Record Reviews

ZBIGNIEW LEWANDOWSKI QUINTET ~ A NEW OPENING PSJ WROCLAW 004 (Barcode: 5906492433102) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz drummer / composer Zbigniew LewandowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist / flautist Tomasz PruchnickiFind albums by this artist, pianist Robert JarmuzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub OlejnikFind albums by this artist and American guitarist Kenny CarrFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which are original compositions, three by the leader and five by Pruchnicki. The album was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, offering a wonderfully worm and clear sound quality. The album marks a most welcome return of Lewandowski to recording duty, which has been interrupted by a three-decades long gap. Judging by the energy and quality of the new recording, Lewandowski lost none of his skill and talent over time. The music is somewhere between mainstream and modern Jazz, based on excellent compositions with strong melodic themes and interesting rhythmic textures, flowing coherently for the entire duration. Carr’s guitar work adds a slight Fusiony touch here and there, but all in great taste and impeccable precision. All the quintet members get ample opportunity to show their chops, and all stand up to the challenge without a hitch. Lewandowski adds a dense rhythmic layer, but without dominating the proceedings unnecessarily, which is excellently complemented by the bass lines, both on bass guitar and acoustic bass. Overall, this is an excellent mainstream Jazz recording, with a gentle touch of Funk and Groove, which is a real pleasure to listen to and which managed to make me smile when listening, which happened pretty rarely these days. Accessible to a wide Jazz loving audience, this is a true little gem, a nice reminder of the good old days and a pleasant dose of good time!

Updated: 18/05/2024Posted: 18/05/2024

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WIERBA / SCHMIDT QUINTET ~ BLACK MONOLITH SJ 001 (Barcode: 5902020415008) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2011 This is the third album by the Polish Jazz quintet, which was founded by two young players / composers: pianist Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. The quintet also includes saxophonist Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. On this album the quintet is expanded into a sextet with the addition of American trombonist Dante LucianiFind albums by this artist. The sextet performs six tunes, three of which are original compositions by Wierba, two are standards and the remaining one is a composition by Czech trumpeter / composer Stepanka BalcarovaFind albums by this artist, who studied at the Katowice Music Academy as did all of the quintet members. The album was recorded at the fabulous Studio Tokarnia and was engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with excellent, as usual, sonic results. Although the music is all within boundaries of typical Jazz mainstream, it is superbly arranged and executed. The original compositions are interesting and poise perfectly the melodic themes and the spirited attitude; the piece by Balcarova is the most impressive on the album. Overall this is a very pleasant well rounded Jazz album, which presents the sextet as a small Big Band, balancing between the brass and rhythm sections, features many excellent solo spots and shows that young Europeans can play mainstream as well as anybody else anywhere. The individual skills of the musicians involved are of course spotless. This album is the first release on the SJFind albums on this label label, owned by Schmidt, which is one of the small independent Polish Jazz labels releasing music by young Polish Jazz musicians, a most welcome phenomenon of course, spreading the local Jazz gospel around the world.

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BIOTONE ~ UNSPOKEN WORDS SJ 002 (Barcode: 5902020415558) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2009 Released: 2011 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz quartet BiotoneFind albums by this artist, led by trombonist Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist, who also wrote all the music present herein. The other members of the quartet are saxophonist Przemyslaw FlorczakFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej ZielakFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. These four young musicians are all typical examples of the new generation, which is slowly establishing themselves on the, rather crowded one must say, Polish Jazz scene. This scene was always exploding with talent and is now overflowing, unfortunately not being developed enough, dynamic enough and flexible enough to contain all that incredible influx of talent flowing in at an ever increasing paste. One must admire Tomaszczyk for his self-confidence, as a trombone-led quartet is a very uncommon phenomenon in Jazz history. Even the greatest trombonists were usually satisfied with the role of a sideman, but Tomaszczyk boldly presents his approach, and shows us all an upper hand. The quartet has a fresh, well balanced sound and all the members play excellently throughout. The rhythm section is inventive and fully participates in the music-making process together with the two front soloists. The compositions are also very good, both melodically and rhythmically, presenting an interesting compositional palette, which at this stage already shows individuality and character. But of course the key point of the album is the solo work of the leader, who manages to make the most of his difficult and often ungrateful instrument. His performances are absolutely first class from top to bottom and as someone, who has a lot of trombone "mileage" (after producing several trombone-centered albums) I can definitely say this is first class work and more importantly a great promise for the future. Altogether a superb debut, worth investigating!

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PRZEMYSLAW FLORCZAK ~ IMAGE OF MY PERSONALITY SJ 003 (Barcode: 5902596066024) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by a young Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Przemyslaw FlorczakFind albums by this artist, recorded with his quartet which includes also organist Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Pawel PuszczaloFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, six of which are original compositions, all by Florczak, and one is a Charles MingusFind albums by this artist piece. Florczak is also a member of the excellent group BiotoneFind albums by this artist. The album is very impressive, especially as a debut, and presents a portrait of mature musicianship by the leader both as a performer and a composer. All the quartet members are excellent players, both as individuals and collective contributors. The decision to use the organ, rather than acoustic piano, turns this album into a completely unique experience, as this highly unusual combination opens a whole new world of sonic experience and wonderful unisono passages. The saxophone and the organ simply blend together fabulously and one wonders why they are not used together more often. The compositions are also surprisingly excellent, well within the Jazz mainstream but incorporating many cross-genre elements, like bits of Funk, Bossa and even World-Music influences. Beautifully put together and intelligently arranged, they are a true pleasure to listen to. This music is fun (in the best meaning of the word) from start to finish, being both accessible to a wide range of listeners and sophisticated enough to draw the attention of the connoisseurs. Florczak plays beautifully throughout, being especially impressive on the lyrical pieces, where his wonderful tone and delicate delivery is often breathtaking. Tomaszewski is also "stealing" a large part of the show with his superb organ lines, which bring on memories of times long gone. The rhythm section is simply perfect for the job, providing the vehicle for the two soloists to shine and keeping the wagon on the road. The album has a surprisingly exquisite sound quality, which turns out to be less surprising after reading the bane of sound engineer Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist on the cover, who was in charge "only" of mix and mastering this time, but his signature is well recognized. Overall this is a true gem, sadly somewhat overlooked on the crowded Polish Jazz scene, where albums are being released at an incredible rate, but definitely worth digging out and investigating. Well done indeed!

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WIERBA / SCHMIDT QUINTET ~ THE MOLE PEOPLE SJ 004 (Barcode: 5902596066017) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the fourth album by the Polish Jazz quintet, which was founded by two young players / composers: pianist Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. The quintet also includes bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The fifth member of the quintet is a guest artist and in this case it the fabulous Polish saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist. The quintet performs seven tunes, five of which are original compositions by Wierba, one by Schmidt and the remaining one is a Jimmy RowlesFind albums by this artist standard. The music sits well within the comfortable boundaries of typical Jazz mainstream, moving vaguely between Bebop and Hard Bop. The original compositions are all quite solid, but overall unremarkable and lack an edge which could keep the listener focused for the duration of the music. The performances are also very good, but than again there´s nothing here that every Jazz fan never heard before. Baron, who obviously represents a completely different league, sadly contributes very little, as most of the music is performed without his direct involvement. The only moment when the music becomes truly inspired is when the beautiful standard is performed solo by the pianist. To make things perfectly clear this is not a bad album; there are plenty of interesting moments and excellent solos (Baron´s solos in particular) but it is not enough to make it a remarkable album. In view of the music made by the very young Polish Jazz players, even younger than the ones on this album, constantly breathing on the neck of their slightly older colleagues, the level of competition requires everybody to try ever so harder. Life is a bitch.

Updated: 12/06/2018Posted:

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PIOTR SCHMIDT / ELECTRIC GROUP ~ SILVER PROTECT SJ 005 (Barcode: 5902596066048) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is the debut recording by the Polish Fusion band Electric GroupFind albums by this artist led by the young trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist and including also keyboardist Tomasz BuraFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist, drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist and vocalist Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of six original compositions, four of which are by the pianist and two by the leader. In addition to leading this group, Schmidt also co-leads a Jazz quintet with pianist Michal WierbaFind albums by this artist, which uses the same rhythm section as this group. It seems that the Polish Jazz scene is not only capable of grooming excellent piano players, but apparently also brilliant young trumpeters, as evident from the recent wave of extraordinary new releases. This album certainly falls into the same category as far as presenting new trumpet players, but it is quite different in every other sense, most notably being a Fusion recording, a genre which nowadays rarely features the trumpet as the leading instrument, as it used to in its heydays. This album in however not just one more Fusion album, as it includes many other elements, especially Funk, which makes it particularly interesting. The compositions present a diverse musical approach, with excellent melody lines supported by Funky rhythms, memorable vamps and overall superb execution, which is simply heartwarming, especially in view on the musicians´ age. I must admit that its been quite a while since I´ve had the pleasure to listen to such Funky high quality music, which at best brings back fond memories of Herbie HancockFind albums by this artist´s "MwandishiFind albums with this title" period. Schmidt sounds great regardless if he plays a muted trumpet, an electronically processed one (a la echoplex) or simply blows straight forward. Bura is best (in this environment) playing the electric piano rather than synthesizers and the rhythm section is close to stealing the show at times, with those bass slaps that make your ass dance and the extraordinary drumming, which is all over the place and yet so on time. The vocals are used mostly as vocalese, where they are most effective. When they turn to singing lyrics (in English), they quickly become the weakest link of the otherwise excellent effort. Overall this is definitely a most impressive debut recording, which is both fun to listen to and a quality listening experience. I´m really looking forward to hear their next one, hopefully soon. Not to be missed! Schmidt, a native of Silesia, the southwestern Polish region (where I come from as well) is one of a growing number of important Polish Jazz musicians originating there. The region is cultivating an active and first-rate local Jazz scene in the last decade, including clubs and festivals. In short, Silesia rulez!

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ORGAN SPOT ~ ORGAN SPOT SJ 006 (Barcode: 5902596066055) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 The Hammond B-3 Organ is one of my all time favorite musical instruments, with endless reminiscences overflowing my mind every time the unique sound starts buzzing in the air. Scores of superb albums were recorded using the B-3 over the years, not only in Jazz but also in Rock of course, and hundreds of keyboardists used the instrument over the years, which in time achieved a legendary status. In addition, the Hammond B-3 / guitar cooperation (in duos and trios mostly) has a fascinating tradition in Jazz from way back in the 1950s, which is still very much alive and kicking today. Therefore listening to this album was quite an emotional journey for me. Organ SpotFind albums by this artist is a trio comprising of three young Polish Jazz musicians: organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartek StaromiejskiFind albums by this artist. The album consists of seven tunes, five of which are Jazz standards and two are originals, composed one each by Mika and Galas. Not surprisingly the album was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and engineered by the studio owner and himself a fellow Hammond "brother in arms" Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. The wonderful sound quality and ambience is one of the key factors which makes this album such a sweet gem, as Studio Tokarnia has a wonderful ability to create a truly "retro" sound, which resembles classic Jazz recordings for such legendary labels as Blue NoteFind albums on this label. Watch out for the worn-out LP gap between the tracks in one case, which gives a hint as to the "retro" intensions herein. The performances by all three trio members are spotless and incredibly well balanced. There are no ego trips here and they all play together respectfully listening to each other and supporting each other. Although the organ is obviously the center of attention on this album, the listeners should definitely pay attention to the incredible guitar parts, which are truly invigorating. Some great guitar players must be smiling in Heaven hearing this stuff. Musically this album is not looking for innovation or breaking new ground; it´s all about keeping a wonderful tradition (sonically, stylistically and aesthetically) alive, and doing it in a fresh and interesting way. This album is every inch as good as any similar music produced anywhere else, which speaks for itself as far as the talents and abilities of these young musicians are concerned. Having respect for the tradition, studying and preserving it, are not self-understood these days and are definitely something to be praised and appreciated. Overall this is as close to a perfect mainstream Jazz album as it gets; it is honest, well played, sounds great and most Jazz connoisseurs can enjoy it in full. Definitely a most impressive debut!

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GENERATION NEXT ~ LIVE AT JAZZ NAD ODRA SJ 007 (Barcode: 5902596066062) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz sextet, which as the name suggests, presents the Father-to Son continuity on the local scene; four of the sextet´s members are second generation of Polish Jazz personalities. Trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist is a son of Andrzej SchmidtFind albums by this artist, a renowned educator and author of Jazz history books, trombonist Jacek NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist is a son of the legendary saxophonist / composer Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, Gabriel NiedzielaFind albums by this artist is a son of the celebrated bassist / composer Jacek NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and finally saxophonist Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist is a son of saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist. The remaining two members of the sextet are Italian bassist Francesco AngiuliFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The sextet performs seven original compositions, two each by Schmidt, Namyslowski and Wendt and one by Niedziela. The material was recorded live at the Jazz Nad Odra Festival and at the Polish Radio´s Warsaw studio. The idea of forming a musical ensemble based on the fact that the members have something in common, other than the music they play, is always a perilous affair. Just imagine a group of left-handed players, or red-haired players or musicians who like strawberry ice cream? This is perhaps not the case at hand, but on the other hand it is difficult to guess what the purpose of this sextet really is. The music they play is straight-forward mainstream, which is completely déjà-vu and contributes no thrill and no challenge. Yes, they are all excellent players individually, but does their presence together on this album create any special interaction, which would have not happened in different circumstances? Not really. So here we have it, an unremarkable Jazz recording, which is listenable enough but simply fades away as soon as the music is over. Considering the fact that there are hordes of fabulous young Jazz musicians on the Polish scene, who make outstanding music, this is sadly an example of what should be avoided.

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BARTOSZ PIESZKA ~ SLOW MOTION SJ 008 (Barcode: 5912596066078) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 - 2009 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz vibraphonist Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist and his quartet, which also includes pianist Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej SzczycinskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. Guest musicians: oboe player Katarzyna RudaFind albums by this artist and bass clarinetist Piotr TorunskiFind albums by this artist are featured ne one track each. The album presents ten pieces, of which four are standards and six are originals, four by Pieszka, one by Szczycinski and one co-composed by Pieszka and Kolodziejczyk. The album was recorded over a period of two years several years back but only now sees the light of day. The vibraphone, one of the noblest instruments, which has a wonderful tradition in Jazz music, is sadly almost forgotten in recent years. The Polish Jazz scene is perhaps the last bastion where the vibraphone plays a significant role in Jazz music and new players of the instrument still join the ranks of legendary veterans. It is therefore with great joy and special attention that every new discovery in that area is welcomed by me and other Polish Jazz enthusiasts. This album presents a balanced mixture of original music and standards, ballads and up-tempo numbers, all kept within mainstream Jazz tradition. There is nothing groundbreaking about this music and the no risks are taken, but the overall result is definitely enjoyable and well done, especially in view of the young age of the players involved. Mainstream Jazz connoisseurs will definitely enjoy this ride from start to finish. As far as individual contributions are concerned, Pieszka emerges somewhat subdued and is seldom in the lead. To be perfectly hones this album is absolutely "stolen" by the incredible performances by Kolodziejczyk, who plays most of the solos and is by far the most gifted player on this album. The rhythm section is also interesting, which the drummer being a bit too busy for my taste, buy playing with feel and imagination. The bassist is very musical and supportive. The album often makes the impression of a piano trio album rather than a quartet recording. As debuts go, this is fresh and promising, hopefully providing a glimpse of future to come for these youngsters. Definitely a nice listening experience!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted:

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OLA TRZASKA ~ ALL AROUND SJ 009 (Barcode: 5912596066085) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by Polish vocalist / flautist / songwriter Ola TrzaskaFind albums by this artist, recorded by a sextet which also includes trumpeter Lukasz KorybalskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Marcin PiekosFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight songs, all original by Trzaska (music and lyrics), six of which feature English and two Polish lyrics. The music is a nice mixture of Pop / Soul / Funk & Groove, based on Trzaska´s melodic themes jazzed up by the arrangements and instrumental work, especially that of the brass section. Not a Jazz album per se, but close enough for comfort to turn the ear of a Jazz fan as well as those who have almost nothing to do with it. Usually I completely condemn Polish singers singing in English, but in this case the result is acceptable, thanks to Trzaska´s phrasing and a skillful mix which keeps the vocals usually in unisono with instrumental backing, which mute the language "imperfections". Trzaska has a limited vocal range and wisely utilizes her voice safely within her comfort zone, which of course becomes somewhat inadequate in the long range, making all the songs to sound a bit alike. But her singing is expressive and full of emotion, which overall saves the day. Combined with the truly inspired instrumental work by the players, the album is a fun to listen to. Swies deserves a special mention since his bass notes drive the entire album with an incredible funky groove. Tomaszczyk also plays a few beautiful trombone solos on the album, which are little gems. This is definitely an impressive debut, presenting Trzaska as a gifted songwriter, vocalist and arranger, who will surely take part in the development of the Polish music scene in the years to come.

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F.O.U.R.S. COLLECTIVE ~ TREEZZ SJ 010 (Barcode: 5912596066092) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by a young Polish Jazz ensemble F.O.U.R.S. CollectiveFind albums by this artist, formed in 2010. The current quintet lineup was completed when the trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist joined the existing members: saxophonist Stanislaw PlewniakFind albums by this artist, pianist Michal SalamonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub DworakFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, five composed by Salamon and four co-composed by Salamon and Plewniak. The music is immediately recognizable as "spanking new", full of energy and vigor, which often characterizes the young Polish Jazz generation. Although kept well within the mainstream / melodic idiom, the music demonstrates a wide range of stylistic approaches, touching upon Jazz-Rock Fusion, classic modern Jazz and amalgamating World Music elements. But most importantly the level of the compositions is absolutely outstanding. Every tune on this album is a little gem, with a beautiful melody line, flowing structure and an ideal vehicle for improvisations. The individual performances are also first class; Salamon plays delicate acoustic piano and funky electric, Plewniak is especially effective on the soprano and the rhythm section does exactly what is right at all times, driving the music forward and providing the pulse which is an essential ingredient of this music. Schmidt, who is the most experienced player in the ensemble, sounds also invigorated in this setting and delivers some scorching trumpet solos. As a debut this is quite an achievement in any sense. Superb music, great playing, talent, determination and musical intelligence are all clearly visible here and hopefully this is just the first stem in a long a successful future career. Well done amigos!

