Ecstasy Project - Reminiscence Europae (2008)

Ecstasy Project was one of the most important projects in Polish avant-garde, featuring such artists that were to become prominent figures on Polishjazz scene as Rafał Gorzycki (Sing Sing Penelope) or Paweł Urowski (Contemporarz Noise Sextet). Fortunately Ecstasy Project's albums were recognized not only in Poland but also abroad and I am able to quote here excellent review of this album written by Ian Patterson for allaboutjazz.com:

"The jacket photography of Reminiscence Europae shows what looks like a bridge by architect Santiago Calatrava, which is appropriate. His global works divide opinion and are impossible to ignore. His architecture is largely devoid of local cultural reference; he is the architect without borders. In a way, these photos are a suitable metaphor for the music of Polish group Ecstasy Project—seemingly simple yet technically impressive and austere. According to taste, it is perhaps beautiful, and with few obvious points of departure.

The Italian song titles and chamber ensemble sobriety that dominate these live recordings allude to a classical approach, but the violin of Lukasz Gorewicz (the main voice of the group) comes from somewhere between the melancholia of eastern European folk and the animated style of violinists Jean Luc Ponty and Jerry Goodman. The vibe playing of Pawel Nowicki is utterly minimalist, atmospheric in a Zawinul-esque way, and evokes a Twilight Zone eeriness. Underpinning this esoteric face is the compelling drumming of nominal leader and main composer Rafal Gorzycki, which carries an energy and force in contrast to the edgy minimalism around him.

The pieces have a modern, avant-garde feel to them—soundtracks to European art-house cinema. The manipulation of space and silences, which lend such force to the infrequent eruptions of drums, violin and flute, are shaped by the minimal utterances of Pawel Nowicki's vibes, quietly rumbling drums, Pawel Urowski's alternately sparse and lively double-bass, and tense violin notes which are more percussive than melodic. But there is momentum to this music; the innate tension in the short staccato phrasing and the abstractness and dissonance, rises imperceptibly to crescendos that are surprising in their intensity.

On "Presto Cinque," violin and flute trace the initial lyrical melody before Gorewicz takes solo flight. Drums and bass propel the violinist into some inspired playing on a heady segment that evokes the Mahavishnu Orchestra. A brief, silent interlude follows, broken by a circular vibes motif, before Tomasz Pawlicki's flute takes center stage, the notes unfurling progressively and becoming bolder as crashing cymbals fill the air. Pawlicki's playing becomes gradually freer and breathier as the piece reaches a climax, and the guttural cry that escapes his throat reveals the influence of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, or perhaps Ian Anderson—comparisons that do not flatter him at all.

The combination of vibes and drums creates dense soundscapes on "Maestoso non troppo." "Adibitum" glides from bowed bass and violin in harmonious tandem to blistering drums to near silence impregnated by softly chattering vibes. This is music in a constant state of ebb and flow.

An accompanying DVD shows this lineup in concert, but the absence of its more animated tracks, featuring exhilarating violin and flute improvisations, provides only half the picture. The dark and edgy minimalist approach of Reminisence Europae holds a certain fascination precisely because of that juxtaposition of rationed and unrestrained improvisation. Nevertheless, admirers of modern, progressive music will not be indifferent to this challenging, original project."

Check this video for sample of music of this band:

Author of text: Ian Patterson
www.allaboutjazz.com

Ecstasy Project - They Were P (MW, 2011)

Ecstasy Project (band)

Rafał Gorzycki – perkusja
Tomasz Pawlicki – flet
Łukasz Górewicz - skrzypce, altówka
Paweł Nowicki – wibrafon
Paweł Urowski – kontrabas

They Were P (MW, 2011)

This is the 5th album by the Polish ensemble Ecstasy Project, founded and led by drummer / percussionist / composer Rafal Gorzycki. Gorzycki, who is also active in other musical projects, like the excellent Sing Sing Penelope ensemble, formed Ecstasy Project as a vehicle for his compositions, which lay in the fuzzy area between Jazz and contemporary Classical music. The ensemble includes also flautist Tomasz Pawlicki, vibraphonist Pawel Nowicki, violinist Lukasz Gorewicz and bassist Pawel Urowski, and is capable of performing the complex music and creating an atmosphere that bridges between chamber contemporary Classical music and modern Jazz, moving between the two smoothly and seamlessly. The music, almost entirely composed by Gorzycki, is quite intricate at times, but does not cross the point of total alienation to the less experienced listener, keeping enough melody and rhythm to hold on through the more difficult passages. Of course listeners with more experience in Classical music will find this music familiar and quite enchanting from the very first listen. This is very European music, encapsulating the musical traditions the 19th and 20th Centuries, from neo-romanticism, via atonal experimentation and minimalism, right into the avant-garde. And yet the music is not over-intellectual and leaves a lot to feeling and atmosphere, keeping the overall emotional level alive and aesthetically satisfying. Definitely worth investigation for more adventurous listeners!

Track listing: 1. Who Is Next?; 2. Vigo; 3. What Harmony Part I; 4. What Harmony Part II; 5. … And Beyond; 6. Jeddem; 7. Zero Plus Zero; 8. Na Jednym Rymie; 9. They Were P; 10. Too For… Swing; 11. Where Is Atonal Etude?

