Maestro Trytony - Heart Of Gold (2004)

Maestro Trytony (band)

Tomasz Gwinciński - guitar, electronics
Tomasz Pawlicki - flute, keyboards, spinet, piano prepared
Patryk Węcławek - bass
Rafał Gorzycki - drums
Małgorzata Skotnicka - spinet
Jacek Majewski - percussion
Łukasz Gorewicz - violin
Martin Franken - gamelan

Heart Of Gold (2004)

Maestro Trytony are a Polish band led by Tomasz Gwicinski (guitar) and Tomasz Pawlicki (flute, keyboards). The musicians grew up on mainstream rock music, but were subsequently exposed to the world of 20th century’s classic and jazz. Indeed, the guitarist was considered one of the purveyors of the very local, neo-jazz phenomenon labeled as “yass” in the 1990s. 

Initially, the band appeared stylistically hesitant and some clumsiness accompanied their forays into over-generous orchestrations. The initial ideas were highly engaging, but their eventual development suffered in longer compositions. Fortunately, in their most recent incarnation they seem to have developed timbral sagacity, generating an undogmatic yet coherent idiom. Where else could you find seeping interplay of baroque spinet, celestial flute and sharply edged jazz guitar? On this hitherto unclaimed territory Maestro Trytony offer a refreshing dose of stylistic fence-sitting.

Full review available here: http://sonicasymmetry.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/maestro-trytony-heart-of-gold/

Track listing: 1. O.R.G. 2. Van Worden In Serra Morena 3. Jocasta 4. Snowboarding Alchemyst 5. Heart Of Gold 6. Tax Collector 7. Magic Tiara Part 1 8. Magic Tiara Part 2 [Cherub. Wand.] 9. Nanotechnology 10. Epilogue 

Sing Sing Penelope – Sing Sing Penelope (2005)

Sing Sing Penelope (band)

Daniel Mackiewicz - electric piano, analog synth
Tomasz Glazik - tenor & baritone saxophones, synth
Wojciech Jachna - trumpet
Patryk Węcławek - bass, percussion, kalimba
Rafał Gorzycki - drums

Sing Sing Penelope (2005)

This is the debut album by the sensational Polish ensemble Sing Sing Penelope, founded in Bydgoszcz in 2001 by four musicians: keyboardist Daniel Mackiewicz, bassist Patryk Weclawek, drummer / percussionist Rafal Gorzycki and saxophonist Tomasz Glazik. They were joined in 2003 by trumpeter Wojciech Jachna and the quintet lineup, which recorded this album, was born. Obviously based on the Jazz-Rock and modern Jazz roots, this ensemble acts as a creative unit and treats their original music (credited to all the five members) as an experimental canvas, expanding it into new and uncharted territory. Rather that use well established patterns and musical structures they try to innovate constantly, which puts them apart from most of their contemporaries. Combining melodic themes, pulsating rhythms and a lot of freedom in the improvisations they mange to create something fresh, challenging and often unexpected, which will be their trademark in all their future recordings. In fact this little known (at the time of its release) album marks the birth of was to become the most interesting ensemble active on the Polish scene in the first decade of the 21st Century. By now this is already a classic recording, which sadly is very difficult to find today. A must!

Link to samples of music:  http://www.singsingpenelope.com/records/sing_sing_penelope.html 

Track listing: 1. Hosanna - 13:06; 2. Kabunga - 9:0; 3. Struktury pana b - 13:22; 4. Das boot - 6:47 

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Sing Sing Penelope & DJ Strangefruit - Electrogride (S. A. Mozg, 2010)

Sing Sing Penelope & DJ Strangefruit (band)

Daniel Mackiewicz - fender pianoWojciech Jachna - trumpet
Patryk Węcławek - bass
Rafał Gorzycki - drums
Olek Kaminski - s. saxophone
Sebastian Gruchot - violin
DJ Strangefruit - live electronics

Electrogride (S. A. Mozg, 2010)

This is the 5th album by the sensational Polish ensemble Sing Sing Penelope, recorded in cooperation with Norwegian DJ Strangefruit (real name Pal Nyhus) and Polish (resident in Norway) violinist Sebastian Gruchot. The regular SSP lineup (trumpeter Wojciech Jachna, saxophonist Tomasz Glazik, keyboardist Daniel Mackiewicz, bassist Patryk Weclawek and drummer / percussionist Rafal Gorzycki) is slightly changed with saxophonist Aleksander Kaminski fulfilling the position of the absent Glazik. The circumstances surrounding the recording of this album are connected to the Smolensk catastrophe, in which a plane carrying Polish Government officials crushed killing everybody on board. The musicians who recorded this album were suppose to tour Polish clubs, but as a result of the mourning the concerts were cancelled and instead they recorded the album, which was distributed free of charge in the clubs, where the concerts were supposed to be played. Of course today this album is a rare collector's item.

