Hiroki Chiba - Double Bass, Synth, Effects Jacek Prościński - Drums, Bells, Triangle Piotr Chęcki - Saxophone, Sampler Piotr Kaliński - Synth, Loops, Tape, Triangle
Tytuł: "Ita"
Wydawnictwo: Instant Classic (2025)
Tekst: Mateusz Chorążewicz
Album "Ita" jest propozycją, która wymyka się klasyfikacjom gatunkowym. Mimo obecności kontrabasu, saksofonu czy perkusji, nie mamy tu do czynienia z jazzem w tradycyjnym sensie. To raczej podróż w stronę ambientu – muzyki o charakterze przestrzennym, skupionej na brzmieniu i atmosferze, a nie na wirtuozerskich popisach. Właśnie w tym tkwi jej siła: zamiast klasycznej narracji improwizacyjnej dostajemy dźwiękowy krajobraz, który bardziej kontemplujemy, niż analizujemy.
This is the debut album by Polish Jazz duo LLovage comprising of bassist/composer Olo Walicki and drummer/composer Jacek Prościński, who both use also electronics in addition to their "native" instruments. The album presents seven original compositions, five of which are co-composed by the duo and two are composed by Walicki.
Despite the seemingly limited
scope of possibilities a basic rhythm section is able to utilize, this album
proves that with a help of electronics and sampling, but more importantly
talent and imagination, the duo is able to create a full fledged musical event.
Although somewhat minimalistic and sketchy, the fact that the listener is left
with the task of connecting the dots makes this music even more interesting.
There is a limited melodic
content in this music, and yet it somehow makes perfect sense, combining the
acoustic bass/drums sounds with the ambient synthesized sounds, which compliment
each other splendidly. The music moves slowly, somewhat hesitantly, which creates
an element of internal tension and expectation, keeping the listen on edge but
without any nervousness involved.
This album is a great example
of a steadily growing trend in European Jazz, which calls for combining
contemporary electronics and other sound/recording techniques, many of which
are based on utilizing the computer as a fully integrated instrument. This is
happening not on the innovative Polish Jazz scene, but almost universally across
Europe these days, and has a major impact on the "shape of Jazz to
come", which can be hardly ignored today.
Overall this is a bold,
fascinating and aesthetically beautiful offering, which is a treasure chest
which opens up with each consecutive listening session; definitely a part of
the "less is more" approach, which works here perfectly. I presume
that conventional Jazz lovers might have a hard time embracing this music, but
I highly recommend giving it a try. For the open-minded listeners, who are
already familiar with the numerous adventures of Ambient/Electronic Jazz
explorations, this album is a must.