By Adam Baruch

www.adambaruch.com

Ecstasy Project – Europae (Monotype Records, 2007)

Ecstasy Project (band)

Rafal Gorzycki - drums
Lukasz Gorewicz - violin
Tomasz Pawlicki - flute
Pawel Nowicki - vibes
Pawel Urowski - double bass

Europae (Monotype Records, 2007)

This is the 3rd album by the Polish ensemble Ecstasy Project, founded and led by drummer / percussionist / composer Rafal Gorzycki. Gorzycki, who is also active in other musical projects, like the excellent Sing Sing Penelope ensemble, formed Ecstasy Project as a vehicle for his compositions, which lay in the fuzzy area between Jazz and contemporary Classical music. The ensemble includes also flautist Tomasz Pawlicki, vibraphonist Pawel Nowicki, violinist Lukasz Gorewicz and bassist Pawel Urowski, and is capable of performing the complex music and creating an atmosphere that bridges between chamber contemporary Classical music and modern Jazz, moving between the two smoothly and seamlessly. The music, almost entirely composed by Gorzycki, is quite intricate at times, but does not cross the point of total alienation to the less experienced listener, keeping enough melody and rhythm to hold on through the more difficult passages. Of course listeners with more experience in Classical music will find this music familiar and quite enchanting from the very first listen. As the title suggests, this is very European music, encapsulating the musical traditions the 19th and 20th Centuries, from neo-romanticism, via atonal experimentation and minimalism, right into the avant-garde. And yet the music is not over-intellectual and leaves a lot to feeling and atmosphere, keeping the overall emotional level alive and aesthetically satisfying. Definitely worth investigation for more adventurous listeners!

Track listing: 1. Maestoso non troppo (7:02); 2. Sempre adaggio (7:38); 3. Allegro vivace animato (4:23); 4. Solo misterioso (1:31); 5. Adlibitum - Allegretto rallentando (9:04); 6. Solo con espressione (1:28); 7. Moderato recitando (9:11); 8. Solo con dolore (1:13); 9. Andantino grazioso cantabile (5:22); 10. Andante con melanconia (6:32)

By Adam Baruch

www.adambaruch.com

Ecstasy Project - They Were P (MW, 2011)

Ecstasy Project (band)

Rafał Gorzycki – perkusja
Tomasz Pawlicki – flet
Łukasz Górewicz - skrzypce, altówka
Paweł Nowicki – wibrafon
Paweł Urowski – kontrabas

They Were P (MW, 2011)

Rafał Gorzycki retains low profile but he is nonetheless one of leading figures in young Polish Jazz. His main feature is open-mindedness. His projects are varied and comprise mainstream, avantgarde and chamber music. He collaborated or co-leadered such important bands as Maestro Trytony, Sing Sing Penelope, Dziki Jazz or Ecstasy Project. This last venture is recognized not only in Poland but also abroad what is evidenced by this very favourable review of his last album "Reminiscence Europae" (2008). Musically speaking it is an elegant mixture of modern chamber music with free jazz aesthetics. Not too sophisticated for average and not too obvious for advance listener this release is good example how well ambitious and accessible elements in jazz can be merged together when in hands of talented and able musicians... 

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

News from Rafal Gorzycki!!!

Rafał Gorzycki, a drummer, improvisator, member of such great bands as Sing Sing Penelope or Ecstasy Project informed us about his plans for future. 

First, Gorzycki will continue to record with his quartet with Kamil Pater, Paweł Urowski and Irek Wojtczak (who substituted Olek Kamiński). In 2010 he released with this band CD "Dziki Jazz" (2010) which collected very favorable reviews and they plan new album for Autumn 2011. 

But this no the end of good news and in Autumn we shall also be able to listen to new CD by Ecstasy Project, another of Rafał Gorzycki's bands. His recordings with this collective (check for example "Reminiscence") were very well received as in Poland as abroad and I am waiting impatiently for both these albums...

Listen to Ecstasy Project from their last album "Reminiscence":

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

Rafał Gorzycki Trio - Playing

Jeden z najważniejszych polskich perkusistów, Rafał Gorzycki, pracuje właśnie nad nagraniem i wydaniem najnowszego albumu swojego tria. W tym celu na platformie crowdfundingowej Polak.Potrafi.pl został stworzony specjalny projekt, którego celem jest prezentacja muzyki tria poprzez nagranie, wydanie i promocję płyty - "Playing".

Rafał Gorzycki Trio - Playing

Przygotowywana płyta jest pierwszym albumem tryptyku triowego i kontynuacją rewelacyjnie przyjętego tryptyku duetów nagranych z Kamilem Paterem, Sebastianem Gruchotem oraz Jonathanem Dobie'em. Muzyka skomponowana na potrzebę tego otwierającego serię tria, jest nową i intrygującą odsłoną zainteresowań Gorzyckiego. Krótka trasa koncertowa zagrana na przełomie 2014/15 roku w celu zbadania na żywym organizmie tego projektu pokazała, iż ta muzyka jest bardzo dobrze odbierana zarówno przez odbiorców niesłuchających jazzu na co dzień, jaki i wytrawnych melomanów, których serca już podbiły poprzednie projekty, jak choćby Sing Sing Penelope, Ecstasy Project czy Dziki Jazz.

Rafał Gorzycki jest zaliczany obecnie do najważniejszych, najbardziej twórczych muzyków jazzowych, kompozytorów i perkusistów w Polsce oraz Europie. Współtworzone przez niego zespoły zostały okrzyknięte muzycznymi odkryciami ostatniej dekady, które przyczyniły się do zmiany pokoleniowej w polskim jazzie. Konsekwentnie promuje polską muzykę, występując na scenach i festiwalach całej Europy, Azji i USA, wydając swoje autorskie albumy wyróżniane przez media w Europie i USA.