Musically this album marks another expansion of SSP already adventurous music into new territory, with the inclusion of electronics and ambient elements. The music becomes more contemplative and spacey, in comparison to their earlier efforts, but the Jazz solos and overall atmosphere is unmistakably SSP. Another innovation is the use of World Music percussive elements by Gorzycki, which adds another dimension to the music. The album's ac hoc nature and the short (EP size) repertoire are all results of the on the spot decision to make the album at the time and the fruition of the ideas contained herein was fully realized in their next album. In retrospect this little gem appends a valuable add-on to the splendid recorded legacy of the ensemble so far and as usual is a splendid piece of contemporary music of rare quality.

Track listing: 1. electrogride part 1; 2. electrogride part 2; 3. electrogride part 3; 4. electrogride part 4; 5. electrogride part 5; 6. electrogride part 6

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Sing Sing Penelope – This Is The Music / Volume 1 (2012)

Sing Sing Penelope (band)

Wojciech Jachna - trumpet
Aleksander Kamiński - soprano saxophone
Tomasz Glazik - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Daniel Mackiewicz - rhodes, tabla, percussion
Patryk Węcławek - bass
Rafał Gorzycki - drums
DJ Strangefruit - live electronics
Sebastian Gruchot - violin

This Is The Music / Volume 1 (2012) 

This is the 6th album by the brilliant Polish ensemble Sing Sing Penelope, formed and led by drummer Rafal Gorzycki, which includes also trumpeter Wojciech Jachna, saxophonists Aleksander Kaminski (new member) and Tomasz Glazik, keyboardist Daniel Mackiewicz and bassist Patryk Weclawek. Two guest artists, who played on the ensemble's previous recordings, are also present here: violinist Sebastian Gruchot and DJ Strangefruit from Norway on live electronics. It seems that SSP (as they are known in this age of shortcuts) can do no wrong and this album is every bit as grand as everything else they attempted previously, which after six albums and ten years amounts both to a substantial body of music as much as their impeccable reputation. The music, contributed collectively or individually by all participants, is as usual a completely original mix of styles and sub-genres, disregarding boundaries and freely moving from one territory to another. Atmospheric / ambient electronic sounds over strong, pulsating rhythmic patterns and Jazz solos on top seems to be shortest way to describe this music, although it manages to escape any simple depiction, which of course means there is interesting stuff happening here. In many respects this album sums up the decade of the ensemble's existence, covering everything from their Jazz-Rock efforts, through the Free Jazz improvisations and recent ambient vistas. In retrospect SSP emerge as perhaps the most interesting phenomenon of the first decade of the 21st Century on the Polish scene, being the most consistent, searching and completely disregarding fads group of young musicians around. An absolute must to any serious Jazz listener, wishing to reach beyond the obvious!

Sample of music: http://www.singsingpenelope.com/mp3/Mini.mp3

Track listing: 1. Bread; 2. Blue Hypergiant; 3. Mini Song; 4. This Is The Music; 5. Vennesla; 6. Skarb

By Adam Baruch

www.adambaruch.com

Sing Sing Penelope – Music For Umbrellas (Monotype Records, 2006)

Sing Sing Penelope (band)

tomasz glazik - tenor & baritone saxophones, flute, synth 

rafał gorzycki - drums
wojciech jachna - trumpet, flugelhorn
daniel mackiewicz - electric piano, synth, organ, tabla, percussion
patryk węcławek - bass, double bass, kalimba, percussion
sebastian gruchot - violin (track 2)

Music For Umbrellas (Monotype Records, 2006)

This is the 2nd album by the incredible Polish Jazz ensemble Sing Sing Penelope, led by drummer Rafal Gorzycki and also including trumpeter Wojciech Jachna, saxophonist Tomasz Glazik, keyboardist Daniel Mackiewicz and bassist Patryk Weclawek. Violinist Sebastian Gruchot guests on one track. They play all original music, composed mostly by Gorzycki and Jachna or credited to the ensemble. Stylistically this is an incredible mixture of many elements from Jazz, Rock, Ambient, RIO and other areas, completely eluding any attempt of pinpointing or categorization. They are definitely one of the most interesting and most consistently excellent ensembles currently active on the Polish scene, which of course is a major compliment. All these players are excellent instrumentalist, the music is fresh, unusual and truly intelligent, but in spite its complex nature manages to embrace the element of melody, which is often mostly lost in adventurous attempts tried by others. I suppose that if Frank Zappa was alive today, he'd have loved to play with these young musicians behind him, but so would a lot of other great musicians. In any case this, and the other recordings by this group, is a beacon of hope that not all is lost in music in the 21st Century. Absolutely not to be missed!