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MATEUSZ PALKA / SZYMON MIKA ~ POPYT SJ 011 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz quartet co led by pianist Mateusz PalkaFind albums by this artist and guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, with bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. It presents six original compositions, four by Palka and two by Mika, and one standard. Stylistically the quartet seems to continue the mainstream Jazz tradition, which crystallized in America in the 1960s and was captured on classic Jazz recordings by labels like Blue Note and numerous others. The album´s ambience and overall sound character is very similar to what was created in that milieu at that period of time and automatically brings on waves of nostalgia. The excellent original compositions, all very melodic, clearly structured and swinging rhythmically are ideally suited for creating that kind musical environment. Personally I think that a more free approach, which the ensemble utilizes on the last track on the album, should be a pointer to their future path, especially in view of how well they manage to handle it here. The individual performances are all superbly executed, way beyond what one might expect form such young musicians, but in today´s reality that fact is almost universally true; musicians mature faster and reach their peak as performers much earlier in their careers. The quartet works very well as a unit surprisingly because these four young musicians are so different from each other. Palka is obviously the instigator of many ideas and wishes to say as much as possible in a given time frame, whereas Mika is an island of tranquility and a king of "cool", playing exactly what is needed at a given moment, with obvious flair and beautiful "old fashioned" tone, which sounds simply marvelous. Wykpisz is a brilliant bassist, with incredible feel for time and melody, and keeps the entire ensemble in check, which allows Maslowski to be all over the place and fill the blanks (or rather intervals) with his pulsating ornamentations. This is definitely a solid and promising debut album by musicians who are surely going places on the Polish Jazz scene and beyond in years to come. Well done indeed!

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SCHMIDT ELECTRIC ~ TEAR THE ROOF OFF SJ 012 (Barcode: 5912596066146) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist mangers to teleport smoothly between acoustic mainstream Jazz and electric Fusion, an ability he already demonstrated clearly by releasing several albums on his own label since 2000, which cover both subgenres. This time he expands his modus operandi to touch upon additional areas, which include smooth Jazz, Rap and Ambient, but manages to do so without compromising his integrity as a Jazz musician. The album, which was recorded in a quartet setting, with keyboardist Tomasz BuraFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist, features also several guest artists, who appear on selected tracks, a couple of them from Britain, including guitarist Alex HutchingsFind albums by this artist. The eleven tracks on the album are all originals, five of which were composed by Schmidt, four by Bura, one is credited to Bura and the whole ensemble and one is by ambient / electronic keyboardist / composer Joanna SzymalaFind albums by this artist, who also performs here. The music is very diverse and constantly performs a chameleonic transformation, starting with a Rap track, moving into an electronic / ambient passage and continuing with a series of Jazz / Fusion tracks, ranging from lyrical ballads to energetic electric statements. Although this might sound a bit chaotic, in fact the music presents a coherent and consistent continuum. There are plenty of great melodies and catchy riffs, but the music is anything but trivial at any point. The individual performances are all excellent; Schmidt is a very gifted trumpeter and his melodic ballads are simply heartbreaking, Bura is the great discovery of this album, playing a wide range of sounds, improvising elegantly and simply being there every time just when a chord or an arpeggio are needed to fill the space. The rhythm section is dynamic, melodic and incredibly supportive. Kapczuk plays some superb solos and Kuchczynski stays behind the players at all time, not trying to show off beyond exactly what is required of him. Hutchings also adds some several scorching solos, which ornament the overall sound of the band. Schmidt juts might have found on this album the exact formula that suits his musical karma. Cross-genre, cross time, contemporary and melodically advanced, this music is a pleasure to listen to, without compromising even the sternest connoisseurs. Although some of Schmidt´s earlier attempts to find his way in the straightforward mainstream Jazz milieu were a bit shaky, this album finds him determined, mature and unmistakably doing his own thing. Beautifully done, my young friend; kudos!

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TOMASZ BURA ~ RITUAL SJ 013 (Barcode: 5912596066160) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut album by young Polish (resident in London) Jazz pianist / composer Tomasz BuraFind albums by this artist. It was recorded "live in the studio" in a solo piano format and presents eight compositions, six of which are by Bura, one is a standard and one is by Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist (Bura plays keyboards in Schmidt´s ensembles). The music is mostly lyrical and introvert, quite in contrast to what Bura played earlier on Schmidt´s albums, which were Fusion oriented. Here Bura definitely exposes his Classical influences as a performer and composer, with emphasis on romanticism and European melancholy. Although based on solid melodic themes, the music floats harmonically in different directions, often quite distantly from the initial ideas. Certain passages seem to be improvised on the spot, even though obviously well prepared in advance. The entire approach seems to draw the listener into a semi-meditative trance, taking him on a journey of dreamy reflections. The more energetic improvisations serve as a wake up calls between the music induced dreams. This kind of music really requires complete attention and submission in order to be fully enjoyable. Overall this is a surprising and inspiring debut album, which manages to overcome the obvious complicatedness of solo piano albums with flying colors. It certainly makes me curious to hear Bura in a classic acoustic piano trio format, which would be the ultimate test of his abilities. In the meantime let´s enjoy this eloquent "ritual´.

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MACIEK WOJCIESZUK ~ MWQ SJ 014 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by the young Polish Jazz quintet led by drummer Maciek WojcieszukFind albums by this artist, which also includes trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Kuba LepaFind albums by this artist, pianist Paulina AtmanskaFind albums by this artist and bassist Adam TadelFind albums by this artist. Together they perform seven original compositions (presumably by the leader), while the album´s packaging gives no information whatsoever as to the authors of these compositions, which is careless not to mention unwise. The music is all pretty conventional, well within the Jazz mainstream and the Bebop tradition. The compositions are solid and mature, serving the quintet members well as vehicles for their ensemble parts and their individual solos. Considering the age of these musicians, this is definitely a very fitting display of their talents. The personal abilities of the quintet members might be a bit hesitant at times, but show a lot of promise, and again considering that these are their early professional steps, they deserve a lenient criticism. It is difficult to point out anyone specific from the quintet´s lineup, as they all perform formidably. Personally I think Atmanska stands out due to her unusual approach to the piano, which uses hard vamping a la McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist and displays more freedom in her playing than her colleagues. Tadel also deserves a special mention, as his sold bass lines and beautiful solos are some of the album´s highlights. But again this album is overall an impressive debut, which can make the leader and his cohorts proud of themselves. The sound quality of the album, recorded at the excellent RecPublica Studios and engineered by Maciej StachFind albums by this artist is another of this album´s strong points. Since I had the opportunity to hear these young musicians during their studies at the Jazz Department of the Katowice Music Academy, I am not surprised by their abilities, a phenomenon which characterizes the students at all the Polish Music Academies, where a young generation of Polish Jazz musicians is currently being groomed. The amount of talent among these young musicians is simply staggering, thus making sure that Polish Jazz is destined to flourish in the future as much as it does already now. Definitely an album worth investigating!

Updated: 09/07/2016Posted: 09/07/2016

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FOREST TUNER ~ TUNES SJ 015 (Barcode: 5912596066177) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album by a young Polish Jazz quartet called The Forest TunerFind albums by this artist, led by trombonist Szymon BialoruckiFind albums by this artist, with pianist Mateusz SobiechowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam TadelFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by the leader, and was recorded at the splendid Studio Tokarnia, with Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist at the knobs, which as usual guarantees an outstanding sound quality. The music is pretty straightforward, moving between melodic mainstream Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion, excellently performed by all participants. The trombone lead, which of course is fairly rare in a quartet setting, creates an obvious disparity between this particular quartet and most others, with is also characterized by the compositions, which have a stylistic relationship and coherence. Trombone is of course a very challenging instrument, especially when put in front of a Jazz quartet. Bialorucki handles this challenge very well, intelligently avoiding showing off a virtuoso approach to the instrument, and putting the emphasis on feel and melody. Sobiechowski plays wonderfully both as an accompanist and as a soloist and his melodic approach fits the overall mood of the album ideally. The rhythm section stands shoulder to shoulder with the two soloists, with Tadel contributing many impressive bass lines and Budniak providing a solid rhythmic anchor. Overall this is a very promising debut recording, which as usual emphasizes the incredible level of the young Polish Jazz scene, which seems to be blessed with a plentitude of talent and a healthy dose of ambition. Definitely worth investigation!

Updated: 25/03/2017Posted: 10/09/2016

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OLA TRZASKA ~ AMULET SJ 016 (Barcode: 5912596066184) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2015 - 2016 Released: 2016 This is the second album by Polish vocalist / flautist / songwriter Ola TrzaskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a formidable team of musicians, very similar to the lineup of her debut album, which includes trombonist / co-producer Michal TomaszczykFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Nikola KolodziejczykFind albums by this artist, bassist Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. Several other musicians participate on selected tracks. The album presents twelve compositions, eight of which are original compositions by Trzaska and one is co-composed with Tomaszczyk. One short piece is composed by Kolodziejczyk and two are of Brazilian origin. Trzaska also wrote most of the lyrics, of which three are in Polish and the rest are in English. Musically the album continues the same musical approach as Trzaska´s debut, with nice Jazzy arrangements and excellent playing by al the participants, but very limited vocal parts and unremarkable compositions, making very limited progress from the debut, which is a pity. Trzaska continues to sing in English, which does her no good at all, and the professionalism of her colleagues is not able to conceal her limitations. For the second time the bass parts by Swies and the trombone parts by Tomaszczyk are truly wonderful, but that is about all there is to this album.

Updated: 16/04/2017Posted: 16/04/2017

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EVENT HORIZON ~ EVENT HORIZON SJ 017 (Barcode: 5912596066191) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2013 - 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish duo Event Horizon, which comprises of drummer Gniewomir TomczykFind albums by this artist and keyboardist / bassist Andrzej MikulskiFind albums by this artist. A plethora of guest musicians, some form the echelons of the young Polish Jazz circles and others from different areas, add their contributions, including Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, Aga DerlakFind albums by this artist, Krzysia GorniakFind albums by this artist, Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, Kuba WiecekFind albums by this artist, Marek KadzielaFind albums by this artist and many others. The album presents ten original compositions (one repeated twice), recorded over a period of several years, five of which were co-composed and arranged by Tomczyk and Mikulski, others composed either individually by one of the duo members or co-composed with others, improvised or being arrangements of Classical themes, in short a very diverse collection of ideas. Three of the pieces feature texts / lyrics in English. The music is strongly melody based and rooted in Jazz, but emphasizes production and sound at least as much as improvisation, creating wonderful contemporary vistas, which feel completely cross-genre and can be liked by a very wide spectrum of listeners, predominantly belonging to the younger generation. The music is intelligent and wonderfully coherent, offering a superb selection of melodies and harmonies, which often are absent in the so called "serious Jazz" recordings. Although this music can be categorized as Smooth Jazz for lack of a better definition, based on the "cool" and seemingly "smooth" approach, it is full of excellent musicianship and masterly music production. Overall this is a classic example of "don´t judge a book by its cover" (here both metaphorically and directly, as the album´s cover art is rather bleak, completely uncharacteristic of its contents). What might be considered as a youthful experiment turns out to be a solid piece of excellent music, which stands its own ground, regardless what the Jazz purists might say. In many respects this album represents what the new generation of Jazz players feels about Jazz, respecting the tradition but reaching out to electronics, new sounds and original approach, which attempts to discover new ground, which after all is the most important aspect of music making. This is definitely one of the most interesting releases so far in 2017, as far as I am concerned. Well done Wonder Kids!

Updated: 07/04/2017Posted: 07/04/2017

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TOMASZ WENDT TRIO & ATOM STRING QUARTET ~ BEHIND THE STRINGS SJ 018 (Barcode: 5912596066207) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist presented in a trio setting with bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. The trio is accompanied on several tracks by the excellent Atom String QuartetFind albums by this artist (violinists Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist and Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Michal ZaborskiFind albums by this artist and cellist Krzysztof LenczowskiFind albums by this artist). Vocalist Magdalena ZawartkoFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks and pianist Lukasz DamrychFind albums by this artist guests on three tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all composed and beautifully arranged by Wendt. What might appear on the surface as another "Sax & Strings" Smooth Jazz project turns out to be a brilliant musical enterprise, which offers superb Mainstream Jazz music, which has depth and meaning. The compositions are all wonderfully solid and coherent, full of typical Polish melancholy and lyricism, and all skillfully arranged for this unusual setting. The music is diverse and rich in harmonic layers and rhythmic patterns, providing a fascinating journey to the listener, which is moving from one climax to another. Wendt plays expressively and his improvisations perfectly suit the musical boundaries, being interesting and complex but not crossing the line into becoming too intricate for a mainstream Jazz enthusiast. The rhythm section supports the leader amicably, with Piasecki filling the bottom pulsations which make this music swing and Bulinski setting the pace with his skillful and highly original drum parts. The Atom String Quartet does exactly what it is famous for, i.e. plays some superb string ornamentations and in the process produces breathtaking violin solos. The album is a wonderful example of good taste and elegance. The proportions between the saxophone, rhythm section and the string quartet are beautifully balanced, magnificently recorded at the RecPublica Studios and engineered by Lukasz OlejarczykFind albums by this artist. Overall this is a gem of an album for fans of sophisticated mainstream Jazz, which offers an unusual instrumental setting and great compositions, superb arrangements and perfect execution; in short some of the best Polish Jazz has to offer. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 25/03/2017Posted: 25/03/2017

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HEFI QUARTET ~ PARALLAX ERROR SJ 019 (Barcode: 191061111023) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz flautist / composer Leszek HeFi WisniowskiFind albums by this artist and the second under the HeFi Quartet moniker. The quartet features this time the excellent pianist Dominik WaniaFind albums by this artist and the familiar rhythm section which accompanies Wisniowski since several years: bassist Tomasz KupiecFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartek StaromiejskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents fourteen relatively short original compositions, all by Wisniowski, two of which were co-composed by Kupiec and one by Wania. From the very onset of this album it becomes clear that this is by far the most mature, coherent and balanced recording by Wisniowski, which presents him as a gifted composer and excellent instrumentalist in a best possible setting. The music ideally combines melodic elements with modern Jazz approach, which allows the players plenty of space to express their individual statements and at the same time maintains the unity of the quartet as an organic ensemble. Wisniowski treats his instrument with an utmost respect, flirting and even making love with it all along, always in perfect harmony and perfect balance between the emotional expressionism and the technical virtuosity. The pieces move between solos, duos and quartet performances, each of these settings emphasizing different aspects of the music, which is completely absorbing and magnetic in its depth of emotion. The presence of Wania is a crucial element of the album´s aura and its overall success to create to desired effect. Among the many Polish Jazz pianists, Wania is not only one of the very best, but also the most modest and most profound as a player, being able to find the ideal expression suitable to a diverse set of environments. He never "steals" the show and always fills the space with his stunning, delicate and perfect phrases. His performances on this album are definitely among his most beautiful and Wisniowski made a very wise decision to select him as a partner, which resulted in a brilliant piece of recorded music, definitely one of the best so far this year on the Polish Jazz scene. It is very satisfying to see that Wisniowski finally found his true realm on this album. After many years of searching, this album is simply a pinnacle of his achievements and a well deserved glorification of his talents, which will hopefully be followed by many more such fabulous musical vistas. Well done indeed!

Updated: 08/07/2017Posted: 08/07/2017

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SCHMIDT ELECTRIC ~ LIVE SJ 020 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2015 - 2016 Released: 2017 This is the second album by the Schmidt ElectricFind albums by this artist ensemble, led by trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist and also including keyboardist Tomasz BuraFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist, drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist and British guitarist Alex HutchingsFind albums by this artist. The core quintet was expanded for this live recording by DJ Wojciech DlugoszFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mr. KrimeFind albums by this artist), electronics wizard Joanna SzymalaFind albums by this artist and vibraphonist Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist. The ensemble performs six original compositions, four composed by Schmidt and two by Bura, a short solo trumpet intro by Schmidt and another intro by Szymala, altogether eight tracks. Yours truly was present during the live recording in Katowice, one of the two venues where these live recordings were captured, and therefore a part of my soul is also captured on this album, like every other person who was ever present in the audience during a live recording. The music is a natural extension to what the released earlier studio debut album offered, i.e. an excellent melodic version of modern Fusion, which flows smoothly from one tune to another, but preserves class and elegance and above all is great fun to listen to. The live ambience allows the musicians to take extended solo parts and show their chops, which they all do to the max. The music is diverse and offers many moods, which of course contributes significantly to the fact that the album keeps the listener on his toes for the entire duration. It is great to see Schmidt to finally settling down within a domain, which suits him the best in my opinion. This music allows him to express his superb compositional talents and lead a highly professional ensemble, which can make him proud as a leader. His trumpet playing also reaches a refined stage of expressiveness and eloquence, especially effective on the slow tempo ballads, which are absolute goose bumps generators. The use of turntablism and electronics adds an up to date flavor to the music, without overshadowing the main melodic, harmonic and rhythmic coherence and the strong Jazzy groove. Schmidt manages to create music which can be enjoyed by a wide age range of listeners, which of course is commendable. Overall a great contemporary Fusion album, full of great melodies, fine arrangements, excellent performances and above all great fun! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted: 07/07/2017

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ANDRII SACHEVA ~ ELUSIVE SIGNS SJ 021 (Barcode: 5912596066245) ~ UKRAINE ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album (an EP lasting just under twenty minutes) by the Ukrainian (resident in Poland) violinist / multi-instrumentalist / composer Andrii SachevaFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded by various lineups involving musicians from six different countries. The five tracks on the album, all original compositions by Sacheva, feature female vocalists, and in the case of three of them it is the Polish vocalist Julia KaniaFind albums by this artist, who also wrote the English lyrics for these songs. Other young Polish participants are keyboardist Bartosz KalickiFind albums by this artist, bassist Mateusz SzewczykFind albums by this artist and drummer Liliana ZieniawaFind albums by this artist. The music is basically melodic Pop with rich instrumental arrangements, which include in addition to the conventional instruments also some electronically generated sounds. The arrangements are elaborate and include some cross-genre influences from Jazz, World and Ambient music. The overall sound and atmosphere of the music is rather somber and melancholic, quite appropriate for soundtrack of a mystery / thriller movie. Sacheva plays a plethora of instruments in addition to the violin, but his performances on this album are not extensive enough to learn in depth about his abilities as an instrumentalist. Judging by whatever can be heard he is definitely a gifted musician. The performances by all the other participants are first-rate, especially the vocalese parts by Lithuanian vocalist Ida SevelkaityteFind albums by this artist on one track. Overall this is a promising debut effort, but still very ambivalent musically. Although these tracks present a coherent approach, the exact stylistic maturity is still to be clarified in the future, which of course usually happens in time.

