Joachim Kühn/Mateusz Smoczyński - Speaking Sound (2020)

Joachim Kühn/Mateusz Smoczyński

Joachim Kühn - piano
Mateusz Smoczyński - violin

Speaking Sound

ACT 9630-2

By Adam Baruch

This is another wonderful duo album by German pianist/composer Joachim Kühn this time which brilliant young Polish violinist Mateusz Smoczyński. The album was released as part of the "Duo Art" series by the German ACT label, which cultivates the "Art of the Duo" Jazz tradition. The album presents nine pieces, five of which were composed by Kühn, one co-composed by him and Smoczyński, one is an adaptation of Classical composition by George Gurdjieff, one by French accordionist/composer Vincent Peirani and finally one by Rabih Abou-Khalil.

The music makes it immediately apparent that although obviously improvised, it is first and foremost chamber in character and heavily laden with Classical Music influences. The emerging Jazz-Classical Fusion is one of the finest examples of the idiom, completely unique and aesthetically innovative. Although followers of Smoczyński's career will not be surprised by this deep relationship with Classical Music, for Kühn's followers this is indeed a great surprise, as his ties with Avant-Garde/Improvised Music are way more "natural" that those with Classical Music exposed on this album. Surprisingly Kühn's chameleonic ability to fit in every situation works here as well and one might be easily fooled into thinking that he is a veteran Classical pianist, which by the way is exactly what his career was supposed to be in his early days before he discovered Jazz. 

The age difference between Kühn (born 1944) and Smoczyński (born 1984) is similarly completely insignificant as well, and both players perform in perfect musical and spiritual unity, as expected from such distinguished Artists. They both toy lovingly with the compositions, taking them often quite far-off from their origins at times and staying close to the notes on other occasions. Kühn sprinkles the proceedings with brilliant but brief Free Jazz arpeggios, and Smoczyński inserts some Polish Folklore fragments, which makes the music a great fun to listen to.

But as usual in the intimate duo setting, the music is first and foremost about the dialogue these two Artists are able to create while performing. As someone who happens to know them both in person, the magic that does take place here is completely natural, as they are both as sweet and loving as they sound. The wonderful photograph included on the album's artwork says it all - Mateusz is looking with obvious respect and admiration at the Master and Joachim smiles kindly in return, like a grandfather proud of his grandchild.

As I have stated so many times, the duo is the ideal musical unit; it is the minimal environment which produces interplay and telepathic communication between the musicians, which is the essence of collective performance. On the other hands it is free of the limitations imposed by performing in a larger environment, which a priori limit the level of the intimacy. This album is such a beautiful expression of the power of a duo that I can hardly think of a better one.

I have been lucky to follow closely the career of Mateusz Smoczyński since his early steps on the musical scene and feel a great pride in his success. Obviously seeing Joachim Kühn, who has been a part of the Soundtrack Of My Life since forever, being active and productive today is a no lesser joy. Bless you both for this sublime music!