Wojciech Kaminski – Open Piano (Polish Jazz Vol.66, 1982)

Wojciech Kamiński - Piano

Zbigniew Jaremko - tenor saxophone
Henryk Majewski - trumpet
Janusz Zabiegliński - alto saxophone, clarinet
Władysław Halik - bass saxophone
Zbigniew Konopczyński - trombone
Marek Bliziński - guitar
Janusz Kozłowski - bass
Jarzy Bartz - drums 

Open Piano (Polish Jazz Vol.66, 1982)

This album by veteran pianist / composer Wojciech Kaminski presents the versatility of the Polish Jazz scene, which at all times presented the entire scope of Jazz music, from Ragtime to Avant-Grade, all of them on a very high artistic level. Kaminski was active on the local scene mainly in the traditional Jazz circles, co-founding such splendid ensembles as Ragtime Jazz Band and Old Timers. He felt most comfortable playing Jazz, which ranges from Ragtime, through Dixieland and into Swing and selected some of the absolutely best local players at the time to accompany him on this album: trumpeter Henryk Majewski, trombonist Zbigniew Konopczynski, saxophonists Zbigniew Jaremko, Janusz Zabieglinski and Wladyslaw Halik, guitarist Marek Blizinski, bassist Janusz Kozlowski and drummer Jerzy Bartz. Kaminski composed five of the ten compositions on this album (the remaining five include four standards and one composition by Zabieglinski). The level of performance is absolutely excellent all the way through and every Jazz fan should be able to enjoy this music for what it stands for: quality and fun! Recommended!

Track listing: 01. Codzienny Blues; 02. Deszczowy Maj; 03. The Wika Rag; 04. The Entertainer; 05. Wchodź po trzech; 06. Autumn Leaves; 07. Ruchome schody; 08. I Wish I Could Shimmy My Sister Kate;
09. Blues Dla Dziewczyny; 10. Jazz Me Blues

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Ewa Bem – Be A Man (Polish Jazz Vol.65, 1981)

Ewa Bem - vocal

Henryk Majewski - leader, flugelhorn, trumpet
Henryk Miśkiewicz - clarinet, alto saxophone
Zbigniew Jaremko - tenor saxophone
Zbigniew Konopczyński - trombone
Andrzej Jagodziński - piano
Jerzy Stawarz - bass
Henryk Stefański - guitar
Tadeusz Federowski - drums
String Orchestra conducted by Zbigniew Jaremko
Zbigniew Wodecki - vocal

Be A Man (Polish Jazz Vol.65)
 

This is the 2nd album by the excellent Polish Jazz vocalist Ewa Bem, who dominated the female vocals spot in her country in the late 1970s and 1980s and is still active today. The five songs, which were included on side A of the vinyl LP are standards, which she sings in English and the six songs on side B of the vinyl LP are all originals, written especially for her, which she sings in Polish. She is accompanied by a wonderful octet, called Swing Session, led by Polish Jazz icon, trumpeter Henryk Majewski, who also wrote the wonderful arrangements. The octet members include also reedmen Henryk Miskiewicz and Zbigniew Jaremko, trombonist Zbigniew Konopczynski, guitarist Henryk Stefanski, pianist Andrzej Jagodzinski, bassist Jerzy Stwarz and drummer Tadeusz Federowski. Male vocalist Zbigniew Wodecki guests on two songs and three songs have also string arrangements. Whatever Bem misses as a virtuoso vocalist, she fully compensates by her wonderfully warm tone and exceptional musicality. Her interpretation and delivery are first-rate and she is definitely a world-class performer. Although pretty mainstream, this music is done with elegance and taste, which is why it stands the test of time wonderfully. Warmly recommended to fans of female Jazz vocals!

Track listing: 1 Medley: Them There Eyes, Love Is Here To Stay, Exactly Like You, The Days Of Wine And Roses, When The Saints Go Marching In (arr. H. Majewski) [06:26]; 2 Misty (E. Gerner - J. Burke) [04:31]; 3 The Man I Love (G. Gershwin - I. Gershwin) [03:47]; 4 Oh What A Beautiful Mornin' (R. Rodgers - O. Hammerstein II) [03:29]; 5 Grovin' High (C. Parker) [01:21]; 6 Badz mezczyzna (H. Majewski - M. Czubaszek) [02:56]; 7 Czy powie mi pan dzien dobry (Z. Jaremko - M. Wojtaszewska); Zbigniew Wodecki [03:30]; 8 Dzien dobry Mr. Blues (J. Wasowski - G. Perkun) [05:39]; 9 Wyznanie wieczorne (Z. Jaremko - K. Trębacz) [02:52]; 10 Tylko dni (Z. Jaremko - M. Czubaszek) [02:47]; 11 Rob co chcesz (H. Majewski - M. Czubaszek) [02:42]

By Adam Baruch

http://adambaruch.com/