Michal Urbaniak - Songs For Poland (1989)

Michał Urbaniak - violin

Obstreat Orchestra

Songs For Poland (1989)

Michał Urbaniak is one of main exponents of famous Polish school of jazz violin  with others like Zbigniew Seifert, Henryk Gembalski or Krzesimir Dębski. His carreer has spanned over 40 years and two countries: Poland and the US where he is currently residing. Its highlight  is cooperation with Miles Davis who hired him for his 'Tutu' album. Like Davis in his later years Urbianiak tried to get in touch with popular music but with mixed success. In this album I find more of this "mixed" than "success" element. Mixed are multiple ingredients: most often disco, folk, funk but also rap and hip hop, all served in fusion sauce. Unfortunately unlike Mile's famous 'Doo Bop' for example this dish is really hard to digest. Then why do I write about this album? Just to inform you: do not be repelled by this album as other works by Urbaniak are much much better than this one... 

Tracklisting: 1. Simple Solution; 2. Polish Jazz; 3. Zomocop; 4. Decadence from the Film 'Farewell to Autumn'; 5. The Party Is Over; 6. Can't Complain; 7. Carouselski; 8. Boleronez; 9. Imigrants Songs

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl

Andrzej Trzaskowski – Seant (Polish Jazz Vol.11, 1966)

Andrzej Trzaskowski - piano

Janusz Muniak - soprano sax
Ted Curson - trumpet
Wlodzimierz Nahorny - alto sax
Jacek Ostaszewski - bass
Adam Jędrzejowski - drums

Seant (Polish Jazz Vol.11, 1966)

This monumental album, perhaps as important as fellow Polish Jazz Godfather Krzysztof Komeda's "Astigmantic", recorded at the same period, is unfortunately significantly less known and appreciated, both in Poland and abroad, which is a great misfortune. Pianist / composer Andrzej Trzaskowski contributed enormously to the development of Polish Jazz, especially in the field of more experimental, avant-garde, Free Jazz music, which was rapidly developing worldwide in the 1960s. This sextet recording, which includes American trumpeter Ted Curson (of Charles Mingus fame), who was spending as much of his time in Europe as at home, playing along brilliant Polish crew: saxophonists Wlodzimierz Nahorny and Janusz Muniak, bassist Jacek Ostaszewski and drummer Adam Jedrzejowski. The music, all original compositions by Trzaskowski, is simply brilliant and absolutely pioneering in every respect. Listening to this album in retrospect one can hear clearly that in the historic perspective it was as innovative and groundbreaking as anything else created at the time over the pond and beyond the Iron Curtain. In addition it is also aesthetically beautiful and intellectually challenging. An absolute must to any Polish Jazz enthusiast; this is an essential piece of Polish Jazz history.

Track listing: 1. Seant; 2. Wariacja na temat „Oj, tam u boru” / Variation on the theme „Near the Forest”; 3. The Quibble; 4. Cosinusoida

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Ragtime Jazz Band – Ragtime Jazz Band (Polish Jazz Vol.07, 1966)

Ragtime Jazz Band

Władysław Dobrowolski - cornet, leader;
Jerzy Galiński - clarinet;
Dymitr Markiewicz -trombone;
Mieczyslaw Mazur — piano;
Alfred Baranowski —banjo;
Andrzej Jastrzębski - tuba;
Jerzy Dunin-Kozicki - drums,

- and also as sideman:
Hans Carling – trumpet (1,4,5,6,8,9,10,12,13)

Ragtime Jazz Band (Polish Jazz Vol.07)

The Traditional Jazz (a.k.a. Trad) is a term describing several Jazz sub-genres, which were stylistically developed mostly in the early 20th Century, and includes a plethora of quite distinct types of music including Ragtime, New Orleans, Dixieland and others. With the development of modern Jazz in the 1950s, a parallel movement of "returning to the roots" swept the Jazz world and a plethora of Trad groups appeared everywhere, including of course the lively Polish Jazz scene. Trad was especially popular with Polish students, and most Polish Trad group originated in the various Universities around the country. Ragtime Jazz Band, formed by cornet player Wladyslaw Dobrowolski in 1962, comprised of student from Warsaw. The septet lineup crystallized rapidly and the group gained popularity first around Poland and later also abroad. It was considered as one of the best Trad bands on the Polish scene and this is their only album. The group managed to enlist the help of excellent Swedish trumpeter Hans Carling, turning the group into an octet for most of the tracks included on the album. The music is all original, composed by the group's members and is absolutely brilliant from start to finish, definitely as good as any such music played at the time around the world. In retrospect it's a real gem and a proud evidence of how good the Polish Jazz scene was at the time. Recommended!

