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Pokazywanie postów oznaczonych etykietą Stańko Krystyna. Pokaż wszystkie posty
Pokazywanie postów oznaczonych etykietą Stańko Krystyna. Pokaż wszystkie posty

poniedziałek, 4 marca 2024

Krystyna Stańko - "Eurodyka"

Krystyna Stańko

Krystyna Stańko – śpiew, gitara
Dominik Bukowski – wibrafon, xylosynth, marimba, kalimba
Paul Rutschka – gitara basowa
Michał Bąk – kontrabas
Mikołaj Stańko – perkusja, instrumenty perkusyjne

Gościnnie
Arve Henriksen – trąbka, aranżacje trzech utworów
Laura Marti – śpiew
Joao de Sousa – śpiew
Daniel Mester – klarnet

Eurodyka

Wydawca: Stankoffamusic (2023)

Tekst: Robert Kozubal

Szanowna Pani Ministro Zdrowia,

Ośmielam się stawać u wirtualnego progu Pani wysokiego resortu i apelować z moich jazzowych peryferii w sprawie, która przyniesie ogólny pożytek i dobrostan. Oto mam dla Pani lek na całe zło tego świata – płytę Krystyny Stańko pt. „Eurodyka” i proszę bez ogródek: niech Pani spowoduje, aby lekarze przepisywali ją znerwicowanym i chromym, niech ta muzyka popłynie na szpitalnych korytarzach, niech się sączy w przychodniach, w poczekalniach, izbach przyjęć, niech towarzyszy w wybudzeniach i teleporadach na przeziębienie, rwę oraz opryszczkę.

Powiedzieć, że to piękna płyta to nic nie powiedzieć – gorzej, to jakby powiedzieć, że się było w kościele Santa Maria delle Grazie w Mediolanie i oglądało tam jadalnię z jakimś wyblakłym malowidłem na ścianie. Ta płyta to balsam, otucha i pokrzepienie. To antidotum na frenetyczny pośpiech tego świata, na somatyczny obrzęk tłumu myśli rozdętych przeskalowaną rzeczywistością, na znerwicowany nadmiar jednorazowości oraz na wszelkie dolegliwości ducha i ciała homo sapiens XXI wieku.

Pani Ministro, muzyka i teksty Krystyny Stańko niosą tak potrzebne dziś wszystkim ukojenie już od pierwszych chwil, a potem jest tylko lepiej. Powolutku, w rytm soczystych, krystalicznie czystych i perfekcyjnych dziesięciu utworów „Eurodyki”, spływa na słuchacza aura spokoju, otula go ciepłymi i bezpiecznymi dźwiękami. Krystynie Stańko towarzyszy na płycie zespół marzeń, autorami muzyki są ona sama i niezrównany Dominik Bukowski, jeden utwór napisał Paul Rutschka. Obecny jest także Norweg Arve Henriksen, chyba najsubtelniejszy trębacz świata, człowiek, który gra tak lekko, jakby przepraszał swój instrument za każdy głośniejszy dźwięk. Pejzażuje nieziemsko w kilku utworach i to właśnie jego talent sprawia, że w refleksyjnej pieśni pt. „Dla Kompo”, poświęconej zmarłej na covid przyjaciółce Pani Krystyny, stajemy twarzą w twarz przed niewypowiadalnym.

Kolejny argument: tematyka. Pani Ministro, toć ta płyta to hołd dla Europy! Tej Europy, która wprawdzie nigdzie się nie ruszała, ale jakby ostatnio była gdzieś trochę dalej. Próżno jednak traktować ją jak banalny przewodnik, to raczej wysmakowane fotografie nastroju poszczególnych miast wywołanych w tytułach utworów. Już pierwsze fado z Joao de Sousa przynosi nam wiatr z Porto, a po nim wędrujemy do Aten, Oslo, Paryża, rozśpiewanego Splitu czy wreszcie do zmrożonego wojną Lwowa, który odwiedzamy podążając za przejmującym głosem ukraińskiej wokalistki – Laury Marti.

Dla zsiwzowanych formalistów dodaję, iż Krystyna Stańko ma wszelkie wymagane kompetencje: jest wybitną wokalistką obdarzoną oryginalnym kontraltem, absolwentką Wydziału Jazzu i Muzyki Rozrywkowej w Katowicach, od lat w polskiej jazzowej czołówce (już w 2002 roku nominowana do Fryderyka za płytę „Do dziesięciu” grupy 0-58), nagrała 10 albumów, wykłada wokalistykę w Akademii Muzycznej w Gdańsku. Ma na koncie wielu nagród, medal Gloria Artis i Pomorską Nagrodę̨ Artystyczną.

Na koniec – przyznaję – wytoczę argument pozamerytoryczny. Pani Krystyna jest gdańszczanką, jak sama Pani Wie Kto. Dodam, że tamże od lat prowadzi co niedziela w państwowym Radiu Gdańsk, swoją dwugodzinnną audycję, w której puszcza i propaguje soczysty jazz, a skromny wnioskujący do Pani Ministry słucha jej dzięki internetowi z wypiekami na twarzy.

Kończę prośbą o rozważenie mojej propozycji tak szybko, jak to możliwe. Puszczajmy Eurodykę, gdzie tylko się da, a świat będzie piękniejszy. I zdrowszy.

Licząc na pozytywne rozpatrzenie, załączam stosowne wyrazy. Z poważaniem.

piątek, 14 maja 2021

Krystyna Stańko - Fale (2020)

Krystyna Stańko

Krystyna Stańko - vocals, percussion
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, marimba, voice
Piotr Lemańczyk - bass, voice

Fale

STM 007


By Maciej Nowotny

Cóż jest najważniejszego w życiu w ogóle? Nie wiem. A w muzyce? Dla mnie? Nie wiem. Ale jeśli mnie przyciśniecie to: rytm. Gdyby nie rytm i jego wpływ być może dalej słuchałbym opery i kwartetów Beethovena, Haydna czy Szostakowicza. Kiedy płynie rytm jego fale wywołują reakcję nie tylko w uszach, ale bezpośrednio na skórze i głębiej w środku ciała. Wzbudzają emocje, uruchamiają strumienie myśli, porywają gdzieś daleko, a może ku górze lub w głąb.

