Jachna / Buhl - Tapes (2013)

Jachna/Buhl

Wojtek Jachna - trumpet, flugelhorn, electronics
Jacek Buhl - drums, percussion

Tapes (2013)

By Dirk Blasejezak

2013 already has a gem - although it's actually not really a new one. But this collection of ”old” tapes by Wojtek Jachna and Jacek Buhl comes along so fresh and wild it has to be covered here. (“Old” means the material was recorded between 2009 and 2011.)

Right from the start one gets caught with a song (“Czarny koń Bruce”) that sounds like an homage to the Roaring Twenties. Wojtek Jachna takes the listener back in time without any digression while maintaining contact to the present and to contemporary free jazz. The second song comprises two parts and the first part (“Klub łańcuszka na talerzu”) starts off like a tour de force. This is Jacek Buhl’s no-holds-barred playing - no compromise just hitting (by no means mechanical though).

And this is just how it goes on - the whole album is an experimental site for two free minds. Even though this is only a collection of older material from the rehearsal room you won’t find anything that’s not showing two excellent musicians playing with an overwhelming inspiration. Innovative yet appealing. And again a splendid example of great Polish jazz duos that seem to be more and more in vogue recently. 

The two musicians are known from many projects and bands like Contemporary Noise Sextet, Sing Sing Penelope (Wojtek Jachna) and 4 Syfon, Variete, The Cyklist (Jacek Buhl) - but with this duo it seems that both go beyond their usual borders. And we should be thankful - this is pure pleasure and enjoyment for anybody who likes some ludic drive in free jazz.

Speaking of free it is to say that this album is available at no charge on Bandcamp - so this could be the perfect starting point for anybody who never heard of Jachna/Buhl (you will of course love to get their other two albums too!). This is probably not only a promotional action but also due to the sometimes rather mediocre sound quality. Marcin Dymiter did a good job in recovering the recordings from the tapes but you shouldn’t expect too much. Still this is great music and definitely a recommendation!