Piotr Orzechowski – Experiment: Penderecki (2012)

Piotr Orzechowski - piano

DECCA 028948101023








By Adam Baruch

This is a stunning debut album by Polish Jazz pianist Piotr Orzechowski (a.k.a. Pianohooligan), a twenty two years old prodigy, who managed to take the local scene by storm and win respect and admiration even from the top echelons of the "serious" classical Masters, like the celebrated Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, one of the world's greatest contemporary classical composers.

Orzechowski recorded and privately released a demo album a year earlier, which featured his solo piano performances of his compositions, as well as his interpretations of several classical compositions. He took this idea even further with this project, his formal debut release, by presenting a series of solo piano interpretations of music composed by Penderecki, after approaching the Maestro and receiving his blessing and cooperation.

The resulting music is a triumphant amalgamation of Penderecki's lofty music and Orzechowski's earthy improvisations, mixing elements of romanticism, Jazz, avant-garde and classical modernism. There is an element of youthful rebellion and attitude in Orzechowski approach, as evident by the amount of freedom he allows himself while interpreting Penderecki's music, which although modernist and even avant-garde, is after all formalized by being composed in a most precise manner. I'm especially glad to see the Maestro approving this approach, which shows his open-mindedness and love of musical diversity.

This music is way beyond virtuosity, although of course the artist is a bona fide virtuoso; it is first and foremost about creating art, using whatever gift that was bestowed upon you, and Orzechowski is indeed blessed by many gifts. There is his vision and imagination, which made him to conceive such project in the first place, an incredible courage to deal with an iconic figure like Penderecki, the commitment to carry the project out and the aptitude to actually pull it through. All this, mind you, by a twenty two years old human being in a world where others of his age spend their lives twiddling cell phones.

Personally this album is a beacon of hope for people like me, who see what they consider as Culture disappearing into a black void. This is not only culture, but an artistic "haute couture" which deserves to be admired and almost religiously followed. Performed on acoustic and electric (Rhodes) piano, the music was beautifully recorded in Switzerland and eventually released on the prestigious classical Decca label, owned by Universal, a clear sign of recognition of Orzechowski's incredible talents. I'd guess he is one of the youngest, if not the youngest artists ever, who recorded for the label.

I have been lucky and honored to be privy to this music from the moment it was created a few months ago when it was sent to me by the artists, asking for my opinion. I forwarded him my warmest support and encouraged him to seek the proper home for his music, which he eventually found. Hopefully this release will trigger international attention and recognition, which this album and its creator so much deserve. A masterpiece!

Nonesuch to Release Krzysztof Penderecki, Jonny Greenwood Collaboration March 13

(Editor) Whenever modern classical music goes near improvised music I become very, very happy. As for Penderecki it's good to remember that he already collaborated with jazz poeple as evidenced in his recording with Don Cherry "Actions" released in 1971...

Nonesuch Records will release an album of works by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki and composer/Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood on March 13, 2012; the album is now available to pre-order in the Nonesuch Store, where orders include high-quality, 320 kbps MP3s of the music starting release day. A concert featuring all of the music on the album will take place at Barbican Hall in London on March 22, performed by the AUKSO Chamber Orchestra—the group featured on the Nonesuch recording—led by Penderecki and Marek Moś.

The artists’ work was presented side-by-side in two concerts last September, highlighting Penderecki’s influence on younger composers, at the European Congress of Culture in Wrocław. In its report on the Congress, which celebrated Poland’s presidency of the European Union, London’s Independent called Penderecki “Poland’s godfather of the musical avant-garde” and Greenwood “the doyen of English art-pop,” describing their concert as “rapturously received.” The composers went to Kraków’s Alvernia Studios immediately after the performances to oversee the recording of the same music, along with one other piece by Greenwood.

The Wrocław concert included two works by Penderecki dating from the early 1960s: Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima and Polymorphia(for 48 strings), the latter of which inspired the Greenwood piece on the program, 48 Responses to Polymorphia; all three are on the Nonesuch record. An additional piece by Greenwood, Popcorn Superhet Receiver, which was inspired by Penderecki’s Threnody, also was recorded for the forthcoming album. (Greenwood incorporated material from Popcorn Superhet Receiver in his award-winning score for the 2008 film There Will Be Blood, which was also released on Nonesuch.)

For both the concerts and the recording, the pieces were performed by the AUKSO ensemble, which comprises graduates of Poland’s Katowice Academy of Music. Penderecki conducted the ensemble in his works and AUKSO’s artistic director—the violinist, chamber musician, and conductor Marek Moś—led the group for Greenwood’s pieces. The record was produced by Filip Berkowicz—artistic director of the Sacrum Profanum, Misteria Paschalia, and Opera Rara festivals and curator of the Penderecki concerts in Wrocław—and made in association with the National Audiovisual Institute of Poland.

Source: link

Don Cherry, Krzysztof Penderecki - Actions (1971)

Don Cherry & The New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra

featuring:

Tomasz Stańko, Peter Brotzmann, Terje Rypdal, Kenny Wheeler, Albert Mangelsdorff, Manfred Schoof, Paul Rutherford, Gerd Dudek, Willem Breuker, Gunter Hampel, Loes MacGillycutty, Mocqui Cherry, a.o.)

conducted by Krzystof Penderecki

recorded live at Donaueschingen 1971

"There are things in universe which no philosopher ever dreamt about" - this ancient proverb perfectly suits for description of this record. Just imagine! On one single record you have Don Cherry, Kenny Wheeler, Tomasz Stańko, Peter Brotzmann, Terje Rypdal, Albert Mangelsdorff, Manfred Schoof, Han Bennink! Plus Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, a walking legend of classical music avantgarde!! Impossible? But such a recording indeed exists!!!

Produced by Joachim Berendt (yes!) this album contains music from concert given in June 1971 at Donaueschingen Music Festival. There are three pieces on this disc, all played by New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra, two composed by Don Cherry and one by Penderecki. Cherry's pieces are primal, emotional, instinct-driven with strong elements of Orient influences. Ecstatic and trance rhythms directed by Cherry leave us in awe of his unbounded creativity and bravery.

However when  Penderecki piece starts we immediately are aware that tension will rise even higher. His music shatters, deconstructs and explodes in the space like supernova. What else can I say? Fantastic meeting of two talents of apocalyptical proportions. Worth every penny and every second you spend on it!

Track listing: 1 Humus - The Life Exploring Force 18:57; 2 Sita Rama Encores 4:30; 3 Actions For Free Jazz Orchestra

None music from this concert on YouTube, check then this small video to listen to what miracles Penderecki was capable to:




By Maciej Nowotny
http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html