Fale. To nieprzypadkowo też tytuł najnowszego albumu Krystyny Stańko. A fale lubią dobre źródła. W tym przypadku obok głębokiego kontralatu wokalistki, kto wie czy nie najlepszy wibrafon w Polsce - Dominika Bukowskiego oraz gitara basowa i kontrabas Piotra Lemańczyka, którego w Polsce nikomu przedstawiać nie trzeba. Dlatego fale biegną jak po czystym jak łza jeziorze, nie tkniętym tchnieniem wiatru ani żadną inną troską, zmartwieniem, przelotnym, przypadkowym, nieokreślonym. Spontanicznie uporzadkowane.

O czym jest ta płyta? Nie wiem. Co chciałem napisać? Nie pamiętam. Dlaczego czytacie ten tekst? Kto wie. Ale po płytę warto sięgnąć. Po muzykę. Po falę. Po rytm. A więc ku jezioru.

czwartek, 7 stycznia 2021

Krystyna Stańko - Fale (2020)

Krystyna Stańko

Krystyna Stańko - vocals, percussion
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, marimba, voice
Piotr Lemańczyk - bass, voice

Fale

STM 007


By Krzysztof Komorek

Po orkiestrowej płycie ze standardami oraz wcześniejszej muzycznej wycieczce w świat bossa novy wokalistka Krystyna Stańko zaprosiła tym razem słuchaczy na intymne i bardzo osobiste spotkanie. Spotkanie w gronie kameralnym. 

Na płycie "Fale" zagrała jedynie trójka muzyków. Liderkę projektu (śpiew i instrumenty perkusyjne) wsparło dwóch jej wieloletnich współpracowników: Dominik Bukowski (wibrafon, marimba i głos) oraz Piotr Lemańczyk (kontrabas, gitara basowa i głos). Skład prawdziwie gwiazdorski, a przy tym intrygujący instrumentalnym zestawieniem. Dominik Bukowski skomponował większość (sześć) nagranych na albumie utworów, trzy dołożył Piotr Lemańczyk, jeden sama Krystyna Stańko, która ponadto napisała wszystkie teksty. Wyjątkiem jest utwór finałowy, ale o tej niespodziance wspomnę na końcu. 

Dziesiątka autorskich kompozycji tria układa się w płynną opowieść, spiętą krótkim instrumentalnym wstępem ("Intro") i epilogiem ("Outro"). W tym ostatnim nagraniu w wokalizie powraca motyw tytułowego utworu. "Fale" są niczym książka, która z każdym utworem otwiera kolejny rozdział historii. Pochwalić trzeba ciekawą i oryginalną słowną warstwę albumu, ale i strona muzyczna ma wiele do zaoferowania. Duet Bukowski/Lemańczyk fantastycznie pomógł wykreować spójną atmosferę, nie popadając przy tym w monotonię. 

Piotr Lemańczyk znakomicie pokazał, jak subtelna może być w środkach wyrazu gitara basowa. Udowadnia to w "Między wersami" oraz środkowej części dwuminutowego "Myślisz". Ten drugi utwór stanowi rewelacyjny pokaz kreatywnego podejścia do nowoczesnych, popularnych gatunków wokalistyki. Krystyna Stańko postawiła na ciepło i subtelność przekazu, co nie przeszkodziło w umieszczeniu na płycie przebojowego nagrania "Morska" z kapitalnym duetem wokalizy i marimby. To mój zdecydowany numer jeden na "Falach". 

Jedenaste nagranie, owa wspomniana wcześniej niespodzianka, jest niczym koncertowy bis. Wpisuje się w klimat autorskiej opowieści, ale wyróżnia osobami autorów. Na deser trio zafundowało bowiem słuchaczom piosenkę "Nie jest źle" z muzyką Krzysztofa Komedy i słowami Agnieszki Osieckiej, premierowo wykonaną niemal sześć dekad temu przez Urszulę Dudziak. Przepiękne i perfekcyjne podsumowanie trwającej czterdzieści minut płyty. 

Artystom udało się zagrać w tym trudnym czasie premierowy koncert, wzbogacony o wizualizacje towarzyszące poszczególnym utworom. Projekt prezentuje się więc niezwykle udanie zarówno od strony artystycznej, jak i koncepcyjnej. Pozostaje mieć tylko nadzieję, że w rozpoczętym roku będzie się można z muzyką z "Fal" spotkać na koncertach w całkiem realnych, a nie tylko wirtualnych, okolicznościach. Tymczasem w oczekiwaniu można błogo spędzać czas przy płytowej odsłonie tego bez wątpienia pierwszorzędnego dzieła.

piątek, 5 kwietnia 2019

Krystyna Stańko – Pociąg Do Piosenki (2019)

Krystyna Stańko

Krystyna Stańko - vocals
Arek Krawiel - keyboards
Boris Mogilevski - guitar
Jan Galach - violin
Paul Rutschka - bass
Mikołaj Stańko - drums

Pociąg Do Piosenki


PRIVATE EDITION

By Adam Baruch

This is an "informal" album by Polish vocalist/songwriter Krystyna Stańko, her overall tenth release, which was recorded live in Radio Gdańsk. The album celebrates the third Anniversary of the Metropolitan train system connecting the Baltic Tricity with the Kaszubia region. Stańko is accompanied by a quintet of excellent young musicians, which include: keyboardist Arek Krawiel, guitarist Boris Mogilewski, violinist Jan Galach, bassist Paul Rutschka and drummer Mikołaj Stańko. The album presents twelve songs, all written (music and lyrics) by Stańko, which originate from her early recordings: the album "Kobiety" released under the For Dee moniker in 1995 and her fourth album (first album as a leader) "Usłysz Mnie" released in 2008.

The informal, relaxed atmosphere of this live concert suits this material ideally, which is only marginally Jazz oriented, but is absolutely delightful from start to finish. These invigorated versions of the early songs by Stańko sound in many respects way better than the original versions, missing perhaps the naivety and youthfulness, but are enhanced by the maturity and experience gained over the years.

