Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski – Ambitus Extended (reedycja: 2008)

Józef Skrzek & Tomasz Szukalski 

"Ambitus Extended" (2008, reedycja)

Józef Skrzek – instrumenty klawiszowe, gitara basowa
Tomasz Szukalski – saksofony: tenorowy i sopranowy, klarnet basowy

Wydawca: Metal Mind Productions

Autor tekstu: Marcin Kaleta

Album ponadczasowy. Znamienity. Unikatowy. Kultowy. Niestety, powszechnie nieznany.

By pojąć jego rangę, potrzeba przypomnieć (lub wyobrazić) sobie PRL z przełomu lat 70. i 80. W tym okresie spotykają się dwaj artyści wybitni, należący wprawdzie do odmiennych światów, niemniej sporadycznie współdziałający. To rówieśnicy: Józef Franciszek Skrzek (ur. 1948) oraz Tomasz Szukalski, ps. "Szakal" (1948-2012).

Pierwszy jest multiinstrumentalistą. Przede wszystkim specjalizuje się w grze na instrumentach klawiszowych i syntezatorach, ponadto gitarze basowej. To założyciel zespołu SBB, wymienianego wśród najistotniejszych w historii reprezentantów rocka progresywnego, eksperymentalnego, symfonicznego. Również kompozytor muzyki filmowej, zwłaszcza do filmów Piotra Szulkina pt. "Golem" (1979) czy "Wojna światów – następne stulecie" (1981). W ogóle postać, która "swoją twórczością integruje pokolenia", nadal aktywna.

Drugi to jeden z największych na świecie saksofonistów. Współtworzył słynne formacje: Zbigniewa Namysłowskiego, Tomasza Stańki, następnie Quartet z Kulpowiczem i Trio z Karolakiem, nagrywając płyty, które obecnie uważa się za najważniejsze w dziejach polskiego jazzu, np. "Winobranie" (1973), "TWET" (1974) czy "Time Killers" (1984). Wspomnieć o nim warto również w związku ze wzruszającym "Zamyśleniem" (2003) kwintetu Wojciecha Majewskiego. Podczas jego solówek, jak wspominał Paweł Brodowski, "ludzie płakali", ale nie stronił przecież od free jazzu.

Skrzek zapraszał Szukalskiego do współpracy kilkakrotnie: w trakcie występów SBB, potem by nagrać własną "Józefinę" (1980), ponadto przy okazji ww. projektów kinowych. Zaczęli wreszcie dawać recitale jako duet. Pisze Michał Wilczyński: "Z tych wspólnych koncertów zrodziła się idea nagrania albumu. Takiego, który zaintrygował i środowisko jazzowe, i rockowe". Tak oto powstał "Ambitus Extended" (zarejestrowany w 1981, wydany w 1983 przez Helicon).

Pod względem stylistycznym jest dziełem konsekwentnym — "wysublimowane fusion", jak to ujęła redakcja portalu Jazzarium.pl. Jednak za każdym razem muzycy kreują inny klimat. Jest zatem tajemnica, jest rozkochanie, tęsknota, zamyślenie, smutek. Występują momenty uwielbienia, niejako modlitewne, uduchowione, dziękczynne. Albo o niesłychanym natężeniu piękna, poruszające i wzruszające. Lecz z drugiej strony mamy iście kosmiczne lub psychodeliczne eskapady. Pomysłowość nie zna tutaj granic, niczym wszechświat.

Różnorodność tę wzmaga dobór instrumentów. Zatem Szukalski gra na saksofonach tenorowym i sopranowym, także na klarnecie basowym, a gdzieniegdzie wydaje się, że sięga... po dudy szkockie. Gra raz lirycznie tudzież subtelnie, to znowu szaleńczo, ekstremalnie. Również Skrzek korzysta z rozległego asortymentu: Fender Piano, Hohner Clavinet D6, Polymoog, Micromoog, a jeszcze pogrywa (zazwyczaj funkowo lub rockowo) na basie. Zawsze czuje i rozumie partnera. Dopełniają się idealnie.

