Zbigniew Wegehaupt Quartet - Wege (Mazowieckie Centrum Kultury i Sztuki, 2005)

Zbigniew Wegehaupt Quartet (band)

Zbigniew Wegehaupt - double bass

Marcin Masecki - piano

Jerzy Małek - trumpet, flugelhorn
Sebastian Frankiewicz - drums

Wege (Mazowieckie Centrum Kultury i Sztuki, 2005)

Recently deceased Zbigniew Wegehaupt (born 1954) was significant figure on Polish jazz scene for decades. He cooperated with such eminent musicians like Zbigniew Namysłowski, Zbigniew Seifert or Janusz Muniak. But as a leader he was late starter since he debuted with 'Sake' in 1984. For his next release, above mentioned 'Wege', we had to wait another 20 years! But it was worthy to do that!

First, Wegehaupt picked very carefully musicians for this project. They were all young and all prodigiously talented. Moreover their inclinations went in different directions. For example Masecki was interested in avantgarde while Małek was closer to mainstream. That created interesting creative tension in this music. Second, the music written by Wegehaupt for this occasion is refined, sophisticated and deep. Third, a cooperation between musicians is exemplary. These guys really know their instruments perfectly and at the same time understand that jazz is all about team work. 

My only minor objection to this disc is that it is so conservative. I therefore choose to call it perfect example of "classic jazz music". Whether such a attitude in jazz music has any sense is another question. But even if it has I still feel that with artists of such a talent something more adventurous was possible and... pity that it didn't happen...  

Track listing: 1. Zambuko; 2. Manana; 3. Dziewczyna lipcowa; 4. Dominikowi W.; 5. Satoko; 6. Ewe; 7. Namapa; 8. Four Ross

By Maciej Nowotny
http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html