Tomasz Pawlicki - Baśniowe Gry (Trial) (2019)

Tomasz Pawlicki

Tomasz Pawlicki - flute, piano, double bass, percussion, voice
Filip Lipski - violin
Wojciech Jachna - trumpet
Zbigniew Kozber - guitar
Łukasz Rafiński - flugelhorn
Jacek Buhl - drums

and others



Baśniowe Gry (Trial)

REQUIEM / LYDIAN 2019/6

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut solo album by Polish flautist / multi-instrumentalist / composer Tomasz Pawlicki, recorded with the help of seven additional Polish instrumentalists from various genres, including trumpeter Wojciech Jachna, drummer Jacek Buhl and others, each appearing on between one and four of the tracks. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Pawlicki.

The music is a minimalist, chamber Jazz-Classical Fusion presented by the relatively short pieces, which although unrelated melodically, can be easily conceived as parts of a suite like coherent whole. Since Pawlicki is usually associated with the Polish Avant-Garde Jazz scene, this music seems at times somewhat "tame", but it is in fact a logical continuation of his work with the Ecstasy Project ensemble or the trio with Rafał Gorzycki and Jakub Ziołek.

Both the compositions and the performances are brilliant all the way through and although this music is targeted towards the more refined audiences, it can be enjoyed by a relatively wide range of listeners from the Avant-Garde contemporary Classical Music and/or Jazz echelons to any member of the open-minded and curious public. The subtle use of electronics adds another interesting layer to the music, without changing the overall chamber effect.

I have enjoyed immensely listening to this unusual, ambitious and beautiful music, with the solo violin piece played by Filip Lipski being my favorite piece on this album. But all the music offers a highly aesthetic experience and deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. Definitely well done!