The music is mostly kept in a Jazz-Rock Fusion mood, but without excessive instrumental soloing, concentrating on the melodies and the vocal parts. Stańko's delivery is absolutely delightful, as expected, which makes listening to this album an absolute unadulterated pleasure. The decision to revisit the old songs was a very smart move, as they all prove to stand the test of time admirably, and are definitely worth being remembered. Overall this is a very enjoyable piece of Pop/Jazz music, excellently performed and full of great music, which should make the many fans of Stańko's talents very happy indeed!

wtorek, 2 kwietnia 2019

Krystyna Stańko - Aquarius: The Orchestral Sessions (2019)

Krystyna Stańko

Krystyna Stańko - vocals
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, marimba
Marcin Wądołowski - guitars
Piotr Lemańczyk - double bass
Cezary Konrad - drums
Mateusz Smoczyński - violin

Aquarius: The Orchestral Sessions

PRIVATE EDITION STM 006

By Adam Baruch

This is the ninth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna Stańko, recorded with her more or less regular musical companions: vibraphonist Dominik Bukowski, guitarist Marcin Wądołowski, bassist Piotr Lemańczyk and drummer Cezary Konrad. Violin virtuoso Mateusz Smoczyński guests on a couple of tracks. Additionally the Sinfonia Viva Orchestra, conducted by Krzysztof Herdzin, who also wrote the orchestral arrangements, provides the orchestral accompaniment. The album presents ten songs, three of which were written by Antonio Carlos Jobim, two by Chick Corea, four are Jazz standards and one is a Polish cabaret song.

Musically this album is a direct continuation of Stańko's previous album "Novos Anos", which was characterized by a distinct Bossa Nova flavor, which is also present here. The same idea of presenting well known songs in a very personal interpretation applies also here. The superb instrumental work by the excellent musicians who accompany the vocalist, are enhanced here with the addition of the orchestral arrangement, wonderfully and cleverly put together by Herdzin.

Altogether the instrumental work on this album is every bit as impressive as the vocal parts. Bukowski uses the vibraphone and the marimba like a snake charmer, adopting his solos to every tune. Wądołowski plays quiet acoustic guitar parts but also excellent electric solos and consistently proves that he is one of the top guitar players on the local scene. Lemańczyk, as usual, keeps everything under control with his caressing bass lines, which fill all the spaces. Konrad is steady like the Rock of Gibraltar, and his delicate, but firm drum parts, which are the heartbeat of the music.

Herdzin's arrangements deserve praise not only for their sophistication, but more importantly for their incorporation within the overall framework of the sound, staying respectfully in the background and ornamenting the sonic whole rather that dominating it.

Stanko, as usual, balances between singing lyrics and vocalese, in order to keep the things interesting. Her sensuous and dreamy voice is charming as always, and she is not trying to sound like anybody else simply being herself, a quality I always admired in her career. Her understanding of the fact that there is nothing wrong with singing standards, as long as the result is both musically solid and uncompromising, is a key ingredient of her musical mission.

Overall this is a beautiful album full of superb music and outstanding performances, which can be enjoyed by a wide spectrum of Jazz listeners, from complete beginners to experienced connoisseurs, with each one being able to find something that touches them. Thank you again, my Baltic Siren, for sharing your musical heart with me and everybody else who will listen to this music and enjoy it. You are the one and only, as always!

sobota, 26 listopada 2016

Krystyna Stańko - Novos Anos (2016)

Krystyna Stańko

Krystyna Stańko - vocals
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, marimba, kalimba
Piotr Lemańczyk - bass
Marcin Wądołowski - guitar
Marcin Gawdzis - trumpet
Łukasz Żyta - drums
Zé Luis Nascimento - drums, percussion


Novos Anos

FOR TUNE 0113

By Adam Baruch

This is the eighth album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna Stańko, recorded with her regular wonderful Baltic crew which includes vibraphonist Dominik Bukowski, guitarist Marcin Wądołowski, bassist Piotr Lemańczyk and guest Brazilian drummer/percussionist Ze Luis Nascimento. Trumpeter Marcin Gawdzis guests on two tracks and drummer Łukasz Żyta on three tracks. Together they perform eleven songs (one is repeated twice), six of which were composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and the rest by different composers like Chick Corea, Mongo Santamaria and others, all with a distinct samba and bossa nova character. All the songs use English lyrics.

This album marks a significant diversion in Stańko's career, which is usually focused on singing original material composed by her or her band members. When I visited her in Gdańsk three months ago, not long after this album was recorded, she told me that this was a conscious decision to create an album which could be enjoyed by a much wider audience than her previous recordings, without compromising the artistic and aesthetic values. There is no doubt that she and her band managed to do just that.

The album includes mostly very well known songs, which have been previously recorded many times by artists all over the world. This album offers however a slightly different approach, with the instrumental arrangements being much more Jazzy than similar efforts. The presence of Bukowski adds another dimension, normally not present on such recordings and the brilliant bass playing by Lemańczyk firmly places these interpretation within the Jazz idiom rather that the usual Pop or easy Jazz genre. Wądołowski adds some beautiful guitar parts, which are also quite different from the standard guitar parts used on samba albums and so does Gawdzis, albeit briefly. Of course having a Brazilian drummer/percussionist on boards ensures that rhythmically everything works perfectly.

Stańko's deep sensual voice is of course ideally suited for these songs, and her vocal theatrics fit the bill perfectly. Although her pronunciation is not exactly "perfect" English, it is not significant as these songs have been sung in English by Jobim himself, Astrud Gilberto and countless other non-native English speaking vocalist and a slightly foreign accent in this case is perhaps an asset rather than a weakness. Stańko of course has the perfect feel needed to perform these songs and does it with obvious passion and love. She uses superb vocalese parts in addition to the lyrics, which are truly delightful. For me the most touching song of the album is the intimate trio which finds Stanko supported just by vibraphone and bass, which is perfection itself. Stańko respectfully leaves a lot of space for instrumental parts, which is most appropriate.

