Wojtek Fedkowicz Noise Trio - Distant Heroes (2020)

Wojtek Fedkowicz Noise Trio

Dominik Wania - piano, electronics
Jacek Fedkowicz - bass guitar, electronics
Wojtek Fedkowicz - drums, electronics

Distant Heroes

OKO-ART 2020

By Adam Baruch

This is the second album by Polish Jazz drummer/composer Wojciech Fedkowicz and his Noise Trio, which includes pianist Dominik Wania and bassist Jacek Fedkowicz. All three players use electronic effects on their respective instruments. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Wojciech Fedkowicz with three being co-credited to Jacek Fedkowicz and one to Wania.

The music is mostly within the mainstream Jazz idiom, with highly melodic themes, mostly very low key and overtly melancholic, with a few more open excursions, which are definitely the most exciting moments on the album. Although the album might at first appear as a regular Jazz piano trio release, it has a very specific sound and harmonic approach, mostly due to the application of the electronic sound effects, which distort the natural sound of the bass and the drums up to a point where the listener needs to readjust his “hearing concept” to be able to listen to this music. These effects are less dominant as far as the piano is concerned, which results in an almost "normal" piano sound. This unique overall approach is definitely controversial, and might scare some of the listeners away from the music, at least at first hearing.

It seems that Wania’s genius is able to conquer any obstacle and his playing on this album is as impressive as on any of his other recordings, which of course is always a cause of musical joy. His improvisations are full of brilliant colors and his musical flow is an artistic dream come true. He is, naturally of course, at the very epicenter of the music here, and the fascinating structures of his soli are alone a good enough reason to listen to this music carefully.

I personally find the playing around with the sounds more disturbing than productive, but that is of course a question of taste. Wania plays magnificently enough to make me want to listen to this music, and the rest is up to the individual listener. I can be hardly considered as a conservative music connoisseur, but not all types of experimentation or attempts to innovate are automatically acceptable to me, although I do appreciate the audacity to be different. It would be a great fun to hear this album without any electronic effects, just for the sake of comparison. Overall this is a very interesting musical twist and an exercise in "hearing", with an added value of some superb piano playing by the top Polish Jazz pianist of the day. Highly recommended for the brave hearted.

Wojtek Fedkowicz Noise Trio - Post Digital Dreamers (2013)

Wojtek Fedkowicz Noise Trio

Dominik Wania - keyboards, electronics
Jacek Fedkowicz - bass, electronics
Wojtek Fedkowicz - drums, electronics

Post Digital Dreamers 

Text by Dirk Blasejezak

To understand “Post-Digital Dreamers” one has probably to know the history of Wojtek Fedkowicz’ Noise Trio. It all started as a proof-of-concept project to show the influences of Drum & Bass on playing styles on the drums which lead to a longer collaboration in this band. This is important as there are lots of influences to hear on this album - and not only on the drums.

The trio manages to make a groove of most uneven bars like 11/8. I really like that, but I had in some breaks to stick with Saul Williams’ advise: “If you must count to keep the beat then count.” [from “Coded language”.] Those difficult bars are one of the ideas behind D&B and Wojtek and Jacek Fedkowicz (who are responsible for drums and basses) transport this perfectly on the album.

Dominik Wania on the keys is probably best known of the three from his works with Piotr Baron, Jacek Kochan, and Maciej Obara to mention just a few. What’s interesting here is, that there aren’t too many melodies he can use as a framework for his play - another drum & bass influence - so he is not that omnipresent he would be as the only lead instrument in a normal piano trio. This doesn’t mean that he (or the others) are not playing well - you just have to keep in mind what the band was about in the first place.

There is of course more to this record and from the line-up one can see, that all three are extensively using electronics. There’s no problem with that - quite the contrary - they’re just great. But I have to admit that I didn’t like this record very much in the first place, despite the technical perfection - or maybe because of it. I for one like it a bit less clean but that’s just preferential. Still that almost made me miss "Polskie Drogi 2.0", a wonderful composition and my favorite song on this album that’s unfortunately almost at the end of the record (you find a live recording of this song below). If you just like me have some problems with the crispy or digital sound I suggest you start with that video to get an impression of the playfulness of the band.

Acoustic Acrobats – Live (2012)

Acoustic Acrobats (band)

Piotr Skupniewicz
Bogusław Zięba
Jacek Hołubowski
Adam Leśniak
Jacek Fedkowicz

Live (2012)

This is the debut album by the excellent Polish Jazz-World Fusion ensemble Acoustic Acrobats, which comprises of clarinetist Piotr Skupniewicz, accordionists Jacek Holubowski and Boguslaw Zieba, bassist Jacek Fedkowicz and drummer Adam Lesniak. The album, recorded live, includes ten original tracks composed by the ensemble members: seven by Holubowski, one each by Zieba and Skupniewicz and the remaining one co-composed by Zieba and Skupniewicz. There is also a bonus track with one of the composition given a studio overhaul with surprising results. The band lists their manager, lighting and transport man occasional vocalist Damian Rekas as a sixth member, so I'll comply as well.

The unusual instrumental lineup of the ensemble sets them almost immediately apart from most other Jazz-World Fusion groups. They produce quite an innovative overall sound, with the two accordions collaborating wonderfully, complimented by the great rhythm section, with the clarinet wailing on top. Although the Jazz component is often quite subtle, it is nevertheless the driving force pushing the ensemble at all times and allowing for the extended improvised sections.

The World Music influences are quite varied and include Balkan, Jewish, Klezmer, Latin American and African spices, all used with moderation and good taste. The music is after all original, with distinctive melodies and climates, with the World Music additions ornamenting it rather than dictating the final result. The individual instrumental abilities of these musicians are beyond reproach and often border on virtuosity. The level of interplay and mutual respect is also commendable.

Experience tells that this kind of music sounds the best when heard live and therefore the unconventional decision of releasing a live album as a debut is definitely the correct one. The fact that it also is the least expensive way to record an album is secondary in this case.

Overall this is a first rate album, which is pure fun to listen to, without being simplistic or vulgar. In fact this music is quite complex musically and hides many wonderful moments, which will be revealed by repeated listening.

This is definitely a band worth following, going to hear them play in concerts if possible and now also waiting for their next album. Kudos!

By Adam Baruch
http://www.adambaruch.com/

Tracklisting: 1. Judasz 2. Old School Song 3. Free Acrobats 4. A Lot Things Happened 5. Sevdenka 6. Tu Est 7. Fun Key 8. Zimra 9. Shoboolah 10. Belgrad 11. Shoboolah