Gorzycki ma 41 lat, mieszka w Bydgoszczy, jest twórcą i współzałożycielem zespołów Sing Sing Penelope, Ecstasy Project, Dziki Jazz, A-kineton, Maestro Trytony, czy ostatnio 3 duetów oraz tria. Gra na perkusji i komponuje muzykę, nagrał ponad 20 autorskich płyt. W 2010 r. jego album „Dziki Jazz” był nominowany do „Fryderyka”. Rok później został laureatem konkursu Nagrody Polskich Melomanów, przyznawaną przez Program Trzeci Polskiego Radia. W 2012 r. amerykańska wytwórnia płytowa „Moon in June” (wyd. Soft Machine) zaprosiła go, jako jedynego Polaka, do udziału w albumie-kompilacji z najciekawszą muzyką jazzową z całego świata. Jest stypendystą Ministra Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego, Marszałka Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego, laureatem Nagrody Artystycznej Prezydenta Miasta Bydgoszczy oraz członkiem zarządu Stowarzyszenia Artystycznego Mózg. W latach 2006, 2009, 2012 i 2013 był uznawany w podsumowaniach muzycznych roku za Artystę Roku i klasyfikowany zawsze w pierwszej 10-tce artystów jazzowych.

Marek Malinowski to absolwent Akademii Muzyczne im. Feliksa Nowowiejskiego w Bydgoszczy na wydziale Jazzu w klasie prof. Piotra Olszewskiego. W 2013 r. powołał do życia kwartet, w skład którego wchodzą utalentowani młodzi, ale znani już muzycy: Michał Michota (trąbka), Paweł Urowski (kontrabas) i Albert Karch (perkusja). Grupa promuje obecnie debiutancki album, który został wydany w renomowanej wytwórni Requiem Records. Marek swoje brzmienie kształtuje poprzez stosowanie oszczędnych środków. Łączy nastrojową melodykę, przestrzeń, z odważnym podejściem do partii improwizowanych. Jest lirykiem, nie boi się też eksperymentować w poszukiwaniu nowych brzmień.

Wojciech Woźniak - W roku 2008 Minister Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego przyznał mu honorową odznakę „Zasłużony dla kultury polskiej”. Kształcił się w klasie kontrabasu w Pańtwowej Szkole Muzycznej w Bydgoszczy. Jest kompozytorem i współzałożycielem zespołu Variété, w którym tworzył w latach 1983-2006 r. Jest autorem muzyki do pięciu płyt - "Bydgoszcz" (1986), "Variété" (1993), "Koncert Teatr STU" (1995), "Wieczór przy balustradzie" (1996), "Nowy materiał" 2004 . Wielokrotny laureat FMR w Jarocinie. W roku 1989 otrzymał wyróżnienie na Ogólnopolskim Przeglądzie Piosenki Aktorskiej we Wrocławiu. W 2006 r. założył zespół The Cyclist, z którym wydał bardzo dobrze przyjętą płytę "Gymnastics" (2008) oraz „Etiudy miejskie” (2013) z udziałem Daniela Mackiewicza z Sing Sing Penelope i Jacka Buhla znanego z zespołu: 4/5 Syfon, czy duetu Jachna/Buhl.

Celem projektu jest zebranie środków, które zostaną przeznaczone na wynajęcie studia nagraniowego Recpublica gwarantującego światowe brzmienie płyty, mix, mastering i wydanie/wytłoczenie płyty CD w nakładzie 1000 sztuk. Premiera albumu jest przewidzana na 28.02.2016,  a w ramach trasy koncertowej PLAYING MUSIC TOUR zespół odwiedzi wszystkie najważniejsze ośrodki muzyczne w Polsce, a jesienią także Europy. 

Ze względu na realia, którymi rządzi się polski przemysł jazzowy, projekt nie będzie miał możliwości realizacji bez Państwa pomocy. Na płycie znajdą się wyłącznie utwory będące autorskimi kompozycjami, a dodatkowo jeśli wsparcie projektu przekroczy 8.000 zł na dodatkowej płycie przeznaczonej dla wspierających projekt znajdzie się bonusowo jeden utwór specjalny. Jeśli dofinansowanie przekroczy 10.000 zł nakład albumu zostanie zwiększony o 250 egz. Jeśli przekroczy próg 12.000 zł zostanie zrealizowany klip video, który zostanie umieszczony bezpłatnie w sieci (z możliwością ściągnięcia) oraz emitowany będzie w TVP Kultura. Jeśli dofinansowanie osiągnie ponad 14.000 zł wytłoczone zostanie kolejne 250 cds, które zespół roześle bezpłatnie do Instytutów Polskich oraz Instytucji Kultury na Świecie celem promocji Kultury Polskiej!

TUJAZZ in Warsaw!!!

As a supplement to Fre3JazzDays, one of the most interesting jazz festivals taking place in Warsaw this summer, this autumn, from 19th do 21st OCtober 2012 in Warsaw,  we will have three-day event called TuJazz (info in Polish). It promises to bring to us very good music indedd featuring some of the most valuable projects on Polish jazz scene.

On Friday we will have opportunity to listen to Ahead Trio. If features arguably most  charismatic rhythm section in Polish jazz, that is Oleś Brothers, who will support excellent vibraphonist Christopher Dell. This year, together with Theo Horgensmann, they released album "Fragments & Moments" (2012),  a fine example of how sophisticated and inspiring can be modern jazz avantgarde. What adds spice to this project is that they will play music of Krzysztof Komeda!

