Bartłomiej Oleś Quartet - “Eleven Phrases”

Bartłomiej Oleś Quartet

Bartłomiej Oleś - drums, composer
Marcin Oleś - double bass
Bartek Prucnal - alto saxophone
Bartek Pieszka - vibraphone

album's title: “Eleven Phrases”

CSK Lublin – 01 (2024)

Review author: Viačeslavas Gliožeris

Twin brothers Bartłomiej (drummer) and Marcin (bassist) Oleś are with no doubt most respectable Polish rhythm section on international jazz scene. They played and recorded with such greats as David Murray, Ken Vandermark, Kenny Werner, Chris Speed and Eric Friedlander among many others. Their international experience (predominantly with US leading artists) gave them invaluable proficiency in different techniques and aesthetics, in fact almost every album with their participation is always a high quality product. Besides of that, brothers have large collection of own recordings (as duo and collaborating with many different musicians as well).

“Eleven Phrases” isn't just their another album though. Credited to Bartłomiej Oleś Quartet (with Marcin on board), the album contains monumental Bartłomiej's suite “Eleven Phrases“(almost fifty(!) minutes long), recorded live during their gig at Klub Muzyczny CSK in Lublin. The suite has been played in public for the very first time. The other quartet members are alto sax player Bartłomiej Prucnal and vibraphonist Bartek Pieszka. If Prucnal is unknown artist for me, Pieszka is responsible for very interesting piano-less album, recorded with Oleś brothers in 2022 which contains some Komeda's more popular pieces - “Komeda Ahead“. In some sense, “Eleven Phrases” is a continuation of Pieszka's collaboration with brothers, since his vibes play a significant role in album's music.

After short gig's introduction, which sounds a bit from the backstage, the music is coming as a miracle. Even audiophile will agree, that soft, sculptural sound of acoustic quartet is of excellent quality, it's hard to believe it has been recorded during the concert, not in a good studio. The central composition (“Eleven Phrases”) is rounded by the opener, “Cousin Paul “ , and the closer,”BO’s Therapy“.

“Cousin Paul“ starts with Marcin Oleś playing with a bow on a double bass. Vibraphonist joins after, with both drummer and sax player coming soon, Eight and half minute long composition is well-framed, groovy, pulsating, with strong eastern touch - sort of “Caravan” in a fusion key. Lyrical Bartek Prucnal alto soloing is flying over the song's muscular body building fragile beauty around.

Bartłomiej Oleś says in the liner notes, that it took to him twenty years to complete “Eleven Phrases”. The suite contains of eleven parts, which invisibly pass one to another. The source of inspiration, according to author, is creative jazz from the past (John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme”, Sonny Rollins' “Freedom Suite”, Don Cherry's “Complete Communion” and Chick Corea's “Three Quartets”). I can only agree with that – not often nowadays one can hear such a beautiful mix of creative post bop, free bop scented with tasteful freer improves and 70s fusion energetics and spirituality. Oleś brothers are a highest class creative rhythm section. Improved with excellent vibraphonist Bartek Pieszka and tactful and attentive sax player Bartek Prucnal, the quartet is a dream team of sort. Playing live great and ambitious material, they sounds as a respectful continuation of the best creative jazz tradition nowadays.

Almost fifty-minutes long composition itself is never an easy listening, but well-composed and perfectly played, “Eleven Phrases” is a rare exception. Many Oleś brothers' earlier works were more experimental, “Eleven Phrases” combines a tradition, knowledge and creativity avoiding some radicalism. Let's call it maturity, and I believe it comes for the good.

“BO’s Therapy “, the album's closer, opens with long vibraphone solo, dreamy and bright (some would say - “meditative”), with rhythm section joining after. Gentle tuneful sax completes the atmosphere.

Standing alone album perfectly played, exceptionally well recorded and – most important – in some way without plagiarism re-vitalizing the holy spirit of creative jazz from 60s and early 70s. And still sounds very modern today. Released by a boutique label as a limited edition, ““Eleven Phrases” most probably will stay the collectors' item. It's a pity – but I heard the rumours that the vinyl release is planned?