Updated: 30/09/2017Posted: 30/09/2017

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PIOTR BUDNIAK ESSENTIAL GROUP ~ INTO THE LIFE SJ 022 (Barcode: 5912596066238) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the second album by young Polish Jazz drummer / composer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist with his Essential GroupFind albums by this artist sextet, which also includes saxophonists Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and Jakub SkowronskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist and bassist Alan WykpiszFind albums by this artist; definitely some of the best young Polish Jazz lions. The album presents six original compositions (one repeated twice), all by Budniak. Perfectly executed and presenting superb compositions this album is an example of what modern young European Jazz is all about and it is a momentous step forward for Budniak as a composer and bandleader. The music is diverse, interesting, often unexpected and developing constantly. Although based on clearly defined melodic themes, it keeps evolving within each tune, changing moods and tempi, all to the delight of the listener. Although perhaps not intended as such, the albums sound like a continuous suite-like piece of music, which is perfectly coherent and feels like a complete statement. The sextet plays like a dream, at times sounding like a small Big Band, at other times like a Jazz-Rock ensemble, always perfectly in sync, balanced and cooperating towards a common goal. The individual statements are all perfect with the wonderfully structured solos chasing one another. The bass clarinet parts by Skowronski and the guitar parts by Mika are the "secret ingredients" which create the overall wonderful sonic aura, but everybody plays simply superbly. The rhythm section drives the ensemble like a Porsche engine, with sublime sensitivity, with the Big Bear Wykpisz being the maestro of melodic structures at the low end of the sonic spectrum. Budniak himself is a very delicate and considerate drummer, who keeps his rhythmic pulsation at a proper ensemble level not trying to be bossy. Of course Budniak deserves praise for his extraordinary compositions, which are the essence of this music. I must say that it has been quite a while since I heard an album´s length piece of music, which has absolutely no weak parts and keeps the listener at his toes for the entire duration. Absolutely brilliant stuff! Congratulations are in order to everybody involved and I highly recommend this album to all Jazz connoisseurs around the world as an example of what great music means these days. Life is too short for anything less than this!

Updated: 16/09/2017Posted: 16/09/2017

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ANIA MICHALOWSKA ~ SNOW PEJZAZE SJ 023 (Barcode: 0105912596066) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz vocalist Ania MichalowskaFind albums by this artist, recorded with a core trio comprising of keyboardist Michal IwanekFind albums by this artist, who was also in charge of the arrangements, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. On three of the songs she is accompanied additionally by a brass section and on four by a sting quartet. The album presents nine original songs, all of which were composed by Ania´s husband Jakub KotyniaFind albums by this artist (two co-composed by her), who also plays guitar on four of the songs. The lyrics to the songs were written by four different lyricists. All of the songs feature lyrics in Polish, except two which utilize lyrics in English. The album also offers excellent sound quality. The songs are all beautifully lyrical and offer incredible melodic sensitivity. The typical Polish melancholy is omnipresent, which is hardly surprising, and is often emphasized by the lyrics, which are all intelligent and insightful. The music is wonderfully and skillfully arranged, to offer sound versatility and emotional vistas, which keep changing from one song to another. Musically the album is a true gem, masterfully weaved by all the participants. Although Michalowska is able to sing the English lyrics quite elegantly, my advice would be to give this a rest, as her Polish delivery is simply infinitely more effective. Michalowska has a steady, refined voice, which she uses smoothly and without effort, applying her abilities skillfully to express emotions. She treats the non-trivial melody lines with ease and elegance, even with finesse, showing absolutely no signs of stress. At time she adds small vocalese parts, which fill the blanks and hopefully she will use this technique more often in the future, as she does more extensively on the last tune. The instrumental performances are also absolutely brilliant. Iwanek is a superb accompanist and plays many stunning solo parts, mostly on acoustic piano. Kapczuk and Kuchczynski are an ideal rhythm section, perfectly on time and in tune, always right there behind the vocals, but never disturbing them with over presence. Kotynia plays some hot guitar parts and it is a pity he wasn´t featured on the entire album. The brass and string sections and even the background vocals all work perfectly. Overall this is a dreamy debut album, which every young Jazz vocalist would have been proud off. Great music, great lyrics, great vocals and a great team are such a rare combination, and she has it all on this album. Warmly and wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 20/10/2018Posted: 20/10/2018

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PIOTR SCHMIDT / WOJCIECH NIEDZIELA ~ DARK MORNING SJ 024 (Barcode: 5912596066269) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz duo comprising of trumpeter / composer Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve original compositions, nine by Niedziela, two by Schmidt and one co-composed by them both. Separated by a generation gap (Schmidt born 1985 and Niedziela born 1961), they share not only their Silesian roots, but first and foremost their deep love of Jazz music. This quite unexpected duo brings Schmidt back to his Jazz roots, which he partially abandoned lately in favor of more electric endeavors, but proves that he is definitely able to play almost completely traditionally. The music is deeply rooted in the Polish Jazz idiom, with melancholic and lyrical themes, delicately and subtly performed in perfect harmony and concord by these two superb musicians. They manage to create a full musical experience, which perfectly holds water, emphasizing the beauty and sincerity of the musical contents. The age and stylistic differences out the window, they simply perform as one symbiotic entity, complementing each other wonderfully. Schmidt´s acoustic trumpet sound is refreshing and he wisely does not avoid committing small "imperfections", which add a charm to the proceedings and testify as to its spontaneity and authenticity. Niedziela, in charge of the harmonic background and musical flow, is beautifully minimalistic and avoids being overbearing. The music is perfectly balanced between the two instruments and is a pure pleasure to listen to from start to finish. Overall this is a quiet, contemplative album, which in spite of its apparent minimalism is full of wonderful music, which is performed with elegance and deeply aesthetic devotion. For lovers of melodic mainstream Jazz, which is able to make the listener think out of the box, this album is an absolute must. Lush, velvety and sensuous, this is a small gem of an album, which happens only once in a blue moon. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 23/10/2017Posted: 23/10/2017

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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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JULIA KANIA ~ HERE SJ 026 (Barcode: 5912596066283) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Polish singer / songwriter Julia KaniaFind albums by this artist recorded with excellent young Polish Jazz players: pianist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Adam TadelFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist, the above members of Kania´s quartet, and guest guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original songs composed and written by Kania, eight of which have lyrics in English and one in Polish. The music is only marginally Jazz oriented and offers a collection of melodic themes, performed in a Jazzy atmosphere by the instrumentalists. Musically the entire album stays on the same level emotionally and contains no surprises. The songs are well structured, but stay mostly within a similar gloomy atmosphere, which offers no excitement or empathy. The instrumental layer is highly professional and sleek, and shows the individual talents of the players, with solid and skillful solos by Borowski and Mika, whose electric guitar work takes this album into the Alternative Rock idiom. Kania´s vocals are very limited, staying always within a safe range of her vocal abilities. She sticks to singing the lyrics and uses none of the infinite vocal possibilities available today, which results in this album being pretty monotonous. She sounds like most Polish Pop singers, who to me all sound completely alike. The use of English lyrics is also very problematic, as the lyrics are difficult to comprehend due to her pronunciation and accent. As usual in such circumstances, the sole song with Polish lyrics works better than the rest of the album. Of course all of the above are my personal views and I wish Kania a lot of success in the future. Sadly this album is not my cup of tea.

Updated: 02/03/2018Posted: 02/03/2018

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LUKASZ JUZKO ~ FIRST BREATH SJ 027 ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by Polish saxophonist / composer Lukasz JuzkoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Michal WroblewskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Bartosz SwiatekFind albums by this artist and drummer Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, presumably all by the leader, although the album´s artwork does not state it. The album is beautifully recorded and the sound quality is truly remarkable. The music is a highly melodic mainstream Jazz, easy on the ear, romantic and basically belonging to the Smooth Jazz idiom, which of course does not mean, contrary to popular opinion, that the music is not ambitious or well played, far from it. The compositions are all very well structured and coherent harmonically and serve as perfect vehicles for the improvisations created by Juzko and Wroblewski. All four instrumentalist are excellent, playing as well as can be expected from these well educated and talented young musicians, who already have remarkable achievements behind them. Juzko has a nice tone, and his tenor saxophone performances sound highly professional and inspired. Wroblewski is a superb pianist and his chord structures and solos are simply perfectly suited for this music. The rhythm session also performs brilliantly, with a strong rhythmic signature, which gives the music quite a kick. Overall this is an impressive debut album, which presents Juzko as a mature composer and player, and which shows a lot of potential for his future endeavors. Highly recommended to connoisseurs of melodic Jazz and ageless romantics!

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

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RACZKOWSKI & KOSTKA ~ DUO SJ 028 (Barcode: 5912596066313) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the Polish duo comprising of pianist / composer Franciszek RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist and violinist / composer Mikolaj KostkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve relatively short compositions, eleven of which are originals: six by Raczkowski, three by Kostka and two co-composed by them both and one is a John CageFind albums by this artist composition. The music was beautifully recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist. The music is conceptually closer to contemporary Classical music than Jazz, but has obvious Jazz ties. It is also very delicate, minimalist and deeply lyrical and it seems that every single note earned its place in these compositions by deliberate contemplation. However, in spite of the sparingness and careful use of notes, the music is fully developed and bodied, creating a wonderful overall effect of coherent musical message being conveyed. Of course in case of a duo, it is the dialogue that the two players are able to develop that matters the most. In this case the dialogue is wonderfully balanced and the soloing by one of the musicians is always excellently accompanied his partner, creating a continuous conversational mode. Kostka displays strong ties with Polish musical Folklore, which is not surprising as many players of his generation show deep love and respect of Polish musical sources, incorporating them in their music. He also joins the ranks of the revered Polish Jazz Violin School, which grows rapidly. Both musicians display a mature approach to their instruments, with obvious talent and technical proficiency, which is always astonishing with the members of the young Polish generation of musicians. Complimented with the noticeable mutual understanding, respect and common musical goals, the duo is a wonderful example of a whole being much more that the sum of its ingredients. Although still very young, these musicians display a coherence, maturity and skillful appliance of their talents, which is usually only achieved at much later stage of musical careers. Overall this is stunning debut, which deserves to be heard by as many music connoisseurs, way beyond the strict circle Jazz aficionados. It is a wondrous amalgam of Jazz, contemporary Classical music and Folklore, which is powerful in spite of its serene appearance. Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 23/07/2018Posted: 23/07/2018

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FOLLOW DICES ~ ETERNAL COLORS SJ 029 (Barcode: 5912596066320) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the Polish quartet Follow DicesFind albums by this artist, comprising of pianist Franciszek RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist, violinist Mikolaj KostkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jan Jerzy KolackiFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam WajdzikFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen relatively short original compositions, five of which were composed by all four members of the quartet, four by Kostka, two by Raczkowski (one of them with Wajdzik) and two by Kolacki (one of them with Tobiasz GottfriedFind albums by this artist). The album was beautifully recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist. The music is a wonderful amalgam of Jazz and Polish Folklore influences, with traces of contemporary Classical and Nordic ambiance. The separate pieces can be easily conceived as a continuous suite, as they present a coherent compositional unity and harmonic consistency, as well as stylistic European Jazz aesthetic. Although based on solid melodic themes, the music is generously open and allows free improvisation between the melodic statements. Constantly floating rhythmically and harmonically, the music is in many aspects an epitome of modern European Jazz at its best, presenting intellectual and emotional involvement complementing each other in perfect equilibrium. All four of these young musicians emerge triumphantly from this ambitious and often quite complex music. Raczkowski weaves the harmonic magic carpet upon which the music floats, Kostka ornaments the proceedings with his romantic and soulful melodic statements, Kolacki is, as expected, the pillar of stability and the beacon pointing out the way and Wajdzik is the master of good taste and delicacy not disturbing the fragile rhythms and playing exactly as much as needed. The unity and cooperation among the band members is truly exemplary. The album distinctly presents the best of what can be defined as Polishness in contemporary Polish music, i.e. it borrows wisely from the tradition, more conceptually than literally, emphasizing the Polish lyricism and melancholy majestically and with elegance and flair. If someone is looking for an example of "Polish Jazz", this is perhaps one of the best recent examples of the idiom. There is no doubt that this is a stunning debut effort, which hopefully paves a way for a fruitful future. As such, it is so far one of the strongest albums that landed on my desk (and in my ears) this year, which is a rare distinction. I can only recommend it to all music connoisseurs all over the world, as music of such quality and depth is very precious and rare. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 23/07/2018Posted: 23/07/2018

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LUKASZ KOKOSZKO ~ NEW CHALLENGE SJ 030 (Barcode: 5912596066337) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Lukasz KokoszkoFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Grzegorz ZiolekFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist, all representatives of the youngest wave of Polish Jazz musicians at present (2018). The album presents nine original compositions, all by Kokoszko. The music is a melodic variety of Fusion, with stronger Jazz ties than usual Fusion material, especially in view of the fact that except for the electric guitar the rest of the instruments play acoustically. The compositions are also more complex than the usual Fusion stuff, so the overall stylistic environment is somewhere between melodic modern Jazz and Fusion. The music is mostly very calm and melancholic, and perhaps more up tempo numbers would have served the album well to add more variety. All four musicians perform very well, with the obvious emphasis on the leader, who sets the tone, playing the themes and long improvisations. Ziolek also adds several wonderful piano solos and the rhythm section splendidly supports them along the way. Kokoszko is a splendid guitar player, strongly based in the Blues tradition, which is relatively uncommon among contemporary guitar players. His personal style is very unique, which is a great virtue these days, with most guitar players imitating other guitar players. Overall this is a first class debut album, which shows a lot of potential by the leader and his splendid team. Solid compositions and excellent performances add together to create a very pleasant listening experience and the unusual guitar sound and drive are certainly worth being discovered. Well done indeed!

Updated: 05/08/2018Posted: 05/08/2018

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MICHAL MARTYNIUK ~ NOTHING TO PROVE SJ 031 (Barcode: 5912596066351) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish (resident in New Zealand) Jazz pianist / composer Michal MartyniukFind albums by this artist, recorded with a core quintet setting with saxophonist Jakub SkowronskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jakub MizerackiFind albums by this artist, bassist Bartek ChojnackiFind albums by this artist and drummer Kuba GudzFind albums by this artist. Three guest artists: drummer Sebastian SkrzypekFind albums by this artist, percussionist Miguel FuentesFind albums by this artist and vocalist Tama WaiparaFind albums by this artist appear on selected tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all composed by Martyniuk. The music is very melodic mainstream Jazz that stays almost completely within the conventional Smooth Jazz idiom, which is relatively atypical of young Polish Jazz and resembles recordings from across the pond - lush saxophone, dreamy guitar (with very strong Fusion tendencies) and romantic piano are the dominant characteristics. Having said that, the tunes are very well crafted and the music is excellently performed, arranged and recorded, so the listening experience is definitely very pleasurable. Perhaps the idea of this album was indeed that the leader has nothing to prove and decided to record an album easy on the ear, which can be liked by a wide range of listeners mostly from outside the strict Jazz circles. I have already read several very flattering reviews of this album by some Polish "critics", which proves that Martyniuk achieved his goal in full.

Updated: 20/08/2018Posted: 20/08/2018

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ SAXESFUL SJ 032 (Barcode: 5912596066658) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 What is this thing called Jazz? This question seems to reverberate for over a Century now among Jazz musicians, connoisseurs of the genre and scholars of the idiom, with the answer intractably remaining as elusive and mysterious, as the very nature of the music itself. Perhaps the splendor of Jazz is characterized by the inability to define or even properly describe it? Jazz keeps evolving and growing as an Art Form, combining its tradition with new discoveries and innovation, which soon after become part of the essence of the same Jazz idiom, in a perpetuum mobile like fashion. Polish Jazz, one of the most vital and ingenious local scenes on the world scale, which started while the country was still isolated from the rest of the world by the Iron Curtain, managed to flourish and explode artistically over the years, against all odds. Today Poland is a Jazz Super Power, leading the European Jazz scene in every aspect, all thanks to the seemingly inexhaustible influx of young and talented musicians, who treat their Jazz as seriously as their life. Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist (born 1985) is certainly one of those Polish Jazz mavericks. Not only is he well educated, talented and ambitious, but he is also a restless entrepreneur, record label owner, bandleader and educator who keeps constantly coming up with new ideas, maintaining his Jazz alive and kicking. This album is only one of such ideas, but the scale and audacity required to put such a project into life can be understood only by the cognoscenti of the Jazz scene. This album is a multilayered tribute to the Jazz tradition. It presents seven classic Jazz standards, each performed by the core quartet and featuring a different saxophonist. The list of the saxophonists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz and is also an obvious tribute to Polish Jazz itself. With their ages ranging from Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist (born 1936), Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1939), Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (born 1951), Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Adam WendtFind albums by this artist (born 1962) and finally Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1974), i.e. four generations of Polish Jazz players, they represent the incredible power and stylistic versatility of the scene. The core quartet is by no means less impressive, featuring Schmidt on trumpet, pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and Poland´s top rhythm section comprised of bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, all of which have a most impressive list of achievements under their arms. But tributes and history aside, this album is also a wonderful collection of great tunes, beautifully performed and entertaining, in the most positive meaning of the word. Jazz is, after all, also a source of unadulterated pleasure to those, who love it, and this album is certainly a concentrated dose of such pleasure. Enjoy! Adam Baruch, August 2018 Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 19/09/2018Posted: 19/09/2018

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KAROLINA PERNAL ~ CLARIDAD SJ 033 (Barcode: 5912596066665) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Karolina PernalFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with Italian saxophonist / clarinetist Achille SucciFind albums by this artist and Polish pianist Kuba PluzekFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub OlejnikFind albums by this artist and drummer Wojciech BulinskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, five of which are original compositions: three by Karolina Pernal and two by her spouse trombonist Bartosz PernalFind albums by this artist and one is a Sam RiversFind albums by this artist composition arranged by Bartosz Pernal. The album was recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist with the usual excellent sound quality. The music is all kept within the melodic mainstream Jazz idiom, with solid original compositions by the Pernals, which are mostly ballads with typical Polish melancholic streak. It is easy on the ear but eventually rather uneventful, although professionally performed by the quintet members with Pluzek being the most interesting soloist by far. Having said that, this album offers a pleasant listening experience to mainstream Jazz connoisseurs and can be enjoyed in full, like many similar other albums in that vein. Karolina Pernal is one of relatively few female Polish Jazz instrumentalists, and as such she deserves support and encouragement to achieve an equal footing with her many male cohorts. This debut offering is surely just a first step on the way to a hopefully wonderful musical career.

