Kwartet o nazwie SEDNO debiutuje niniejszym albumem "Sprawy" i w odczuciu piszącego te słowa nie tylko trafia w sedno sprawy, ale po prostu rozbija bank! W dominującej w polskim jazzie powodzi szkolno-akademickich debiutów muzyków, których aspiracją zdaje się być dostanie szóstek na egzaminie, oto mamy czwórkę młodych yassowców, którzy kochają w muzyce bunt, radość z tworzenia i wolność mówienia we własnym imieniu. Skąd wzięli się ci ludzie? Czy spadli jak kiedyś David Bowie z kosmosu?
This is the debut album by
Polish Jazz vocalist/guitarist Damian Hyra recorded in a quartet setting with
trumpeter Dominik Gawroński, bassist Ambroży Ranz and drummer Dawid Opaliński.
The album presents nine original songs composed and featuring lyrics (eight in
Polish and one in English) by Hyra.
The music is all melodic
mainstream Jazz, based on solid themes, easy on the ear and definitely on the
easier side of the Jazz spectrum, but highly entertaining, briskly swinging and
offering a good time listening experience to the listeners. The instrumental lineup is
unusual, with the trumpet/flugelhorn playing most of the leads and soli and
the guitar playing the "second fiddle", but also soloing on most of
the tracks, utilizing a somewhat Fusion oriented sound and attitude while
soloing. The rhythm section is highly supportive and keeps the time perfectly,
but stays mostly on the back plane.
Hyra's vocals are definitely an
acquired taste and take a while to get used to, but after a while become
enjoyable, despite their atypical sound and articulation. The one track with
the English lyrics is a perfect example of what should be avoided by all
possible means. Overall this is an entertaining
Jazzy album, which offers some nice songs and a lot of good time, but stays
away from exploring uncharted territory. This is definitely not a typical
Polish Jazz album, by any respect, showing another facet of the local scene.
This is the debut album by young
Polish Jazz quartet co-led by trumpeter Jan Chojnacki and pianist Filip Miguła,
which also includes bassist Bartłomiej Chojnacki and drummer Dawid Opaliński.
Saxophonists Jan Kantner and Adam Bławicki guest on two tracks and
percussionist Bartłomiej Pająk guests on one track. The album presents eight
original compositions, one by Chojnacki and the rest by Miguła.
The music is melodic mainstream
Jazz with some World Music influences on part of the tracks. All the
compositions are well structured and offer solid melodies and coherent harmonic
development and the arrangements, albeit a bit predictable, do justice to the
music. The quartet sounds best when performing the beautiful ballads, which are
about half of the material, offering typical Polish Jazz melancholy and
lyricism, but the up tempo numbers are somewhat less spectacular.
The performances are also
perfectly executed, as everything done by the well schooled and trained young
Polish Jazz generation. Jan Chojnacki offers a wonderful and perfectly clear
tone, usually associated with Classical players. Miguła plays with confidence
and obvious skill. Bartłomiej Chojnacki adds solid bottom and is always precise
and well rounded. Opaliński is creative and delicate, adding exactly what the
music needs at all times.
Overall this is a very
impressive debut, which offers good music and elegant playing, altogether
showing a promising potential. The album is a bit too conventional for my taste,
but that's just my personal taste. Mainstream Jazz fans should have great fun
with this outing and hopefully future recording will be a tad more adventurous.
Well done!