Next day, on Saturday, we will have an rare opportunity to listen to Rafał Gorzycki's legendary band called Ecstasy Project. Their newest CD "They Were P" (2012) will surely be among contenders for the Album of the Year title.

Finally, on Sunday, we will see duo of two guitarists Przemek Strączek and Teriver Cheung with material from their latest disc "Evans" (2012) dedicated to great Bill Evans.

This is a very interesting line-up and I hope we will all meet there, especially since all concerts take place in lovely Teatr Academia (ul. 11 Listopada 22) in Warsaw's Praga and tickets are available at a very reasonable price of 20 PLN. 

Pater, Kamiński, Urowski, Gorzycki - Dziki Jazz (2009)

Dziki Jazz (Wild Jazz) is new project of young but already well recognized musicians. Kamil Pater (guitar), Aleksander Kamiński (saxophone), Rafał Gorzycki (drums) and Paweł Urowski (bass) know each other well bacause they play together in excellent Contemporary Noise Quartet/Quintet/Sextet. This is creme de creme of Polish young jazz, rock, alternative and avant-garde scene. Wherever they move something new and inspiring arises. Dziki Jazz is no exception as they propose again something contradictory do what audience expected from him.

Typically they were associated with rock or even punk rock (Ecstasy Project, Something Like Elvis), further with free jazz (Sing Sing Penelope) energetic and spontaneus, in tradition of Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler or Archie Shepp but with this recording they go as close as never before toward mainstream. And still they manage to retain in their music this provocative and intriguing feature that was present on their other albums. So contrary to the title of the album the music is definitely less wild but much more communicative and is appealing to emotions they up to this date rather neglected. What are this emotions? This I think you should prefer to discover on your own. I simply recommend this album to you as I feel any sensitive and open-minded jazzman should enjoy it very much.

A small sample of what you may encounter on this cd:

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html

Gorzycki & Dobie – Nothing (2015)

Gorzycki & Dobie

Rafal Gorzycki - drums
Jonathan Dobie - guitar

Nothing

REQUIEM 86/2015





By Adam Baruch

This is the third and last part in a triptych of duo recordings by Polish drummer/composer Rafal Gorzycki (see his duo albums with Sebastian Gruchot and Kamil Pater), this time with British guitarist/composer Jonathan Dobie. The album presents seven original pieces co-composed by Gorzycki and Dobie.

In the last decade or so Gorzycki firmly established his position on the Polish scene as one of the most individual voices, amalgamating Jazz with contemporary Classical music, electronic and ambient influences and above all standing firmly as a symbol of uncompromising music creation. His work as a leader and member of such forward thinking ensembles as Sing Sing Penelope or Ecstasy Project and his individual projects in duo, trio and quartet settings are all exceptional examples of individuality and excellence.

In many respects this duo album is a culmination of Gorzycki's modus operandi, which presents a minimalistic and fragmented approach to melody and harmony, which often hints at some musical statements rather then expressing them in full, leaving it to the listener to connect the dots. Dobie is obviously an ideal partner and cohort in such circumstances, playing short fragments of rapid guitar fire, which reminds early improvising electric guitarists such as John McLaughlin or Jimmy Hendrix and utilizing ancient fuzz and other sound devices. This retro sound combined with the modern approach creates an absolute stunning effect.

Of course, as in every other duo album, the interplay between the two partners is the essential ingredient of the entire project. Gorzycki's seemingly endless palette of drums and percussion instruments and Dobie's guitar pyrotechnics are perfectly suited for each other and their dialogs reach telepathic levels.

I am very glad that Gorzycki manages finally to achieve at least some recognition by the Polish musical "establishment", after years of being ignored and neglected beyond the small circle of his musical partners. Hopefully this recognition will enable him to create even more of his groundbreaking projects, to the delight of old and new fans. Visiting his personal web site will allow a glimpse at his huge achievements so far. This album is a must have for the many fans of the alternative Polish Jazz / contemporary music scene and is of course is highly recommended.

Pater, Gorzycki, Wojtczak, Urowski - Akineton (Owoc Music, 2012)

Rafał Gorzycki - drums

Irek Wojtczak - saxophones

Kamil Pater - guitar

Paweł Urowski - double bass,

Guest: Maurycy Wojcinski - trumpet

Akineton (Owoc Music, 2012)

This is second release, after dziki 'Dziki Jazz' (2009), of a collective consisting of drummer Rafał Gorzycki, saxophonist Irek Wojtczak, guitarist Irek Wojtczak and double bassist Paweł Urowski. They are accompanied by guest trumpeter Maurycy Wójciński. Moving force between this project is Gorzycki who is key player on our avantgarde scene leading such important bands as Sing Sing Penelope and Ecstasy Project. Other members of the band are connected to famous Contemporary Noise Sextet, Freeyo and other ephemeral free jazz projects. This is kind of artistic community centered around club Mózg located in Bydgoszcz which since yass times is a place where progressive artistic ideas may flourish.

In terms of music this is fully satisfactory album bringing story told in modern jazz language. It sounds captivating and engages listener throughout the whole album. Never shallow and superficial it is not at the same time too chaotic not to be enjoyed by any listener with open ears. Moments of beauty are numerous as much in energetic, up-tempo fragments as in ballads that sounds otherworldly. The album is coherent, clearly well thought-out and marks that this collective has reached state of maturation. Good job! 