Updated: 14/12/2018Posted: 14/12/2018

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GNIEWOMIR TOMCZYK / PROJECT LIVE ~ QUALITY JAZZ LIVE SJ 034 (Barcode: 5912596066672) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second album by Polish drummer / composer Gniewomir TomczykFind albums by this artist, this time recorded live and presenting some of the compositions included on the debut album recorded with keyboardist Andrzej MikulskiFind albums by this artist and new original compositions by Tomczyk intended to appear on the next studio album. The album consists of seven tracks recorded live and five additional bonus tracks recorded in various locations either live or in studio. Tomczyk is accompanied by an impressive group of young Polish musicians, which includes keyboardist Zdzislaw KalinowskiFind albums by this artist, cellist Anna FurkalowskaFind albums by this artist, violinist Robert SeniutaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Maciej KadzielaFind albums by this artist and others, with several people providing the rap and vocal parts. The music is a sophisticated amalgam of Jazz roots with contemporary Pop / electronic / Avant Rock / Rap excursions, melody based but allowing plenty of space for improvisation and individual statements by the participating musicians, which works quite well and definitely explores new horizons as far as Jazz music is concerned, bringing it much closer to contemporary popular music trends, without loosing any of the intellectual and artistic quality. The album is a very refreshing listening experience and although it is a compilation of available recordings rather than a coherent and well planed album, it still works out well and offers plenty of diverse and at times even fascinating music. For the young generation of Jazz musicians and listeners, such cross genre excursions sound completely natural. For the Jazz purist my advice is to take the stick out of their rectum and let go – this is fun music and is to be treated as such. Personally I am already waiting to hear the next album by Tomczyk, which promises to be an exciting journey.

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

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CEZIK ~ AMBIWALNIETY SJ 035 (Barcode: 5903111492809) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish singer / songwriter CeZikFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Cezary Zenon NowakFind albums by this artist), active on the local scene since the mid 2000s. A decision to record a full album of his songs led to the meeting between CeZik and Polish Jazz pianist / composer Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, who agreed to write the Jazzy arrangements to CeZik´s songs, which are executed by some of the best young Polish Jazz players: Ciesielski on piano, bassist Pawel UrowskiFind albums by this artist, drummer Adam GolickiFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Szymon KlekowickiFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Wojciech LichtanskiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Sylwester MalinowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original songs written by CeZik (lyrics and music), one co-composed with Ciesielski, all arranged by CeZik and Ciesielski. Despite the Jazzy arrangements, the songs are basically Pop oriented, somewhat of cabaret / vaudeville character, especially due to the satiric lyrics, which are full of bitter humor and sarcasm (naturally being in Polish they are sadly only perceivable to the Polish speaking audience). CeZik´s vocal delivery is frivolous and theatrical rather than strictly musical, but it suits the overall character of the project ideally and works out perfectly. Some of the melodies are beautifully lyrical, sometimes delivered with exaggerated pathos, bringing recollections of the Polish popular songs created in the 1920s and 1930s. The album flows beautifully and delivers the intended atmosphere of a cabaret show. The musicians are all highly professional and play with gusto and elegance, emphasizing the Jazzy atmosphere without being overtly assertive, staying respectfully in the background. The arrangements are perfectly suited to the music and create a coherent and highly graceful flow and continuity. Overall this is a brilliant album from start to finish, entertaining, but educational, splendidly performed and masterfully sung, dripping with painfully sardonic messages, wrapped in sweet and soothing melody lines and superb vocal delivery by CeZik. This is definitely a highly unusual and unique project, which deserves praise and admiration, and one can only hope that it will be cherished by the listeners, who are able to appreciate its many values. Bravo!

Updated: 13/04/2019Posted: 11/01/2019

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DAWID KOSTKA ~ PROGRESSION SJ 036 (Barcode: 5912596066689) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Dawid KostkaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with bassist Damian KostkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz BrzostowskiFind albums by this artist, with two top Polish Jazz musicians as guests: saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist and pianist Pawel KaczmarczykFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Dawid Kostka. The music was recorded at the Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist and offers a spectacular sound quality, precision and clarity; a heaven for Hi-Fi enthusiasts. The music is a superb collection of stylistically diverse compositions, all melody based but offering a wide spectrum of moods, feelings and tempi, clearly pointing out Kostka´s compositional abilities. Stylistically Kostka seems to feel equally at ease with post-Bebop, Fusion and Modern European Jazz and listening to the album is a true joy ride through contemporary Jazz. The performances are also nothing short of stellar. The two guest musicians require no introduction to Polish Jazz cognoscenti and their performances here are as good as one might expect, far beyond just a guest appearance, involving a full integration within the quintet sound. Kocinski, who sadly slightly dropped off the horizon lately, delivers some heartfelt soli that are wonderful reminders of his heydays with SoundcheckFind albums by this artist and Kaczmarczyk never disappoints with his fluidity and musicality. The rhythm section is perfectly integrated with the soloists and offers a versatile and interesting technical competence, with solid and clear bass lines that hold the music together and support the harmony and creative drumming pulsations which are both precise and imaginative. But of course Dawid Kostka is the true hero of this album, playing outstanding guitar parts throughout, changing his sound and attack often and presenting a portrait of a mature Artist, who knows exactly where he want to go with his music. His guitar artistry and obvious virtuosity are the absolute highlight of this album, which is definitely the best Polish Jazz guitar offering for 2018. Overall this is the true debut album fully deserving to feature Dawid Kostka´s name on it, with the debut recorded a couple of years earlier being just a forgettable incident, which was just a teaser of his true abilities (as mentioned in my review of that album). This is definitely a major achievement and places Kostka in the forepost of the Polish Jazz guitar players, which is rather small considering the size and the vitality of the scene today. Wonderful from start to finish, this album is a true delight and a must for Polish / European Jazz connoisseurs!

Updated: 20/12/2018Posted: 15/12/2018

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MUARIO LANZA / CLAPTON FOX ~ LOVE TIME SJ 037 (Barcode: 5912596066702) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by Polish duo comprising of guitarist Muario LanzaFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Mariusz OrzelowskiFind albums by this artist) and resident in London vocalist Clapton FoxFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Robert KaniepienFind albums by this artist). They are accompanied by trumpeter Dominik MietlaFind albums by this artist, bassist Dominik GrabFind albums by this artist and drummer Lukasz KurekFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve songs, all co-composed by Orzelowski and Kaniepien with lyrics (in English) by Kaniepien. The album consists of basically simple Pop songs with Jazzed up arrangements, which sadly fail to arise much interest in the long range. Even the Jazzy / Ambient atmosphere wears out after a few songs and pretty soon it all becomes way too similar to retain the listener´s attention. The instrumental work is pretty solid, with the acoustic guitar parts being the best asset of the album. The rhythm section is solid, but uninspiring. The trumpet parts are nice, but after a while even those become repetitious. At times the album sounds like an Ambient Gypsy Jazz project, but once the vocals arrive, the charm is lost. The vocals are the weakest part of the entire project, sung behind a wail of echo and reverb and hardly audible most of the time, with a very limited vocal range and complete lack of excitement. Overall this project sadly leaves me completely cold. If the vocal parts could be removed, the rest would be passable and even enjoyable, but presented as is, it is quite a pain to listen to. Sorry guys…

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

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ TRIBUTE TO TOMASZ STANKO SJ 038 (Barcode: 5912596066696) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader / entrepreneur Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist. The album presents twelve compositions, eight of which are credited to all four members of the quartet, two were composed by Schmidt and one each were composed by Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist and Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist. The death of the Polish / European Jazz icon, trumpeter / composer / bandleader Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, in June of 2018, marked an end of a chapter, or rather an end of an era in European Jazz. Although in recent years many of the most prominent representatives of post WWII European Jazz sadly departed, Stanko was in many respects more than most an epitome of modern European Jazz and his life and career exemplified the most important characteristics of the idiom. His relentless search of uncharted territory, complete disregard of fads and fashions, his open-mindedness and chameleonic, often extremely dramatic changes in his stylistic approach to Jazz and above all his aesthetics, with reminded uncompromising till the very end, were all also often characteristic of many other leading European Jazz Masters, who managed to create an entirely new form of the Jazz essence, completely free of the limitations and shackles enslaving the genre in the past. Tributes are a tricky business, especially so in the case of iconic figures, which were active for decades and managed to produce not only a rich legacy of recorded music, but more importantly were constantly groundbreaking and innovative. How can a "tribute" album express a respectful and artistically coherent picture of an icon? It takes a lot of courage and determination to attempt a tribute recording, which will be meaningful and offer some intrinsic value beyond being just a reflection of the light of a Giant, with the possibility of failure always lurking in the background. Considering the fact that Stanko´s legacy was to a large extent involved with Avant-Garde, Improvised Music and Free Jazz, whereas Schmidt consistently dedicates his career to more mainstream manifestations of the Jazz idiom, always emphasizing melody, harmony, ambience and lyricism, the first reaction to the idea of Schmidt recording a Stanko tribute might be that of disbelief and surprise. But Schmidt already proved to be a mastermind of invention in the past and this time he has surely outdone himself, by finding an ingredient of Stanko´s legacy that fits like a glove to his own modus operandi. As a result Schmidt, rather than creating a "general" tribute to Stanko, decided to put the spotlight on the gentler side of the Stanko´s heritage – Stanko the charmer, the balladeer, the weaver of heartbreakingly beautiful melodies, in short Stanko the Gentle Giant. The resulting concept presents an album full of beautiful, melodic, lyrical Jazz, which strongly resembles that gentle side of Stanko that we all love, but at the same time is completely original as far as the music itself is concerned. The atmosphere and ambience of the album are wonderfully coherent and the music flows serenely penetrating directly the very soul of the listener. The decision of not using and specific tunes composed by Stanko, but creating instead music that "might have been composed" by him is of course brilliant in every respect. The quartet performing the music is ideal for the task. Garbowski and Gradziuk played with Stanko in the recent years and know his music intimately, and their position as one of the leading Polish Jazz rhythm sections is fully justified. They add the ingredients of space and freedom to the quartet´s playing, which is exactly what this music needs to make it completely unwavering and related to Stanko´s musical spirit. Niedziela is beautifully romantic and expressive, with each and every note he plays being exactly what is needed to make the overall sound perfect. Schmidt plays delightfully as well, rather sparingly and delicately, again exactly right for what this music needs. At times, with the eyes closed, his trumpet sounds exactly like Stanko´s, but obviously Schmidt is not trying to imitate Stanko´s playing but, as the entire album does, reproduce the very Stankoish ambience and spirituality. Overall this is a wonderfully executed and cleverly planned piece of music, which achieves the ambitious goal assigned to it in full. It is also a textbook example of what "tribute" albums should sound like, as well as a wonderful example of a bridge over a chasm of the infamous generation gap, which enables a smooth transition of the heritage from one generation to another. Polish Jazz at its best!

Updated: 02/10/2022Posted: 23/11/2018

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JACEK NIEDZIELA-MEIRA ~ BURRELLHOUSE SJ 039 (Barcode: 5912596066719) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is an album by the veteran Polish Jazz bassist / composer / educator Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist which his debut album as a guitar player, recorded in a classic guitar trio setting with Hammond player Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist and drummers Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist or Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, two of which are original compositions by the leader, six are standards and one is a Polish Pop song. The music was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokarnia and offers a wonderful classic Blue NoteFind albums on this label sound. For people familiar with the Polish Jazz scene this album comes of course as a surprise, as a result of the decision by the leader to switch instruments, but the result is very satisfying. The sound and material are based on classic model set by American Hammond player Jimmy SmithFind albums by this artist and his trio, which included among others guitarists also the superb guitar Master Kenny BurrellFind albums by this artist, who serves as an obvious influence on the leader. The conservative mainstream Jazz approach, going back s few decades in the history of the Jazz idiom, could be pretty disastrous musically, but in this case it is a fresh breath of air, which proves that well played mainstream Jazz still sounds solid, beautiful and enjoyable in spite of the passing time. Niedziela-Meira turns out to be a very talented and technically proficient classic / old style Jazz guitar player, who emphasizes the clarity of the tone and precision of the notes like a true pro. His sound does follow the example set by the Jazz guitarists form the 1950s / 1960s almost exactly, but with a fresh vigor and fluidity. Galas is of course an absolute marvel with his Hammond bringing back fond memories of the glory of this beautiful instrument. His improvisations, always melodic and coherent and yet often surprisingly sophisticated, are an absolute sensation and are alone worth having this album. Both alternating drummers keep the time like clockwork, which for this kind of music is exactly what the doctor prescribed. Overall this is a very pleasant album, which reproduces the mood and sound going back half a century, but offers a rejuvenated perspective on the guitar trio format, which is almost completely absent from the contemporary Jazz scene. Full of wonderful music and excellent musicianship, this album is fun from start to end for listeners who like this period of Jazz. For guitar and Hammond connoisseurs, this is a must of course!

Updated: 02/05/2019Posted: 02/05/2019

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MARCELINA GAWRON ~ NOTES OF LIFE SJ 040 (Barcode: 5912596066733) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter Marcelina GawronFind albums by this artist, recorded with an excellent quartet comprising of trumpeter Robert MajewskiFind albums by this artist, pianist Adam JarzmikFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original songs, all by Gawron, seven of which have lyrics in English and two in Polish. The music is all melodic mainstream Jazz, mostly melancholic and somewhat somber, mostly kept on the same emotional level, which makes the album a bit uniform. The English lyrics are not very helpful either. But all things considered, there is plenty of music herein that should keep vocal Jazz enthusiasts happy. The accompaniment is of course first class, with Majewski and Baranski representing the Polish Jazz veterans and Jarzmik (who was in charge of the arrangements) and Budniak proudly representing the new generation. Jarzmik´s wonderful flow and excellent soloing are the album´s highlight and Majewski´s solo parts add a nice topping. Gawron could hardly find a more able team to support her vocals than the one present here. The vocal parts, both lyrics and vocalese, are all well executed and combined with the quartet´s accompaniment, but they are a bit timid and lack strong emotional expression, which of course is a question of choice and a decision the vocalist obviously made. Overall this is a very accessible vocal Jazz album, which can be listened to by a wide and not necessarily strictly Jazz audience.

Updated: 22/05/2019Posted: 22/05/2019

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PAWEL KAMINSKI ~ LET`S DO IT SJ 041 (Barcode: 5912596066740) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2019 This is a debut album by young Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Pawel KaminskiFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Adam JarzmikFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Jedrzej LaciakFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal DziewinskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, seven of which are original compositions by Kaminski and one is a standard. The music is all within modern Jazz mainstream, strictly melody based but diverse enough to present the proficiency of the leader as a composer and the band as a performing init. Overall the original compositions are all coherent and well rounded, and sound much more mature than what one might expect from such a young composer. The performances are also excellent, especially those by Jarzmik, who is clearly the most experienced player on this album and who also has previous recording experience. His soli are all perfectly fluent and are classic examples of Jazz piano at its best. Kaminski also plays very well, with a steady and clear tone and interesting soloing abilities. The rhythm section is amicable and sympathetic, doest not stand in the way of the music and is also given opportunity to solo occasionally. Although the presence of a bass guitar usual pushes the music towards Fusion, both stylistically and sound-wise, it is not the case here. There is some more fusion oriented music here, but its character is defined by the usage of electric piano rather than the bass, which stays conventionally Jazz oriented. Overall this is an excellent debut effort, which as usual on the Polish Jazz scene surprises with its high standard of compositions and the ability of the players, who sound as if they have been playing Jazz for decades. The youthfulness and energy are well tamed by restrain and self discipline, resulting in a tasteful showcase of young Polish Jazz at its best. Well done indeed!

Updated: 21/05/2019Posted: 21/05/2019

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PAWEL PALCOWSKI ~ OLD FASHIONED MOOD SJ 042 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by young Polish Jazz trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Jakub LepaFind albums by this artist, pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and veteran drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. Trombonist Szymon KlekowickiFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Palcowski. As the album´s title suggests, it pays tribute to the classic mainstream Jazz period of the 1950s and 1960s, when Bebop, Hard Bop and Cool Jazz ruled and the foundations and most mannerisms of modern Jazz were "carved in stone". Palcowski deliberately tries to reconstruct not only the typical compositions of the era but also the sound and feel of the period, utilizing the most popular setting of the time – the classic Jazz quintet. Although re-visiting that period, especially among the young generation of European Jazz musicians, is definitely less popular these days, and often even considered less ambitious, Palcowski manages to create a wonderful piece of music, which offers not only a nostalgic trip down the memory line but a bona fide mainstream Jazz album, which sounds as if it was a "lost" Blue NoteFind albums on this label treasure, found in the vaults. All the compositions on this album as every bit as solid, coherent and spirited as anything that can be heard on the albums recorded at the time, which is truly remarkable. A young musician, decades later and thousands of kilometers away is able to crack the genetic code of this music perfectly and make it his own, not copying but creating new tunes which have the same magic feeling. The performances are also perfect and ideally suiting this particular music. There is no spectacular soloing but a series of well structured solo performances by the trumpet, saxophone and piano, supported by the entire quintet and the steady rhythm section which does a perfect job. Overall this is a splendid debut album, which proves that the young generation of European Jazz musicians is not only aware of the tradition and the history, but is also able to embrace it lovingly. I had the pleasure to hear Palcowski many times live during his student years at the Katowice Music Academy and it was obvious that he is going places. Well done Sir!

