Record Reviews

SBB ~ FOLLOW MY DREAM GAD 105 (Barcode: 5903068120442) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1977 - 1978 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the album recorded by the iconic Polish Prog / Fusion band SBBFind albums by this artist (bassist / keyboardist / composer / leader Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist) in West Germany and released on the West German SpiegeleiFind albums on this label label, being their first album released beyond the Iron Curtain. This is also the first album that features lyrics in English language, written or in one case translated from Polish by Pawel BrodowskiFind albums by this artist. One song features English lyrics by Marek MilikFind albums by this artist. The music, as usually composed by Skrzek, presents two extended suites (each on one side of the original LP) this time each separated into four distinct sub-parts. This reissue adds three bonus tracks recorded for Polish Radio, one of which is again an extended suite, another one is a solo (accompanied in the background by synthesizer) bouzouki performance by Anthimos, and yet another one is a solo electric piano performance by Skrzek. Stylistically SBB continue their modus operandi, but slowly depart from their early recordings in several manners: the music is distinctly well behaved, mellow and melodic and it is also heavily dominated by a plethora of synthesizers, which significantly diminish the role of the guitar. Considering the close proximity of the themes Skrzek is continuously creating, the music is definitely losing some of its initial strength and attraction and generally is running out of steam, getting closer to more commercial outings. As a result it was sadly their weakest album to date (at the time). The bonus tracks, however, are much more interesting, with the wonderful bouzouki solo by Anthimos alone being worth the price of this album. Overall this is still an important part of the great SBB legacy, definitely worth revisiting, and of course owning in your collection, simply for the reason that nobody makes music like this today. This album still holds water today and with the bonus tracks is certainly a powerful statement.

Updated: 10/03/2020Posted: 10/03/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SBB ~ WELCOME GAD 109 (Barcode: 5903068120510) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1978 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the album recorded by the iconic Polish Prog / Fusion band SBBFind albums by this artist (bassist / keyboardist / composer / leader Jozef SkrzekFind albums by this artist, guitarist Apostolis AnthimosFind albums by this artist and drummer Jerzy PiotrowskiFind albums by this artist) released on the West German SpiegeleiFind albums on this label label, being their second album released beyond the Iron Curtain. This is also the second album that features lyrics in English language, two written by Pawel BrodowskiFind albums by this artist and four by Paul DraschFind albums by this artist. The music, as usually all composed by Skrzek, presents seven shorter songs, leaving behind (al lest for a while) the extended suites format preferred by the group and their fans. Some additional drum parts were played by Zbigniew WiatrFind albums by this artist. This reissue adds four bonus tracks, one of which is a radio recording, two are alternate tracks from the album and the last one is from a writing session by Skrzek. Although stylistically SBB continue their modus operandi, on this album they move further away from the early days and slowly approach commercially oriented material. The music is completely drenched in endless synthesizer doodling with the guitar parts sadly being pushed away almost completely. As a result this album is even weaker than its predecessor and almost completely lacks focus and most of the initial charm SBB was able to infuse into their music. With the 1970s nearing the end of the decade Prog and Fusion were losing their sense of existence and SBB were definitely not alone in the creative predicament. Sadly the genres refused to adopt new directions and the creative magic that characterized the idioms a decade earlier were slowly dying. SBB were still an awesome live band, but their recordings lost the impetuous. Even their next, this time Polish album "Memento Z Banalnym TryptykiemFind albums with this title", the last before the group disbanded in 1980 (to be reunited several times later), although returning partly to the suites formula, failed in retrospect to save the day. Overall this is still an important part of the great SBB legacy, definitely worth revisiting, and of course owning in your collection, simply for the reason that nobody makes music like this today. This album still holds water today and with the bonus tracks is certainly a statement worth revisiting.