Tracklisting: 1. Chickens [5:33]; 2. Fis & Love [10:22]; 3. La Couchette [7:53]; 4. Black Minority [7:26]; 5. Walce Bydgoskie [9:20]; 6. Summa Musica [10:16]

By Adam Baruch

http://adambaruch.com/

Sing Sing Penelope / Andrzej Przybielski – Stirli People – In Jazzga (Monotype Rec., 2009) by Adam Baruch

Sing Sing Penelope (band)

Andrzej Przybielski - trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, pocket trumpet

Wojtek Jachna - trumpet
Tomasz Glazik - tenor & baritone saxophones
Daniel Mackiewicz - electric piano, organ, percussion
Patryk Węcławek - bass
Rafał Gorzycki - drums, percussion

Stirli People – In Jazzga (Monotype Rec., 2009)

This phenomenal recording presents a somewhat unlikely cooperation between young Polish ensemble Sing Sing Penelope and the dark prince of Polish Jazz avant-garde, genius trumpeter / composer Andrzej Przybielski (now sadly departed). Sing Sing Penelope, formed by Polish drummer / composer Rafal Gorzycki also includes brilliant trumpeter Wojciech Jachna, saxophonist Tomasz Glazik, keyboardist Daniel Mackiewicz and bassist Patryk Weclawek. They recorded three albums since the mid-2000s, all of which are excellent, and this is their fourth release. 

Przybielski was a key figure on the Polish avant-garde scene since the 1960s, and his scarce, but mostly brilliant recorded legacy is a prime example of the Eastern-European Jazz at its most creative best. The music created by the young members of the ensemble and the veteran trumpeter is a wonderful surprise, completely unexpected not only due to the age and musical background differences but mainly because of the vibrancy and vitality of the result, which resembles the power and verve of the early electric Miles Davis ensembles. The sound is very modern and up to date, mostly up tempo and sometimes quite Rock oriented, but always within the Jazz aesthetic and always simply radiant. Of the seven composition presented on the album Przybielski is credited with three, another three are co-credited to him and the group and the last one is by the group. 

The most striking feature of the album is of course the double trumpet front line, which is simply phenomenal. Jachna already proved his ability as a player on several albums featuring his unique talents and playing alongside a genius such as Przybielski must have proven a unique inspiration, which is evident from the result. Przybielski himself simply plays beautifully all the way and this recording is definitely one of his best moments. As much as two saxophones lineups are very popular in Jazz, a two trumpets ones are almost inexistent, which is a great pity, as this recording proves beyond any doubt. But of course all the participants of this recording deserve to be praised, as everybody contributes towards the unprecedented success. Overall this is one of the strongest Polish Jazz albums recorded recently and a grand memorial to the talents of Andrzej Przybielski, who received almost no recognition before his untimely and tragic death. Definitely a must to every connoisseur of Polish and Eastern-European Jazz!

Track listing: 1. No, a reszta gdzie? [00:25]; 2. W arce [06:19]; 3. Stirli People [18:57]; 4. Do krwi [04:16]; 5. Góru [09:38]; 6. Talkin' Part II [06:05]; 7. Hosanna SSP [10:45]

By Adam Baruch

http://adambaruch.com/

Sing Sing Penelope – We Remember Krzeselko (2008) by Adam Baruch

Sing Sing Penelope (band)

Tomasz Glazik - tenor & baritone saxophones, flute, synth
Wojciech Jachna - trumpet, flugelhorn
Daniel Mackiewicz - electric piano, synth, organ, percussion
Patryk Węcławek - bass, double bass, percussion
Rafał Gorzycki - drums
Sebastian Gruchot - violin (track 1,3,4,7)

We Remember Krzeselko (2008)

This is the 3rd album by excellent Polish ensemble Sing Sing Penelope, led by drummer / composer Rafal Gorzycki, one of the most versatile and diligent Polish musicians, who also created and leads other ensembles, like Ecstasy Project. Gorzycki incorporates Jazz tradition with contemporary Classical music, Avant-garde, Rock, Punk and a myriad of other genres and sub-genres, completely ignoring conventions, like many of his Polish contemporaries on the off-centre music scene. 

