ensemble (duo / trio) and this is his debut recording as a leader. The music is based on melodic themes, but offers mainly extensive improvisations, which move between Jazz, Ambient and World influences, and is rather difficult to categorize precisely, which is all for the good. It is somewhat similar to the Nordic / ECMish sound concept, but definitely mostly more adventurous, and as such more ambitious. Some of the tracks are multitracked, combining several of the field recordings placed one on top of another later on in the studio. As most solo recordings, this album requires from the listener his undivided attention, which is not always easy. Several listening sessions are also recommended, as the music might sound differently each time, depending on the listener’s mood. But all things considered, this is a very unusual and moving project, which should be highly rewarding for open-minded music lovers and explorers of new musical experiences. Overall, this is a beautiful, rewarding piece of music, which should grab the attention of Jazz listeners, who are ready to explore uncharted territory and willingly submit their minds to exploring unusual sound vistas. Despite its innovative nature, much of the music is highly melodic and relaxing, and definitely worth being discovered.

Updated: 08/04/2025Posted: 08/04/2025

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