Track listing: 1.RAGTIME’OWY CHŁOPIEC The Ragtime Boy (D. Markiewicz) 3’50; 2.KALOSZ The Galosh ( Dobrowolski) 2’50; 3.RAGTIME-SZCZYPAWKA The Ragtime Earwig (M. Mazur) 1’35; 4.BONGA BONGA (D. Markiewicz) 3’05; 5.W CIEMNYM POKOJU In the Dark Room (W. Dobrowolski) 4’10; 6.BECZKA ŚMIECHU Barrel of Laughs D. Markiewicz) 3’40; 7.U CIOCI NA IMIENINACH My Auni’s Birth-day Party (M. Mazur) 2’25; 8.DZIURAWY PARASOL The Leaky Umbrella (A. Skorupka) 2’50; 9.RAGTIME NA DWIE RĘCE Ragtime for Two Hands (M. Mazur) 2’00; 10.NA TRAMPOLINIE On the Spring-board (W. Dobrowolsky) 3’35; 11.ZAKŁAD WIEWIÓRKI Squirrel’s Shop (M. Mazur) 1’25; 12.MR. CARLING (D. Markiewicz) 3’00; 13.SPACER PO TARGÓWKU AWalkAlongTargówek (W. Dobrowolski); 14.ETIUDA RAGTIME’OWA Ragtime Etude(M. Mazur) 210; 15.JUBILEUSZ Jubilee (D. Markiewicz) 3’30

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Tomasz Szukalski - Tina Kamila (Polish Jazz Extended Vol. 83, 2005)

Tomasz Szukalski - tenor sax

Czesław Bartkowski - drums
Dariusz Oleszkiewicz - double bass
Wojciech Karolak - piano
Grand Standard Orchestra Jana Pt. Wróblewskiego

Tina Kamila (Polish Jazz Extended Vol. 83)  

This wonderful album is the debut recording as a leader by Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Tomasz Szukalski, one of the veterans of the local scene. Although Szukalski has been active on the scene for many years and participated in many recordings, the opportunity to make an album under his own name came only relatively late in his career path. This album is quite a surprise in many respects, as it presents Szukalski playing Jazz standards accompanied by the Grand Standard Orchestra led and conducted by Jan "Ptaszyn" Wroblewski. His tenor sounds absolutely marvelous against the orchestra's strings and the album is one of the most beautifully melodic Polish Jazz releases. Stylistically the album resembles similar sax and strings recordings, such as those by Ben Webster for example, and Szukalski's virtuosity and incredible feel easily match those of the legendary Jazz Masters. He is accompanied by a great rhythm section with pianist Wojciech Karolak, bassist Dariusz Oleszkiewicz and drummer Czeslaw Bartkowski. The music comprises mostly of Jazz standards, but includes also compositions by Polish Jazz composers like Karolak, Wroblewski, Bronislaw Suchanek and one tune by the Szukalski himself. In retrospect this album lost nothing of its power and intrinsic beauty, and any Jazz lover in the world should be able to enjoy it wholeheartedly. Brilliant stuff!

Track listing: 1. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (Mann, Hilliard); 2. Laura (D. Raskin); 3. Like Someone In Love (Burke, Van Heussen); 4. Dolej olej (J. Pt. Wróblewski); 5. In A Sentimental Mood (Ellington, Mills); 6. Stardust (H. Carmichael); 7. Lonesome Dancer (B. Suchanek); 8. Ballada o spełnionych snach (W. Karolak); 9. My One And Only Love (Mellin, Wood); 10. Tina Kamila

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

NOVI – Bossa Nova (Polish Jazz Vol.13, 1967)

NOVI (band)

Bernard Kawka
Aleksander Gluch
Waldemar Parzyński
Janusz Mych
Ewa Wanat

Bossa Nova (Polish Jazz Vol.13, 1967)

