Magda Kuraś - Plony (2020)

Magda Kuraś

Magda Kuraś - vocals
Patryk Czyżewski - piano
Michał Kowalczyk - bass
Robert Kutrzepa - drums
Małgorzata Oleszczuk - vocals
Maciej Świniarski - vocals
Dominik Kisiel - piano (7)

Plony

PRIVATE EDITION

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by Polish singer/songwriter Magda Kuraś, accompanied by a piano trio consisting of pianist Patryk Czyżewski, bassist Michał Kowalczyk and drummer Robert Kutrzepa. A couple of singers participate in the backing vocal parts. The album presents seven original songs, all featuring lyrics by Kuraś, six of which were co-composed by Kuraś and Czyżewski and one was composed by Dominik Kisiel, on which he also plays the piano.

The music is heavily influenced by Polish Folklore vocal tradition and arranged combining a Jazz inspired instrumental parts, creating together a wonderful amalgam of Jazz-World Fusion, which is absolutely stunning. The overall level of compositions and the intelligent lyrics are all unusually mature for a debut album. Kuraś uses the entire range of vocal trickery, singing lyrics, vocalese, choir parts and everything in between, and sounds great at all times. The music is fresh, youthful, full of optimism and vigor, and yet manages to be romantic and melancholic, when needed. Even the opening a cappella track is sensational.

The instrumental parts are also excellent, perfect for the job and truly supportive, but leaving the vocals in the limelight, as appropriate. Czyżewski (and Kisiel on the last track) stand up to the role of accompanying the vocals with finesse and the rhythm section swings like clockwork. This album is a splendid example of how the Polish Folklore tradition can and should be respected, updated and used in contemporary music making, which sadly happens very rarely lately.

The only maddening thing about this album is its playing time, just briefly over half an hour… it is a tease making the listener longing for more, like a brief kiss before disappearing into the night. Really young Lady - We want more! Thanks for the music and respect to Krystyna Stańko for her job as a teacher. Love you both.