Specjal Jazz Sextet & Jerry Goodman, Jarek Smietana - Projekt Elbląg (Allegro, 2011)

Special Jazz Sextet (band)

Bartek Krzywda - keyboards

Szymon Zuehlke - tenor saxophone

Artur "Żółwik" Olewniczak - trombone
Marcin Gawdzis - trumpet
Janusz "Macek" Mackiewicz - acoustic bass
Grzegorz Sycz - drums

Special guests:
Przemek Dyakowski - soprano saxophone
Jarek Śmietana - guitar (6)
Jerry Goodman - violin (10)

Yet another interesting album from Allegro Records released this year (check also "Afreakan Project" and "Facing The Challenge") and again it is pleasent surprise. Surprise because though musicians are not from first ranks of Polish jazz yet they deliver very good music indeed. All compositions are by Bartek Krzywda while all members of the sextet taking part in this project are from Elbląg (or connected to this city). It is astonishing that so many fantastic musicians live in this relatively small city and that they managed to join their forces to deliver such a palatable dish. As far as regular members of this sextet are concerned I want to single out Marcin Gawdzis, the outstanding trumpeter, that should be much better known on Polish scene. Melodic lines as supplied by his instrument underline catchy Krzywda compositions and saturate music with lyricism and levity. But other players input is of no less quality be it Szymon Zuehlke on tenor saxophone, Artur Olewniczak on trombone or rhythm section: Janusz Mackiewicz on double bass and Grzegorz Sycz on drums. A lot of spice is added by guests' appearance: soprano saxophone by Przemek Dyakowski is an outstanding counterpoint to Gawdzis' trumpet, Jerry Goodman violin sounds other-worldly and hauntingly beautiful (like on "The Heart On A Plate") and finally well-known guitar of Jarek Śmietana. All in all, this is definitely worthy debut by Special Jazz Sextet, a tribute both to jazz and to city of Elbląg (from which also come from Jerzy Małek whose excellent album "Air" is our October Album Of The Month). 

Promo video: 

Author: Maciej Nowotny

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