Jachna/Buhl – Synthomathic (2015)

Jachna/Buhl

Wojciech Jachna - trumpet, flugelhorn, electronics
Jacek Buhl - drums, percussion
guest: DJ Yaki (3,5)

Synthomathic

REQUIEM 87



By Adam Baruch

This is the fourth album by Polish Jazz duo comprising of trumpeter/composer Wojciech Jachna and drummer/composer Jacek Buhl. It includes eleven original compositions, all apparently co-composed by the duo members. DJ Yaki guests on a couple of tracks.

Musically the album continues the path set by its predecessors, which finds the duo creating ambient collages of sounds created by their instruments and those created electronically. In many respects this album is the most advanced search for the duo's identity, being less Jazzy oriented than any of their earlier albums and almost completely immersed in ambient/electronic music. It is accordingly less melodic and more rhythmic, as is most contemporary electronic music.

Of course Jachna is a superb trumpet player, as he proves time after time on his Jazz releases, storming mercilessly the Polish Jazz top trumpet league. However his playing on this album is distinctly different and includes extensive use of electronic sound effects and other devices, which distort the trumpet sound considerably. They are of course no less interesting, but might prove difficult to swallow by hardcore Jazz enthusiast. Buhl's drumming is also quite distant from a steady Jazz rhythm and involves a lot of imagination in order to follow the patterns.

Overall this is, as usual, a beautiful soundscape, which needs to be approached with open mind and complete lack of preconceptions in order to be fully appreciated. Full of imaginary worlds, eerie sound bits and distant trumpet cries, this music is a soundtrack of the private movie screening in the listener's head. Surely not for everybody, but those who are able to appreciate and enjoy this duo's Art are truly blessed. Well done indeed!