Record Reviews

ZOFIA ESDEN ~ CONVERSATIONS WITH MYSELF NOT ON LABEL ~ POLAND ~ Avant-Garge Pop Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025 This is the 4th album by Polish vocalist Zofia EsdenFind albums by this artist and her first truly solo album on which she accompanies her vocals by playing various instruments, with the only exception being pianist Bogumil GralaFind albums by this artist, who guests on one track. The album presents eleven tracks, all of which are her original compositions (in two cases co-composed by others), and all the lyrics (in English) are also her own. The music is completely beyond classification, freely embracing Ambient, Avant-Garde Pop, Improvised Music and whatever seems to be on her mind at a specific moment. The only way to enjoy the music is to put away everything one knows about how music should sound and go with the flow. Most of the time Esden is vocalizing, rather than singing traditionally, often multi-tracking her vocals, creating a vocal group effect rather than being a single vocalist. The instrumental accompaniment is very limited, mostly adding rhythmic support, but occasional piano parts support the vocals harmonically. Considering the fact that Esden released four albums in just two years, all of which are quite different from each other, means that she definitely has a strong drive to express herself and is highly creative. Her music is not conventional and hardly commercial in any sense, but for open-minded listener it can be not only fascinating, but also very enjoyable aesthetically. Of course it takes an effort to get used to, but the estranged and even weird external appearance makes perfect sense after a while. Overall, this is a very unusual and courageous statement from an Artist, who strongly feels a need to express herself in as many ways as possible and is bursting with activity and creativity, all of which I respect and admire. Her music is always welcome in my ears!

Updated: 24/09/2025Posted: 24/09/2025

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KOSTOV / PANTA / KONRAD ~ CONVERSATIONS NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 5907222840009) ~ BULGARIA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is the debut album by the Jazz trio consisting of Bulgarian (resident in Munich) pianist / composer Konstantin KostovFind albums by this artist and Polish bassist Pawel PantaFind albums by this artist and drummer Cezary KonradFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen compositions, five of which are originals by Kostov, four are originals co-composed (improvised) by the trio (called Conversation I to IV), one is by Konrad and the rest are Jazz standards of Classical compositions arranged by Kostov. The music is beautifully melodic and lyrical, kept mostly well within the modern mainstream idiom, except for the improvised and the solo piano pieces, but the exquisite rapport between the trio members and their obvious virtuosity create an elegant and highly expressive classic Jazz piano trio performance, which is simply perfect from start to finish. Kostov has a wonderful touch on the piano keys, delicate and sophisticated, but very convincing. Obviously influenced by Classical Music, his silky flow and elegant arpeggios are simply irresistible. Panta and Konrad are both superb musicians, with many years of presence on the Polish Jazz scene, both having played with all the top Jazz players in the country. Their contributions on this album are all, as expected, top class. It seems that the Jazz piano trio format serves as an inexhaustible setting for Jazz and despite thousands of piano trio recordings in existence, the listener can still find something that is fresh and unusual, searching and demanding. For Jazz piano trio lovers this album is a classic must have!

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

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