Track listing: 1 A-kineton; 2 Bleak sun; 3 Solaris; 4 Dancing Queen; 5 Half Life; 6 Indian Driver; 7 Time For Sheeps And Dogs; 8 The Tree

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl

Maestro Trytony - Enoptronia (Mozg, 1996)

Maestro Trytony (band)

Tomasz Gwincinski - guitar, leader
Renata Suchodolska - cello
Tomasz Pawlicki - flute, keyboards
Tomasz Hesse - bass
Rafal Gorzycki - drums

special guests:
Andrzej Przybielski - trumpet
Marta Handschke - voice
Jacek Majewski - conga
Wojciech Kuczyniecki - bass clarinet
Wojciech Gibas - fagot
Tadeusz Michalski - bass clarinet

Mozg, 1997

Maestro Trytony is key group in history of Polish avantgarde scene. Its history dates back to 1991 when trio Trytony was brought to life by Tomasz Gwińciński (guitarist) together with Jacek Pawlicki (doublebass) and Jacek Buhl (drums). This squad recorded two albums: "Tańce Bydgoskie" (1991) and "Zarys Matematyki Niewinnej - koncert w Mózgu" (1995) while Tomasz Gwińciński also recorded with Jerzy Mazzoll and his Artythmic Perfection group (check their "A" album) and Łoskot (listen to excellent "Sun"). All these projects made Gwińciński key player in lively Bydgoszcz music scene which focused first around Trytony club (that's where name of band comes from) and then around famous Mózg club.

But Gwińciński did not give up on Trytony and it happened around that time that he had some theater projects (BTW his favourite occupation up to present day) where he mostly used classical music language. He therefore started experiments (as we read on Mózg web page) in "blending motifs of contemporary chamber music (Bartok, Strawiński, Ines) with New York avantjazz aesthetics and that peculiar Polish lyricism a'la Komeda". To achieve new sound he needed bigger band so he began to cooperate with whole new set of musicians, a much bigger group than previously, among whom there were now many classically trained players. In years to come especially fruitful turned out to be Gwińciński relationship with drummer Rafał Gorzycki (check excellent albums he made with bands called Ecstasy Project or Sing Sing Penelope) and with legendary trumpeter Andrzej Przybielski. These new band recorded in 1997 new album titled "Enoptronia" which may be described as "a tone poem" and immediately became one the most important albums as far as yass movement (new free and avantgarde music in Poland) is concerned. Obligatory!   

Just a sample of Maestro Trytony sound:

Author of text: Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl/html

Łukasz Górewicz - The String Of Horizons (2015)

Łukasz Górewicz

Łukasz Górewicz - acoustic & electric violins, guitar, piano, percussion, programing, loops

The String Of Horizons

Big Flow Records




By Ian Patterson

Active in both classical and contemporary music, Polish violinist/composer Łukasz Górewicz is perhaps best known abroad for Ecstasy Project, the unique experimental chamber/avant-garde jazz ensemble formed in 1999; its albums such as "Realium" (Polish Jazz, 2005) and "Reminiscence Europae" (Fonografica, 2008) underlined Górewicz' credentials as one of the most arresting violinists of his generation, regardless of genre. On "The String Of Horizons" Górewicz steps out alone, composing, arranging and producing the music, in addition to playing all the instruments. Needless to say, Górewicz' highly lyrical violin is central to these contemporary, atmospheric compositions.

Górewicz hits the ground running on "New Bike" with multiple, layered violins creating a bewitching sonic tapestry. Sustained notes and pizzicato rhythm form the bed from which Górewicz electric violin blooms. Bottom-end piano makes a brief but incisive appearance, percussive rhythm emerges and a grungy guitar riff saws through the dancing waves. Strings duly relieve the guitar riff and the numerous violin voices converge in a rising, climactic wall of sound. It's a dramatic opener that sets the bar high.

On the whole, however, the music is too serene to be indie-rock and the loop-layered violins employed sparely enough that to call it contemporary chamber ensemble music doesn't quite paint the whole picture either. Górewicz may be a one-man band but it's his unadorned, loop-free playing that shines brightest on cinematic tunes like "Green Moon" and "Melting Snow" where delicate piano, drone and achingly lyrical violin converge. Minus drone, violin and piano embrace on the brief yet poignant "Marta". For all his technical virtuosity, it's Górewicz' finesse and compositional nuance that are foregrounded.

There's more meat and gristle on "Ada", where ambient, computer-generated effects reminiscent of Radiohead's "Kid A" (Parlophone, 2000), a repeating piano motif and a crushing, two-note electric guitar mantra underpin several interweaving violin lines. Likewise, the layers of the rhythmically punchy "K Flow In Berlin" and the haunting "Flying Through The Darkness" marry programmed effects and Górewicz string-rich textures. Regardless of the density of the musical architecture, Górewicz lyricism constantly illuminates this almost suite-like recording.

Nowhere is this inherent lyricism better illustrated than on the brooding "Kind of Time," Górewicz striking tribute to the Polish jazz violinist Zbigniew Seifert, who died in 1979 at the age of thirty two. Seifert still exerts a significant global influence, as witnessed by the inaugural Zbigniew Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition held in Luslawice in 2014, a competition that drew scores of applicants from around the world, including Górewicz. Górewicz was one of ten finalists who made it to Luslawice and arguably the violinist there closest to the spirit of Seifert. Like Seifert, as "The String Of Horizons" demonstrates in spades, Górewicz is, above all else, an original voice.

On "The String Of Horizons" Górewicz reveals his mastery of multiple musical strands. Folkloric, classical and avant-garde colors merge completely to form a subtle yet persuasive language that is melodious, atmospheric and edgy. An impressive, intimate recording that should propel Górewicz to a wider international audience.

