Polmuz – Drzewiej (2018)

Polmuz

Michał Fetler - alto & baritone saxophones
Rafał Zapała - electronics, synth, processing
Ksawery Wójciński - double bass
Rafał Igiel - percussion

Drzewiej



PRIVATE EDITION

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by Polish Jazz ensemble Polmuz, led by saxophonist Michal Fetler, which also includes drummer Rafał Igiel, bassist Ksawery Wojcinski and synthesizer/electronics specialist Rafal Zapała, who uses a vintage Soviet made analog synthesizer called Polivox. The 2CD album presents contemporary interpretations of archival, over 100 years old recordings of Polish Folklore, which were accidently given to Igiel, who shared them with Fetler and the idea to re-interpret the music was born. Both CDs present the same six original archival pieces, interpreted in alternate versions.

Although incorporation of Polish Folklore within Polish Jazz is a continuous and often very fruitful tradition, the interpretations on this album take the matter much further than usually attempted, with a more radical/avant-garde approach, which removes the music a long distance away from its original roots. The extensive use of synthesizes and electronics, an ambient sound environment and rhythmic freedom create a much denser soundscapes than those which are the usual result of Jazz/Folklore encounters.

As such the music is much more interesting but at the same time also more challenging. It definitely requires attentive listening, with a deeper intellectual and emotional involvement. The idea to present alternate versions proves to be especially effective, as these versions differ dramatically from each other and expand the scope of the interpretations, achieving an enhanced result.

Overall this is a very bold, interesting and adventurous musical experiment, which deserves to be heard and enjoyed by connoisseurs of avant-garde Polish/European Jazz, which never ceases to surprise. Although this album received very little exposure so far, it is definitely worth seeking out!

Light Coorporation – Rare Dialect (ReR Megacorp, 2011) by Adam Baruch

Light Coorporation (band)

Mariusz Sobański - guitars

Michal Fetler - baritone saxophone, alto saxophone

Michal Pijewski - tenor saxophone

Robert Bielak - violin

Tom Struk - fretless bass

Milosh Krauz - drums

Rare Dialect (ReR Megacorp, 2011)

This debut album by Polish ensemble Light Coorporation is a stunning revelation of musical genius present among the new generation of European musicians. Led by guitarist / composer Mariusz Sobanski, who composed all the music, the ensemble also includes saxophonists Michal Fetler (baritone and alto) and Michal Pijewski (tenor), violinist Robert Bielak, bassist Tom Struk (fretless bass) and drummer Milosh Krauz. Keyboardist Marcin Szczesny sits in as a guest musician. The music is a completely unique brand of RIO / avant-garde Prog, which is deeply rooted in the beginning of the movement (Henry Cow) but successfully updated to contemporary standards, both sonically and conceptually. Superbly matched and combined acoustic sounds of the reeds and electronic distortion from the guitar and keyboards, hypnotic rhythmic patters (similar to the Zeuhl movement) and dark melodic vistas create an overwhelming effect, which is completely fresh and unparalleled. Considering the fact that these are very young individuals and this is their debut recording one must wander about the possibilities of these gifted musicians in the future. No wander the prestigious ReR label released this album worldwide, especially since this kind of material suits their catalogue as a glove. On the band's site we can learn that their performances are usually accompanied by screening of video material, which seems highly appropriate, as this music has a very strong atmospheric / ambient content as well, which is usually ideal to be combined with visual material. But listening "only" to the music is also an immensely powerful and invigorating experience of rare magnificence and depth. I listened to the album for three consecutive times, being completely enchanted by it. I'm pretty sure the same will happen to most of the listeners. Of course such music requires repeated listening sessions to be discovered and uncovered in depth – as all great music does. It is rather obvious that this music is well beyond being recommended – it would (literally) be a crime if any serious music lover, regardless is he's a Prog or Jazz or RIO or Zeuhl fan if he was to miss this album! Such gems are so rare, that we must make everything in our power to make the world listen, especially since I can't recall hearing such great music in a very long time! This is a brilliant piece of intelligent music - chapeau Mariusz & co.