His recording legacy in the last decade is quite prolific, presenting many quite contrasting, but always intriguing musical vistas. This album is definitely one of the most interesting of his recordings, and one of the best albums coming out of Poland in the first decade of the 21st Century. On this album the ensemble includes trumpeter Wojciech Jachna, saxophonist Tomasz Glazik, keyboardist Daniel Mackiewicz and bassist Patryk Weclawek. Violinist Sebastian Gruchot guests on four tracks. The music, all original of course, is a stunning amalgam of Modern Jazz, Avant-Rock, RIO, contemporary Classical; in short completely beyond classification. Somehow all this makes perfect sense musically and leaves the innocent listener completely stunned. The strange thing is that this music might appeal to Jazz and Rock (especially Progressive Rock) audiences with equal might, but certainly it's extremely unlikely someone might stay indifferent to it.

In short this is a blast of an album, which took me by complete surprise and made me return to it several times already. As to the album's title, I have no idea what the ensemble really meant, even after watching the short video included on the album, but my guess would be that it's a pun on the many Polish Jazz albums dedicated to the memory of Krzysztof Komeda, including the famous "We`ll Remember Komeda" album? In any case this album is an absolute must!

Track listing: 1. "No Title" – 06:35; 2. "James Bond" – 07:25; 3. "Talkin'" – 04:05; 4. "Farewell Dutch Hering" – 10:24; 5. "It Has Just Begun, Doctor" – 10:28; 6. "Third Man On The Moon" – 07:43

By Adam Baruch

http://adambaruch.com/

Sing Sing Penelope & DJ Strangefruit - Electrogride (S. A. Mozg, 2010)

Sing Sing Penelope & DJ Strangefruit (band)

Daniel Mackiewicz - fender piano

Wojciech Jachna - trumpet

Patryk Węcławek - bass

Rafał Gorzycki - drums

Olek Kaminski - s. saxophone

Sebastian Gruchot - violin

DJ Strangefruit - live electronics

Electrogride (S. A. Mozg, 2010)

Rafał Gorzycki is moving force behind few of most interesting bands playing avantgarde jazz in Poland. Be it Ecstasy Project ('Reminiscence Europae'), Dziki Jazz or Sing Sing Penelope ('Stirli People In Jazzga') he always goes along the way of what is open-minded and free in modern jazz. No different is 'Electrogride" where he united forces with Norwegian DJ Strangefruit to saturate his language with electronically generated sounds. With this album Gorzycki directed his music towards minimalism until now absent on his albums.  Although on his previous releases rhythm and noise always played main role here silence and trance take over. One must be prepared for patient and thoughtful rehearsal to appreciate elegant if somewhat monotonic (at moments) features of this music.  

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

Contemporary Noise Quartet - Theatre Play Music (Electric Eye, 2008)

I became great fan of Contemporary Noise Sextet (CNS) after their two first albums "Pig Inside Gentleman" (2006) and "Unaffected Thought Flow" (2008) and though their last recording "Ghostwriter's Joke" left me little less enthusiastic, I am still of the opinion that CNS is one of the most interesting young bands in Polish jazz alongside Pink Freud, Sing Sing Penelope or Levity. Their jazz is tending to be close to film music, nu jazz, punk rock even. It is communicative, catchy, narrative - built of simple elements but certainly not banal.

"Theatre Play Music" (2010) was the only their album I did not yet listened to on the basis that I rarely find theatre music satisfactory. However this disc is exception to that rule: it's coherent and rewarding itself as separate soundtrack not linked with theatrical performance. BTW it was composed to accompany play titled "Miłość ci wszystko wybaczy" directed by Przemysław Wojcieszek and given in Warsaw's Teatr Polonia.

There is also one more reason to check this record, especially for all those already acquainted with CNS music because this is their only album in quartet format without horn section (Wojtek Jachna - trumpet, Tomasz Glazik - tenor sax). As a result music performed by Kuba Kapsa (piano), Bartek Kapsa (drums), Kamil Pater (gitara) and Patryk Węcławek (double bass) sounds especially fresh, less lavish but more elegant, suggestive, other-worldly. Must-listen for all CNS fans... 