Niemniej mamy do czynienia z syntezą żywiołów: demonicznego Szukalskiego, któremu nic co ziemskie ani ludzkie nie było obce, z anielskim Skrzekiem — zapatrzonym w jakieś oddale, galaktyki bądź zaświaty (proszę zwrócić uwagę na fotografię wewnątrz folderu: mrok spowijający pierwszego oraz światłość promieniująca od drugiego). Jak niesamowity repertuar powstał, podkreślają nawet co poniektóre tytuły: "Słodka Pultyna", "Szczęśliwi z miasta N." czy mój faworyt: "Trąbka i skrzaty wśród kacprowej chaty". A całość zyskuje za sprawą doskonałego pomysłu Metal Mind Production, by w reedycji z 2008 materiał studyjny wzbogacić o nagrania koncertowe.

Karierę tego fenomenalnego tandemu przerwał stan wojenny, wprowadzony 13 grudnia 1981. Nie pierwszy to i nie ostatni przypadek, kiedy czynniki polityczne bądź historyczne utrudniają i/lub uniemożliwiają działalność kulturalną. To trochę dramat naszej ojczyzny. Na Zachodzie rzadko polskie dokonania udaje się spopularyzować. Zawodzą też... rodacy. Porażająca większość po takie nagrania nie sięgnie nigdy. Wybiorą wytwórców mizerii.

Niekiedy aż trudno uwierzyć, że w tym kraju – mimo tak niesprzyjających warunków – powstają równie znakomite dzieła.

Józef Skrzek/Tomasz Szukalski – Ambitus Extended (2008)

Józef Skrzek/Tomasz Szukalski

Józef Skrzek - keyboards, bass
Tomasz Szukalski - tenor & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet

Ambitus Extended

METAL MIND 0540



By Adam Baruch

This is a reissue of the album recorded by the duo that brought together two legendary musicians: founder and leader of SBB, bassist/keyboardist Józef Skrzek and one of the Giants of Polish Jazz, saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski, who came to fame as member of ensembles led by Tomasz Stańko and Zbigniew Namysłowski. Skrzek and Szukalski played together on and off since the mid 1970s but in the tense pre-Martial Law period (1980-1981) the duo recorded this album and several other projects together and performed live quite often. This remastered edition of the album was expanded by six previously unreleased live tracks, recorded shortly before the recording of the original album material.

The music was co-composed by Skrzek and Szukalski and mostly improvised on pre-conceived melodic motifs, and features extensive soloing by Szukalski and wonderful keyboards work by Skrzek. Stylistically it moves between Blues, Fusion, Progressive Rock and Jazz, always beautifully harmonic and deeply moving. Szukalski was the absolute Master of melodic improvisation, like his idol Ben Webster, and had no equals on the Polish scene at that time (or even to this very day). His untimely death was a great loss for Polish/European Jazz.

In spite of its minimalistic scope and approach, the album is full of absolutely thrilling musical ideas and virtuosic performances, and remains to this very day a milestone achievement of Polish Jazz/Fusion/Blues-Rock history. This reissue brings back to life a piece of Polish music history and is of course a must have for Polish music fans/collectors.

Krzysztof Puma Piasecki/Józef Skrzek – Stories (2017)

Krzysztof Puma Piasecki / Józef Skrzek

Krzysztof Puma Piasecki - guitar
Józef Skrzek - keyboards

Stories

PRIVATE EDITION




By Adam Baruch

This is an album by the duo of Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion veterans: guitarist/composer Krzysztof Puma Piasecki and bassist/keyboardist Józef Skrzek (of SBB fame). The double CD album presents fifteen original compositions, six by Piasecki, five by Skrzek and four co-composed by Piasecki and Skrzek.

