Sendecki & Spiegel – Two In The Mirror (2019)

Sendecki & Spiegel

Władysław Sendecki - piano
Jürgen Spiegel - drums

Two In The Mirror

SKIP 9143





By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by the duo comprising of Polish (resident in Hamburg) pianist/composer Władysław Sendecki and German drummer/composer Jürgen Spiegel. The album presents eleven original compositions, five composed by Spiegel, four composed by Sendecki, one co-composed by them both and one is an old composition co-composed by Sendecki and Polish Jazz guitarist Jarosław Śmietana, while they were both members of the celebrated Extra Ball band.

The music is quite diverse, moving between romantic ballads and energetic explorations, all of which are only marginally related to Jazz, but have a strong Jazzy undercurrent. The piano/drums setting is by definition somewhat limited and in this specific case the attempt to present the drums on the same level with the piano creates a strange sonic balance that takes time to get used to.

Sendecki gets of course plenty of opportunity to display his virtuosic technique as much as his typically Polish melancholic streak, which works like a charm every time. Spiegel plays atypically, trying to stay with the melody more than traditionally be in charge of the rhythm, which is quite innovative. They are working together well, as appropriate for musicians of their statue, obviously having fun.

Overall since both these musicians don't have to prove anything more as far as their careers are concerned, it is great to see them exploring new territory, which moves beyond the strict Jazz circle, creating music accessible to a wide audience without compromising artistic values.