Łukasz Borowicki Trio – Songs With Rhymes (2017)

Łukasz Borowicki Trio

Łukasz Borowicki - acoustic & classical guitars
Mariusz Praśniewski - double bass
Kasper Tom Christiansen - drums

Songs With Rhymes




PRIVATE EDITION

By Adam Baruch

This is the third album by Polish Jazz guitarists/composer Łukasz Borowicki and his second recording with a trio he recorded his debut with, which also includes bassist Mariusz Praśniewski and Danish drummer Kasper Tom Christiansen. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Borowicki and is beautifully recorded with wonderful aural atmosphere.

The music on this album is meant to present the acoustic side of Borowicki's guitar playing and as a result is indeed very delicate, intimate and low volume. The rhythm section offers a remarkable support to this acoustic effort, playing also very subtly, but clearly in sync with the leader and most inventively. Therefore as a trio effort, this album is absolutely fascinating and one of the best of its kind I have come across lately.

However, Borowicki evidently steps here towards much more Free Jazz and Improvised Music than on his earlier recordings. In my review of his debut album I mentioned that his playing reminds me of early John McLaughlin recordings; the music here is much closer to what Derek Bailey had to offer. Nothing wrong with that of course, except for the fact that Borowicki is stepping away from the majority of Jazz listeners and entering the Avant Garde niche, with everything that such a move implies. As a result there are almost no melodic themes here, at most some melodic fragments, which is a pity considering Borowicki's fine composing talent, which he displayed on his earlier recordings.

Overall this is a bold step for this young and talented musician, which is obviously a part of his search towards his musical self-discovery. People expecting traditional guitar playing will be definitely disappointed, but Improvised Music/Free Jazz lovers should find this album an exquisite example of trio cooperation and elegant European non-aggressive and yet completely individualistic music creation.