Pater / Wojtczak / Urowski / Gorzycki – A-Kineton (Owoc Music, 2012)

Pater / Wojtczak / Urowski / Gorzycki

Rafał Gorzycki - drums

Irek Wojtczak - saxophones
Kamil Pater - guitar
Paweł Urowski - double bass,

Guest: Maurycy Wojcinski - trumpet

A-kineton (Owoc Music, 2012)

This wonderful album, recorded by the Polish quartet comprising of guitarist Kamil Pater, saxophonist Irek Wojtczak, bassist Pawel Urowski and drummer Rafal Gorzycki, with guest trumpeter Maurycy Wojcinski, is an excellent example of contemporary Jazz, played by young musicians who slowly establish a new school of Polish Jazz, continuing the splendid tradition of the country's achievements in that area. For people following the scene these names won't be completely new, as they have been active in many different ensembles during the last decade, like Sing Sing Penelope, Ecstasy Project, Contemporary Noise Sextet and others. Pater, Urowski and Gorzycki, with saxophonist Alexander Kaminski, recorded the splendid "Dziki Jazz" (Wild Jazz) album earlier on.

Pater wrote five of the eight compositions on this album, with Urowski and Gorzycki contributing one composition each and one being a group composition. The music is excellent modern Jazz, with some basic melodic content, but mostly improvised with a lot of both individual and collective freedom extended towards the participants. The performances are all inspired and highly professional, and overall the album is a great piece of music, which flows elegantly from one composition to another, constantly keeping the listener on the edge. By and large the atmosphere is somewhat similar to the music played by the groundbreaking Polish ensemble Sing Sing Penelope, which of course is not entirely surprising and should be seen as a compliment. Hopefully this quartet has a lot more to offer in the future, and I'm looking forward to hear their next album. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Track listing: 1 A-kineton; 2 Bleak sun; 3 Solaris; 4 Dancing Queen; 5 Half Life; 6 Indian Driver; 7 Time For Sheeps And Dogs; 8 The Tree

By Adam Baruch

www.adambaruch.com

Wojciech Jachna Squad - "Ad Astra"

Wojciech Jachna Squad

Jacek Cichocki - fortepian, Moog, instrumenty klawiszowe
Marek Malinowski - gitara elektryczna
Rafał Gorzycki - perkusja, instrumenty perkusyjne
Wojciech Jachna - trąbka, elektronika

"Ad Astra"

Wydawca: Audio Cave (2025)

Tekst: Maciej Nowotny

Kiedy przed laty zakładałem ten blog, a potem prowadziłem go wspólnie z przyjaciółmi, wynikało to nie tylko z miłości do muzyki i podziwu dla tworzących ją artystów, lecz także z głębokiego przekonania, że muzyka i słowo nawzajem siebie potrzebują. W moich tekstach o muzyce nigdy nie pisałem z perspektywy muzykologicznej, chociaż takie teksty są potrzebne i uwielbiam je czytać. Moja perspektywa patrzenia na muzykę jest inna. Przemawiał przeze mnie człowiek zapatrzony w piękno, dla którego epifanią są różne jego przejawy. Dlatego klucza do muzyki szukam nie w analizach i klasyfikacjach, ale w obrazie malarza, scenie z filmu lub teatru, nawet w elemencie architektury — a najczęściej po prostu w słowie.

Rafał Gorzycki - Utwory pierwsze (2020)

Rafał Gorzycki

1-3. Herbert Piano Trio
Bartłomiej Wezner – fortepian
Joanna Kreft – skrzypce
Dominik Płociński – wiolonczela

4. Joanna Czapińska – fortepian
Katarzyna Nowaczewska-Manthey – fortepian

5. Dorota Nowak – sopran
Lech Bałaban – altówka
Joanna Czapińska – fortepian
Rafał Gorzycki – elektronika

6-8. Kwartet Camerata
Włodzimierz Promiński — I skrzypce
Andrzej Kordykiewicz — II skrzypce
Piotr Reichert — altówka
Rafał Kwiatkowski — wiolonczela

9. Michał Kurczewski – fortepian

Utwory Pierwsze

By Maciej Nowotny

Uwaga! to nie jest płyta jazzowa ani nawet nie jest to płyta z muzyką improwizowaną. Dlaczego zatem znajduje się na naszym blogu Polish Jazz? Po pierwsze dlatego, że już dawno wyrośliśmy z przywiązania do jakichkolwiek etykietek, interesuje nas po prostu muzyka żywa, która się staje i rozwija, potrafi zaskakiwać, uważamy to za esencję jazzu.  Po drugie, Rafał Gorzycki jest postacią mającą swoje ważne miejsce w historii polskiej muzyki jazzowej i bez względu na to jaką drogą w danej chwili podąża warto mu w tej podróży towarzyszyć.

