Marta Wajdzik Quartet - My Planet (2020)

Marta Wajdzik

Marta Wajdzik - saxophones, flutes, programming
Paweł Tomaszewski - piano, rhodes piano, programming
Robert Kubiszyn - bass
Paweł Dobrowolski - drums
Zuzanna Wajdzik - vocals (2,3)

My Planet


NOT ON LABEL 5907785040588

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by young (eighteen years old) Polish saxophonist / flautist / composer Marta Wajdzik recorded in a quartet setting with veteran Jazz musicians: keyboardist Paweł Tomaszewski, bassist Robert Kubiszyn and drummer Paweł Dobrowolski. Zuzanna Wajdzik (Marta's sister) adds vocalese on a couple of tracks. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Wajdzik.

The music is all melody based mainstream Jazz, bordering on Fusion due to electric keyboards and bass ambience and dynamic drumming. Some ethnic influences are also present in the music, which offers a nice variety. The compositions are solid and coherent, serving as ideal basis for the extended improvisations and the up-tempo rhythmic character of most of the tunes makes the music flow briskly from one tune to another, offering a pleasant listening experience.

Most of the solo work on the album is performed by the myriad of keyboard instruments, and Tomaszewski's limitless imagination finds plenty of opportunities to skyrocket. Wajdzik solos sparingly, which is understandable considering her limited experience and technical skills, and she mostly states the melodic themes, leaving the expressive improvisations in the hands of Tomaszewski. The rhythm section is superb all the way, playing respectively in the background with an occasional bass solo, but offering interesting bottom harmony and rhythmic intensity.

One might wonder if the album was not recorded a bit too early as far as Wajdzik is concerned. With all due respect to wunderkinds, their stories usually end in a rather grim manner in the long range. Hopefully this is not the case here and I am anxiously awaiting her real debut sometime in the future. Overall this is an impressive debut, but not entirely earned by Wajdzik herself and with another team of players might have sounded quite different. Good luck and may the Force be with you young Lady!