If this album will bring Stańko to a wider public attention, it will serve its purpose ideally. She deserves to be heard and adored by everybody as much as I do adore her, regardless what she does, not because she is my friend, but because she is a true Artist and a wonderful human being. Well done Krystyna, Dear!

niedziela, 26 października 2014

Krystyna Stanko – Snik (2014)

Krystyna Stańko 

Krystyna Stańko - vocals, guitar, percussion
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, xylosynth, kalimba
Piotr Lemańczyk - double bass, vocals
Przemysław Jarosz - drums, percussion

Snik

PRIVATE EDITION

By Adam Baruch

This is the seventh album by Polish vocalist/composer/lyricist Krystyna Stanko, marking a new direction in her career with an ambitious exploration of her Kashubian roots combined with her already established Jazz accomplishments. The Kashubians are an ethnic minority living in the North of Poland (Pomerania), which uses a regional language formally recognized in Poland as an official language, being the only one of many other languages/dialects to be awarded such status. On this album Stanko is accompanied by a wonderful trio comprising of her regular cohorts: vibraphonist/composer Dominik Bukowski, legendary bassist/composer Piotr Lemanczyk and drummer Przemyslaw Jarosz. In addition several guest musicians are featured, including trumpeter Marcin Gawdzis. The album has thirteen tracks, four of which are parts of an improvised suite based on a legend written by Aleksander Majkowski, a leading Kashubian literary figure before WWII. These four tracks are split throughout the first half of the album and are co-composed by the core quartet members. Of the remaining tracks three are traditional songs arranged by Stanko, another three are composed by Lemanczyk, two by Stanko and one by Bukowski. Stanko wrote the lyrics to all the songs composed by her and also to those composed by Lemanczyk and Bukowski.

It becomes immediately apparent from the very start of this album that Stanko made a conscious decision to embark upon a new voyage, quite different form the Jazz & Poetry genre, that dominated her marvelous album "Kropla Slowa" released a couple of years earlier. Although some of the songs present here, especially those composed by Lemanczyk, are somewhat similar in their lyricism and melodic qualities to the songs from the earlier album, the majority of the material and more importantly the overall feel and atmosphere are dramatically different, with the utilization of strong ethnic elements, both musical and verbal. It is quite obvious that Stanko wishes to present a tribute to her roots and expose the listeners to the mysticism and beauty of the Kashubian culture. The four parts suite also exposes her more improvisational nature, with so far had only limited exposure in her work, but which turns out to be quite fascinating.

Stanko's vocal performances are, as usual, wonderful throughout the album, exposing a wide rage of her sensual voice, from whisper and caress to energetic vocalese. She is in full bloom as a vocalist and has very few competitors on the Polish scene as of now. The instrumentalists are also superb from start to finish with Lemanczyk being simply sensational in every capacity, both as time keeper, melody supporter and creator of beautiful notes, all right on the spot. Bukowski uses his electronic instrument, the xylosynth, which enables him to produce a great variety of sounds often similar to those produced by a keyboard, but with a different attack, which add a lot of diverse sound colors to the proceedings. Jarosz turns out to be a sensitive and supportive drummer, who is always there, when needed.

Sadly I must conclude my assessment of this wonderful album on a sad note; it seems that this one will not be received as warmly and enthusiastically as its predecessor, simply for the reason that it crossed the invisible line between sophisticated and elegant entertainment and Art. The listeners might, unfortunately, find parts of this album to be too strange and less accessible, as will probably some learned critics. All I can say at this point is: well done girl, kudos, ignore those ignoramuses and just do your own thing. And of course a big thank you!

sobota, 18 października 2014

Stańko i Snik

W moim mieszkaniu, mimo niewielkich rozmiarów i ciągłego zamieszania powodowanego przez nieustanne porządki żony i nieuleczalne bałaganiarstwo córki, zawsze się miejsce znaleźć musi na szachownicę. Nieraz można mnie zastać jak zastygły w bezruchu ze zmarszczonym czołem wpatruję się w nią i co robię? Z reguły staram się ujrzeć pozycję jaka na niej będzie za kilka, a nawet kilkanaście ruchów. Lecz przyznam się, że te wysiłki są często bezowocne. Moja myśl zamiast zmierzać prostą drogą w głąb szachowej pozycji gubi się w labiryncie wariantów i pamięci zbyt słabej by je ogarnąć. Wzdycham wtedy cieżko, a jeśli akurat w pobliżu przechodzi żona słyszę: “Przegrywasz kochanie? To po co grasz?”

Dobre pytanie! Liczenie wariantów to tortura i nieraz zazdroszczę mistrzowi świata w szachach 23-letniemu Magnusowi Carlsenowi, któremu to przychodzi z dziecinną łatwością. Jednak nawet i geniusz z Norwegii zwany Mozartem szachów nie może się równać ze… smartfonem w mojej kieszeni! Ilość bowiem obliczeń jakie może w sekundzie dokonać znajdujący się w nim komputerowy procesor sprawia, że najpotężniejszy nawet ludzki mózg nie ma szans i musi ulec, chociaż podejrzewam po znacznie dłuższej walce niż ta, którą mógłby zaoferować Wasz felietonista.

Nie po to jednak w szachy gram, by w szranki stawać z maszyną. I nieraz wpatrując się długo w szachownicę, wierzcie mi, niczego nie liczę, nie zgłębiam, nie analizuję. Nie myślę o niczym… konkretnym! Oczywiście nie mogę się do tego przyznać mojej cudownej małżonce, która zaraz zapędziłaby mnie do zmywania, odkurzania lub mycia okien. Zanurzony w swojej podświadomości, dla której szachowa pozycja jest tylko pretekstem wałęsam się, kluczę bez celu i planu tak jakbym nie robił nic innego jak śnił na jawie. I wtedy nagle jak grom z jasnego niekiedy przychodzi… eureka! Oto dylemat, nad którym mój świadomy, logiczny, próbujący ogarnąć niezliczone warianty umysł pochylał się bezskutecznie zostaje rozwiązany dzięki intuicji, działającej w ukryciu podświadomości, dzięki marzeniom i snom.