The music is a beautiful collection of melodic tunes, which float somewhere between Fusion and Progressive Rock and feature extended improvisations. Piasecki plays a plethora of acoustic and electric guitars and piano on one tune, and Skrzek plays various keyboards and adds wordless vocalese parts. Although not explicitly stated, the music could be easily considered as a concept suite, since the pieces follow in a coherent manner and obviously present a uniform stylistic concept. The music develops slowly and moves from quiet passages to dynamic peaks, as appropriate for Progressive Rock. The sound is however more Fusion oriented due to the guitar sound and mannerisms, resulting in a wonderful Prog/Fusion amalgam.

It is heart worming to hear Skrzek performing so well and being so vigilant, especially in view of the fact that his music in the last decade or so seemed to lose the focus and intensity that characterized his momentous work for many years. The cooperation with Piasecki certainly proved to be most productive and inspiring. It seems that the old Masters still have got all that is needed to make great music and I wish the young Fusion and Prog players would listen to this album and use it as an example of what intelligent and honest music making is all about. Both contemporary Fusion and Prog seem to be completely lost these days, moving away from the glory that exemplified both idioms in the past. This album is a reminder what it was all about – great songwriting, virtuosic performances and above all personal integrity.

Overall this album is a magnificent and breathtaking voyage into contemporary instrumental music, which is still highly emotional and aesthetically fulfilling. Obviously this is an absolute must for guitar freaks, Prog and Fusion connoisseurs and all music fans that still have a beating heart, which is not just a muscle. Chapeau!

SBB – Za Linią Horyzontu (2016)

SBB

Józef Skrzek - bass, keyboards
Apostolis Anthimos - guitar
Jerzy Piotrowski - drums

Za Linią Horyzontu

POLSKIE RADIO 1950




By Adam Baruch

This is the first new studio album by the legendary Polish Rock/Prog/Fusion ensemble SBB, following several years of inactivity as recording artists. SBB, which comprises of bassist/keyboardist/ leader Józef Skrzek, guitarist Apostolis Anthimos and drummer Jerzy Piotrowski, makes live appearances quite regularly all over Poland, keeping the fan base happy and a plethora of archival live recordings is being constantly released, flooding the market and slowly driving the diehard aficionados to bankruptcy.

The music on the new album is a stylistic mixture of all the sub-genres that the group ventured into during their long career. The album presents eight pieces, three of which were composed by Skrzek, three by Anthimos and one was co-composed by all three members of the group. The closing piece the album, a three part suite, was partly co-composed by all three members of the group and partly composed by Skrzek. The pieces composed by Skrzek feature lyrics (in Polish) while those by Anthimos are instrumentals (well, almost).

Most of the material is Rock oriented, with relatively short and well organized songs. The instrumental pieces are more Fusion oriented. There is relatively very little improvisation and open space, which takes this album away from the Jazzy ventures the group tried in the past. The album has modern sound and production techniques, making it feel contemporary, which is not necessarily a compliment in their case. Of course these are brilliant musicians with an enormous legacy, but that is not apparent on this album. Anthimos is definitely the most interesting player and his guitar licks are still stunning after all these years.

Overall this is a nice, pleasant album, which proves that SBB is alive and kicking, still able to create solid Rock and Fusion music, but nothing that would prove their Phoenix-like rebirth or discovery of new previously uncharted territory. It is always great to hear them in action and their live concerts, especially when they return to their early and then revolutionary material, are a stunning experience. No doubt the numerous fans of the group will enjoy this album but I wonder if this will bring them any new fans from among the young generation of listeners? One has of course to admire their stamina and consistency and the ability to keep their iconic status. Altogether well done!

SBB – SBB & Michał Urbaniak (2015)

SBB

Józef Skrzek - bass/keyboards
Apostolis Anthimos - guitar
Jerzy Piotrowski - drums
Michał Urbaniak - violin

SBB & Michał Urbaniak

POLSKIE RADIO 1982



By Adam Baruch

This is a live recording at Polish Radio Studio Three by the legendary Polish trio SBB (keyboardist bassist/composer Józef Skrzek, guitarist Apostolis Anthimos and drummer Jerzy Piotrowski), who are joined on four tracks by no less legendary Polish violinist/composer Michał Urbaniak. The album presents nine compositions, most of them by Skrzek, which originate mostly from their early albums, which are now about forty years old.