Ponieważ czytelnikami tego bloga są także osoby młodszego pokolenia przypomnijmy w telegraficznym skrócie najważniejsze etapy kariery Rafała. W latach 90-tych w Bydgoszczy powstał klub Trytony, a następnie kultowy Mózg. Skupiła się wokół niego grupa muzyków o bardzo alternatywnym podejściu do muzyki, w tym jazzowej: m.in. Tomasz Gwinciński, Wojtek Jachna, Jacek Buhl, Sławek Janicki, Jurek Mazzol, Olo Walicki, bywał też legendarny Andrzej Przybielski i wielu innych. Stałym bywalcem był tam też Rafał Gorzycki, który współtworzył trzy być może (poza Arhytmic Perfection Mazzola) najważniejsze formacje wywodzące się z tego środowiska (w porządku chronologicznym): Maestro Trytony, Ecstasy Project i słynne Sing Sing Penelope. Każda  znich proponowała nieco inną estetykę, nagrała kilka ważnych albumów, których do dzisiaj słucha się świetnie, a które były kamieniem węgielnym renesansu polskiego jazzu, który nastąpił w początkach XXI wieku. Przy czym nadały mu ten rozwichrowany, nieuczesany i buntowniczy charakter, który tak kochamy na tym blogu.

Jeszcze w okresie istnienia tych bardzo znanych formacji, Gorzycki zaczął się angażować w inne projekty, o bardziej kameralnym charakterze. Bardzo udane były projekty z gitarzystą Kamilem Paterem i basistą Pawłem Urowskim, których "Dziki Jazz" dostał nominację do Fryderyków w kategorii Free Jazz. To samo należy powiedzieć o nagranym ze skrzypkiem Sebastianem Gruchotem albumie "Experimental Psychology" czy kolejnym duecie tym razem ze znanym angielskim gitarzystą-eksperymentatorem Jonathanem Dobie. Muzyk kontynuował swoja free jazzową przygodę w ramach Rafał Gorzycki Trio z gitarzystą Markiem Malinowskim i basistą Wojciechem Woźniakiem najpierw na docenionym przez krytykę "Playing", a następnie w ramach kolejnego trio Ensamble Tuning, tym razem z flecistą Tomaszem Pawlickim i gitarzystą Jakubem Ziołkiem.

Całkiem nieźle jak na całkiem młodego faceta rocznik 1974! A okazało się, że to wcale nie jest jego ostatnie słowo. Bowiem w tak zwanym międzyczasie ukończył studia kompozytorskie I stopnia w klasie prof. Zbigniewa Bargielskiego w Akademii Muzycznej w Bydgoszczy i rozpoczął tworzenie muzyki klasycznej. Osobiście ucieszyła mnie niezmiernie ta wiadomość. Zawsze byłem pod wrażeniem konceptualnego aspektu różnych projektów Rafała. Który zresztą nie zawsze łatwo dawał się przenieść w  realia muzyki granej na żywo. Takie przynajmniej były moje z tą muzyką doświadczenia podczas kilku koncertowych spotkań. Tym bardzej byłem ciekawy jak to się przeniesie na muzykę tworzoną na partyturze i wykonanywaną przez instrumentalistów o zawodowym przygotowaniu do wykonywania muzyki klasycznej. 

Rezultat moim zdaniem - mimo, że są to utwory pierwsze, jak sugeruje tytuł płyty - jest więcej niż satyfakcjonujący. Muzyka jest bardzo zróżnicowana. Mamy tu m.in. trio z fortepianem, kwartet smyczkowy, ale i pieśni czy fortepian solo, a na jednym utworze - wyśmienitym "Śmierć Pana S" (Sokratesa) - pojawia się też sam Rafał, na instrumentach elektronicznych. Różnorodność form, stopień ich opanowania, jakość wykonania udało się pogodzić z emocjonalnością, muzyka głęboko porusza, angażuje, nie pozostawia obojętnym. Wiele wskazuje na to, że przed Gorzyckim otwiera się kolejny nowy, obiecujący rozdział. Z niecierpliwością czekam na ciąg dalszy lub - co typowe w przypadku tak płodnego artysty - wręcz ciągi dalsze.

Marcin Stefaniak Trio - Unveiling - premiera 03.12.2017

Marcin Stefaniak Trio

Marcin Stefaniak - tenor & soprano saxophones
Paweł Urowski - double bass
Tomasz Koper - drums

Unveiling

ALPAKA 004

Już 03.12.2017 r. premiera nowej płyty z wytwórni Alpaka Records. "Unveiling" to debiut formacji Marcin Stefaniak Trio - kameralnego zespołu muzyków z Gdyni, wykonujących autorskie kompozycje z nurtu jazzu akustycznego.

Marcin Stefaniak - saksofonista, absolwent Instytutu Jazzu Akademii Muzycznej w Katowicach oraz Katedry Jazzu i Muzyki Estradowej Akademii Muzycznej w Gdańsku w klasie dr. Macieja Sikały. Jest założycielem Marcin Stefaniak Trio. Współpracuje z Arkadiuszem Krawielem, wykonując muzykę na saksofon sopranowy i cymbały wileńskie. Ponadto jest członkiem wielokrotnie nagradzanego na festiwalach w Polsce i za granicą zespołu Jan Konop Big Band.

Paweł Urowski – kontrabasista, gitarzysta basowy. Absolwent Akademii Muzycznej im. Karola Lipińskiego we Wrocławiu na Wydziale Instrumentalnym. Zdobywca nagród na konkursach jazzowych, takich jak m.in. EIM, Jazz Juniors czy Krokus Jazz Festiwal. Nagrał 17 płyt, w tym album nominowany do Fryderyka 2010, wydany w ramach formacji Dziki Jazz (Kamiński, Pater, Urowski, Gorzycki). Współpracował z takimi artyystami, jak: Wendy Lands, Dominik Bukowski, Wojciech Staroniewicz, Przemek Dyakowski, Dwiki Dharmawan, Eric Allen, Akineton, Ecstasy Project, Contemporary Noise Quintet, Tomasz Sowiński, Francesca Bertazzo Hart, Maciej Fortuna, Jerzy Główczewski, Ilona Damięcka, Bente Kahan, Carolyn Dorfman, Artur Lesicki, Jakub Stankiewicz, Tadeusz Nestorowicz.