Updated: 13/03/2020Posted: 13/03/2020

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL URBANIAK ~ SOUND PIECES MOOSICUS 1223 (Barcode: 885513122322) ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2023 This is an expanded 3CD reissue / remaster of the two albums, “Paratyphus BFind albums with this title” and “InactinFind albums with this title”, recorded for the small German label SpiegeleiFind albums on this label by the ensemble headed by Polish Jazz saxophonist / violinist / composer / bandleader Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist. The ensemble included also Urbaniak´s wife at the time, vocalist Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist, bassists Pawel JarzebskiFind albums by this artist (on the 1st album) and Roman DylagFind albums by this artist (on the 2nd album), drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist and Yugoslav percussionist Branislav KovacevFind albums by this artist. The 1st album included five tracks, four by Urbaniak and one by Makowicz, and the 2nd album included seven tracks, all composed by Urbaniak. Both albums are now combined as the twelve tracks of CD1. CD2 and CD3 of this album present three tracks each, recorded live by Radio Bremen during a club performance on January 21, 1972, a few months before the two studio albums were recorded, and later released in 1973. The material covers the same material that was later recorded in the studio. The lineup playing live is the same as on “Paratyphus B”, except for Kovacev, who is not present. “Inactin” has several similarities to the live album Urbaniak and his ensemble recorded in 1973 in Poland, released as part of the legendary Polish Jazz series (Vol. 36) and entitled "In ConcertFind albums with this title", which in retrospect was one of Polish Jazz most significant and pivotal recordings and a giant milestone towards the discovery of Jazz-Rock Fusion on the local scene. Those two albums share several of the compositions and almost identical core lineup and most importantly the unique stylistic approach, which mixed Jazz, Rock, Electronics and Free Jazz in a way never previously attempted. The Spiegelei contact, which produced the two albums, happened as a result of the success Urbaniak achieved in Europe touring there extensively in the early 1970s, which culminated with his appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 and winning there a first prize as instrumentalist, at the time still playing the saxophone. The switch to violin, which was Urbaniak´s original instrument, changed his career dramatically and marked the new period in his career. The entire period marks a turbulent time for Urbaniak and Dudziak, with their dramatic emigration to USA soon after. The music Urbaniak´s group created was definitely one of the most innovative and adventurous experiments done at the time, surely by any musicians originating from behind the Iron Curtain. The freedom of expression, which originated in the Free Jazz, mixed with the use of electric instruments and electronic voice enhancements, emerged as some of the most exciting sounds then, and to same extent even today, almost five decades later. Urbaniak used Polish folk motifs and uneven meters to make things even more exciting and Dudziak´s visionary usage of the human voice was eons ahead of its time. In retrospect her performances on this album remain unmatched to this very day, again five decades later. In retrospect the two Spiegelei albums and the three albums Urbaniak recorded for ColumbiaFind albums on this label in the USA during the years immediately after his arrival there remain to this very day as his strongest statements, with the body of work created by him and his groups in the early 1970s being unsurpassed. The album´s liner notes are pretty sketchy and such significant reissue surely deserves much better. Nevertheless, this is an iconic piece of music and as such deserves to be listened to today, after being unavailable for a scandalously long period of time. Overall, this album is a dramatic statement in Jazz history, serving as a beacon to the fact that by the time it was recorded, Jazz development moved from America to Europe, never to return again. This music is so much advanced over anything happening beyond the pond, already at that time, and the fact that it originates from Easter Europe, from behind the Iron Curtain, proves that it has been finally liberated from American supremacy, or even perhaps enslavement. Any Jazz lover, who is not aware of this music, and sadly a vast majority is in that position, has very little understanding as what Jazz Music is all about.

Updated: 16/02/2024Posted: 16/02/2024

CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL URBANIAK ~ INACTIN UBX 1020 (Barcode: 888174593128) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1973 Released: 2014 This is a reissue of the second album recorded for the small German label SpiegeleiFind albums on this label by the ensemble headed by Polish Jazz saxophonist / violinist / composer Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist. The ensemble included also Urbaniak´s wife at the time, vocalist Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist, bassist Roman DylagFind albums by this artist, drummer Czeslaw BartkowskiFind albums by this artist and Yugoslav percussionist Branislav KovacevFind albums by this artist. The album includes seven tracks, all composed by Urbaniak. This album has several similarities to the live album Urbaniak and his ensemble recorded in 1973 in Poland, released as part of the legendary Polish Jazz series (Vol. 36) and entitled "In ConcertFind albums with this title", which in retrospect was one of Polish Jazz most significant and pivotal recordings and a giant milestone towards the discovery of Jazz-Rock Fusion on the local scene. Those two albums share several of the compositions and almost identical core lineup and most importantly the unique stylistic approach, which mixed Jazz, Rock, Electronics and Free Jazz in a way never previously attempted. The Spiegelei contact, which also produced the album "Paratyphus BFind albums with this title" recorded a year earlier with the same lineup except for Pawel JarzebskFind albums by this artisti on bass, happened as a result of the success Urbaniak achieved in Europe touring there extensively in the early 1970s, which culminated with his appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 and winning there a first prize as instrumentalist, at the time still playing the saxophone. The switch to violin, which was Urbaniak´s original instrument, changed his career dramatically and marked the new period in his career. The entire period marks a turbulent time for Urbaniak and Dudziak, with their dramatic emigration to USA soon after. The music Urbaniak´s group created was definitely one of the most innovative and adventurous experiments done at the time, surely by any musicians originating from behind the Iron Curtain. The freedom of expression, which originated in the Free Jazz, mixed with the use of electric instruments and electronic voice enhancements, emerged as some of the most exciting sounds then, and to same extent even today, almost four decades later. Urbaniak used Polish folk motifs and uneven meters to make things even more exciting and Dudziak´s visionary usage of the human voice was eons ahead of its time. In retrospect the two Spiegelei albums and the three albums Urbaniak recorded for ColumbiaFind albums on this label in the USA during the years immediately after his arrival there remain to this very day as his strongest statements, with the body of work created by him and his groups in the early 1970s being unsurpassed. The sonic quality of this album is rather Lo-Fi in today´s standards and it’s a pity that a proper remastering effort was not attempted. The album´s liner notes are pretty sketchy and such significant reissue surely deserves much better. Nevertheless this is an iconic piece of music and as such deserves to be listened to today, after being unavailable for a scandalously long period of time.