Updated: 01/07/2019Posted: 01/07/2019

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BANDONEGRO ~ HOLA ASTOR SJ 043 (Barcode: 5912596066764) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the third album by Polish Tango ensemble BandonegroFind albums by this artist, which consists of bandoneónist Michal GlowkaFind albums by this artist, violinist Jakub CzechowiczFind albums by this artist, pianist Marek DoleckiFind albums by this artist and bassist Marcin AntkowiakFind albums by this artist. On this album the quartet was expanded to a sextet with the addition of two young Polish Jazz players, guitarist Dawid KostkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz BrzostowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, six of which are compositions by Astor PiazzollaFind albums by this artist and five are original compositions by Antkowiak, all arranged by the ensemble. The album was recorded at the celebrated Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist with the usual spectacular sound quality. Bandonegro formed in 2016 and over time established an international reputation with tours around the world, including Argentina, the cradle of Tango. Musically this album takes the ensemble closer to the Nuevo Tango of Piazzolla and its proximity to Jazz. Both the ensemble´s interpretation of Piazzolla´s compositions and even more so their original compositions are remarkable, especially in view of the idiosyncrasy of the Tango, which one does not expect to be performed authentically by East European musicians, who have culturally nothing in common with the original idiom. Bandonegro prove that love of the music and talent are able to conquer the seemingly impassable cultural gap, which enables them to sound as bona fide Tango performers. The addition of the Jazz elements is very subtle and quite elegant, and does not impede the natural Tango spirit of the music. To the trained ear, the original compositions by Antkowiak, which constitute the more Jazzed up portion of the album, hide also some understated elements of Slavic origin, which of course is a fascinating element of the music. Whatever this music misses in Argentinean passion, it more than pays back in elegance and subtlety of European origin. Overall this is a superb album, full of great compositions and superb performances, passionately executed and intelligently put together. For Tango connoisseurs this is an absolute must, but even listeners who would not usually listen to Tango music, this album is both special and beautiful enough to win them over. As a great lover of the Tango I can´t help but recommend this album wholeheartedly, hoping it will find a warm place in the hearts of as many listeners as possible.

Updated: 27/07/2019Posted: 27/07/2019

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SOUND PACK ~ ON AIR SJ 045 (Barcode: 5912596066801) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by the Polish Jazz vocal quartet The Sound PackFind albums by this artist, led by Marcin WawrzynowiczFind albums by this artist, which also includes three female singers: Joanna Swiniarska-SzebeszczykFind albums by this artist, Katarzyna MirowskaFind albums by this artist and Malgorzata BiniekFind albums by this artist. They are accompanied by a splendid instrumental septet, which comprises of trumpeter Dominik MietlaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist, trombonist Lukasz RakalskiFind albums by this artist (who was in charge of the excellent instrumental arrangements), guitarist Gabriel NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, pianist Boguslaw KaczmarFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal KapczukFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist (who was also in charge of the album´s mix). The vocal arrangements were supplied by veteran Polish Jazz musician / arranger Aleksander MazurFind albums by this artist (more about him later). The album presents ten Jazz standards, nine of which are evergreens known to every Jazz fan around the world and one originates in Poland. The album was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist offering the usual splendid sound quality. To anybody familiar with Polish Jazz this album immediately brings on the obvious association with the legendary and phenomenal Polish Jazz vocal quartet NOVIFind albums by this artist, which clearly also sets an incredibly tough and perhaps even unfair standard of comparison. After just a few seconds into the music the association becomes a reality, which is not entirely surprising considering the fact that Mazur worked with NOVI on one of their later albums and was involved with arranging for vocal groups for years. Therefore rather than comparing this album with those made by NOVI, I´d like to say that it is good to see (well, hear) finally someone who dares to stand up to the challenges and continue the Polish Jazz vocal quartet legacy. The album offers excellent vocal arrangements and up to date instrumental approach, which allows for soloing by the individual players. All the performances, vocal and instrumental as one, are first rate and represent the fabulous level of the young Polish Jazz generation. The bluesy guitar parts by Niedziela and lyrical piano parts by Kaczmar are my personal favorites, but again everybody performs splendidly. The vocal parts deliver both lyrics and vocalese with the same level of harmonic perfection. Some critical notes, however, are also in order: the choice of material is a tad too obvious / trifling, which can be forgiven considering this is a debut outing, and hopefully will be improved on future recordings. Although the singing of lyrics in English is not particularly ostracizing here, the sole song in Polish is an example of how things could be done better? Overall this is a splendid debut offering, which is a true pleasure to listen to from start to finish and a delightful experience for Jazz vocal group connoisseurs. Looking forward for the next album already, well done Ladies and Gents!

Updated: 13/02/2023Posted: 26/10/2019

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TOMASZ WENDT ~ CHAPTER B. SJ 047 (Barcode: 5912596066832) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the second album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with excellent partners: violinist Mateusz SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Wendt. The music was recorded at the superb Studio Tokarnia and was engineered by Jan Smoczynski, with the usual spectacular sound quality. The music is modern European Jazz at its best, melody based but allowing for extensive improvisations and odd meters, creating diverse sonic vistas by taking advantage of the unusual instrumental lineup. The melodies are all well structured and coherent, full of romanticism and melancholy, and yet lively and exciting, with often complex rhythm changes. The instrumental work by all the participants is absolutely amazing. Wendt matured and achieved a wonderful tonality over time, Mateusz Smoczynski is absolutely amazing as always and his soloing on this album is especially welcome as it has been a while since he recorded in a pure Jazz environment. Jan Smoczynski, the older brother, not only plays some great keyboard parts but also provides the bass lines. Dobrowolski, who needs to take care of all the rhythmic duties, is also brilliant, which is hardly surprising. Overall this album simply explodes with great musicianship and excellent compositions, creating a most enjoyable listening experience, in spite of its non-trivial instrumentation and rhythmic complexity. It should be accessible to the majority of true Jazz connoisseurs and will also raise a few brows, as it offers a very novel instrumentation and highly unusual sound. Well done indeed!

Updated: 09/01/2020Posted: 09/01/2020

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SABINA MECK ~ SLOWO NA T SJ 048 (Barcode: 5912596066849) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the third album by Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter Sabina MeckFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Sabina MyrczekFind albums by this artist), recorded in a sextet setting with saxophonist Przemyslaw ChmielFind albums by this artist, guitarist Lukasz KokoszkoFind albums by this artist, pianist Michal JakubczakFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr NajarowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Szymon MadejFind albums by this artist. Sabina´s brother vocalist Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist guests on one track. The album presents ten original songs, all written (music and lyrics, all bar one in Polish language) by Meck. The album was recorded at the Monochrome Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist with excellent, as usual, sound quality. The album is a perfect document of the process Meck completed in the first five years of her career, both as vocalist and even more so as songwriter. The choices she made here to sing only original material and finally singing in Polish prove to be the right ones in every respect, as this album is definitely the most advanced and sophisticated achievement she made so far, even though the two previous albums were already remarkable by any standard. The most striking quality of this album is the quality of the compositions, which is nothing short of astounding. Although hey are all full of beautiful melodies, they also dare to explore much less conventional areas, sometimes even bordering on Free. The rhythmic patterns are often unusual and convoluted as well. As a result musically the album enters another dimension entirely, stepping beyond what is expected from "song oriented" music. Meck utilizes all her wonderful vocal abilities augmented by an extensive technical range, singing both lyrics and vocalese, spoken word and theatrical phrasing, each and every time perfectly appropriate to the given musical setting. Singing in Polish allows her to emphasize the dramatic qualities of her lyrics, which adds another layer to the songs´ overall effectiveness. She is beautifully supported by the five instrumentalists, who spice the proceedings with superb soloing and steady rhythmic flow, which is extremely important in this complex music. The young generation of Polish Jazz musicians is so full of wonderfully talented people that we take this level of quality for granted, but in fact this is true miracle. 2019 finally proved to be a remarkably fruitful year for Polish vocal Jazz albums after many decades of relative stagnation. This album is certainly one of most impressive of these albums, deserving as much love and attention as possible. I am happy so see that my high hopes and expectations from Sabina Meck, from the moment I first heard her, proved to be justified and it makes me extremely happy to see her consistently reaching for the stars. You make me proud my Dear!

Updated: 26/12/2019Posted: 26/12/2019

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MICHAL CHWALA ~ IDI SJ 049 (Barcode: 5912596066856) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Michal ChwalaFind albums by this artist recorded in a sextet setting with vocalist Paulina Maczka-MichotaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Michal LukaFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Maciej ChwalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Artur SiejkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Kamil KuklaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all original compositions by Michal Chwala arranged by all the members of the sextet. The music is a deeply melodic and excellently put together Fusion, superbly performed by the sextet members. The compositions are well crafted and coherent, ideally suited for the idiom and the instrumental exhibitionism that characterizes it. Some of the compositions offer a multi-themed and rhythmically diverse structures, which make the music more interesting than most of the “usual” Fusion outings. The usage of the vocalese treated as one of the instruments is also a nice novelty. Considering the limitations of Fusion as a genre and the fact that everything that the genre had to offer was already said fifty years ago, this album still holds water and has some nice, enjoyable music to offer, and combined with the obvious talents of the composer and the instrumentalists / vocalist it is definitely a most entertaining affair, certainly as good, if not better than similar efforts released all over the world. Personally I had a blast listening to this album (oh well, I am a dinosaur who experienced Fusion at first hand) and can wholeheartedly recommend this album to the diehard fans of the genre, but I also hope these young musicians will discover more ambitious music in time.

Updated: 31/05/2021Posted: 31/05/2021

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JACEK NIEDZIELA-MEIRA ~ PARTYTURISM SJ 050 (Barcode: 5902596066604) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1997 - 2019 Released: 2020 This 2CD album includes two albums by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Jacek Niedziela-MeiraFind albums by this artist, recorded twenty two years apart. The first CD presents the new album "Sketches For Bass And OrchestraFind albums with this title", recorded in 2019 with pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and drummer Marcin JahrFind albums by this artist and the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus OrchestraFind albums by this artist. The second CD presents a reissue of the 1997 album "Sceny Z MacondoFind albums with this title", recorded by the same trio plus saxophonist Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist and the IFR Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist. This pairing makes perfect sense as the music offers somewhat similar stylistic character and ambience and brings back to life the older album, which has been unavailable for a long time and deserves to be heard again. Following are my liner notes written for the "Sketches For Bass And Orchestra" album, which generally apply to the older album as well. Musicians have been crossing swords between Classical Music and Jazz for ages, which is hardly surprising. After all many Jazz musicians / composers often originate from Classical Music education, and some Classical musicians are curious or even genuinely interested in Jazz, the freedom it offers and its elusive element of improvisation. The result of such amalgams vary dramatically, producing over time some brilliant pieces of Art, but sadly more often than not a whole bunch of schmaltzy kitsch. To be able to find the thin line that connects these two seemingly incompatible idioms is indeed an Art in itself. The music presented on this album, which was composed, orchestrated, conducted and performed by bassist / composer / author / educator Jacek Niedziela-Meira is not only able to illustrate the ability to magically combine the two idioms, but also demonstrates the incredible diversity of the Polish Jazz scene, which by the turn of the Millennium became a fountain of youth as far as Polish Culture is concerned. Of course the seeds were secretly planted during the dark days behind the Iron Curtain, but the incredible explosion of talent occurred when Poland regained its Freedom and the new generation of Polish Jazz musicians, faithfully educated by the bearers of the torch, Jacek Niedziela-Meira among them, took over the stage. The continuous, almost forty minutes long piece of music, which involves a classic piano trio, bass soloing and orchestral parts, is based on highly melodic themes, intertwined, meshed and weaved into a coherent fabric, which flows swiftly and completely naturally changes moods and ambiences. The solo bass parts often introduce the themes, which are then picked up and expanded by the orchestra and then suddenly, but almost expectedly, switch into swinging piano trio or solo bass parts, those in turn falling back into the orchestral setting. All of the above are not only brilliantly conceived but also exquisitely executed, with obvious panache and elegance, but above all good taste and clear aesthetic vision. This music is not specifically targeted for any genre oriented audience. It can and most probably will delight listeners, who simply love good music, regardless of its idiomatic associations. One can only hope this reaches as many appreciative people, who are able to tell great music from rubbish, as possible. Thank you Jacek for undertaking this mammoth task! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 22/08/2020Posted: 22/08/2020

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INGA LEWANDOWSKA ~ PRZEBUDZENIE SJ 051 (Barcode: 5902596066611) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2018 - 2019 Released: 2020 Although hardly a newcomer on the Polish Jazz scene, this is the bona fide debut album by vocalist / composer / lyricist Inga LewandowskaFind albums by this artist. Recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Przemyslaw RaminiakFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer / percussionist Slawomir BernyFind albums by this artist – a formidable team by all means. The music also features the Baron Chamber OrchestraFind albums by this artist, led and conducted by Piotr BaronFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original songs, all composed by Lewandowska and featuring her lyrics, as well and ten poems and numerous paintings also by her, included in the lavish digibook packaging of the album. It is not surprising that the album firmly belongs to the Polish Jazz & Poetry idiom, since Lewandowska´s earlier recordings were also strongly connected to literary / poetry subject matter. She continues this heartfelt affiliation splendidly also herein. The songs are all absolutely wonderful, offering modern Jazz without compromise and shortcuts, melody based and precisely arranged, but in many respects also unconventional and innovating, still within the mainstream but obviously at the very edge of the idiom. Not surprisingly the Polish melancholy is omnipresent, but not overbearing. Surprisingly Lewandowska utilizes a significant amount of vocalese in addition to straightforward singing of the lyrics, which transports this album somewhat away from a traditional vocal Jazz album. Her highly theatrical delivery of the texts, full of wonderful mannerisms that seem to pop out of nowhere, but make perfect sense time after time, is really refreshing. As a result the vocals become as much an instrument performing side by side with the four instrumentalists, with the vocals standing "separately" on their own. Her vocal abilities and surprisingly "youthful" timbre, which creates a charming contrast to the content of the lyrics, ale absolutely delightful. The four instrumentalists are all Masters of the trade and they manage to utilize their experience and talents to suit this music ideally. Schmidt torches the air with his trumpet soloing, Raminiak lays out layers of delicate harmonic accompaniment and most of the time stays in the background. Soloing sparingly. Piasecki is a pillar of stability and precision, keeping the music chronometrically in time and swinging, whereas Berny brilliantly ornaments the proceedings with his percussive paraphernalia, rather than just keeping the time. The string arrangements are no less brilliant, very delicate and sophisticated, adding another layer of sound and harmony, which takes the music far and beyond. Overall this is a wonderful album, long expected and deserving a lot of praise in view of its qualities, which arrives late, but the awakening (pun intended) is never too late, and in these gloomy days of despair and desolation, is a true ray of sunshine. Well done Milady, Godspeed!

Updated: 29/10/2020Posted: 29/10/2020

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ DARK FORECAST SJ 052 (Barcode: 5902596066635) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 Polish trumpeter / composer Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist returns, undeterred by the pandemic that is changing the face of our globe, to share with us some joyful moments inspired by the music we love so much. Supported by his regular quartet, which includes top Polish Jazz musicians: pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, Schmidt presents a set of nine wonderful original compositions and two arrangements of compositions by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist, which offers a highly aesthetic Jazz experience, superbly amalgamating the mainstream Jazz tradition and more open European attitudes. Two North American players, Canadian guitarist Matthew StevensFind albums by this artist and US saxophonist Walter Smith IIIFind albums by this artist, guest on six of the tracks, transforming the quartet into a quintet and spicing the proceedings with an enhanced instrumental variety. Although the majority of the music is firmly based on the beautifully weaved melodic themes, there is also plenty of space for more freely improvised playing, which characterizes contemporary Polish Jazz tendencies, clearly proving that the quartet is able to operate brilliantly in both idioms with the same ease and elegance. Attentive listening will reveal the incredible level of musicality and creativity displayed by these seasoned musicians. The quartet is by far more than just a trumpeter accompanied by a piano trio; it is an organic body performing music as one, which fully shares the responsibility for the final result. Just close your eyes and listen… The album closes with a tune called "A Place Of Hope…" which clearly reflects the universal human sentiment we all share today. Hope for times when the dark forecast will change into brightness and this and every other kind of music can be shared by thousands of people attending live concerts again… Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 17/01/2021Posted: 17/01/2021

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MICHAL LEWARTOWICZ QUARTET ~ INSPIRATIONS SJ 053 (Barcode: 5902596066642) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Fusion guitarist Michal LewartowiczFind albums by this artist recorded with his quartet, which also includes keyboardist Rafal CzarnackiFind albums by this artist, bassist Jaroslaw ZarnowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel NowakFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Adam WendtFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Lewartowicz. The music is typical Fusion, based on solid, very melodic compositions, full of catchy riffs, well put together and not less impressive than any music of this kind made across the pond in the last four decades or so. These young musicians know their stuff and are able to express the Fusion Groove like clockwork. Lewartowicz is familiar with all the tricks of the trade and has all the sound gadgets one would expect to be in his arsenal. The rest of the quartet follows suit and veteran Wendt shows that his chops are completely up to date. Overall this is a perfect Fusion album, that fans of the idiom will love to bits for sure. The music is catchy, the playing impressive and professional, and it is fun to listen to. It is definitely a solid debut album, reflecting the inspirations that guided Lewartowicz so far. One can only hope that now, once Lewartowicz proved his abilities, his future projects will move forward towards more ambitious territories, since honestly Fusion has not moved an inch since it was first invented a very long time ago.

