Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, kalimba
Amir ElSaffar - trumpet, santur
Adam Żuchowski - double bass
Partyk Dobosz - drums, darbuka
Sufia
FSR 2016/07
By Adam Baruch
This is the fifth album as a leader by the Polish Jazz vibraphonist/composer Dominik Bukowski, one of the most respected and prolific figures on the Polish Jazz scene. The album was recorded live in a quartet setting, with American trumpeter Amir ElSaffar, Polish bassist Adam Żuchowski and drummer Patryk Dobosz. Together they perform eight tunes (one split into two parts), five of which are arrangements of traditional melodies and three are original compositions by Bukowski.
The music is a Jazz-World
Fusion project, which amalgamates the Folklore roots of Polish and Middle
Eastern music, or more specifically the Arabic maqam system, which lately has
been discovered by many Jazz improvisers all over the world. The maqam is remarkably
open system and as such an ideal basis for improvisation, which is clearly
demonstrated on this album. Both the traditional pieces and the original
compositions get a similar treatment, which creates a remarkable coherency and
consistency, which this album manages to uphold for its entire duration.
The involvement of ElSaffar is
of course the decisive factor, which makes this album tick. His knowledge of
Arabic musical forms makes him an ideal partner side by side with Bukowski, who
after all is originally rooted in different musical environment. Without him
this project might have proven to be too ambitious for the Polish musicians working
on their own. Of course ElSaffar's virtuosic trumpet performances based in the
Jazz idiom are another strong virtue of this project. His santur solos are also
some of the highlights of the album.
Bukowski wisely lets ElSaffar
to take upon himself most of the soloing and in general the leading of the
music, as he is the bridge between the two worlds. Bukowski and the rhythm
section take a step back and play along the trumpeter, contributing amicable
support, both harmonically and rhythmically, which is especially impressive
considering how difficult the odd and irregular Arabic rhythms usually are for
people living outside the region. Żuchowski and Dobosz wisely take the rhythmic
level of the music into a free form and less regular rhythmic environment,
skillfully avoiding the traps of the tricky Arabic patterns as such. Their
contributions are excellent all the way through and truly admirable.
Bukowski, as usual, contributes
some superb vibraphone vistas, somewhat subdued and modest, but always elegant
and highly aesthetical. His original compositions fit the concept of the album
ideally and the vibraphone/trumpet collaboration is tasteful and unique. This
album, diametrically different from the other projects he is involved in,
proves his diversity and open-mindedness.
Overall this is definitely one
of the most interesting Jazz-World Fusion albums recorded by Polish Jazz
musicians in a long time and deserves all the compliments bestowed upon it
already, which I fully support. Bukowski has been a sure "bet" ever
since he arrived on the scene and this album places him also in the "full
of surprises" category, which is pretty rare. Hats off, Dominik!
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