Tak, tak, nie śmiejcie się, bo że w taki sposób często przychodzą najlepsze pomysły powiedzą Wam nie tylko szachiści, felietoniści, ale i muzycy, a szczególnie jazzowi. Dlaczego szczególnie? W muzyce klasycznej nazbyt często masz partyturę i jak poza nią wykroczysz to dostajesz od dyrygenta obuchem w głowę. Z kolei w muzyce pop często musisz śpiewać tę samą piosenkę czterdzieści lat pod rząd, bo tego pragnie publiczność i Twój menago. Ale w jazzie Świętym Graalem jest zagranie czegoś w sposób w jaki jeszcze nikt inny tego nie zrobił, nadanie muzyce piętna swojej indywidualności i ciągłe zmiany, zmiany, zmiany. To właśnie jest esencją free w jazzie, a nie kinetyczna fryta, od której bolą uszy. 

Lecz to free - tę wewnętrzną wolność - która takie granie umożliwia nie jest wcale łatwo osiągnąć. “Jak się to Pani udało?” - zapytałem Krystyny Stańko, do której zadzwoniłem zachwycony jej najnowszym albumum “Snik”. “Wow!” - wykrzyknęła zdziwiona - “jak to miło, że to właśnie Pan dzwoni.” “No tak” - pomyślałem z goryczą - “czyż Rzeźnikowi Mainstreamu może się podobać taki album?” A właśnie, że może, bo już przy okazji jej poprzednich płyt jak choćby wydanej w 2010 roku “Secretly” pisałem byłem: “Jej głos jest raczej delikatny i stonowany dlatego idzie w ślady takich wokalistek jak Patricia Barber, Diana Krall czy Norah Jones, które osiągały niespotykany efekt budując na nastroju, emocjach i brzmieniach mieszczących się w tonacji molowej”. Jednak szczerze mówiąc czegoś mi brakowało, a tym czymś była spontaniczność i swobodna gra fantazji, o którą tak często wołam w jazzie, muzyce i życiu w ogóle. “To wszystko znajduję na Pani najnowszej płycie” - podsumowałem. “Miło mi” - odparła pogodnie - “rzeczywiście na tym moim albumie najwięcej jest chyba improwizacji. Towarzyszący mi muzycy, zreszta jak wiesz wyśmienici - kontrabasista Piotr Lemańczyk, wibrafonista Dominik Bukowski i perkusista Przemek Jarosz - z którymi gramy razem od lat, niewiele wiedzieli o tym co ma się zadziać w czasie sesji. Nagrywaliśmy “na setkę” czyli wszyscy razem, tak, by w studiu odtworzyć atmosferę jazzowego koncertu, o którego sukcesie decyduje spontaniczna interakcja między muzykami”. 

I to się udało - pomyślałem - czuć jak muzyka płynie lekko i bez wysiłku, nie trzymając się koryta, lecz rozlewając szeroko jak woda w jeziorze, czystym i głębokim jakich wiele, pięknych i tajemniczych, znajdziemy na Kaszubach. “To właśnie stamtąd pochodził mój dziadek - powiedziała Krystyna - miał tam ludową orkiestrę, z którą chodził od wsi do wsi, od miasteczka do miasteczka”. Zdziwiłby się Miles Davis słysząc jak dobrze kaszubskie nuty współgrają z jazzem i nie tylko. Ucieszyłby się i Zbyszek Namysłowski, że nie tylko Kujawy, ale i Kaszuby są funky i dzięki nagraniem takim jak te kultura ludowa ciągle żyje, a nie jest czymś martwym stojącym na półce w którejś z licznych Cepelii. “To było moje marzenie” - zakończyła naszą króką rozmowę Krystyna Stańko - “czyli po kaszubsku po prostu Snik”.

czwartek, 26 września 2013

(0-58) – Do Dziesieciu (2001) ***1/2

Krystyna Stanko - vocals
Maciek Grzywacz - guitar
Olo Wolicki - bass
with
Cezary Paciorek - accordion
Cezary Konrad - drums
Grzegorz Grzyb - drums
Adam Pieronczyk - saxophone

OLO 003


By Adam Baruch

This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna Stanko and her debut recording with the group (0-58), which placed her as a co-leader with guitarist / composer Maciej Grzywacz and bassist / composer Olgierd Walicki. The group also included accordionist Cezary Paciorek and alternating drummers Cezary Konrad and Grzegorz Grzyb. Saxophonist Adam Pieronczyk guests on two tracks. The album includes nine original compositions, four each by Grzywacz and Walicki and one by Stanko with lyrics all written by Stanko.

Musically the album presents a process of searching after a unique identity, which takes the musicians exploring many different avenues, such as Blues, chanson, alternative Pop and of course Jazz. The songs are very diverse in their tempi, moods and melodic ranges and the album keeps changing quite dramatically between one song and another. Listening to the album is like embarking on a journey with destination unknown. On the whole the approach is acoustic and rather intimate.

The instrumentalists perform splendidly, improvising extensively between the vocal parts. Grzywacz and Walicki both play some outstanding instrumental parts as do the guest soloists. Stanko is theatrical and somewhat reserved, perhaps still not aware or her formidable vocal ability, which will flower on her later recordings.

In retrospect this is a very interesting document of the Polish Jazz scene at the turn of the Millennium. Obviously the young generation of musicians is looking for something different than the mainstream tradition and with Yass paving the way in the previous decade, everything is open and nothing is taboo any more. The album is unfortunately out of print since many years and it took me ages to track a copy down – lucky me!

sobota, 15 grudnia 2012

(0-58) – Tryby (2003)

Krystyna Stanko - vocals
Maciej Grzywacz - guitar
Cezary Paciorek - accordion
Piotr Lemanczyk - bass
Marcin Jahr - drums

PRIVATE EDITION






By Adam Baruch

This is the third album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna Stanko and her second recording with the group (0-58), which paired her as a co-leader with guitarist / composer Maciej Grzywacz. The group also included accordionist Cezary Paciorek, bassist Piotr Lemanczyk and drummer Marcin Jahr. The album includes eight original compositions, seven of which are by Grzywacz with lyrics by Stanko and one is an instrumental by Lemanczyk, where Stanko uses wordless vocalese only.