Updated: 26/04/2021Posted: 26/04/2021

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PAWEL MANKA SEMIOTIC QUINTET ~ KUBIZM SJ 055 (Barcode: 5902596066680) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz quintet, named Semiotic QuintetFind albums by this artist and led by guitarist / composer Pawel MankaFind albums by this artist, which also includes other young representatives of the local scene: saxophonist Robert WypasekFind albums by this artist, pianist Franciszek RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Piotr NarajowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Stefan RaczkowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, which are all original compositions by the leader. The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio and engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, with the usual superb sound quality. The music is quite adventurous and offers a mixture of Fusion and Avant-Garde Jazz, based on sketchy compositions, which are a basis for extended, often Free improvisations by the soloists, with solid, more well-behaved rhythm section support. The result achieves a somewhat chaotic, but certainly enthralling listening experience, with an end-result delivering more of seeking than achieving, but certainly being very absorbing along the way. The leader’s guitar playing is at times somewhat detached from the rest of the ensemble, emphasizing the electric Fusion guitar sound, which clashes with the acoustic Jazzy sound of the remaining quartet, but when kept in check it is able to coexist with the quartet more amicably. This is more a “sound” / ambience problem that a musical drawback, but for the best of the quintet has to be resolved in the future. Wypasek keeps the music down to earth, offering an almost traditional jazz approach, which leaves most of the glory around Raczkowski (the pianist), who is the true spark of this recording. His work on several albums he took part in during the last few years certainly marks him as a player worth watching, yet to emerge in full glory, but his playing here if pretty amazing. The rhythm section, as already mentioned, does a wonderful job to keep the music together, which without their heroic efforts, might have disintegrated at some moments. Overall, this is a very ambitious album, which is only partly successful, but is way more interesting than most “well behaved” recordings, which dominated to Polish Jazz scene this year, perhaps partly paralyzed by the Pandemic. The daring and ambition are highly appreciated and with some “fine tuning” and discipline this quintet can certainly get places. Kudos for the effort and all the best in the future!

Updated: 30/11/2021Posted: 30/11/2021

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PIOTR SCHMIDT ~ SAXESFUL VOL II SJ 056 (Barcode: 5902596066703) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2018 Released: 2021 It’s not a secret that when recording an album, the producer often “thinks ahead” and takes the opportunity of the studio sessions already in place to record much more material than actually needed to complete one album. This is exactly the case with the recording sessions for the album “SaxesfulFind albums with this title”, which took place in 2018, recorded by Polish Jazz trumpeter, composer, bandleader, record label owner and producer Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. Following the hiatus of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent passing of Piotr’s Father, Prof. Andrzej SchmidtFind albums by this artist, an iconic figure on the Polish Jazz scene, whom I had a great pleasure to meet many a time, Piotr decided to return to the unreleased material from the “Saxesful” sessions and release a follow up album with that material, among other things to commemorate his Father’s memory. The concept of “Saxesful” was to present a series of Polish Jazz saxophonists, each playing on a different track. This second volume does exactly the same, presenting six classic Jazz standards, each performed by the core quartet and featuring a different saxophonist. The list of the saxophonists reads like the who´s who of Polish Jazz and is also an obvious tribute to Polish Jazz itself. With their ages ranging from Jan Ptaszyn WroblewskiFind albums by this artist (born 1936), Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1939), Henryk MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist (born 1951), Maciej SikalaFind albums by this artist (born 1961), Adam WendtFind albums by this artist (born 1962) and finally Grzech PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist (born 1974), i.e. four generations of Polish Jazz players, they represent the incredible power and stylistic versatility of the scene. The core quartet is by no means less impressive, featuring Schmidt on trumpet, pianist Wojciech NiedzielaFind albums by this artist and Poland´s top rhythm section comprised of bassist Maciej GarbowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof GradziukFind albums by this artist, all of which have a most impressive list of achievements under their arms. My Grandmother loved to quote the Polish proverb, which says: ”Those, who eat the leftovers are smooth and beautiful” (In Polish: “Kto zjada ostatki, ten jest piękny i gładki”). The meaning of this proverb is, that leftovers are as good, if not better, than the original food and should not be discarded, which applies exactly to the music on this album in every sense, and it would have been a shame to leave this music unreleased. Once again we have here a feast great classic Jazz music and first rate performances, which is a tribute to the genre itself, Polish Jazz history and tradition and a great listening experience. Enjoy! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 30/08/2021Posted: 30/08/2021

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YES4JAZZ ~ TRZASKOWSKI REWORK SJ 057 (Barcode: 5902596066697) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz quintet, called Yes4JazzFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist / clarinetist Robert ChylaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Seweryn GraniastyFind albums by this artist, pianist Wojciech PruszynskiFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Bartlomiej PietschFind albums by this artist and drummer Waldemar FranczykFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, all composed by one of the Godfathers of Polish jazz, pianist / composer Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album attempts to “revitalize” the music by Trzaskowski, which is often less popular and somewhat neglected in comparison to the work of his contemporaries, members of the first post WWII generation of Polish Jazz. The Polish Jazz scene, like no other in the world, seems to have an obsession with reworking / recomposing / reshaping / transforming the music by Polish Classical and Jazz composers, with very contrasting results, sometimes highly successful but also quite pitiful at times. One can assume that Polish Jazz musicians tend to respect the Polish musical tradition and approach the legacy with love and reverence, but fashionable trends and fads can’t be ruled out in many cases. The music of Trzaskowski certainly deserves to be remembered and admired, as listening to his rather limited recorded legacy proves beyond any doubt. However, the need to “rework” his compositions rises the basic question of the purpose to do so. His music is a testament of a period, which in many respects is unrepeatable, and more importantly it remains completely valid and aesthetically perfect as it is. Unless the “rework” is diametrically innovative, creative and impressive, such attempt might prove questionable. One has to admit that “rework” is highly exaggerated in the case of this album, as the music stays pretty faithful to its origin, except for the more contemporary sound, mostly effected by the electric bass and strident drums and of course the absence of a trumpet, which was an essential signature in Trzaskowski’s music. But all things considered, the music flows fluently and swings happily, and considering the quality of the original compositions, it can’t be really bad, can it? Overall, this is a very nice mainstream Jazz album, with beautiful musical contents, amicably performed by the quintet, and a tribute to one of Polish Jazz greatest figures. Definitely worth investigating, especially by Polish Jazz enthusiasts.

Updated: 10/08/2022Posted: 10/08/2022

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MATEUSZ POSPIESZALSKI ~ KONCERT W FABRYCE SJ 059 (Barcode: 5902596066741) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is a solo saxophone album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Mateusz PospieszalskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in the production halls and cellars of the Tenczynek brewery. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Pospieszalski. The album is a logical / musical continuance of the solo album “Tam I SamFind albums with this title”, released a year earlier, which was recorded outdoors in several locations, this time placing the Artist in industrial surroundings, as opposed to nature surroundings earlier on. The music is everything one might hope for, a symbiosis of solo saxophone phrases, vocalese, industrial background and natural echo of the historic production halls and cellars, all adding up to create a highly personal, on one side, an a completely universal, on the other, statement of human expression. Although improvised, the music retains a highly melodic, mostly melancholic and heartwrenching sonority, amplified by the environment in which it was created. Pospieszalski manages to establish a conversation between the tones he produces and the tones echoed by the environment he plays in, which is deeply moving and heartfelt. In addition to the beautiful, wonderfully aesthetic musical experience, the album also offers a new alternative to Improvised Music, which is no less ambitious and creative than what was regarded as Improvised Music for so long now, without being chaotic and completely lost in itself. Together with its predecessor, this album is a hopeful eye (ear) opener to more constructive Improvised Music in the future. Overall, this is an exquisite piece of music and a highly rewarding listening experience, which has very few equals on the Polish Avant-Garde Jazz scene. It offers a universal musical experience, which is both relaxing / meditative and cerebrally exciting and for listeners looking for new musical vistas this is a true prize.

Updated: 21/01/2022Posted: 21/01/2022

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PAWEL PALCOWSKI ~ INFLUENCES SJ 060 (Barcode: 5902596066765) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Jaroslaw BothurFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Kajetan BorowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Arek SkolikFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, all by the leader. Palcowski faithfully continues the direction set by the debut, playing wonderful mainstream Jazz, which originates in the Bebop tradition perfected in America in the 1950s and 1960s. His trumpet playing is getting better all the time and his performances here bring fond memories of such greats as Lee MorganFind albums by this artist or Kenny DorhamFind albums by this artist. Except for the use of electric bass and piano, which perhaps is a mistake if authenticity was the aim, the music sounds like something recorded sixty or more years ago, which in this case is not a criticism, but rather a compliment. It is important to preserve the tradition and when that is done as tastefully and elegantly like on this album, it is truly commendable. All the musicians involved are obviously highly talented and well-schooled, which is plainly evident from their performances herein. The presence of the veteran drummer Arek Skolik also adds to the general feel of a Bebop party. Overall, this is a great album of traditional mainstream Jazz, updated by the excellent new compositions, which all sound like taken from a “Real Book”, which is a great compliment to the composing talents of Palcowski. I doubt if there are many albums of such quality recorded these days across the pond, which of course means that the young Polish Jazz musicians really can compete with anybody – “Polak Potrafi” ;)

Updated: 11/02/2022Posted: 11/02/2022

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GRZEGORZ KAPOLKA ~ LIVE AT NOSPR SJ 061 (Barcode: 5902596066772) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2019 Released: 2022 This is a live album by veteran Polish Blues guitarist / composer Grzegorz KapolkaFind albums by this artist recorded in a trio format with electric bassist Dariusz ZiolekFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan KapolkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents five (presumably original, as nothing is stated on the albums artwork) compositions by the leader, with a total playing time of about thirty-six minutes, more like an EP than a full album. The music is classic Blues soaked Fusion, entirely based on the leader’s improvising abilities. The melodic, well-crafted themes are ideal vehicles for the lengthy guitar explorations. Kapolka earned his dues on the local scene working extensively for many years with many ensembles and musicians, earning a lot of respect, and this album clearly shows why. Since Fusion is an intrinsically highly limited genre and after over fifty years of Fusion guitar playing, which dominates the genre, it seems that everything that is possible to do was already done one time or another, but this album manages to raise a brow and show that we have not heard everything yet. Kapolka certainly has some tricks up his sleeve that are able to surprise even the most “educated” Fusion guitar fans, and his virtuosity is surely worth being discovered. This album is more of a short document of a concert appearance than a proper well produced studio effort, and as such is perfect for what it is. Overall, this is spine-chilling exposition of Fusion guitar playing, which should surprise even the veterans of the genre and considering how rare new discoveries in that area are, is wholeheartedly recommended. Guitar freaks heaven on earth!

Updated: 28/01/2023Posted: 16/04/2022

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PIOTR SCHMIDT INTERNATIONAL SEXTET ~ KOMEDA UNKNOWN 1967 SJ 062 (Barcode: 5902596066796) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader / label owner Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, recorded with an international sextet, which includes Lithuanian saxophonist Kestutis VaiginisFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, Polish pianist Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist, bassists American Harish RaghavanFind albums by this artist or Polish Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and drummers American Jonathan BarberFind albums by this artist or Polish Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The sextet performs seven compositions, all by the Godfather of modern Polish Jazz, pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. The music is quite sensational, as six of these compositions by Komeda are recorded here for the first time, fifty-five years after they were created. They were originally written as part of the project originated by my Friend and Mentor, German producer Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, which resulted in the Jazz & Poetry album “Meine Susse Europaische HeimatFind albums with this title”, that combined Komeda’s music with contemporary Polish poetry. Krzysztof BalkiewiczFind albums by this artist, Polish archivist in charge of Komeda’s heritage, found these additional compositions, which were not used in the process of creating the above album and passed them to Schmidt, who arranged them and recorded with his sextet. Obviously such discovery is a major event as far as the history and legacy of Polish Jazz is concerned. The music is everything that every Komeda fan (and therefore every Polish Jazz fan) might expect, full of brilliant melodic lines, lyricism and melancholy, which are the epitome of Polish Jazz, a big dash of tension and mystery, which characterize Komeda’s compositions and a series of brilliant performances by some of the best Polish, European and American musicians. The album has all the ingredients of an instant classic, which of course is hardly surprising. Although these compositions were not included on the original album, they are by no means less perfect. The playing time restrictions of the LP format dictated the cruel choices, and the budget restrictions dictated the fact that the planned double LP project was rejected. I often wandered over the years where did those additional compositions disappear, and in my talks with Balkiewicz over the years the subject also came up. It is absolutely delightful to see the music being alive again and the prospect that it might inspire future Jazz generations is truly uplifting. Overall, this is a monumental piece of Jazz history, a great discovery and a glorious occasion to discover another element of Komeda’s genius. Everybody involved in this project deserves my sincere thanks: the brilliant musicians, the archivist / detective, the people who brilliantly recorded the music, etc. Every true Jazz enthusiast on this planet should listen to this album, as not hearing it constitutes a big void in the ability to comprehend the European musical aesthetics.

Updated: 29/12/2023Posted: 10/07/2022

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BOOGIE SKIEDRZYNSKI ~ PASSED LINES SJ 064 (Barcode: 5902596066802) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Boogie SkiedrzynskiFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Bogdan SkiedrzynskiFind albums by this artist), recorded in a trio setting with bassist Grzegorz PiaseckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz ManiakFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, nine of which are original compositions by the leader and one is a standard. The music was recorded at the excellent RecPublica Studios and engineered by Michal WasylFind albums by this artist, and offers a superb sound quality, The music is melody based and well within the mainstream Jazz parameters, but at the same time quite original and most importantly manages to avoid the incessant obsession of guitar players to utilize the Fusion vocabulary, which thankfully is entirely absent here. This is a “pure” Jazz guitar album, with a very personal attitude on every plane: melodically, rhythmically and conceptually. Skiedrzynski choses every note very carefully and sparingly, so there are no barrages of neck-breaking guitar pyrotechnics. Instead he delivers a coherent, balanced series of crystal clear notes and chords, sticking to the “less is more” principle, leaving a lot of space for the listener’s imagination to fill the blanks, which is extremely rare these days. The rhythm section plays brilliantly along, completely in sync with the leader, not disturbing the minimalist approach but supporting the flow of the music amicably and adding some solo parts, all performed with taste and elegance. The teamwork of the trio is truly praiseworthy. Overall, this is an excellent debut effort, which stands out from most guitar led recordings on the Polish Jazz scene, showing remarkable restraint, maturity and of course talent and imagination. This is an absolute must for guitar fans and perhaps also other guitar players to learn from, but all Jazz lovers and beyond should enjoy this album immensely. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 29/09/2022Posted: 29/09/2022

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WLODZIMIERZ NAHORNY ~ FREEDOM BOOK / ECHOES OF HEYDAY SJ 066 (Barcode: 5902596066970) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 Recently I realize that the Polish Jazz Olympus is getting sadly scarcely populated by its founding Forefathers, as the time goes by. Many of the great Polish Jazz musicians, that I knew for decades, are no longer with us, which of course makes me appreciate even more those, who are still around, and even more so if they are still creatively active. Wlodzimierz NahornyFind albums by this artist (born 1941 and active since 1959) belongs to this intimate group for many reasons, not only as a superb musician and composer, but also as a human being. This new album was recorded with his trio, which functions steadfastly since over thirty years, with bassist Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist and drummer Piotr BiskupskiFind albums by this artist, which was expanded here to a quartet with the addition of the “young” (born 1985) trumpeter Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist. It presents eleven tracks, eight of which are original compositions by Nahorny and three are short quartet improvisations. The music is delightfully lyrical and superbly melodic, based on Nahorny’s unique capability to weave heartbreaking tunes, which are captivating and heartwrenching, but never simplistic. Despite some flirting with Avant-Garde during his early years, Nahorny remained a full blown Romantic for the majority of his composing career, and has very few competitors in this field on the local scene. The performances are all stellar, which is hardly surprising, with Nahorny still playing steadily and convincingly, Bogdanowicz providing excellent continuity and harmony to the proceedings and Biskupski gently but firmly keeping the chronometric time stamp just right. Schmidt is, for me, the absolute surprise of this album, as his trumpet playing sounds simply stupendous and sublimely sensuous, with a shadow of subconscious Chet BakerFind albums by this artist-ism, summarizing beautifully his enormous progress made during his career in the last few years, now joining the major league with full credentials. Overall, this album is an instant classic, which deserves to be heard by as many people as possible around the globe. This is European Jazz at its best, solid, beautiful and elegant, without an iota of pretentiousness and fakery. Despite its seemingly simplistic approach it is intelligent and highly professional, not to mention pleasing and genuinely musical. Well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 28/11/2022Posted: 28/11/2022

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DARIUSZ ZIOLEK ~ FORGET NOT YET SJ 067 (Barcode: 5902596066987) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish Blues / Jazz bass guitarist / composer Dariusz ZiolekFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with Cuban clarinetist / saxophonist / trumpeter Joaquin SosaFind albums by this artist, pianist Grzegorz ZiolekFind albums by this artist and drummer Bartosz SzablowskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, seven by Dariusz Ziolek and two by Grzegorz Ziolek (son of Dariusz). The album offers an excellent sound quality, which is very important in delivering the music as naturally and acoustically, as it was intended. The music is all beautifully melodic Jazz, consisting mostly of low-key ballads with strong melancholic / lyrical feel. The level of the compositions is excellent and the entire duration of the album is a pleasant, relaxing experience. There are no surprises or unforeseen explorations, but the delivery is solid and the music flows coherently. The electric bass gets naturally more than usual soloing opportunities, in view of the fact that it is played by the leader, but most of the solo parts are performed by Sosa and Grzegorz Ziolek. Dariusz Ziolek is of course an excellent musician and his smooth, lingering bass lines are at the epicenter of the music, clearly audible for the entire duration of the album. Overall, this is a highly entertaining musical encounter, superbly put together and full of well composed music, which should make all mainstream / melodic Jazz listeners perfectly happy. The simplicity and relaxed atmosphere are a completely valid alternative, as long as they are backed by professional support and talent, which certainly are plentiful herein.