I have attended a similar live gig by SBB at about the same time at the underground concert hall located in the "Guido" coal mine in Zabrze (Silesia) and my reflections are quite similar in both cases. SBB are a living legend and absolutely masterly musicians, who changed the face of Polish Music and even Polish Culture, but they continue to play the same material for far too long to be attractive any more. Of course the music is great and the atmosphere is electric, but every SBB fan has heard this music many times before. Even Urbaniak's contributions, as electrifying as they are, make to impact whatsoever as to the basic feeling of déjà vu.

One very positive factor about this specific recording is the fact that this is the best sounding recording by SBB ever, which is perhaps good enough reason to buy this album. Other than that, nihil novi sub sole…

SBB – Live Jazz Nad Odra 1975 (2013) ****

Jozef Skrzek - keyboards, bass
Apostolis Anthimos - guitar
Jerzy Piotrowski - drums

GAD 008








By Adam Baruch

This is a live recording by the legendary Polish Prog / Jazz-Rock Fusion group SBB, captured during the annual Jazz Nad Odra Festival in Wroclaw, one of Poland's most important Jazz events running uninterruptedly since its first edition in 1964. Over the years the festival exposed generation after generation of Polish Jazz players to the wide audience, as a result of the competition held every year, which presents the best musicians under the age of thirty. Winning this competition was the first major step in the careers of many of the most important Polish Jazz musicians.

This recording presents the original lineup of SBB with guitarists Apostolis Anthimos, keyboardist / bassist Jozef Skrzek and drummer Jerzy Piotrowski. They perform original material, which at the time was mostly not yet recorded in the studio and would eventually be released on their second ("Nowy Horyzont" released 1975) and third ("Pamiec" released 1976) albums. The group was at the time in a transition from their Progressive Rock phase, which started while they were still members of the Czeslaw Niemen's band, into the Jazz-Rock Fusion, which would be their home turf for many years to come. Since there are relatively very few recordings from this period, the very existence of this recording is a miracle and the fact that we can enjoy it now, almost forty years later, is a blessing.

The music comprises mostly of lengthy pieces, which were the group's trademark, that include extended improvisations and atmospheric passages, building up slowly towards a dramatic climax or even several climatic peaks, one after another. The overall impression this music created was a trans-like state of mind, which drew the listeners into a magic world of dreamy, almost psychedelic reality. Obviously such music making relied heavily on the virtuosic abilities of all the three members of the group. Skrzek, as the primary composer, sets the melodic framework and the moods; Anthimos creates the dramatic guitar arpeggios and musical peaks and Piotrowski brilliantly keeps it all moving forward and invigorates the music with his pulsations.

For many SBB followers, and Polish music lovers this period of the group's activity is, in retrospective, their most inspired, fascinating and mind-boggling. This music epitomizes the process of constant search for the undiscovered, the manic restlessness and the audacity to step into the unknown, which characterizes it. There is no doubt that this is one of the artistic peaks of Eastern European music, brewed behind the Iron Curtain. And honestly, as far as Prog and Jazz-Rock Fusion are concerned, very few of the things that happened since can stand up to this level.

The sound quality of this material is a bit muffled and with a limited sonic range and clarity, but considering the fact it was recorded live and never intended for release, it is certainly more than adequate. Of course both musically and historically it is absolutely superb and should not be missed by anybody who cares about SBB or Eastern European music from the 1970s. Grab it and enjoy!

