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.

Aleksandra Kutrzepa Quartet - Impressions (2018)

Aleksandra Kutrzepa Quartet

Aleksandra Kutrzepa - violin
Bartłomiej Garczyński - guitar
Michał Studniarek - bass
Robert Kutrzepa - drums
Patryk Czyżewski - piano
Anna Gadt - voice

Impressions



PRIVATE EDITION

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by Polish Jazz violinist/composer Aleksandra Kutrzepa recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Bartłomiej Garczyński, bassist Michał Studniarek and drummer Robert Kutrzepa. Vocalist Anna Gadt and pianist Patryk Czyżewski appear as guests on selected tracks. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Aleksandra Kutrzepa.

The music offers a series of contemporary Polish Jazz compositions, full of lyricism, melancholy and even romanticism, all developing slowly and based on solid melodic themes. Stylistically the music displays a strong touch of Fusion, especially when the guitar is featured up front, but also due to the unique sound and manner of playing the violin that Kutrzepa utilizes, which has strong ties with the French Fusion violin school (Jean-Luc Ponty/Didier Lockwood) rather than with the Polish Jazz violin school (Zbigniew Seifert/Michał Urbaniak).

As already mentioned above, Kutrzepa manages to achieve a unique and very personal violin sound and mannerism, which is quite different from the numerous other young generation Polish Jazz violin players, and which is quite remarkable by itself. She is very aloof, minimalist and reserved creating incredible tension and anticipation, which is extremely effective.

The rest of the players on the album are all highly professional and talented. Garczyński serves as a contrast to Kutrzepa's laid-back phrasing with his energetic and expressive solos, like a musical cold-hot or yin-yang seesaw. The rhythm section supports the soloists amicably and displays inventive and fully responsible ensemble playing, always solid and reliable. The guests add spice and panache to the proceedings, as expected, with Gadt taking the music slightly towards more imaginary ground on the last track with her beautiful vocal contributions. Personally this is my favorite piece on the album and perhaps points towards the direction the music might take in the future.

Overall this is an excellent debut offering, obviously well planned and rehearsed, original and ambitious, and most importantly offering elements previously unheard and exploring uncharted territory, which after all happens quite rarely. For lovers of intelligent Fusion this album is a true gem and should not be missed, and judging by the potential it displays, Kutrzepa is definitely a Lady to keep a close watch on, both as a composer and a player, which I definitely intend to do in the future, wishing her all the best on the way.