Updated: 28/01/2023Posted: 28/01/2023

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VAS / BUKOWSKI / SZMANDA ~ OPEN-CLOSED PRINCIPLE SJ 068 (Barcode: 5902596066994) ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 - 2022 Released: 2022 This is the debut album by the trio comprising of Hungarian (resident in Poland) organist / composer Bence VasFind albums by this artist and Polish vibraphonist Dominik BukowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Krzysztof SzmandaFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Vance. The music was recorded at the excellent Studio Tokania and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, who owns the studio and is a fabulous organist himself, which of course guarantees a fabulous sound quality. The trio offers a unique aural experience and the unusual instrumental lineup, despite its minimalist setting, offers an almost orchestral sound, much denser and elaborate in textures than one might expect. Both the organ and the vibraphone are among my favorite instruments, so I obviously have no complains in that department, although aurally the matching of these two instruments might prove difficult. The compositions are less exciting and the feeling is that the music tends to linger somewhat longer than necessary, not really developing much after the melodic theme was introduced. Also the compositions are quite similar to each other, which offers little dynamics over the playing time of the album. Of course all three musicians are highly professional and capable of playing the music without a hitch, with most of the inventive soloing is taken over not surprisingly by Bukowski, who is a true Master of the trade. Szmanda, as usual, keeps the music swinging at all times. Overall, this is a nice, melodic Jazz album, which offers a rather unusual sound and instrumental blend, in a chamber like atmosphere, often close to Classical music. For fans of organ Jazz, this is certainly something they might like to look into.

Updated: 16/01/2023Posted: 16/01/2023

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CUATRO MANOS ~ WAY HOME SJ 069 (Barcode: 5902596066826) ~ POLAND ~ Smooth Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is an album by Polish acoustic guitar duo Cuatro ManosFind albums by this artist, which comprises of Jakub KotyniaFind albums by this artist and Michal LewartowiczFind albums by this artist. They are supported by a rhythm section, which includes bassists Mariusz BogdanowiczFind albums by this artist or Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist and drummers Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist or Pawel NowakFind albums by this artist. Violinist Dawid LubowiczFind albums by this artist plays on two tracks. The album presents seven original compositions, four by Lewartowicz and three by Kotynia. The music is very melodic, with a slight Jazzy touch and a tinge of Folkloristic / Latin themes. For a lack of a better classification, it could be counted as Smooth Jazz, or just guitar instrumental music. Although personally this kind of music is not really my cup of tea, I can appreciate the obvious skills of the guitarists and of course I am very familiar with the rhythm section, as those are very able Polish Jazz musicians. The guitar performances are very capable and the guitarists obviously enjoy their interplay, which is full of grace and wonderful melodicism. Overall, this is a very pleasant listening experience, on the very light flank of the Jazz spectrum, but nevertheless full of highly skilled performances and deeply melodic flow, which obviously has many fans. This is a perfectly valid statement for those who enjoy the entertaining facet of Jazz music.

Updated: 02/02/2023Posted: 02/02/2023

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SOUND PACK ~ ZYJ KOLOROWO SJ 070 (Barcode: 5905489720003) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocal quartet Sound PackFind albums by this artist, led by Marcin WawrzynowiczFind albums by this artist with Joanna Swiniarska-SzebeszczykFind albums by this artist, Katarzyna MirowskaFind albums by this artist and Malgorzata BiniekFind albums by this artist. The instrumental support this time is in the most capable hands of the Yarosh Organ TrioFind albums by this artist, led by drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist with saxophonist Tomasz PruchnickiFind albums by this artist and organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist. The album presents new arrangements of ten Polish Jazz evergreens, six of which were arranged by Bartosz PernalFind albums by this artist. There are very few surprises on this album, since the concept of a vocal Jazz quartet has been explored on the local scene since its early days. I am happy to see that the group followed my suggestion to switch to songs in Polish, which solves the problems with diction and pronunciation, but somehow they also decided to keep their vocal arrangements to bare minimum, which makes the entire affair rather less exciting. I also have a problem with the balance between the vocal and the instrumental parts, despite the fact that I absolutely love the organ trio, but somehow the match does not work for me as ideally as I have hoped for, which might be also a result of the sound recording and the mix. The overall sound is somewhat mushed and muddy. Of course all these are just my very personal impressions. But all things considered, the Sound Pack are a valid concept as is the selection of material, especially for Polish Jazz fans familiar with these songs, so I am pretty sure many local listeners will enjoy this album. Perhaps a straightforward piano trio accompaniment might have proved much more appropriate here and the organ trio proved to be a tad too complicated to handle. Overall, this is a nice Jazz vocal quartet recording, with an unusual organ trio accompaniment, which results is some less than ideal match, but at least is highly unusual and somewhat aurally challenging.

Updated: 13/02/2023Posted: 13/02/2023

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ANDRZEJ SWIES ~ FLYING LION SJ 071 (Barcode: 5905489720027) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2023 This is the debut album as a leader by Polish Jazz bassist / composer Andrzej SwiesFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio setting with guitarist Rafal SarneckiFind albums by this artist and drummer Pawel DobrowolskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven original compositions, nine composed by Swies and two improvised and credited the trio members. It is hard to believe that after recording dozens of albums as a sideman and two albums as co-leader it is only now that Swies gets to record his true debut, but on the other hand many great musicians share this fate and sometimes never actually get to record as leaders, despite their achievements. Happily, in this case we get to hear this “baby” finally coming to fruition. The music is everything one would expect from a bass-centered album, offering great melodic lines with Funky, Jazzy and sometimes even Rocky rhythmic approach, wonderfully executed by the trio. The sound is saturated by a plethora of bass sounds, some created directly by the instrument and others electronically enhanced / transformed, which allow Swies to display his virtuosity and boundless imagination in full. Contrary to the accepted formula, the music is not dominated by the guitar, which usually captures the front stage, but by the acrobatic bass guitar barrage of notes, which is absolutely dazzling. Swies managed to select two perfect partners for the recording. Sarnecki, definitely one of the top Polish Jazz guitarists, takes a step back and amicably supports the leading bass guitar lines in the background, soloing sparingly, only when appropriate. Dobrowolski, another Polish Jazz maverick, who also likes to stand in the shadows, supports the music by his intense, but highly sensitive barrage, which never disturbs the leader thanks to the right sound balance of the recording. Together the trio manages to achieve a collective sound, which fully conveys the leader’s music, expanding and supporting his ideas constructively and with great aesthetic sensitivity. Overall, this is a highly unique, unusual album, which explores the world of the bass guitar and presents many previously hidden vistas of the instrument. It is not an attempt to show off and prove something, which Swies really does not need to do any more, but an honest attempt to create a bass-centered experience, which is no less than heaven for the lovers of the bass guitar and its world of sound. Now, that the deed is done, we can only hope that it will be repeated, and in the meantime thanks for this revealing piece of bass Artistry.

Updated: 18/03/2023Posted: 18/03/2023

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TOMASZ WENDT ~ DAILY THINGS SJ 072 (Barcode: 5905489720041) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is the third album by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz WendtFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist, bassist Max MuchaFind albums by this artist and drummer Michal MiskiewiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen original compositions, all by the leader. The music was recorded at the Studio Tokarnia and engineered by Jan SmoczynskiFind albums by this artist, with the usual splendid sound quality. The music on this album is quite different from his earlier recordings, putting the composition in the epicenter. The thirteen relatively short tracks present a series of wonderfully weaved melodies, each and every one of which is a little gem, and they all radiate beautiful melodic coherence and heartfelt romanticism soaked in melancholy. Thanks to this approach the listener is exposed to a massive influx of themes, which is more than double than what one finds on an average Jazz recording emphasizing the performance rather than the composition. But of course the delicate and intimate performances on this album are also absolutely marvelous, focusing on the saxophone, but also prominently featuring the superb guitar work by Mika and the excellent support of the rhythm section, which shines throughout the entire duration of the album. Wendt made a very intelligent decision with his choice of the musicians participating on this recording, each a great Master of his instrument, but also an amicable member of the quartet sound. Together they create an unusual and highly effective Jazz album. There is no doubt that with this album Wendt enters the “grown up” league of the Polish Jazz scene, which he fully deserves, following years of hard working apprenticeship and study of the idiom. I had the pleasure of following his progress over the years and its always satisfying to see a musician grow and achieve success in time. Overall, this is mature and highly satisfying album by Wendt, full of great music and marvelous performances by him and his companions, which offers universal beauty of the Jazz idiom and should be highly appreciated by every Jazz lover the world over. Congrats!

Updated: 29/03/2023Posted: 29/03/2023

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KAZIOGRA ~ COLORS SJ 073 (Barcode: 5905489720324) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by the Polish quartet KaZioGraFind albums by this artist, which comprises of guitarist / composer Grzegorz KapolkaFind albums by this artist, bassist Dariusz ZiolekFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist and drummer Alan KapolkaFind albums by this artist (Grzegorz’s son). The album presents eleven original compositions, nine composed by Grzegorz Kapolka and two by Ziolek. The music is a refreshing mixture of Blues, Rock, Jazz, Funk and Groove, which is a great fun to listen to, but does not compromise musical quality at any time. Grzegorz Kapolka is basically a Blues oriented guitarist, with a beautiful tone and many years of experience behind him. Ziolek is Funky and his bass pulsations add the Groove momentum to the music. Gralak, as always, is the enfant terrible of the bunch, playing some truly weird and wonderful Jazz improvisations, using a lot of electronic devices to twist the sound of the trumpet out of its expected home turf. The young Kapolka drives the quartet steadily forward, keeping everything in check. This music simply refuses to be easily defined, and each composition opens up new sound vistas, keeping the listener in constant state of discovery, which of course is never easy to achieve. There is plenty of great melodic themes, Blues oriented guitar solos and trumpet craziness to surprise even the most erudite listeners and most importantly this music is completely different from everything else on the local scene, which by itself is highly commendable. Overall, this is an unusual, dynamic piece of music, which shuns definitions and pre-conceptions, which is able to take the listener into uncharted territory. The basic Blues / Funk, spiced by the Jazzy improvisations is exciting and refreshing, which happens rather rarely these days. This album is highly recommended to listeners, who are open-minded to new experiences, but at the same time have a build-in affinity to Funky Blues-Rock with a Jazz topping. Definitely well done Gentlemen!

Updated: 25/05/2023Posted: 25/05/2023

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PIOTR SCHMIDT INTERNATIONAL SEXTET ~ HEARSAY SJ 074 (Barcode: 5905489720379) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist, who leads an international sextet, with Lithuanian saxophonist Kestutis VaiginisFind albums by this artist, Czech guitarist David DoruzkaFind albums by this artist, Polish pianist Pawel TomaszewskiFind albums by this artist and alternating American / Polish rhythm sections of Harish RaghavanFind albums by this artist and Jonathan BarberFind albums by this artist / Michal BaranskiFind albums by this artist and Sebastian KuchczynskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, five of which are original compositions by Schmidt and one is a composition by Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer Bartosz PieszkaFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the same sessions and with the same lineup, as the material for the previous album by Schmidt, called “Komeda Unknown 1967Find albums with this title”. To Hi-Fi enthusiasts, the CD is gold plated. The music is another great collection of highly melodic and lyrical tunes, characteristic of the Polish melancholy, excellently performed by the sextet, which includes superb instrumentalists of international fame. Schmidt offers some scorching trumpet soloing, Vaiginis and Doruzka add their harmonic support and solo occasionally, Tomaszewski anchors everything with his sublime piano work and the rhythm section adds the swinging element. Together they create truly classic Jazz sextet sound, which reminds the best such ensembles, active throughout the Bebop era and beyond. Overall, this is a beautiful example of modern mainstream Polish Jazz, full of the melancholy elements that characterize the local strain of the genre since the 1960, continuing the great tradition with honors. Schmidt, who firmly established his position as a musician / composer, bandleader and activist on the local scene, is a proud representative of the second-generation of Polish Jazz musicians, which continues to develop the scene and keep the flame burning.

Updated: 01/08/2023Posted: 01/08/2023

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ROBERT SWISTELNICKI ~ PIOSENKI MILOSNE WCZESNEJ POSTKOMUNY I POZNEGO KAPITALIZMU I SJ 075 (Barcode: 5905489720409) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2022 - 2023 Released: 2023 This is an album by Polish multi-instrumentalist / songwriter Robert SwistelnickiFind albums by this artist, featuring five top Polish Jazz vocalists: Grazyna AuguscikFind albums by this artist, Jorgos SkoliasFind albums by this artist, Natalia KordiakFind albums by this artist, Wojciech MyrczekFind albums by this artist and Klara CloudFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Sylwia Klara ZasempaFind albums by this artist) and instrumentalists: Swistelnicki on piano, vibraphonist Marcin PaterFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pawel PalcowskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Maciej KitajewskiFind albums by this artist and guitarist Pawel UrbanskiFind albums by this artist. Several additional musicians participate on selected tracks. The album presents fifteen tracks, with all lyrics and most compositions by Swistelnicki, except three composed by Palcowski and one by Piotr BudniakFind albums by this artist. The concept is obviously a Jazz & Poetry presentation, although the music floats all over the place, from Blues via mainstream Jazz and a few almost Avant-Garde pieces. The vocal and instrumental performances are all as good as one might expect from these highly experienced singers and talented young musicians, but the scope might have been miscalculated to a degree, especially in comparison to Swistelnicki’s debut album “PiosenkiFind albums with this title”, which is way more coherent. There is simply way too much going on here musically, which combined with the complex and often vague lyrical layer, makes this album difficult to embrace, certainly on the first attempt. Of course one should appreciate the complexity of pulling such a project off. The somewhat murky sound quality does not help as well. Since the Jazz & Poetry idiom is by far one of my favorites, I pondered at length why this specific album failed to win my immediate approval, listening to it repeatedly several times. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it per se, but the abundance of musical ideas, which don’t have a clear continuity of focus is probably what causes my reservations. Also, it is difficult to hear clearly the lyrics, which in a project like this are an absolutely essential ingredient. A booklet with the lyrics might have saved the day perhaps, but alas it is not included. On the positive side, the trumpet playing by Palcowski is nothing short of sensational and the soul-shaking vocals by Skolias are simply exquisite. Overall, this is a highly ambitious Jazz & Poetry project, excellently sung and played by talented musicians, which should be very interesting to the Polish aficionados of the idiom. It is probably a matter of personal taste to decide if it fulfills all the potential expected from such a gathering of distinguished Polish Jazz Artists.

Updated: 30/10/2023Posted: 30/10/2023

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PAWEL KRAWIEC QUARTET ~ OFENSYWA SJ 076 (Barcode: 5905489720478) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2023 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Pawel KrawiecFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with trumpeter Mateusz ZydekFind albums by this artist, bassist Filip HornikFind albums by this artist and drummer Mateusz LorenowiczFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, all composed by the leader (although not credited on the album’s artwork). The music was recorded at the excellent Monochrom Studio, engineered by Ignacy GruszeckiFind albums by this artist, and offers a wonderful sound quality. The music is basically modern mainstream Jazz oriented, but the unusual guitar / trumpet front line is very unique and offers a splendid “twist”, which makes the album stand out amongst the multitude mainstream Jazz releases. The guitar floats between Jazz, Rock / Fusion and Blues, but again in a most original way, the trumpet steals the show with its brilliant sharp and clear sound and virtuosity and a superb rhythm section, which also shows an inventive approach to keeping time. All together, the quartet offers a highly exciting sound and novel sound and attitude, which makes this album to attract attention immediately. The compositions are all also very creative and definitely non-trivial, with less attention to the lyrical side and much more open, even slightly touching on Free here and there, which makes things way more exciting and intellectually challenging. This adds to the general feeling of this album being “something else”, with a wink of humor and a “take it easy” attitude, which sadly are way too rare on most Jazz recordings these days. I absolutely must emphasize the enormous value of the contributions by Zydek, whose trumpet playing is nothing short of phenomenal, as already stated in my review of the ZiemiaFind albums by this artist debut album “Ziemia DniemFind albums with this title”, which accidently shows some similarities to this album, especially as far as originality and attitude are concerned. Overall, this is a wonderful debut album. Creative, vibrant and a true pleasure to listen to, as well as being a vivid proof that the young Polish Jazz scene is alive and kicking, as always. As usual in such case, I am already eager to hear the next album by these talented young people and wish them all the best on their path to artistic development. Well done!

Updated: 22/04/2024Posted: 22/04/2024

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MARGO ZUBER ~ CISZA SJ 077 (Barcode: 5905489720522) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is the debut album by Polish Jazz vocalist / songwriter Margo ZuberFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded in an unusual setting with the vocalist supported by Hammond organist Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist, pianist Mateusz PalkaFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz PalkaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, eight of which are original songs, one composed by Zuber, five co-composed by Zuber and Galas and two composed by Galas, all with lyrics by Zuber. The ninth, a bonus track, is an interpretation of the iconic “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” composed by Charles MingusFind albums by this artist with words by Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist. Despite the fact that Galas is one of my favorite Polish Hammond players and I absolutely love his playing here, and both Mateusz Palka and Grzegorz Palka are excellent and by now very experienced instrumentalists, and together they manage to provide a very interesting and unusual instrumental accompaniment on this album, the rest of it does not work for me. The compositions are way too similar to each other, which makes the album sound samey and flat for the entire duration. The vocal parts have a very limited range, both emotional and musical. There are some touching moments of course, especially the brilliant piano touches, but not enough to support a lasting interest in the music for the entire duration. It is a matter of taste I suppose, but sadly I remained unconvinced, although I did listen to the very end waiting for the bonus track, which sadly wasn’t able to save the day. Overall, despite an honest effort on my side I remain unimpressed, which of course is entirely my fault. I hope to be proven wrong next time and thank everybody for their efforts.