Musically the album is a striking amalgam of cross-genre explorations, which could be labeled as Jazz-Rock Fusion, but in truth comprises of many other musical influences and sources, from French musette via alternative Rock, RIO, Fusion, Prog and probably quite a few others, all resting firmly in the Jazz tradition. The eclecticism is not only part of the composition but is also reflected in the entirely unusual overall sonic atmosphere, which moves between the accordion inspired jubilation to dark, melancholic and deeply lyrical pieces, especially those featuring Stanko with Grzywacz on acoustic guitar and supported by the incredible bass lines by Lemanczyk and percussive ornamentation by Jahr. The album offers so many incredible musical moments that by and large the listener has barely time to enjoy one piece of music and is immediately thrown into completely new surroundings.

The level of performances on this album is simply astounding. Stanko, as usual, presents the lyrics with a theatrical sensitivity and the instrumentalists magically perform a set of chameleonic tricks, changing moods and tempi on the fly, often using those strange odd meters, which make music exciting. The decision to use the accordion is a blessing as this fantastic instrument is able to produce a variety of sounds, so sweet and natural, that no synthesizer can ever come close to. Paciorek is obviously a Master and his solos, as well as his accompaniments are a real joy. Grzywacz is a versatile player with great technique and sensitivity, which is quite evident here and his solos are a classic examples of what Jazz / Fusion guitar playing should be all about. Lemanczyk is a true giant, and his strong acoustic bass lines on this album often sound as if produced by a bass guitar, which is quite incredible, Jahr is an excellent drummer and his all-around experience playing in many different musical areas makes him an ideal contributor on this recording.

In retrospect it appears that this is definitely one of the best offerings of the Polish Jazz / Fusion scene in the first decade of the 21st Century and it certainly deserves much more attention and praise than it originally gained at the time of its release. Seemingly out of print, perhaps a reissue us in order? Delightful stuff!

piątek, 14 grudnia 2012

Krystyna Stanko / Dominik Bukowski / Piotr Lemanczyk – Cuda Oglaszaja (2010)

Krystyna Stanko - vocals
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone
Piotr Lemanczyk - bass
guest
Cezary Konrad - drums

STM 003






By Adam Baruch

This is a wonderful album by Polish Jazz vocalist Krystyna Stanko and her regular partners: vibraphonist Dominik Bukowski and bassist Piotr Lemanczyk dedicated to their arrangements of Christmas Carrols. Poland has a tradition of Christmas Carrols spanning back to the middle ages and including many original Carrols written in the Polish language. The nine Carrols selected for this album include both internationally known Carrols translated into Polish and original Polish Carrols.

Jazz interpretations of Christmas songs and Carrols have been tried many times before, most of them being simply an opportunistic pastiche devoid of any artistic merit. However this recording is surprisingly touching and absolutely stunning musically. The intimate setting of a vocalist and just two accompanying instruments (well veteran drummer Cezary Konrad does play on one track) seem to be able to bring out the best of everybody on this album. Stanko delivers the lyrics with a heartbreaking honesty and sensitivity, Bukowski paints the melodies and colors the entire atmosphere with his mallets and Lemanczyk carries the music on the back of his incredible bass lines, steady as a rock and virtuosic like butterfly's wings. The entire delivery is simply breathtaking and in retrospect one must see that Stanko's sensitivity to the spoken word is at its peak here, ready to explode on her next solo project "Kropla Slowa". The arrangements, which transpose the Carrols into the world of Gospel / Blues / Jazz are artistry in itself, and should be studied in music schools the world over.

The most amazing effect of this album is the fact that it makes the listener actually listen to the lyrics. Most religious music is usually performed in a mantra manner, with the performer uttering the words without actually even trying to comprehend the meaning of the text, especially when it happens during a ceremonial act. I must say that although I have heard these Carrols countless times before, I actually listened to the words for the first time while listening to this album, and was quite surprised by their beauty. Regardless of the religious context, this is pure poetry full of longing for love, compassion, sympathy and understanding, which are universally human.

I can't think of a better Christmas gift to anyone, who loves music, especially if they understand Polish, but the beauty of this recording knows no language barriers and melts open hearts anywhere. A treasure!

czwartek, 13 grudnia 2012

Krystyna Stanko – Secretly (2010)

Krystyna Stanko - vocals
Marcin Gawdzis - trumpet
Irek Wojtczak - bass clarinet, flute
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, kalimba
Piotr Lemanczyk - bass
Cezary Konrad - drums
guest:
Mieczyslaw Szczsniak - vocals


STM 001

By Adam Baruch

This is the fifth album by Polish singer / songwriter Krystyna Stanko, who this time sets aside her own music and pays homage to the songwriting talents of Brit Peter Gabriel. Gabriel, who came to fame as the eccentric, theatrical and quite over the top charismatic front man of the legendary proggers Genesis, calmed down considerably after he opted for a solo career, which in retrospect was a smart move, both artistically and commercially. Over time Gabriel recorded an impressive number of albums, containing mostly his self-penned material, which overall is excellent Pop music in today's standards, gaining acclaim by critics and fans alike.

For her album Stanko selected eight songs, seven of which are Gabriel's creations and one, which was covered by him on his eights studio album "Scratch My Back", and was originally written by Stephin Merritt, front-man of The Magnetic Fields. She is accompanied by a dreamy quintet, which includes trumpeter Marcin Gawdzis, bass clarinetists and flautist Irek Wojtczak, veteran drummer Cezary Konrad and her regular cohorts vibraphonist Dominik Bukowski and bassist extraordinaire Piotr Lemanczyk. On the non-Gabriel song she sings a duet with singer Mieczyslaw Szczesniak, who appears as a guest.