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

MICHAL URBANIAK ~ FUSION III WOUNDED BIRD 3542 (Barcode: 664140354227) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2012 This is a reissue of the third (and last) US album by Polish Jazz violinist / composer Michal UrbaniakFind albums by this artist, released originally on the ColumbiaFind albums on this label label in 1975. In retrospect it is also one of the best Fusion albums ever recorded on this planet. Urbaniak, a veteran of the Polish Jazz scene, first came to prominence as the member of the legendary groups led by the Godfather of Polish Jazz, pianist / composer Krzysztof KomedaFind albums by this artist. While with Komeda, Urbaniak played the saxophone and switched to violin only after founding his own group in the late 1960s, when he also changed his musical direction from Modern / Free Jazz to Fusion, inspired by the groundbreaking innovations created at the time by Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. In his group he included his wife, the extraordinary singer Urszula DudziakFind albums by this artist and together they quickly developed a completely unique type of Fusion, which was light years ahead of anything else happening in that genre at the time anywhere in the world. Mixing Jazz, Rock, Folklore and Avant-Garde vocals, they established a completely new approach to composition and multilayered complexity, as documented on the two albums the group recorded as part of the legendary "Polish Jazz" series of albums, which was simply brilliant. Frustrated by the state of affairs in his country, which suffered under a Socialist Regime and harsh economic conditions, Urbaniak, like most of his colleagues, constantly looked for an opportunity to leave Poland and establish a career behind the Iron Curtain. He managed initially to record a couple of albums in West Germany for the SpiegeleiFind albums on this label label, but the real break came when Columbia offered him a recording deal. He and his wife left Poland and settled in the USA, as did several other Polish Jazz musicians at the time, like his ex group member pianist / composer Adam MakowiczFind albums by this artist for example. The three albums Urbaniak recorded for Columbia (and several more for other US labels, especially the dazzling "Funk FactoryFind albums with this title" album recorded shortly after this one and also reissued on Wounded BirdFind albums on this label) were outstanding and simply much better than anything the local scene could muster, but unfortunately Urbaniak´s US career never really took off, same as the careers of all other Polish Jazz musicians who tried to make it there, in spite of their immense talents. The reason was simply the narrow-mindedness of the US Jazz community (listeners and critics alike), which considered Jazz to be exclusively an American Art Form and failed to recognize anything originating outside of the US as artistically valid and meaningful, even if it hit them in the face. On this album Urbaniak is accompanied by top US Fusion players like guitarist John AbercrombieFind albums by this artist, bassist Anthony JacksonFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve GaddFind albums by this artist, as well as Polish compatriot keyboardist Wlodek GulgowskiFind albums by this artist. Guitarist Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist guests on one track, guitarist Joe CaroFind albums by this artist guests on another and Polish vocalist Bernard KafkaFind albums by this artist guests on yet another track. Drummer Gerald BrownFind albums by this artist replaces Gadd on two tracks. Dudziak´s vocals are simply out of this world and alone are worth listening to this album repeatedly. Urbaniak wrote almost all the dazzling music except for three tracks: a Dudziak improvisation, a superb composition by Polish saxophonist Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist, which fits this album´s mood like a glove and one tune by Gulgowski. As already said, this is timeless, heavenly, unparalleled music, which I´ve been listening to in the last almost 40 years without any trace of getting tired by it any time soon. This is an absolutely essential Fusion music, and anybody who has not heard this music does not know the true meaning of Fusion. God bless Wounded Bird for finally releasing this divine album on CD!

Updated: 11/09/2019Posted:

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend