Ola MońkoOla Mońko - piano
Jerzy Małek - trumpet
Maciej Sikała - tenor saxophone
Michał Barański - bass
Eric Allen - drums
Wherever You Are
SOLITON 846
By Adam Baruch
This is the debut album by Polish pianist/composer Ola Mońko, recorded in a quintet setting with trumpeter Jerzy Małek, saxophonist Maciej Sikała, bassist Michał Barański and American (resident in Poland and married to Monko) drummer Eric Allen. The album presents nine compositions, eight of which are originals composed by Mońko and one is a standard, all of which were arranged by Monko. The album offers a warm clear sound, which fondly resembles the famous Blue Note Records sound created by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder.
The music sits comfortably within
contemporary mainstream Jazz, which is not surprising considering that Mońko
spent thirteen years living and playing Jazz in the US, where she was exposed to what the
best American Jazz has to offer. Her compositions are all well built and offer
solid melodies and coherent harmonic structures, which results in them sounding
as good as any Jazz standard played today.
All the members of the quintet
are veteran players with years of experience behind them and as the result the
music flows smoothly and elegantly from one tune to another and the album seems
to be over in a flash. All three soloists contribute inspired solo parts and
the rhythm section keeps the music streaming in an amicable fashion.
Overall although not innovative
as far as the Jazz idiom is concerned, this album offers splendid mainstream
Jazz experience and presents an excellent collection of original tunes, which
prove that the Polish Jazz musicians can play American mainstream as well as
their counterparts across the pond and compose wonderful heartfelt tunes. For mainstream Jazz lovers this
album is a gem from start to finish and a most pleasant listening experience.
Congratulations go to Mońko for finally making her statement, hopefully only
the first of many. Go Girl!