Jazz tributes to Pop artists are a perilous path, often leading straight off the cliff and I must say that this album is one of the very few such attempts that actually work, which already is a success. What makes this music work is mostly the fact that Stanko as a performer and Bukowski / Lemanczyk as arrangers (although not credited as such on the album's cover, but audibly so) did not just perform a tribute to Gabriel's music by covering the songs but in fact transformed the music, often quite dramatically, into a different platform, which has very little to do with the original Pop environment it was created in, and sits firmly in the Jazz idiom every step of the way. All the solos, the incredible work of the rhythm section and Stanko's vocals are dripping Jazz honey every step of the way and I'd even risk speculating that many of Gabriel's fans would not recognize some of the original songs under the disguise they appear here in.

I dare say that I find it a pity Stanko did not take this project one step further, by translating the original lyrics into the Polish language, which would have made her vocal expression much more sophisticated and intense. Singing in a foreign language is an effort, which usually limits the vocalist by robbing them of their total attention towards the music, so necessary in order to create a perfect vocal delivery. Nevertheless this is a speculation and the album is definitely an excellent piece of music the way it was recorded. I have no idea if Gabriel ever heard this album, but I'm quite sure he'd approve and appreciate it, considering he's one of the more open-minded and non-prejudicial heroes of the contemporary music biz (or whatever is left of it).

This is definitely an album worth having and hearing again and again, in different moods and circumstances, as it is multifaceted and capable of uplifting the spirits repeatedly. There is something in there for a wide audience of music lovers, from Jazz buffs to Pop aficionados (providing they wash their ears first). Kudos Krystyna!

poniedziałek, 5 listopada 2012

Krystyna Stańko – Kropla Słowa (2012)

Krystyna Stańko

Krystyna Stańko - vocals
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone, marimba
Piotr Lemańczyk - bass
Cezary Konrad - drums

with guest artists and string quartet

Kropla Słowa (2012)

By Adam Baruch

This is the sixth album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / lyricist Krystyna Stanko, and her most ambitious undertaking to date, as it presents her in the Jazz & Poetry setting, which is always very demanding and perilous. The album comprises of ten songs; four of which have lyrics by the Nobel Prize laureate poetess Wislawa Szymborska (who died in 2012), two with lyrics by poetess Halina Poswiatowska (who died in 1967 at a ridiculous young age of 32), one with lyrics by poetess Dorota Szatters (a contemporary lyricist living in Silesia, the southern part of Poland), one with lyrics by the poet Tomasz Jastrun (well-known for his involvement with the underground literary movement during the Socialist regime) and the last two with lyrics by Stanko herself. Of the ten songs, seven were composed by vibraphonist / composer Dominik Bukowski, two by Stanko and one by bassist / composer Paul Rutschka, who is Stanko's nephew.

The songs are performed by Stanko, who is accompanied by a core trio, which includes Bukowski and the wonderful rhythm section of bassist Piotr Lemanczyk and drummer Cezary Konrad. In addition several excellent musicians participate as guests adding their contributions to one or two of the songs, those being: saxophonists Maciej Obara and Irek Wojtczak, guitarist Jacek Krolik, percussionist Miroslaw Hady, Indonesian pianist Sri Hanuraga and bassist Paul Rutschka. A string quartet is also utilized on a couple of songs. The presence of so many musicians creates a much diversified album, with each of the songs being quite distinct and different sounding instrumentally, which enhances the listening experience and allows for unexpected vistas. Of course the diversity does not disturb the general atmosphere of the album, which is wonderfully lyrical and introvert, as are most Polish Jazz & Poetry albums.

For listeners familiar with the Polish scene, this album immediately brings on a need to match it up against the recent work by Polish Jazz vocalist Aga Zaryan, which is conceptually and spiritually in the same aesthetic sphere of influence. In fact this album is incredibly akin to Zaryan's latest album. One can only speculate as to how much of this proximity is intentional, but probably very little. It is more likely a result of the characteristics of both Polish Jazz and Polish Poetry being so dominant, with the distinctive rhythm of the language, its "playability" and inherent musicality, which contributed to this close encounter. Of course these albums are also wonderfully different, which creates a joyous opportunity to love them both.

Stanko should be praised for sticking with her mother tongue, against the temptations of "international potential", which brings many Polish singers to try their luck with texts in English. Every music connoisseur understands that vocalists are at their best when singing in their natural language, and of course even more so in case poetry is used. Stanko's interpretation and articulation of the poems is warm and wonderfully round, expressing her deep engagement with this project. The music is also excellent, and although melodic, it proves to be quite challenging at times, with twisted progressions and unusual harmonic structure. Listeners, who are not familiar with the Polish language, will still be able to enjoy this album immensely, just listening to Stanko's vocals as another instrument in the ensemble, carrying the melody.

The overall level of performances is truly amazing. The vibraphone and marimba are difficult instruments, especially for the less experienced listeners, but Bukowski manages to use them subtly, often staying low-key and wonderfully supportive towards the vocalist. Lemanczyk plays absolutely stunningly, with his virtuosic bass lines carrying the music like wind over water. Konrad, a well-respected veteran, is the ensemble's chronometer, without actually playing the beat, masterfully ornamenting the music with his percussive touches. The guest musicians all contribute in their relative fields of expertise. The leading Lady is firmly expressing the lyrics and yet creating a brilliant atmosphere of fragility and insecurity, as appropriate in such context. A job well done indeed!

I admit falling in love with this album immediately. Those sensitive, intelligent and brilliantly talented women always capture my musical heart filling it with passion and sweet delight. Age, experience and cynicism simply melt away. The only gentlemanly thing left is to thank Stanko for creating this heartwarming peace of musical delight and wish her God's speed. I'm already longing for the next one!

niedziela, 12 sierpnia 2012

(0-58) - Tryby (2003)

(0-58) - band

Krystyna Stańko - vocal
Maciej Grzywacz - guitars
Cezary Paciorek - accordion
Piotr Lemańczyk - bass
Marcin Jahr - drums

special guest: Paul Ruschka - voice
/Joachim Leusmann - text

Tryby (2003)

Band called 0-58 (beginning of phone numbers in Tri City) does not exist any more. Pity. It consisted of first rate musicians: Maciej Grzywacz on guitars, Cezary Paciorek on accordion and excellent rhythm section in persons of double bassist Piotr Lemańczyk and drummer Marcin Jahr. Main role however was played by a vocalist Krystyna Stańko and it is in my humble opinion her best album ever. She sounds self-assured, her articulation is immaculate, voice clear and deep. Also texts she sings are far from trivial. This is her by far most "free" album I know and in such a set up her talent shone brightly. All in all, it is really worthy to give this album second chance, especially since it is now available full for free for rehearsal online...