Author: Maciej Nowotny (http://polish-jazz.blogspot.com/)
check my site in Polish as well: http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html
...

Contemporary Noise Sextet - Ghostwriter's Joke (2011)

I love this band so please bear in mind that my opinion is biased: in this case the problem is that I had expectations too high. First record of then Contemporary Noise Quintet "Pig Inside Gentleman" (2006) simply turn my jazz gusto upside down. It was simply tour-de-force, something completely new in Polish music, a perfect blend of jazz, rock, pop, film music: it was sexy as hell and yet appealed to such a conneiseurs as I pretend to be. Because of its originality it was either loved or hated but the most important is that nobody remained  indifferent. 

With their next record "Unaffected Thought Flow" (2008) the band expanded into six regular members (plus guests). It resulted in even more diversified sound quite unlike for group operating on the vestiges of jazz and popular music. With this record even skeptics became convinced that Contemporary Noise Sextet is new significant force in Polish jazz and they began to be counted among strongest young bands such as Pink Freud or Sing Sing Penelope (Tomek Glazik and Wojtek Jachna played in both SSP and CNS). The success of those two albums helped them also to be recognized abroad which resulted in German Denovali Rec. and Japanese Zankyo Rec. issuing their CD as well as their own Polish Electric Eye Rec.

Their third issue, "Theater Play Music" (2008), was quite different story and is still waiting to be described on this blog. So let me now focus now on their newest album: what is it like?

First of all it confirms thoroughly that they developed their own language, immediately recognized after listening to first bars of the music: a dream fulfilled for any players. Film music connotations are even stronger than before: one rehearsal after another I tried to imagine a narrative that might fit to this dynamic and story-telling music.

On the other hand I must confess that  music on this record moved from typical jazz spatiality to rock aggressiveness and thus lost some of its grip over me. I never liked rock, I hate loudness and din, I despise ostinato pulse present from first to last second of this album. One could expect that such evolution of the band's sound may happen as shortly before recording of this album the artists involved in this project reactivated their former band Something Like Elvis, a legend of Polish postpunk scene. 

Well, it is sad, but I simply feel like my old friends went their own way, quite separate from my gusto, but I appreciate their decisions and bid them farewell. Could it be that we shall meet again in a future...? 

Check this film about making of the album containing a sample of music:

Sing Sing Penelope + Andrzej Przybielski - Stirli People in Jazzga (2008) by Maciej Nowotny

I am not a professional jazz critic, I make money elsewhere. But if I were one, I would choose always to listen to music from concert first before issuing my opinion about musician or band. Best example is Tomasz Stańko music as recorded for ECM: I am not that great fun of it. It's too monotonous for me, too monochromatic and monosyllabic. Yeah, that was a joke but to be honest I always find Stańko during concerts many times better than on any CD. If music is well played live it engages not only our mind but also body, down to its smallest cell, every part of it begin to resound, sway, dance, illuminate! I believe true jazz lovers know what I mean... Do you?

So speaking shortly if I have a choice I shall always go for live recordings. And that's why out of all albums of excellent Sing Sing Penelope band I choose this one as the best (the same story is with Pink Freud's live CD titled "Alchemia"). But that's not everything which makes this album so extraordinary, because apart from being recorded live in legendary Mózg (in Bydgoszcz) and Jazzga (in Łódź) clubs, its musical appeal is augmented by presence of trumpeter Andrzej Przybielski.

He is known in Poland under nick name "Major". His style formed in 70ties when he collaborated with giants of Polish pop scene like Czesław Niemen and SBB. His sound is most influenced by Miles Davis trumpet as we know it from such legendary albums as "Bitches Brew" or "Tribute to Jack Johnson". He finds himself best when surrounded by musicians who love to play together producing trance-like rhythms, an atmosphere of other-worldness, of spiritual detachment and trip to outer space. That is at least how he sounds on this recording where he not only follows steps of Great Mage from his 70ties period but is also pushing boundaries much further entering free jazz dimensions never or rarely visited by Miles. Can you imagine attitude more faithful to the soul of jazz than one displayed by Przybielski and his young companions?

I am sure we will hear more great music from Tomasz Glazik (sax), Rafał Gorzycki (drums), Wojciech Jachna (trumpet), Daniel Mackiewicz (piano & percussion), Patryk Węcławek (bass) but unfortunately not from Andrzej Przybielski any more. He departed as of yesterday - 9th Februrary 2011 - leaving all jazz lovers in Poland in state of deep shock. Regardless of countless recordings he made so far and his 65 years, we hoped to hear still more fantastic music in future from him. But it ends here ... or perhaps not as stated his long time companion Piotr Baron who on Facebook wrote on this occasion: "Farewell in Heaven Major". This short note in its humbleness is the only tribute I can offer to this man of note...