Updated: 25/03/2024Posted: 25/03/2024

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KAZIMIERZ JONKISZ QUARTET ~ MONTY & SOUL SJ 078 (Barcode: 5905489720676) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Blues Fusion Recorded: 2023 Released: 2024 This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz drummer / bandleader Kazimierz JonkiszFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist Borys JanczarskiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Mark WaggonerFind albums by this artist and bassist Michal JarosFind albums by this artist. The album is dedicated to the memory of American saxophonist / vocalist / bandleader Monty WatersFind albums by this artist, who died in 2008, with whom Jonkisz often performed. The album presents ten tracks, all composed by Waters. Some archival spoken word and vocal fragments are included on the album as well. The music is all Blues soaked mainstream Jazz, excellently performed by the quartet members, all of which are experienced and talented musicians. As expected, Jonkisz gets to play several drum solos, as appropriate for the occasion. Overall, this is a nice tribute album, well played and highly entertaining to mainstream Jazz fans, who should appreciate the performances by these talented musicians. The pianoless lineup makes the music a tad less expected and guitar fans can enjoy the guitar parts as well.

Updated: 12/08/2024Posted: 12/08/2024

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PAWEL KRAWIEC TRIO ~ BRAWURA SJ 079 (Barcode: 5905489720812) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz guitarist / composer Pawel KrawiecFind albums by this artist, this time recorded in a trio setting with bassist Jakub KozlowskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Gabriel AntoniakFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, six of which are original composition by Krawiec and three are standards. Composition credits and details about recording date and place are absent from the album’s artwork. Krawiec has quite a unique musical approach, which blends elements of modern Jazz, Fusion and even Rock origins, and offers an overwhelming density of notes and chords. The album’s title (“Bravura” in English), aptly describes what is happening, and indeed applies to the extraordinary technical skills of Krawiec as a guitar player. But of course an excess of technical skills can be also harmful, but luckily Krawiec manages to avoid it elegantly. His treatment of the standards proves his respect towards the Jazz tradition, and some of the classic Jazz guitar masters. The rhythm section deserves a special credit for standing shoulder to shoulder with such dominant soloist, and they truly support him amicably, displaying their own skills whenever appropriate. This album is quite different from the debut, which included an excellent trumpeter, who naturally influenced the outcome, and to some extent dominated the proceedings. Therefore, for guitar lovers, this album is much more “straight to the point”, and should leave no listener untouched. There is definitely a bright future ahead for Krawiec and hopefully he will manage to stay on the right path, as guitar players often tend to lose control of their track, and pursuit of stardom. Overall, this is a wonderful album, full of superb performances by the trio and some extraordinary guitar licks, which should be exciting even to veteran Jazz guitar devotees. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 17/01/2025Posted: 17/01/2025

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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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AGNIESZKA MACIASZCZYK ~ A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO LIFE SJ 082 (Barcode: 5905489721000) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer Agnieszka MaciaszczykFind albums by this artist, recorded with the same quartet which recorded her debut six years earlier: pianist Michal CiesielskiFind albums by this artist, bassist Michal BakFind albums by this artist, drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist and saxophonist / flautist Szymon LukowskiFind albums by this artist. Marta BuschmannFind albums by this artist adds backing vocals. The album presents eight tracks, four of which were composed by Maciaszczyk and the other four co-composed with Ciesielski. She wrote also all the lyrics. I have been very impressed by the debut album by Maciaszczyk, and this new outing preserves many of its good qualities, especially the extensive use of vocalese rather than singing lyrics. This approach to Jazz vocals is sadly seldom utilized by singers, which is a great pity, since the human voice is after all the mightiest instrument. This time, however, Maciaszczyk does also sing lyrics (in English – and you know what I think about that) on three tracks, and on these tracks the vocalese becomes mostly secondary, which is somewhat disappointing, at least for me. Also the music on these tracks is definitely less Jazz and more Pop oriented. An attempt to reach new audiences? The instrumentalists are obviously more experienced than last time and more expressive, performing their duties as perfectly as one might expect from Polish Jazz players, which means that the performances are all excellent and their involvement and dedication to the project is as complete as one might wish for. Overall, this is again quite an unusual vocal Jazz album, with wonderful extended vocalese parts and excellent instrumental accompaniment, which is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. The only minor snag is the fact that is takes off exactly where the debut landed, without moving much forward in the meantime. I am not so sure if it will be possible to do that again in the future?

Updated: 10/02/2025Posted: 10/02/2025

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ORGAN SPOT ~ OITAGO SJ 083 (Barcode: 5905489721086) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is the 2nd album by Polish Jazz trio Organ SpotFind albums by this artist, released following a twelve years’ gap, led by organist / composer Kajetan GalasFind albums by this artist with guitarist Szymon MikaFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz MaslowskiFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Marcin KaletkaFind albums by this artist guests on several tracks. The album presents eight tracks, three composed by Mika, two by Galas, one co-composed by them both and two are standards. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz idiom, with strong Blues influence, but since the Hammond organ is my all-time favorite instrument, and Galas is a true Master of the Hammond organ, nothing could keep me happier than another album by this splendid trio. Mika is a fabulous guitarist and Maslowski keeps time splendidly and creatively, so these three musicians don’t need any help to create a full-sounding band. Kaletka is a welcome, but not essential companion. The original compositions are all splendid, as is the sound and recording, which basically means that for me this is an instant balm on my old bones, which keeps me perfectly happy, without expecting anything more that the soothing sound of the organ and the great music. I admire Galas for sticking with the Hammond tradition, not trying to re-invent the instrument, or make it anything that it is not. Respecting the tradition and keeping it alive is everything one can ask for in this case. Overall, this is another excellent album by Galas and the trio, which is an instant gratification for every Hammond lover of the planet. Anybody who loves the Hammond Masters, both Jazz and Jazz-Rock oriented (see Brian AugerFind albums by this artist), will be in seventh heaven.

Updated: 20/03/2025Posted: 20/03/2025

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JAROMIR RUSNAK ~ EVERLASTING SUITE SJ 084 (Barcode: 5905489721116) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is the 3rd album by Polish (resident in Italy) Jazz bassist / composer Jaromir RusnakFind albums by this artist, recorded in Italy in a sextet setting with local musicians: saxophonists Raffaele FiengoFind albums by this artist and Riccardo SalaFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Pietro VitaliFind albums by this artist, pianist Giuseppe BlancoFind albums by this artist and drummer Andrea Lo PaloFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, which are parts of a three-part suite with short intro, intermezzo and outro, all composed by the leader. The music is strictly composed and kept within the modern European Mainstream Jazz idiom, flowing coherently and offering plenty of opportunities for the musicians to solo, including an extensive bass solo work by the leader, which serves as an anchor, which keeps the music together. There is little innovation or attempt to exit beyond the established Jazz boundaries, but the music is obviously well put together and executed spotlessly by the sextet. There are strong Classical Music influences, mostly in the performance undercurrent, probably a result of the strict educational process, but the Jazz spirit is definitely prevailing. Overall, this is a solid mainstream Jazz effort, which offers interesting compositions and a well-performed continuity, which should keep most Jazz lovers happy. Rusnak needs to find a more personal approach / statement in his future work, which will undoubtedly follow suit, if he wants to leave a prominent mark on the European scene, which is extremely competitive. Thanks for the music!

Updated: 17/04/2025Posted: 17/04/2025

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MALWINA MASTERNAK ~ PERSPEKTYWA SJ 65 (Barcode: 5902596066949) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2022 Released: 2022 This charming album is a perfect reflection of the globality of the Jazz scene. We have here a Polish vocalist, who studied in the US, lives in Spain, sings in Polish and English, is accompanied by a couple of Spaniards and a Dutchman, with an American Jazz celebrity guesting… this is the 21st Century Jazz scene. Today’s young Jazz musicians are all well-schooled and very early in their lives already quite experienced, all of which is well reflected herein. The vocals and the music are perfectly rounded and coherent, reaching out to the listener with honesty and obvious talent, welcoming all opened ears. A very impressive debut release indeed. Malwina sings lyrics and vocalese with the same ease and elegance, underlined by typical Polish lyricism and melancholy, which are more difficult to shake off than a foreign accent. Her delivery is convincing and heartfelt, and this is what matters the most. As if this wasn’t enough, she also composed about half of the songs and wrote the lyrics to some, which adds to the impressive list of her talents. Sit back and relax, as this album truly delivers some excellent Art of the Voice, with an international perspective! Side Note The above are my liner notes included on this album's artwork. I am honored when asked by the Artists to write liner notes for their albums, always hoping that my words reflect the true spirit of the music. This is also a symbol of our mutual respect and friendship developed over the years. The same is also true when Record Labels ask me to write liner notes for their releases, mostly in the case of reissues of archival albums, which is a symbol of their appreciation of my knowledge and historical perspective and my recognition of their dedication to the preservation of the history of recorded music and the effort to keep human Culture and Aesthetics alive.

Updated: 23/09/2022Posted: 23/09/2022

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ANDRZEJ PRZYBIELSKI VOL.1 SJP 001 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a criminally overdue tribute album to the Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist (born 1944), who died in 2011, recorded by an ensemble which features six Polish Jazz trumpeters: Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist (born 1982), Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist (1972), Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist (1976), Tomasz KudykFind albums by this artist (1976), Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist (1985) and Maurycy WojcinskiFind albums by this artist (1988), i.e. mostly members of the middle aged and young generation of the Polish Jazz scene. The ensemble also features a rhythm section which comprises of guitarist Jakub KujawaFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz NadolnyFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz DaronFind albums by this artist. Together they perform four compositions by Przybielski and three collectively improvised pieces. The album also includes a conversation with Przybielski recorded in 2007 at the legendary Mozg club in Bydgoszcz, Przybielski´s home town, which also includes fragments of his performances. The recording and the release of this album was the initiative of Fortuna, who felt an obligation to document and commemorate Przybielski´s contribution to Polish Jazz, which is of course highly praiseworthy. However it is difficult to ignore the fact that Przybielski died a dissolute, lonely, sick, neglected and forgotten man, which left a huge black stain on the Polish Jazz scene. Not less significant is the absence on this album of the top Polish Jazz trumpeters of his generation, which painfully emphasizes the fact that Przybielski never received the recognition he so much deserved from his contemporaries and was mostly adored and respected by musician much younger than himself. His life´s story is a classic epos of Avant-Garde being denied recognition at its peak only to be recognized in the aftermath. Personally I had the pleasure of knowing Przybielski and working with him on several projects in the 1980s, being immediately convinced that he is the most interesting Polish Jazz trumpeter on the local scene at that time. My admiration for his work never ceased, being only rekindled following the tragic news of his death. With all respect to the actual music present on this album, which is very good, it is only secondary to the very existence of this project. Thanks and salutations are of course due to Fortuna and the many people who made this project possible and which, as the Vol.1 suggests, will be continued in the future. There are many fascinating moments on this album, some superb trumpet passages and solos, great group improvisations and so on. The musical concept is however a bit unclear, as far as I am concerned. Also the idea of six trumpeters playing together, as potentially interesting as it might appear is less effective in reality in my opinion. Perhaps a collection of pieces featuring prominently just one trumpeter or at most two, playing in turn might have been more effective? But these are just matters of personal taste. Of course all these trumpeters can play and they do play well, but as far as a tribute is concerned, the music is supposed to be spiritually convergent to the music of the subject to whom the tribute is dedicated, which, as already mentioned above, is not really apparent herein. But all things considered, this is a very important album, not only for its music but primarily for what it symbolizes, for its historical importance and for the example it sets. As such it is undoubtedly a major event and a great success!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 15/11/2016

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JERZY MILIAN ~ MUSIC FOR MR. FORTUNA SJP 002 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is a very unusual album in every respect and a wonderful illustration of the diversity, ingenuity and continued tradition of the Polish Jazz scene. It features nine original compositions by veteran Polish Jazz composer / vibraphonist Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, one of the legendary Godfathers of the local scene, including a two part composition which gave this album its title, which the composer created especially for the great upcoming Polish Jazz trumpeter Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist. Both Milian and Fortuna hail from the city of Poznan. The album also features an unconventional packaging in a form of a triangle, which easily wins the title of most awkwardly packaged album in recent times. The music is performed by a quartet, which includes Fortuna on trumpet, pianist Krzysztof DysFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub MielcarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Przemyslaw JaroszFind albums by this artist, which is occasionally also supported by a string quartet. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz idiom, full of typical Milian´s melancholy and lyricism, which have always characterized his compositions. The execution is also rather constrained, fully delivering the beautiful melodic themes and elegantly incorporating the gentle quartet string arrangements. It is the most "conventional" album by Fortuna as of late, which emphasizes his deep respect for the Jazz tradition at its best. The personal performances are, as expected, top notch. The music does not push Fortuna to exhibit the full power of his virtuosic abilities, but it definitely shows his elegance and finesse as a mainstream player. Dys is as masterly as always, here playing mostly the electric piano with great taste and his typical sense of humor. Mielcarek supports the soloists amicably and his strong pulse is the platform upon which the music moves forward. Jarosz keeps respectfully in the background, delicately adding his rhythmic support. The title track (in two parts) is the most complex and advanced piece of music on this album and shows the full power of the quartet and the individual abilities at their best. But overall this is a very nice musical adventure which should be enjoyed by all Polish Jazz fans and the many followers of Fortuna. The music is available as a free downloadable mobile app and of course is definitely recommended!

Updated: 14/03/2017Posted: 14/03/2017

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TRIBUTE TO ANDRZEJ PRZYBIELSKI VOL.2 SJP 004 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is second volume of the wonderful project which pays tribute to the great Polish Jazz trumpeter Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, who died in 2011. Six relatively young but already established Polish Jazz trumpeters: Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist, Marcin GawdzisFind albums by this artist, Wojciech JachnaFind albums by this artist, Tomasz KudykFind albums by this artist, Piotr SchmidtFind albums by this artist and Maurycy WojcinskiFind albums by this artist and a rhythm section comprising of guitarist Jakub KujawaFind albums by this artist, bassist Grzegorz NadolnyFind albums by this artist and drummer Grzegorz DaronFind albums by this artist perform five pieces, three of which are original compositions by Przybielski, one is a long improvised piece (over half an hour in duration) and the last is the bugle call of Bydgoszcz, the home town of Przybielski. A DVD filmed during the premiere of the first volume of this album is also included. The music is of course a continuation of the content of the first album and readers wishing to read more about the historical background and Przybielski´s contribution to Polish Jazz are invited to read my review of that album and other albums by Przybielski. By a weird coincidence I am writing these words just a few days following the death of Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist, the Polish Jazz Colossus. The many parallels, stylistically and otherwise, and of course great differences between these two trumpeters is one of the most fascinating stories of Polish Jazz, definitely worth a book on the subject. Beyond the music per se, these two albums are an important glimpse into Polish Jazz history and an effort to bring Przybielski into the awareness of the Polish Jazz fans, which he sadly almost completely missed during his lifetime. They also show the will of the young generation of Polish Jazz players to continue the tradition and remember the idiom´s heroes. For Polish Jazz fans this is definitely something they should have in their collections. Hats off to all the people who contributed to this project and made it happen.

Updated: 01/08/2018Posted: 01/08/2018

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JERZY MILIAN / MACIEJ FORTUNA ~ BIG CLUB BAND SJP 006 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is the second installment of the project dedicated to the music by and the memory of the iconic Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / arranger / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, carried out trumpeter / composer Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist. The music is performed by the re-activated Poznanska Pietnastka OrchestraFind albums by this artist (The Poznan Fifteen Orchestra), which was originally co-founded by Milian, in his hometown as a Radio Orchestra and for which he wrote many original compositions. The re-activated Orchestra under the artistic direction of Fortuna consists of young generation Polish Jazz musicians. The album presents seven compositions by Milian and two compositions by Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist, all arranged and orchestrated by Iwona WitekFind albums by this artist. The music Milian composed for the Poznanska Pietnastka Radiowa at the time was not intended to be Jazz oriented but was basically instrumental entertainment music, which was more ambitious than simplistic popular music. The new arrangements stay more or less faithful to the originals but are slightly more Jazzed up and feature more Jazz oriented soloing. Overall this is only marginally Jazz oriented music, but the album is a nice gesture towards Milian and his contribution to Polish Jazz and Polish music in general and an educational enterprise to get young Jazz musician involved in Big Band / Orchestral music, which is almost completely absent from the contemporary scene. For people interested in the career of Jerzy Milian and his compositions, this is a welcome reminder of his mostly forgotten and hard to find early works. This album is not a commercial release and as such might be not so easy to find, but its historical and educational values are obvious. It follows the same unusual triangular design, unpractical for storage, but nevertheless very unique.

Updated: 31/12/2018Posted: 31/12/2018

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JERZY MILIAN ~ OSTATNIA KOMPOZYCJA SJP 007 ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the third installment of the project dedicated to the music by and the memory of the iconic Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / arranger / bandleader Jerzy MilianFind albums by this artist, carried out by trumpeter / composer Maciej FortunaFind albums by this artist. Milian, who died in 2018, cooperated during the last years of his life with young musician from his hometown of Poznan, and even wrote new compositions for them, the first of which was released as part of the first installment of this project called "Music For Mr. FortunaFind albums with this title". Two further compositions: "Dylematy Dla Pieciu" and "Konsylium Z Zyrafa", both of which are multi-part suites, are released here for the first time. The music is performed by top Polish Jazz musicians: trumpeter Maciej Fortuna, saxophonist Maciej KocinskiFind albums by this artist, trombonist Piotr BanysFind albums by this artist, pianist Kuba StankiewiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Jakub MielcarekFind albums by this artist and drummer Stanislaw AleksandrowiczFind albums by this artist. On two additional tracks Milian plays vibraphone accompanied by symphony orchestra conducted by Grzegorz StasiukFind albums by this artist, who also created the orchestral arrangements. "Konsylium Z Zyrafa" was the last composition by Milian completed before his death, hence the album´s title. The music is everything one might expect from Milian, as far as the compositions are concerned, and from the musicians as far as execution is concerned. Milian was always a master of atmosphere; ad his compositions here confirm his reputation. Fortuna and his cohorts play brilliantly, as expected. Overall this is another piece in the hyper-sized puzzle of Milian´s legacy, which proves his importance as one of the leading European Jazz composers and trendsetters. The album is an absolute must to Milian´s avid fans and completists of his recorded legacy. Although only slightly above half an hour in playing time, it fully justifies to be a part of any serious Polish Jazz collection.

Updated: 18/01/2020Posted: 18/01/2020

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