(Editor) Sample of their music played live: 

Author: Adam Baruch

http://www.adambaruch.com/

check also his music boutique: https://www.jazzis.com/shop/

Light Coorporation - Rare Dialect (ReR Megacorp, 2011) by Maciej Nowotny

Light Coorporation (band)

Mariusz Sobański - guitars

Michal Fetler - baritone saxophone, alto saxophone

Michal Pijewski - tenor saxophone

Robert Bielak - violin

Tom Struk - fretless bass

Milosh Krauz - drums

Rare Dialect (ReR Megacorp, 2011)

More and more the PR & commercial factors decide what we think about music. Let me give you an example: such albums of this 2011 year as Tfaruk's "Love Communication", Daktari's "This Is Last Song About Jews Vol. 1" or Contemporary Noise Sextet "Ghostwriter's Joke" got a lot of attention from critics and public but they are definitely no better than this one by Light Coorporation titled "Rare Dialect". Perhaps on contrary! But those three previously mentioned albums were much more aggressively advertised, more skillfully maybe. I wish Light Coorporation had the same support because their music certainly deserves it!

Musically verging between progressive rock aesthetics and jazz open structures it shall sound attractive to all those to whom name likes Jim Black or bands like Mars Volta sound familiar. Leader of the band is guitarist Mariusz Sobański whose guitar blends music with all originality and bravery necessary to make this recording memorable. He is accompanied by pack of young musicians that are completely unknown to me. They probably are altogether new faces in world of jazz but they play really well. Still I feel like there is plenty of space to make this music even better, more refined, more spontaneous, deeper. This space is created mostly by leader who composed whole music but other players do not always go along him: pulse might be more diversified, horns less obvious, violin more passionate but all in all this is definitely successful debut and my credit for Light Coorporation is extended to their next recording...

PS. I would also like to stress very decent level of recording and mixing of this music and exceptionally high level of publishing. 

Check video for music from this album:

Author of text: Maciej Nowotny
http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html

Tfaruk - Love Communication (Multikulti, 2011)

Tfaruk

Tomasz Ballaun - percussion, electronics
Michał Fetler - saxophones
Piotr Mełech - bass clarinet
Krzysztof Kaliski - bass guitar
Daniel Karpiński - drums

guests:
Kuba Jankowiak - trumpet
Franiu Frank - rhodes, rattle
Tymon Tymański - bass guitar (only on "Dla Taty")
Wojtek Mazolewski - bass guitar (only on "Miłość zwycięża kiełbasę")

Multikulti 2011

Free Jazz Alchemist (check his site) reports on one of newest issues from excellent Polish Multikulti label:

Polish listener will smile just from seeing the name of this band ("Tfaruk" being as incorrect as possible way of spelling "cottage cheese") and I guess this form of anarchic absurd humour (that shows up also in the titles) is easily associated with the yass scene - polish jazz revolution movement of the 90's. Both Tomasz Ballaun, the founder of the band, and one of the guests - Tymon Tymanski are strongly connected with yass movement indeed (Tymon being in fact its spiritus movens). Still there's a lot of fun for non-polish listeners here too.

The band kicks right into an old-school groove and tight horn arrangements with the first track, with a Latin-funk twist to it. The hard hit rock groove catches on with the "Mistrz kierownicy ucieka" (Polish title for the cult car-chase movie "Smokey and the Bandit") and there's more fun rhythm chasing coming with "Miłość zwycięża kiełbasę" ("Love Wins Over Sausages"). The catchy and driving grooves pair nicely with the tight horn riffs and make a nice platform for some nasty soloing by the horn players (fat saxophone sound, crisp trumpet, round and sensual bass clarinet).

The latter half of the album explores less retro, more nu-jazz territory, with more electronic effects, some loops and samples, fast drum'n'bass drum breaks (as in "Dla Taty") working more on the idea of creating improvised music with a steady and trance rhythmic base ("Lhasa 2008" is more or less in the same vein). Much less satisfying in my ears but it's no surprise really - I love funk but don't appreciate nearly enough the electronica-club scene to get a kick out of this kind of jazz (although the tracks have their moments - like a nicely done horns arrangement in the "Lhasa 2008").

The band gets back on the acoustic and groovy track with the last track of the cd "Gdynia" that starts with the gentle bass clarinet intro, follows into a klezmer tune with a slow beat (baritone sax gives the riff a great kick) and delivers the most adventurous and opened solos of the album, and ends with the short and frenzy car chase (police siren in there). 

I have my mind split in half about this cd really - the more acoustic playing is fun and have the right punch, to it, the electronica is more pensieve and somehow less exciting. Still this is a nice listening, great for the summer, very accessible, quite energetic, keeps your feet tapping. Would be great for an action movie soundtrack.

you can check out some of the tracks on their website http://www.tfaruk.art.pl/ or/and watch this video:

Author of text: Bartek Adamczak 

http://jazzalchemist.blogspot.com/ 

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