Krzysia Górniak - Memories (2020)

Krzysia Górniak

Krzysia Górniak - guitars
Michał Wróblewski - piano, synth
Piotr  Wrombel - piano, synth
Michał Jaros - double bass
Marcin Jahr - drums

Memories

PRIVATE EDITION 2020


By Adam Baruch

This is the eighth (sixth as a leader) album by Polish Jazz guitarist/composer Krzysia Górniak, recorded in a classic quartet setting with keyboardists Michał Wróblewski or Piotr Wrombel, bassist Michał Jaros and drummer Marcin Jahr. The album presents seven original compositions, all by Gorniak.

The music is all based on wonderfully melodic themes and kept elegantly within the mainstream Jazz idiom, but the use of synthesizers and contemporary arrangements effectively eschew unnecessary nostalgic tendencies, presenting an up to date sound and ambiance, which are delightfully embracing. Although obviously on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, this music is splendidly put together and aesthetically solid.

Górniak manages to keep her guitar playing strictly within the Jazz boundaries, successfully avoiding slipping towards Fusion, which would have ruined the effort. She skillfully combines playing notes and chords with the right balance between them, always with restrain and stylish distance, which results in a highly effective overall outcome. The beautiful guitar sound she manages to achieve also contributes to the result.

The participating musicians are all skillful and highly professional musicians, which of course is immediately apparent. They support her amicably and add splendid solo parts of their own on the way. Considering the delicate and often quite intimate nature of this music, the mutual respect and interplay between the quartet members is a crucial element contributing to the successful result. Both keyboardist offer acoustic piano and synthesizer parts perfectly suited to the melodic continuity, Jaros glues everything together with his virtuosic bass parts and Jahr supplies elegant but firm rhythmic backbone.

Overall this is a highly pleasurable, beautifully melodic, serene and relaxed guitar album, which can be enjoyed by a wide range of listeners, not only strict Jazz enthusiasts but also connoisseurs of guitar from other genres. This is a wonderful example of less is more, where the Artist uses only what is absolutely necessary to achieve the optimal result and eschews superfluous gimmickry. A wonderful album from start to finish, Milady!

Janusz Szrom / Zbigniew Wrombel – Spiewnik (2012) ****

Janusz Szrom - vocals
Piotr Wrombel - piano
Zbigniew Wrombel - bass
Krzysztof Szmanda - drums

PRIVATE EDITION






By Adam Baruch

This is quite an unusual project, which transfers fifteen Pop / Rock songs written in Poland in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s into modern Jazz arrangements. The songs are performed by Jazz vocalist Janusz Szrom and a piano trio which consists of pianist Piotr Wrombel, bassist Zbigniew Wrombel and drummer Krzysztof Szmanda (see Soundcheck). All the songs have been intelligently arranged for the Jazz environment, sounding as if they were taken from the Standards songbook. Of course for listeners, who are familiar with popular music originating in Poland at that period and performed by local superstars like Czeslaw Niemen, Breakout, Niebiesko-Czarni, Czerwone Gitary and other legendary performers, this album has also a strong nostalgic angle, which is not a priori negative.

Most people living outside of Poland have very little knowledge about the incredible musical scene that flourished there during the dark days of the Socialist regime, State censorship and bureaucratic dictatorship, which often saw in Pop & Rock music the enemy of the "People" and much as a subversive force that endangered the very fabric of society. And yet, against all odds, Polish musicians and writers managed to produce an incredible amount of wonderful music, which sadly gets often forgotten these days, where instant success is the name of the game. Projects such as this one are a blessing, bringing this music back into life and showing how timeless true Art really is.

Of course the Jazzy arrangements and execution change the original environment, in which these songs were born. However, due to the intelligent and careful approach demonstrated by this album's creators these songs still sound magnificently up to date, losing absolutely nothing of their original power and intrinsic beauty. As far as individual contributions are concerned, this album is full of simply splendid musicianship. Szrom sings with his usual confidence and expressiveness, Piotr Wrombel masterfully states the melodic themes and accompanies the vocals with exceptional sensitivity. Zbigniew Wrombel is a virtuosic bassist and his warm and full sound is the platform upon which the entire music stands. Szmanda, as usual manages to combine freedom of expression and a sixth sense of rhythm.

Overall this is a wonderful album in every respect. Superb music, excellent performances, great sound quality and most importantly an obvious love and respect towards the subject matter. One can only salute these musicians for carrying this project out and for adding one more brick to the pedestal of Polish Cultural heritage. Hats off!