Tomasz Koper - perkusista. Absolwent Państwowej Szkoły Muzycznej I-go stopnia im. F. Chopina w Olsztynie w klasie perkusji. Umiejętności gry na zestawie perkusyjnym rozwijał głównie jako samouk. Od lat związany z młodą trójmiejską sceną jazzową. Wraz z zespołami Sekstans oraz Tomasz Chyła Quintet zdobył liczne nagrody i wyróżnienia na krajowych festiwalach, konkursach i przeglądach zespołów jazzowych. Swobodnie porusza się w różnych stylistykach muzycznych. Obecnie udziela się między innymi w grupach Daniel Hertzov, Zgniłość. Mikoryza.

Gorzycki & Gruchot – Experimental Psychology (2013) ****

Rafal Gorzycki - drums, percussion
Sebastian Gruchot - acoustic & electric violin, viola, live electronics

FOR TUNE 0021






By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by a new duo, in which two Polish musicians combine forces to create new, experimental, adventurous music: drummer / percussionist / composer Rafal Gorzycki and violinist / composer Sebastian Gruchot (resident since many years in Norway). Gorzycki is one of Poland's most prolific and fascinating activist known to listeners of contemporary Polish music from his activities as a member of such ensembles as Sing Sing Penelope, Ecstasy Project and other collaborations. Gruchot also participated on several Sing Sing Penelope albums, but most of his work is in the sphere of contemporary Classical, Avant-Garde and electronic music. The album presents eight original pieces, seven of which were co-composed by the duo and the last one is by Gorzycki.

The music is a wonderful glimpse into a new musical universe, which is intimate and often minimalistic, but extremely expressive and captivating. As difficult as it is to come up with something truly innovative these days, the duo manages to do it brilliantly. The seemingly endless array of percussive sounds, rhythms and patterns that Gorzycki manages to produce is simply awe-inspiring. He is one of the very few drummers, who actually play on their instrument, rather than beat the hell out of it. Gruchot is an ideal partner in this process, as his idiosyncratic contribution on strings or electronics are also very "percussive" and compliment the sounds produced by Gorzycki.

There is very little melody here in the conventional sense, and it is up to the listener to discover and possibly to weave his own melodic content around the ambient vistas produced by the duo. Perhaps this is an opening of a new Art Form, where the listener actually participates with the musicians in the process of creation on an imaginary plane, or perhaps it's just my feverish imagination. In any case this music is definitely something else in every sense.

In his liner notes Gorzycki says that he wanted to move away from the familiar Jazz patterns he operated within for many years. He surely managed to do it here, but rather than abandoning them he transformed them into new tools of expression. True, this is not straightforward Jazz in any sense, but why should it be. The path of constant progress, discovery and exploration is the only true path of every Artist, and we, the audience in this case, should be grateful for the gift bestowed upon us as a result.

This is definitely one of the best experimental albums recorded in Poland in 2013 and hopefully will be discovered by open-minded listeners. I ca only salute Gorzycki & Gruchot for being honest to themselves and doing their own thing. Chapeau!

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)

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

Łukasz Górewicz – The String Of Horizons (2015)

Łukasz Górewicz

Łukasz Górewicz - violin, other instruments

The String Of Horizons

BIG FLOW 02





By Adam Baruch

This is a very interesting solo album by Polish violinist/composer Łukasz Górewicz, a prolific figure on the local scene primarily known as a member of the Ecstasy Project ensemble, but also as author of and participant in many other ventures. On this album, which is performed solely by Górewicz playing all the instruments, he presents nine original instrumental pieces, the last of which is added as a bonus track.

The music is a beautiful mixture of diverse influences, ranging between Classical Music, improvisation and Ambient atmospheric vistas, resulting in a very introvert, deeply melancholic and minimalist pieces, which develop slowly and create a deep sensation of tension and even apprehension, in spite of their subdued intensity. In many respects this music sounds like a soundtrack of an imaginary horror film.

Górewicz plays mostly the violin, which is the most dominant instrument on this album, but he also uses the piano to create a frame of reference for the prolonged violin improvisations and electronics to create some rhythmic patterns and to extend the sonic range of the overall result.

This music needs quite a lot of concentration and attentive listening to expose all of its depth and hidden beauty. Although it tends to create a sensation of standstill and little development, in fact it moves along at all times, even when frequently slowed down and almost silenced to a whisper. This technique, which involves playing with the dynamics and changing the tempi, is extremely effective, although not always easy to follow or to enjoy at first.

This album is definitely one of the most ambitious and original statements on the Polish musical scene of 2015, but its complexity and intrinsic oddity will make it difficult to achieve a wide popularity, which is sadly the story of all valuable creations. Nevertheless Górewicz manages to make an uncompromising personal statement, which is here to stay and proves his maturity and obvious talent both as a virtuosic violinist and notable composer.

Although every Polish violinist who uses improvisation is almost automatically adopted to the famous Polish Jazz violin school, personally I think Górewicz, except for the slight similarity to Zbigniew Seifert, is not a typical Jazz violinist but rather a member of a new Polish Jazz violin school, which is much closer to Classical Music, like the two violinists of the Atom String Quartet for example. Overall this is an album definitely worthy of exploration and should delight ambitious music listeners, who have enough patience and open mindedness to embrace it.