Krzysztof Popek Project w Rybniku w ramach cyklu Jazz w Teatrze

Krzysztof Popek - flety

Eddie Henderson - trąbka
Kirk Lightsey - fortepian
Cameron Brown - kontrabas
John Betsch - perkusja

Bilety: 25 zł i 15 zł

29 maja o godz. 19.00 Teatr Ziemi Rybnickiej zaprasza na koncert z cyklu Jazz w Teatrze. Wystąpi Krzysztof Popek Project with Special Guests - Eddie Henderson, Kirk Lightsey, Cameron Brown, John Betsch. Koncepcja zespołu oparta jest na brzmieniu oraz indywidualności każdego z muzyków, stąd ich staranny dobór. Muzyka bazuje na kompozycjach własnych, a także tzw. "originals", które zawierając wspólny "idiom" w sferze aranżacyjno-wykonawczej tworzą jednolity klimatycznie program. Elementy etniczne mieszają się w nim z nowoczesnym bopem, momentami free, u podstawy mając pulsacyjny groove.

Kolorystykę tworzy specyficzna, wspólna barwa instrumentów: fletu altowego Krzysztofa Popka i trąbki/flugelhornu Eddie'ego Hendersona, znanego ze współpracy z Herbie Hancockiem, Pharoahem Sandersem, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Dexterem Gordonem, Royem Haynesem, Jackie McLeanem, Joe Hendersonem czy Elvinem Jonesem. Całości dopełniają wybitni, światowi muzycy: Kirk Lightsey, pianista współpracujący m.in. z Dexterem Gordonem i Chetem Bakerem, Cameron Brown, basista, m.in. zespołów Cheta Bakera i Arta Blakey'a oraz John Betsch, legendarny perkusista współpracujacy z Archie'em Scheppem czy Steve'em Lacym - bezsprzeczne gwiazdy tego kwintetu.

Krzysztof Popek - wybitny flecista, kompozytor, aranżer, lider. Pierwsze sukcesy odniósł na konkursach Jazz Juniors (1982) i Jazz nad Odrą (1985). Uznanie przyniosły mu występy z grupą Young Power, której był współzałożycielem i liderem. W 1996, wraz z własnym Kwintetem, nagrał album „Letters & Leaves” (nominacja do nagrody Fryderyka); w kolejnych latach zarejestrował szereg znakomitych płyt („House of Jade”, „You Are In My Heart”, „Estate”, „Fresh Air Project”) z udziałem muzyków polskich i amerykańskich, m.in. Victora Lewisa, Davida Friesena, Randy’ego Portera, Joe LaBarbery, Camerona Browna, Stephena Scotta, George’a Cablesa. Koncertował w najważniejszych klubach w Europie, wystąpił na festiwalach: Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, Jazz Jamboree, Molde International Jazz Festival, Göttinger Jazzfestival, Leverkusener Jazztage, Nancy Jazz Pulsations, Berliner Jazztage.

Krzysztof Popek – Fresh Air Project (2016)

Krzysztof Popek

Krzysztof Popek - alto flute
Piotr Wojtasik - trumpet, flugelhorn
Nicolas Simion - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
George Cables - piano
Cameron Brown - bass
Victor Lewis - drums

Fresh Air Project


POWER BROS 00197

By Adam Baruch

This is an album by veteran Polish Jazz flautist/composer Krzysztof Popek, which breaks his seven years long period of silence. It was recorded in a sextet setting with Polish trumpeter Piotr Wojtasik, Romanian saxophonist Nicolas Simion and an American rhythm section: pianist George Cables, bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Victor Lewis. Together they perform seven pieces, of which just one is an original by Popek and another is a short outro by Cables and the remaining five are standards.

As the lineup suggests, the music is typical mainstream Jazz, which has almost nothing to do with Polish or European Jazz, and is soaked in American tradition with a very predictable results. Although these are excellent musicians, the music they perform offers no intellectual challenge whatsoever to the listener.