Czesław Niemen - Marionetki (Polskie Nagrania, 1972)

Czeslaw Niemen - organ, piano, vocals

Apostolis Anthimos - guitar
Andrzej Przybielski - trumpet
Helmut Nadolski - bass, vocals
Jerzy Piotrowski - drums
Jozef Skrzek - bass, piano, organ, vocals

Marionetki (Polskie Nagrania, 1972)

This is the first Niemen album with the then SBB members. Psychedelic and blues components still here, with jazz and avantgarde elements." Marionetki" is a mournful ballad with church sounding organ and calm trumpet. "Piosenka Dla Zmarłej" starts with floating organ and continues with Niemen's soulful vocal and bluesy guitar of Anthimos. "Z Pierwszych Ważniejszych Odkryc"is a pure hendrixian psychedelic blues. Excellent ! "Ptaszek" is a filler with vocal , upright bass and laughing. "Com Uczynił": Niemen steps in the jazz territory: agressive hammond playing a'la Quatermass and soaring trumpet. Second vinyl begins the "Requiem Dla Van Gogha".This is a pure contemporary piece with reading role of the upright bass, prepared piano and space sounding organ, infuenced by John Cage. "Sariusz" is an another filler. The last "Inicjały" is very Miles Davis- In Silent way sounding, with Niemen's vocal acrobatic. This is very interesting, experimental album. (by fluiddruid)

This album shows a phase of improvisation and psychedelic rock made ​​in the seventies in Poland Psychedelic moments presents a chaotic context, which goes to other moments of pure rock We can hear some jazz improvisation in the context of fusion, mixed with moments ethnic backgrounds, which makes this multifaceted album difficult to appreciate in the first hearings. The lyrics are in Polish and I know your message but the voice is pleasant and is not the main component of this work It is a good time to appreciate jazz fusion and enjoy good times rock, but we have to get used to enjoy these more complex jobs that can only be properly assessed after several auditions. Another great Polish author of Progressive and compulsory for lovers of progressive rock in Eastern Europe, which is high quality and to discover these unique works 4 stars but 4,5 really. (by Joao Paulo)

 

Tracklisting: 1.Requiem dla Van Gogha, 2.Sariusz, 3.Inicjały, 4.Marionetki, 5.Piosenka dla zmarłej, 6.Z pierwszych ważniejszych odkryć, 7.Ptaszek, 8.Com uczynił

source: http://www.progarchives.com

Jozef Skrzek, Tomasz Szukalski - Ambitus Extended (1983)

Józef Skrzek - bass guitar, electric piano, synthesizer

Tomasz Szukalski - saxophone, bass clarinet

Ambitus Extended (1983)

Mind-blowing release!!! True hidden, very deeply hidden, gem of Polish jazz. Although this is duo with Józef Skrzek whole shows belongs here to legendary saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski. Best word to describe him is "genius". Like very few musicians in Polish jazz he got everything needed to become world class figure: talent, skill, individuality. He could play at the highest level in pop, mainstream or free. His musical ideas regardless of style he played in were always fresh and his creativity unbounded. This recording is excellent proof of such assumption. Although backed only by Skrzek who never was part of Polish jazz scene but was key player on our rock scene, he nonetheless transcends this meeting into something metaphisical. His saxophone yearns, wails and seduces like Salome in her famous dance in front of king Solomon. One song after another all our objections fall down like veils down from her sumptuous body. In the end naked truth remains: an awe in face of talent so grand and so... wasted... 

1. Ambitus extended (J.Skrzek, T.Szukalski) 6:10; 2. Sweet Pultyna (J.Skrzek) 3:31; 3. Crazy at times (J.Skrzek, T.Szukalski) 4:14; 4. For my Tina (T.Szukalski) 3:45; 5. Walk before a break (J.Skrzek, T.Szukalski) 1:20; 6. Trumpet and dwarfs in Kaeper's shack (J.Skrzek, T.Szukalski) 4:38; 7. Happy people from X (J.Skrzek) 3:50; 8. Out of the ordinary (J.Skrzek) 5:45; 9. Doublueben (J.Skrzek, T.Szukalski) 4:55 

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html