Michał Kobojek – The Outside (2016)

Michał Kobojek

Michał Kobojek - saxophones
Witold Janiak - piano
Marek Kądziela - guitar
Wojciech Pulcyn - bass
Przemysław Kuczyński - drums

The Outside




MANXIMUM 5908254159596

By Adam Baruch

This is the second album as a leader by Polish saxophonist/composer Michał Kobojek, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Witold Janiak, bassist Wojciech Pulcyn and drummer Przemysław Kuczyński. Guitarist Marek Kądziela appears as a guest artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Kobojek. Kobojek's career is mostly associated with the Polish Pop/Rock scene due to his cooperation with many top Polish artists/groups in that area. But obviously the Jazz streak has always been there as part of his musical personality.

The music is, as expected, definitely on the lighter side of the Jazz idiom, somewhere near the Smooth Jazz concept, which, as I have stated many times, does not mean that the music is necessary inferior in any way to other Jazz styles, as this album overwhelmingly proves. The album is full of absolutely beautiful melodies, all of which manage to avoid the schmaltzy stigma of the bad side of Smooth Jazz. The music is romantic and beautifully lyrical and presents Kobojek as a gifted composer, who mixes feeling with professionalism.

The performances are all highly professional, but relatively constrained without presenting any virtuosic solos or complex improvisations, which of course goes hand in hand with the album's intended character. Kobojek plays with a sweet timbre and stays close to the melody lines, but his skills are obvious as is his feel for the music. Janiak plays excellent accompanying chord structures, exactly what is required in this case, inserting several nicely structured solos. The rhythm section is doing a superb job in the background, with Pulcyn, as always, being the Master of bass accompaniment.

Overall this is a very good straightforward Smooth Jazz album, full of great melodic music, which does not make any compromises as far as the quality is concerned. Listeners, who are Romantics at heart, regardless of their age, should find this album exactly what they need to make their day (or night).

Krzysztof Scieranski – Night Lakes (2014) ***1/2

Krzysztof Scieranski - guitar & bass
Michal Lyczek - keyboards
Michal Kobojek - saxophone
Przemyslaw Kuczynski - drums

and others

POLSKIE RADIO 1713


By Adam Baruch

In the liner notes attached to this album Polish Jazz electric bass virtuoso Krzysztof Scieranski confesses that his initial dream was to become a guitarist and the fact that he became Poland's bass guitar legend is, as often happens in life, a matter of circumstances and of course the fact that his brother already played guitar. One way or another, the audiences had the pleasure of enjoying his superb performances for four decades now. This album is primarily a realization of a dream where Scieranski could play guitar in addition to his already legendary bass routine. He is accompanied on this album by a core trio: saxophonist Michal Kobojek, keyboardist Michal Lyczek, drummer Przemyslaw Kuczynski and a few other musicians. Two tracks (the opening and closing ones) also include vocals. The album presents twelve original compositions, all by Scieranski.

The music is a mixture of relatively uncomplicated Smooth Jazz tunes, ranging between Jazz-Rock Fusion and almost Popish signatures, all very melodic and well structured harmonically. The tunes are definitely much more solid than most in not all the material found on Smooth Jazz recordings. There is something for everybody here and all of it is slick and pleasurable, so I wouldn't be surprised if this album becomes very popular indeed among listeners of all ages and musical persuasions.

The performances are all excellent from start to finish. These are all highly skilled and professional musicians and one should expect nothing less than technical perfection. Absurdly, although Scieranski plays some great guitar licks, it is his bass playing that is the most impressive, especially when he uses the fretless bass. He actually plays guitar on only about half of the tracks.

To summarize this is an excellently executed Smooth Jazz album, which includes a collection of tunes that are much stronger that the usual stuff one finds on that type of releases. Scieranski is a virtuoso by any standard and this album is simply another proof of the fact that he is simply great in any environment. And yes, he can play the guitar as well, which nobody can deny!

Music for fast red cars, long haired blondes and sunny beaches… California here we come!

Krzysztof Scieranski - Directions (4EverMusic, 2008)

Krzysztof Ścierański - electric basses, synth

Przemysław Kuczyński - drums

Thomas Sanchez - perucussions

 Directions (4EverMusic, 2008)

Though I assume that to foreign listeners name Krzysztof Ścierański means nothing believe me it is to your detriment. In Poland he is a living legend and deservedly since he has been for years voted by audience and critics as the best electric bass guitarist in Jazz Forum poll. And he still is though I am afraid such a voting does not any more reflects reality but his great fame in the past. The truth is that Ścierański stopped to evolve years ago and his music resembles some kind of fossil from age of dinosaurs, in his case fusion era. To be honest some of such fossils may strike your heart with awe, admiration and even respect. While listening to them you are deeply moved by passed glory of those legendary beasts. And that is the case with this specific release by Ścierański. It is much better than his other albums of recent years for two reasons. First, Ścierański playing on bass guitar is wonderfully underpinned by very decent drumming of Thomas Sanchez. Such music as fusion is usually all about groove and in Sanchez Ścierański finds player of equal talent. Second, inspired by visits to different countries album is full of quotations from these countries musical cultures which makes music pleasantly diversified. But these quotations lack in authenticity and resemble kind of tourist impressions from say safari in Africa spent in five stars hotels. I would therefore recommend this music to some easy listening in the afternoon or while travelling in car. It suits perfectly for such occasions!

1.Modlitwa; 2.Pustynna Burza; 3.Tybetandy; 4.Harley B.; 5.Chiński Blues; 6.Paradicsommadar; 7.Od Zmierzchu Do Świtu; 8.Latin Blues; 9. Dying Star 

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html 

Krzysztof Scieranski, Bernard Maseli - The Colors (Fonografika, 2010)

Krzysztof Ścierański - bass, midi bass, guitars (8, 9)

Bernard Maseli - KAT Mallet Pro, kalimba

Marek Raduli - guitars

Przemek Kuczyński - drums

Two guitars, and very good ones, Krzysztof Ścierański being one of legends of Polish Jazz, excellent vibraphonist Bernard Maseli, and drummer Przemek Kuczyński with impressive pop and rock background, all this should contribute to creation of something fresh and inspiring... In purely musical terms however it is typical fusion, whose tradition dates back to 70ties of last century and which now is kind of re-discovered and refreshed by so many artists. But this music is played as if no time has passed since its golden era 40 or so years ago. A grat advantage to some while at the same time a disappointment for others...

Let me finally add one critical remark: I must warn you that editorial level of this release is extremely low. Design of cover is a shame, truly tasteless, I wonder who was responsible for making such scarecrows out of artists' images? Moreover there are errors in information printed on CD cover like 'Footprits" instead of 'footprints' in title of famous Wayne Shorter composition. Shame! 

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