String Connection - Live in Warsaw (Poljazz, 1986)

String Connection (band)

Krzesimir Dębski - violin, keyboards
Andrzej Jagodziński - grand piano, french horn
Zbigniew Wrombel - bass
Krzysztof Przybyłowicz - drums

Live in Warsaw (Poljazz, 1986)

A short note about this album might begin as the introduction to Star Wars movie cycle: "Far far away in a distant country behind the Iron Curtain a small group of rebels tried to dispel the darkness imposed upon jazz music by the evil Empire". As you probably know in 1981 gen. Jaruzelski crushed the Solidarity movement  in Poland. His backlash on democratic forces was not limited to politics only. The culture of the country suffered under communist tyranny as well. The music and jazz  being no exception of course. Subsequent period of decadence was seen as extremely disheartening especially when compared to unprecedented and continued rise of jazz in Poland which began in mid-50ties and lasted for quartet of the century unhindered.

The depression reigned on almost every field of people's life be it political, economical or cultural but there were some beacons of hope even in those times which heralded that some renaissaince might be possible in future. In Polish jazz perhaps strongest example of such a hope was music created by String Connection. They debuted in 1982 with "Workoholic" and were recording feverishly in following years completing discography of nine discs in next 6 years when in 1988 the group was disbanded.

The moving force behind this collective was violinist Krzesimir Dębski who should be placed among the greatest exponents of so-called Polish school of jazz violin together with such giants as Zbigniew Seifert (check his "Man of Light") or Michał Urbaniak (check "Fusion III"). But other musicians in this band played on equally high level: pianist Henryk Jagodziński (who in following years made significant career on his own; check for example "Deep Cut"), doublebassist Zbigniew Wrombel and drummer Krzysztof Przybyłowicz. Music was progressive as for those times. Though clearly rooted in bop tradition and influenced by fusion aesthetic, it was at the same time creatively transformed by band's members into language of their own. That is probably why  its rehearsal after so many years sill remains more than satisfactory experience...

Tracklisting:
1. Surim
2. Red Autumn Trees
3. Chcialbym Sie Czegos Napić
4. Shadow Of Your Smile
5. Bye Bye Chorus
6. Genealogy

Bel Air - Monday Dream (MP Production, 2010)

Bel Air

Piotr Gucia - Chapman stick, bas, sitar, Gotham 

Piotr Zabrodzki – Fender piano, Hammond organs, Moog, clavinet, guitars 

Marcin Gańko - saxophones, flute 

Jan Emil Młynarski – drums 

Jose Manuel Alban Juarez – percussion 

guests: Robert Majewski – trumpet 

Piotr Wrombel – piano
Michał Rudaś - vocal

MP Production, 2010

Good funk is a rare visitor in our country and to no surprise: right now when I am writing these words it is beginning of August and there are days when it is less than 15 Celsius degree. During daylight. In the sun... We cannot change our place on Earth for a bit warmer but we can at least play some funk! And that's exactly what Bel Air did last year, a band led by Piotr Gucia, bassist, supported by Piotr Zabrodzki (keyboards, guitars), Marcin Gańko (saxophones, flute), Jan Emil Młynarski (drums) and Jose Manuel Alban Juarez – percussion. This music is heavily indebted in fusion era, in memorable combos led by post-Bithes-Brew Miles Davis bands (or musicians who at some moment cooperated with Dark Magus) with drops of madness as supplied by Roy Ayers or James Brown influences. All musicians who took part in "Monday Dream" recording might easily repeat famous words of Marcus Miller: "In groove we trust".

On the other hand there is nothing new here, melodic lines sound monotonous at times (I believe it's probably better at concerts), and rhythm may seem full of madness and spontaneity but only for someone who wasn't in touch with New York or African (better) versions of funk. But let us not be too tedious: this is light and merry muse for holidays and as such it works perfectly. On beaches, in fancy bars, even on dance floors it shall fit well and I would like to appreciate it for this since it's quite rare in Polish modern music where such genres as trip-hop or nu jazz are sadly kind of underdeveloped.

Finally me let me add few words about guests on this album which are many and notable. I would like to single out two: first of all trumpeter Robert Majewski, truly a great virtuoso of cool jazz trumpet in Poland (check such his albums as "Komeda" or "My One And Only Love"). Yet here he plays more aggressively and I like very much this newly found energy since it's perfect complement for his generally restrained and thoughtful style. Words of praise shall also go to vocalist Michał Rudaś whose Orient-inspired vocalise on track titled "Holi" is one of the coolest moments I found on this album.

Great ride with Bel Air in piece titled "Stick Dance":

Author of text: Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html