Grzech Piotrowski - saxophone
Marcin Wasilewski - piano
Jarosław Stokowski - bass
Robert Luty - drums
Mariusz Patyra - violin
Mateusz Smoczyński - violin
Aleksandra Jarosińska - viola
Krzysztof Lenczowski - cello
Six Seasons
ALCHEMIK
By Adam Baruch
This is the seventh album by Polish Jazz saxophonist/composer Grzech Piotrowski (a.k.a. Grzegorz Piotrowski), recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Jarosław Stokowski and drummer Robert Luty, and with a superb string quartet, which includes violinists Mariusz Patyra and Mateusz Smoczyński, violist Aleksandra Jarosińska and cellist Krzysztof Lenczowski. The album presents six original compositions, all by Piotrowski, named after the usual four seasons with two additional seasons added ("pre-spring" and "pre-winter"), which together constitute a suite-like structure.
The music is an ambitious
Jazz-Classical Fusion project, beautifully melodic and gently flowing from one
part of the suite to another, full of melancholy and tranquility. In some
respects it often sounds like a soundtrack of an imaginary movie, inspiring
colorful visions in the mind of the listener. It is all about precision,
delicate relationships between the harmonies and elegant melodic vistas, with
no much space left for spontaneity.
The performances by all the
participants are perfectly suited to this specific musical environment, with
Jazzy improvisation being relatively limited, due to the strict arrangements,
but nevertheless quite impressive. This album is not intended to present
individual virtuosity as much as it is about coordinated effort, perfectly matched
and working towards a common goal.
Some critics will probably say
that this music is way too sweet and organized and borders on Smooth Jazz or
even pastiche. Admittedly, such music as presented herein, quite often ventures
into these territories, but in this specific case it does not happen at all.
Yes, the music is pleasant and easy on the ear, but at the same time it is full
of original melodic themes, superb orchestration and arrangements, topped with
flawless execution. There is an obvious effort and talent invested here by
Piotrowski, and the resulting music can be seen as a tribute to Romanticism and
Classical Music tradition, wonderfully intertwined with contemporary tools of
the trade, used in Jazz and Pop.
Personally I had a wonderful
time listening to this music, which despite its pleasurable appearance, offers
many inspiring moments, superb instrumental solos and fifty minutes of calmness
and tranquility, which in our world happen way to infrequently. The album comes in a hand-made
packaging, which adds another highly personal dimension to the entire project.
Definitely not for everybody, but hopefully many listeners will find this
gorgeous music deeply moving and penetrating their souls.