There are plenty of great instrumental passages, especially Simion's bass clarinet parts, but again nothing outstanding, which does not appear on almost every CD recorded in the US. Popek's flute still sounds beautifully romantic, but the instrumental performances alone are simply not enough to make this album exceptional. I still hold fond memories of Popek's work as the leader of the legendary Young Power, which I'd rather listen to than to this album. Overall this is a highly professional post Bebop mainstream album, well recorded and pleasurable, but not different from thousands of other similar albums of this type.

Piotr Wojtasik - Lonely Town (1995)

I often grumble on this blog as far as mainstream jazz is concerned that it is too predictable, too well-known, too conservative. But from time to time an album arrives which despite having all these features wins me over entirely and I cannot detach myself from my beloved Tannoy speakers. And such is the case with "Lonely Town" recorded under leadership of trumpeter Piotr Wojtasik.

He is a serious player on Polish jazz scene and he not only recorded with the best musicians in Poland but is also lecturer in Wrocław Music Academy where his trumpet class has become famous. On this recording he is accompanied by all-star team of Polish jazz musicians: Leszek Możdżer (piano), Krzysztof Popek (flute), Zbigniew Namysłowski (alto sax), Maciej Sikała (tenor sax), Jarosław Śmietana (guitar), Jacek Niedziela (bass), Marcin Jahr (drums) and Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Jerzy Jarosik.

The program of the album contains mostly standards like "Naima', "Darn That Dream" or "Stella by Stalight". There are perhaps better albums of Piotr Wojtasik available but this one with its accessibility and charmful character may be the best entrance to his discography. 

If you want to get to know more about Piotr Wojtasik or buy this record, please check this link please. And check following link to listen to Wojtasik's trumpet although not in any songs from this album and with different line-up.

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl

Krzysztof Popek - Estate (2009)

 

Since first rehearsal I started to love this record! First because we have hard winter this year, plenty of snow, minus 30 Celsius degree cold, but this music has warm and delicate climate of summer in itself, the mood we all long for very much here.  Estate (summer in italian), comes second in the album, is song composed in 1960 by Bruno Martino and Bruno Brighetti which became popularized as jazz standard by Joao Gilberto. Recently I heard it in great interpretation of Micheal Petrucciani (Live In Acireale) and Chris Botti (Italia). It truly deserves to be highlited as album's title as it beams with energy and musician's interplay is remarkable.

The choice of compositions is very strong point of this album. Please look at the repertoire:

1. Forest Flower (K. Jarrett), 

2. Estate (B. Martino - B. Brighetti)

3. Highway  One (B. Hutcherson)

4. Stolen Moments (O. Nelson)

5. Air Dancing (B. Wiliams)

6. Melting Pot (F. Hubbard)

7. Lazy Afternoon (J. Latouche - J. Moross)

So we are deeply in jazz tradition and mainstream here but we do not regret it as it is all perfermed on highest level owing to the group of excellent musicians that took part in this recording. Krzysztof Popek is arguably the best polish jazz flutist who in 1987 created Young Power, a band that in 80ties was the vehicle by which a new generation of polish talented jazz musicians became known to the audience. That was also a band where Popek met Piotr Wojtasik who sice then became leading polish trumpeter and influential teacher at jazz faculty in Katowice Music Academy.

Foreign musicians appearing on this album are no less prominent. I do not know Stephen Scott (piano) very well but I read that he played with Sonny Rollins, Roy Hargrove and Bobby Hutcherson. On the other hand I am quite well acquainted with bassist Cameron Brown who was very solid sideman present on more than 80 recordings with many jazz best names. His play is top class. The same may be said about drummer Victor Lewis who has very consistent career behing himself. This record stands out as one of most fruitious collaborations of polish and foreign muscians in recent times in mainstream jazz in Poland.

Title tune below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VioXKLaYZnI&feature=player_embedded