Cezariusz Gadzina – Mosty (2017)

Cezariusz Gadzina

Cezariusz Gadzina - alto & soprano saxophones
Robert Majewski - trumpet, flugelhorn
Maciej Sikała - tenor saxophone
Grzegorz Nagórski - trombone, euphonium
Cezary Paciorek - accordion
Paweł Pańta - double bass


Piotr Iwicki - percussion
Cezary Konrad - drums

Mosty

UNIVERSAL MUSIC POLSKA 602557812039

By Adam Baruch

This is an album by Polish (resident in Belgium) saxophonist/composer Cezariusz Gadzina, recorded with a host of top Polish Jazz musicians, which includes trumpeter Robert Majewski, saxophonist Maciej Sikała, trombonist Grzegorz Nagórski, accordionist Cezary Paciorek, bassist Paweł Pańta, percussionist Piotr Iwicki and drummer Cezary Konrad – a dream team by all respects. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Gadzina, all entitled "Bridge" in eight different languages ("Mosty" means bridges in Polish), symbolizing the connections between a plethora of genres and sub-genres present within the contemporary Jazz idiom.

Gadzina is primarily familiar for his work in the Jazz-Classical Fusion field and his previous recordings, including the excellent "The Fifth Element", testify to his affinity to this particular field. However, this recording seems to leave Classical Music out of the formula, concentrating on the Jazz side of Gadzina's personality.

Stylistically the music sits well within the boundaries of modern mainstream Jazz language, offering excellent compositions and interesting arrangements, none of which are trivial or banal. The music is full of unexpected twists and turns, tempo changes and multiple themes, all within one composition, which of course makes listening to this music a real fun for true Jazz fans. The compositions are diverse enough to keep the listener interested and balance well between the beautifully melodic ballads and the up-tempo numbers.

The individual performances are all top notch, as expected from these highly experienced musicians. Personally I love the prominent presence of the accordion, a much neglected instrument in Jazz, and the percussion ornamentations, which add another layer of rhythmic contents. But of course the trumpet solo parts, excellent saxophone work, pulsating bass lines and everything else are just right. The overall octet sound is not to busy and allows all instruments to be perfectly audible.

Overall this is a great mainstream album, much more ambitious and advanced musically than the standard albums recorded in this genre. It is not about discovering any new territory, but offers novel approach to arrangement and very solid composition and performance standards. As such it deserves to be listened to and surely enjoyed as well.

Cezariusz Gadzina & Atom String Quartet – The Fifth Element (2015)

Cezariusz Gadzina & Atom String Quartet

Cezariusz Gadzina - alto & soprano saxophones
Dawid Lubowicz - violin
Mateusz Smoczyński - violin
Michał Zaborski - viola
Krzysztof Lenczowski - cello

The Fifth Element


TAK 15002

By Adam Baruch

This album presents a meeting between Polish (resident in Belgium) saxophonist/composer Cezariusz Gadzina and Poland's premiere string ensemble, the Atom String Quartet, which comprises of violinists Dawid Lubowicz and Mateusz Smoczyński, violist Michał Zaborski and cellist Krzysztof Lenczowski. Together they perform eleven pieces, seven of which were composed by Gadzina, three are co-composed by all five participating musicians and one was composed by Lenczowski.

Gadzina has been active for years on the Jazz-Classical Fusion field and therefore the music on this album is exactly his "cup of tea". The association with Atom String Quartet is of course ideal for such kind of project. The music, which is beautifully melodic, mostly full of the archetypal Polish melancholy and lyricism, is a superb example of the cross-genre approach to music, combining elements of Classical harmony and arrangement, Jazz improvisation and Folkloristic musical themes. Most importantly, this is one of the cases where all these elements amalgamate completely naturally, in contrast to many similar projects where they are forcefully and clashingly put together.

Gadzina and the "Atoms", as they are often referred to on the Polish scene, seem to be fused together into a symbiotic ensemble. The soprano saxophone is tonally pretty close to the string instruments and fits the bill ideally. There is also an obvious camaraderie between the musicians, which can be felt in the relaxed and cooperative atmosphere, which is reflected by the music making. This album is full of unexpected twists and turns, unusual sounds produced by the instruments and above all by the obvious level of talent and dedication by the participants. In many respects this is one of the highlights of the "Atoms" recorded legacy so far, stronger and more cohesive than some of their quartet recordings.

Whatever the listener chooses to hear in this music: the contemporary Classical elements, the fascinating musical layers or the Jazzy improvisations, or perhaps all of those and more, this is definitely an excellent album which should satisfy even the most demanding connoisseurs. I can therefore do nothing else but to recommend it wholeheartedly!

Cezariusz Gadzina Trio - Double Heart (2002)

Cezariusz Gadzina is a saxophonist who graduated from Frederic Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw. He continued his eduction in Belgium where in Royal Conservatory in Brussels he studied symphonic conducting. Since then he lives and works in Belgium and I've got acquainted with him on occasion of listening to his album "Double Heart" which was enclosed to 7-8/2002 copy of Jazz Forum magazine. 

I was very positively surprised by the sound of this completely unknown player was capable to produce: meticulous phrasing, lines curved with utmost precision yet very melodic. This was type of play one could expect from one of the masters of this instrument but not from newcomer! Unfortunately average support from rhythm section as supplied by Piet Verbist (bass) and Marek Partman (drums) spoiled somehow overall effect but I was sure then that we should hear more about this player in future.

But it turned out to be different: cut out in Belgium from Polish rich (in artistic terms of course...) jazz soil Gadzina never fulfilled the promise he made by this recording. He kind of disappeared from Polish jazz scene but fortunately remained active as musician in Belgium and is now artistic director for European Saxophone Ensamble. I hope we will hear more from him in years to come since he certainly has not forgot how to play jazz which is evidenced by this film from one of the concerts he gave last year:     

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