Track listing: Track listing: 1. No, a reszta gdzie? [00:25]; 2. W arce [06:19]; 3. Stirli People [18:57]; 4. Do krwi [04:16]; 5. Góru [09:38]; 6. Talkin' Part II [06:05]; 7. Hosanna SSP [10:45]

Check this fragment of concert with material from the album to get to know how great loss we are forced to accept:

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html

  

Contemporary Noise Sextet - Unaffected Thought Flow (2008)

I already wrote about this band on occasion of their previous recording Pig in Gentleman. This time they changed format a little adding to the previous quintet of musicians (Kuba Kapsa - p, Tomasz Glazik - sx, Wojtek Jachna -tr, Paweł Urowski - b, Bartek Kapsa - dr) Kamil Pater (g). He already appeared on PIG but now plays CNS on permanent addition. He is excellent player who was part of famous progressive rock band  called Ecstasy Project and recorded Dziki Jazz last year, the album regarded by many as one of the most important ventures in the field of mainstream, avant-garde and free jazz in Poland.

Although many fans of CNS were afraid whether they will be able to keep the standard they attained in their first album this band proves by this issue that they are able to deliver high quality and creative jazz on regular basis. This album not only continues good job they started in PIG but they even pushed the whole further including into their music idiom not only jazz and film music but also rock, drum&bass or trip hop. This is exactly a mixture you would like to hear while being in some good club with nice and intelligent girlfriend on Saturday evening in one of big european cities. Cool and sexy stuff from Poland, definitely not to be missed!!!

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

Sing Sing Penelope - We Remember Krzeselko (2008) by Maciej Nowotny

One of the reasons that polish contemporary jazz scene is relatively unknown to international audience is that it is so much avant garde. The reason lays in "Brain", but I am not thinking only about this misteriuos organ located usually in our head but rather of the famous music club located in Bydgoszcz, in northern part of Poland, foggy and cold Pomerania.

So it happened in Poland that after 50ties when polish jazz was born, 6oties when it reached maturtity and blossomed, 70 ties when it went abroad and become known in other countries, in 80ties it became stagnant and closed to musical developments that took place outside the genre. It coincided of course with the dramatic situation in the country which after the Solidarity movement was crushed by gen. Jaruzelski in 1981 became very bleak, grey and uninspired place to live in. Then year 1989 happened and the communism was over but it took many years before country started to recover from the gloom of the past.

In such a dire conditions few crazy poeple like Ryszard Tymon Tymański, Leszek Możdżer, Maciej Sikała and Mikołaj Trzaska from Tricity (consisted of Gdynia, Sopot and heroic Gdańsk) formed a group called Love (Miłość) that was to change the course of history o polish jazz. As well-known critic Tomasz Szachowski once wrote: "Miłość began a creative ferment, it gathered a group of believers, it led to the creation of a new stream in Polish jazz. Today this stream gathers at least over ten musicians, it has its own record company (Biodro Records), its own festival ("Muzyka z Mózgu" / "Music from the Brain"), and a number of clubs of which "Brain" located in Bydgoszcz is the most important." This new movement was called yass in opposite to jazz and was always alternative to main stream, avant garde, experimental and free. Though Sing Sing Penelope is a band that belongs to second generation of young polish yass players it retains all characteristical features of its founders.

Sing Sing Penelope consissts of following players:

Tomasz Glazik - tenor & baritone saxophones, flute, synth

Wojciech Jachna - trumpet, flugelhorn
Daniel Mackiewicz - electric piano, synth, organ, percussion
Patryk Węcławek - bass, double bass, percussion
Rafał Gorzycki - drums
Sebastian Gruchot - violin (track 1,3,4,7)

All these guys are excellent players, very well educated, very creative and active in multiple projects and bands that play similar progressive music like Pink Freud, Contemporary Noise Quartet, Ecstasy Project or Robotobibok. These bands all form the core of polish avantgarde which is another interesting aspect of thriving polish jazz scene which cerainly should draw more attention from foreign listeners and recording companies.

Please listen to cover track from this album, a song composed on the occasion of funeral rite of little chair ("krzesełko"). This shows what young artists think about generally sad and reflective tone of polish jazz and classical music ;-)

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html