Silberman - Silberman And Three Of A Perfect Pair (2016)

Silberman

Mateusz Gawęda - piano, keyboards
Jakub Mielcarek - double bass
Łukasz Stworzewicz - drums
Jan Peszek - voice

Silberman And Three Of A Perfect Pair



AUDIO CAVE 006

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by a Polish trio comprising of keyboardist Mateusz Gawęda, bassist Jakub Mielcarek and drummer Łukasz Stworzewicz (a.k.a. Silberman), which presents six pieces, five of which are originals: one by Gawęda, two by Stworzewicz and two co-composed by all three members of the trio. The remaining tune was composed by the Italian operatic composer Umberto Giordano. The music incorporates poetry by Polish poetess Krystyna Miłobędzka and text by British philosopher Alan Wilson Watts, narrated by Jan Peszek.

The music is a mixture of many different elements, from Classical to Avant Garde, performed by a piano trio, but having very little to do with a classic Jazz piano trio per se. There is a certain Punkish (see post-Yass) attitude, especially in the role of the drums, which obviously is more Rock than Jazz oriented. The three instruments seem to have divided the genre-related responsibilities, with piano playing the Classical parts, the bass the Avant Garde parts and the drums the Rock parts. Overall this music sounds often like Emerson, Lake & Palmer on acid. Add the narrated poems and you get a Psychedelic party like we used to have in the good old sixties.

But seriously this is brilliant stuff from stat to finish, perhaps somewhat hesitant and searching, but certainly defining new rules as far as cross-genre excursions are concerned. The musicianship is, as expected, simply stunning with the still very young Gawęda does things with the piano that might not be allowed in some parts of the world. Mielcarek swings his bow like the legendary Helmut Nadolski, but also keeps a steady pulse when needed. Stworzewicz beats the hell out of the drums like Animal of the Muppets, but always within the proper boundaries, and always swinging.

We need more albums like this one, which throw out everything we know about music into the garbage basket and take it from there, doing exactly what the people behind the music are after: fun, adventure, exploration, innovation and above all artistry. This is what being an artist is after all. This is definitely one of the most unique and curious Polish albums I heard in the last few years, and I have heard many of them, as my readers know. I can only recommend it wholeheartedly, hoping that it will find its way to as many open minded listeners as possible. Well done!