Track listing:
1. Tryby
2. Z natury proste
3. Słowa na pył
4. Na głos
5. Gdy zapytam
6. Kto szuka?
7. Zernik
8. Znaleźć cel

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

piątek, 9 marca 2012

Jacek Kochan - One Eyed Horse (Gowi Records, 2005)

Jacek Kochan - drums, laptop, sampler, bass, keyboards, voice


Franz Hautzinger - quarter tone trumpet
Greg Osby - alto saxophone
Krystyna Stańko - vocals 

One Eyed Horse (Gowi Records, 2005)

Another remarkable CD of Polish origin : drummer Jacek Kochan, with master saxophonist Greg Osby and Austrian trumpet player Franz Hautzinger. Krystyna Stanko's voice is present at some limited and barely audible places. And believe me, this is a great album. Kochan's music is highly rhythmic, funky even at times, but with free inclinations simultaneously, with beautiful melodies and interplay, against a restrained backdrop of electronics and ambient sound. This is modern jazz at its best, the kind of music from which so many would-be innovators of today could learn from : this is real music, with energy and intensity, clever musical constructions, full of variation, creative, emotional. The CD consists of 15 relatively short tracks, often built on a (strong) rhythmical pattern, often electronically transformed, and Kochan imitates to perfection what DeJohnette does on Miles Davis' Bitches' Brew : to keep that high-tempo rhythm going in full support of rhythmless sax bursts or slow melodic trumpet, by economically and relentlessly hard-hitting the hihat, just to take the initiative back again to demonstrate to all who want to hear what rythmic wonders such a drumkit can contain. Kochan is a great drummer, period. And Osby and Hautzinger feel perfectly at ease in this context, whether it's uptempo free, funky, or slow melodic, it all fits, not too mellow, at times a little rough, yet accessible. The real power of this album is the unity of style, and the fact that the electronics are fully subordinate to the music. Highly recommended.

Track listing: 1. Beyond the Obvious [01:44]; 2. Rift [05:55]; 3. Fear No More [07:05]; 4. Simoom [05:56]; 5. Not Just Yet [04:55]; 6. Time Warp to Let [05:58]; 7. Drop [05:25]; 8. Sun Doesn [04:46]; 9. Vanity Garage Sale [04:05]; 10. Professional Patriots [05:56]; 11. Private Negotiations [04:26]; 12. One Eyed Horse [01:16]; 13. Twenty Seven Names of a Man [02:19]; 14. Moscow Boogie [06:39]; 15. What the Dentists Dream of [01:16]


By Stef Gijssels

piątek, 19 sierpnia 2011

Good news from Piotr Lemanczyk!

One of my favourite double-bassists in Poland Piotr Lemańczyk who recently recorded such a splendid mainstream albums as "Three Point Shot" (2010) or "Able To Fly" (2011) do not slow pace down even for a moment. We have recently learned that he is involved in two interesting projects:

First, on 28th May 2011 in Radio Gdańsk, Piotr Lemańczyk recorded material for his new project accompanied  Maciej Sikała (tenor sax), Cezary Konrad (drums) and Maciej Fortuna (trumpet). Addition of Maciej Fortuna is especially noteworthy as this young trumpeter distinguished himself recently by such successful albums as "Lost Keys" (2010) and it will be great opportunity for him to play with such all-star squad. Special guest of this session was famous American pianist Dave Kikoski. CD will be published by Soliton.

Simultaneusly Piotr Lemańczyk plays in recently re-activated combo named Orange Trane Acoustic Trio with vibraphonist Dominik Bukowski (they played together on fantastic "Naha People") and drummer Tomasz Łosowski. After reactivation they already played couple of gigs like for example during Bass Days Poland 2010 festival. At present moment they are working on new album for which they invited Finnish saxophonist  Joonatan Rautio, trumpeter Marcin Gawdzis, well-known vocalist Krystyna Stańko and promising guitarist Marcin Wądołowski.

Please, listen to tune "From Alberta" from above-mentioned "Naha Poeple" album featuring, among others, saxophonist Maciej Sikała and vibraphonist Dominik Bukowski:



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

niedziela, 9 stycznia 2011

Krystyna Stańko - Secretly (2010)

Krystyna Stańko new album is dedicated to Peter Gabriel and comprises smooth jazz versions of such his covers as "Mercy Street", "Red Rain" or "Diggin in the Dirt". Apart from Gabriel evergreens strong side of the album is also musicians  that accompany Krystyna: vibraphonist Dominik Bukowski, bassist Piotr Lemańczyk, drummer Cezary Konrad, Irek Wojtczak on bass clarinet and flute, Marcin Gawdzis on trumpet. Those guys make fabric of the music on this album as light as a feather and as spacious as calm, summer night with blazing stars over our heads. As guest in one song appears also Mieczysław Szcześniak.
Unfortunately it is impossible for me to judge this record adequately. I simply never was interested in Peter Gabriel's music, it does not appeal to me. So taking  into account that I am little prejudiced    Ms Stańko was quite successful. I got engaged by music and listened to the album from the beginning to the end. After this rehearsal I learned to appreciate her creativity, ability to infuse music with her own bluesy mood, her smooth interactions with sidemen.
Her voice being rather delicate and filigree she follows suit of Patricia Barber, Diana Krall or Norah Jones, building over moods, tempers and vibes all associated with minor key sounds. If she decided to go deeper and more consistently in this direction and (let me be a little critical in the end) improved her English pronunciation, we would get even better record than it actually is.
Please check samples of the music to judge by yourselves whether you like it or not:

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