Jurek Jagoda Trio - Liberated (2011)

Jurek Jagoda Trio

Jurek Jagoda - piano, keys
Marek Ałaszewski Jr - bass
Paweł Gębicki – drums

Liberated (2011)

Text: Maciej Nowotny

Second after debut "Songs Without Words" released in 2010 "Liberated" is what could be best described as modern smooth jazz. This connotation I do not use as invective. On contrary! I believe that such a music is necessary to draw popular listeners to more ambitious forms of jazz. This role music of JJT may play perfectly as do other artists of this kind in Poland like Leszek Możdżer (in last 10 years) or Anna Maria Jopek to name most famous respectively in instrumental and vocal (smooth) jazz. To balance real value of this disc one must take into account two factors. First, great and astonishing Jurek Jagoda compositional talent when writing catchy melodies is concerned. One after another we are witnessing beautiful melodies fiesta that can only be envied by most artists not only in Poland but abroad also. In this talent Jagoda can be compared to such masters as Esbjorn Svensson or Tord Gustavsen. Second, unlike Svensson or Gustavsen Jagoda is here not an innovator (merging classical jazz trio language as developed by Bill Evans with modern rock influenced pulse) but one who follows and without enough "firepower". By "firepower" I mean as much technical skills of musicians as interplay between them. I admit that there is significant progress here from their first recording but simultaneously there is still long way to go if comparing this trio to best such groups in the world. And finally one may also ask simple question: why to chase EST level and style (for example) if it cannot be surpassed anyway? 

Tracklist: 1.Liberated; 2.Reflections; 3.Five Steps Higher; 4.Good To Me; 5.Changing Places; 6.Traveling Miles; 7.Swobodna; 8.Gravitation Lost 

Check the artist web page to get access to some tunes from this album:

https://www.jurekjagoda.com/liberated.html

Dzamble - Wolanie o slonce nad swiatem (Polskie Nagrania Muza, 1971)

Dżamble (band)

Jerzy Horwath - pno, org
Marian Pawlik - bg, g
Jerzy Bezucha - dr
Andrzej Zaucha - voc

featuring:
Marek Alaszewski - voc (5, 6)
Jerzy Bartz - perc (1, 5, 9)
Jozef Gawrych - perc (1, 5, 9)
Janusz Muniak - ss, ts, fl (4-9)
Marek Pawlak - voc (5, 6)
Zbigniew Seifert - as (6, 7, 9)
Tomasz Stanko - tr (6, 7, 9)
Michal Urbaniak - ss, ts, bs, viol (1, 3, 6-9)
vocal quartet (2, 9)
string quartet (7)
vocal band ZHP w Warszawie (2)

Wołanie o słońce nad światem (Polskie Nagrania Muza, 1971)

This is simply terrific album evidencing what influence rock or as it was called in Poland "big beat" had on Polish Jazz in 60ties and even more in 70ties. Such names as Tomasz Stańko, Zbigniew Seifert or Michał Urbaniak taking part in its recording should persuade you that it is worth listening to this little gem! If you happen to know Polish language then your pleasure will be doubled because texts are very strong side of this album (written by poets Leszek Moczulski and Jerzy Ficowski). Set up in 1966 this band in 1969 won a prize at famous Jazz Nad Odrą Festival. Individual award went then to vocalist Andrzej Zaucha who was destined to make great career later in Poland and whose tragic end made him a cult singer in our country. "Wołanie o słońce nad światem" (transl. the cry for was the sun over the world) when released became a major success but the band unfortunately dissolved in next year. And although it was reactivated in 1978  Dżamble never got momentum back to record new material. Great pity!

Track list: A1 Święto Strachów; A2 Hej Pomóżcie Ludzie; A3 Muszę Mieć Dziewczynę; A4 Naga Rzeka; A5 Dziewczyna W Którą Wierzę; B1 Masz Przewrócone W Głowie; B2 Wymyśliłem Ciebie; B3 Szczęscie Nosi Twoje Imię; B4 Wołanie O Słońce Nad Światem

Author: Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html

Jurek Jagoda Trio -Songs Without Words (2010)

I was very skeptical about this album but only up to the point when I put CD in my Marantz CD player and started to listen to the music itself. Certainly it is not avant-garde or ground-breaking but it is nonetheless unpretentious, communicative and charming. The trio consists of the pianist Jurek Jagoda, Marek Ałaszewski on bass and Paweł Gębicki on drums. I found that it is their second album but I treat it as debut because up to this point nobody I know heard anything about them. This record was attached to March copy of JazzForum magazine so they immadietely got recognized by jazz audience in Poland.

Exactly as title of the album suggests this music is constructed around tunes. It reminds me somehow debut disc of Manu Katche Neighbourgood where melodies also played main role. I must admit that Jurek Jagoda compositional talent is exceptional and all his melodies are colourful and captivating. It is interesting where his road now shall lead him. I would expect from him and his collaborators to focus more on interplay between musicians, on rhythm and improvisation. All in all we welcome with this disc new interesting pianist on Polish jazz scene whose developments I will observe with interest. 

By Maciej Nowotny
http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html