Special Jazz Sextet – Projekt Elbląg (2011)

Special Jazz Sextet

Bartek Krzywda - keyboards
Szymon Zuehelke - saxophone
Artur Olewniczak - trombone
Marcin Gawdzis - trumpet
Janusz Mackiewicz - bass
Grzegorz Sycz - drums

Projekt Elblag



ALLEGRO 022

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by a Polish Jazz sextet, which changed its lineup and name several times before settling with the name Special Jazz Sextet, before this album was recorded. It is led by keyboardist Bartek Krzywda and includes saxophonist Szymon Zuehlke, trombonist Artur Olewniczak, trumpeter Marcin Gawdzis, bassist Janusz Mackiewicz and drummer Grzegorz Sycz. Saxophonist Przemek Dyakowski guests on five tracks and guitarist Jaroslaw Smietana and violinist Jerry Goodman each guest on one track. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Krzywda.

The music is melodic mainstream Jazz bordering on Jazz-Rock Fusion. The brass section is skillfully used in the arrangements to support the keyboards/rhythm section passages and overall the sextet functions as a solid well synchronized unit, achieving a polished and highly professional effect. There are plenty of excellent solo parts by all the participants and the guests.

The individual contributions by all the participants are truly outstanding and although these are not "famous" Polish Jazz musicians, their level of technical proficiency and skillful delivery are as good as those by musicians from the "premier league", which of course is a testimony of the incredibly high level of Polish Jazz in general. Overall this is a very well played mainstream Jazz album, which should be satisfying to all listeners the world over. It is fun to listen to and presents first-class musicianship and interesting compositions.

Specjal Jazz Sextet & Jerry Goodman, Jarek Smietana - Projekt Elbląg (Allegro, 2011)

Special Jazz Sextet (band)

Bartek Krzywda - keyboards

Szymon Zuehlke - tenor saxophone

Artur "Żółwik" Olewniczak - trombone
Marcin Gawdzis - trumpet
Janusz "Macek" Mackiewicz - acoustic bass
Grzegorz Sycz - drums

Special guests:
Przemek Dyakowski - soprano saxophone
Jarek Śmietana - guitar (6)
Jerry Goodman - violin (10)

Yet another interesting album from Allegro Records released this year (check also "Afreakan Project" and "Facing The Challenge") and again it is pleasent surprise. Surprise because though musicians are not from first ranks of Polish jazz yet they deliver very good music indeed. All compositions are by Bartek Krzywda while all members of the sextet taking part in this project are from Elbląg (or connected to this city). It is astonishing that so many fantastic musicians live in this relatively small city and that they managed to join their forces to deliver such a palatable dish. As far as regular members of this sextet are concerned I want to single out Marcin Gawdzis, the outstanding trumpeter, that should be much better known on Polish scene. Melodic lines as supplied by his instrument underline catchy Krzywda compositions and saturate music with lyricism and levity. But other players input is of no less quality be it Szymon Zuehlke on tenor saxophone, Artur Olewniczak on trombone or rhythm section: Janusz Mackiewicz on double bass and Grzegorz Sycz on drums. A lot of spice is added by guests' appearance: soprano saxophone by Przemek Dyakowski is an outstanding counterpoint to Gawdzis' trumpet, Jerry Goodman violin sounds other-worldly and hauntingly beautiful (like on "The Heart On A Plate") and finally well-known guitar of Jarek Śmietana. All in all, this is definitely worthy debut by Special Jazz Sextet, a tribute both to jazz and to city of Elbląg (from which also come from Jerzy Małek whose excellent album "Air" is our October Album Of The Month). 

Promo video: 

Author: Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html