This is the debut album by the sensational Polish vocal quartet NOVI, which was one of the greatest Polish Jazz acts in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Continuing the tradition of Jazz vocalese groups like the French Les Double Six and Swingle Singers, NOVI expanded the borders further on into more experimental areas and used more instrumental backing, provided the best Polish Jazz musicians at the time. The quartet was led by singer / arranger / composer Bernard Kawka and included also the incredible female vocalist Ewa Wanat and two additional male vocalists Janusz Mych and Waldemar Parzynski. All the singers were also capable instrumentalists. Together they created beautiful vocal harmonies of exceptional sophistication and unique style, unparalleled to this day. On this album they performed all original material, composed by all three male singers with Kawka responsible for six of the fourteen tunes and the incredible arrangements turning everything into a distinctive NOVI vocal signature. This is definitely one of the most unique Polish Jazz acts and an absolute must for every vocal jazz connoisseur!

Track listing: 1. Brownie; 2. Cichy wieczór; 3. Żółty słoń; 4. Trzeba wracać; 5. Nastroje małych misiów; 6. Dwa po dwa; 7. Następny proszę; 8. Pyzate słoneczniki; 9. Jak powrócić do tej chwili; 10. Mini dziewczyna; 11. Bariera uczuć; 12. GOGO; 13. Król Salomon; 14. Tańczące orzechy

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

S.P.P.T. Chalturnik – Chalturnik (Polish Jazz Extended, Vol. 95, 1974)

S.P.P.T. Chalturnik (band)

Jan Ptaszyn Wroblewski - tenor saxophone, "mouth synthesizer", leader
Zbigniew Namyslowski - alto saxophone
Janusz Muniak - tenor saxophone
Tomasz Szukalski - bass clarinet, clarinet, tenor saxophone
Zdzislaw Piernik - tuba
Jan Jarczyk - piano, trombone
Tomasz Ochalski - piano (tracks 2, 10 only)
Bronislaw Suchanek - bass
Jerzy Bezucha - drums

Chalturnik (1974)

This wonderful album is the debut recording by the S.P.P.T. Chalturnik ensemble, invented, founded and led by saxophonist / composer / bandleader Jan "Ptaszyn" Wroblewski. As the title suggest, the idea behind this ensemble is all about humor in Jazz, a relatively rare attitude in modern Jazz but something quite common in traditional Jazz. The ensemble consisted of the crème de la crème of the Polish Jazz scene: saxophonists Zbigniew Namyslowski, Janusz Muniak and Tomasz Szukalski, tuba player Zdzislaw Piernik, pianist Jan Jarczyk (replaced by Tomasz Ochalski on two tracks), bassist Bronislaw Suchanek and drummer Jerzy Bezucha, with the leader playing saxophone and a "mouth synthesizer" (i.e. a comb) and contributing four of his original compositions. The rest of the music comes from various sources, including even one theme by Tomasz Stanko (obviously a tongue in cheek towards modern Jazz). Although the humorous approach to the music is easily detected, the perfect performances and the wonderful arrangements turn this album a true gem. These great musicians prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that sometimes it pays to take a slightly relaxed approach to music. Great stuff!

Tracklisting: 1. Nasze male trzydziestolecie; 2. Lampasiasty; 3. El Condor Pasa; 4. Medley: Serende in Blue/ I'm Getting Sentimental; 5. Cockneyem; 6. What's New Pussycat; 7. Podwieczorek bez mikrofonu; 8. Music for my friends; 9. Experience

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Jerzy Milian – Orkiestra Rozrywkowa PRiTV W Katowicach (Polish Jazz Extended Vol.92, 1975)

Jerzy Milian - Conductor, Vibraphone

Orkiestra Rozrywkowa PRiTV W Katowicach (1975)

This album presents the veteran Polish Jazz vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Jerzy Milian as the founder / director / conductor of the Polish Radio and TV Orchestra in the southern Polish region of Silesia (with its capital in Katowice). This Orchestra, comprising of young musicians, mostly from the Jazz Department of the local Music Conservatory, perform original music which includes also two of Milian's compositions. Although only marginally Jazz, it is a great example of how Jazz musicians were able to find jobs in the Socialist System, playing original music. The Orchestra also includes a vocal combo, which sings in some of the tunes, stylistically resembling the famous Polish vocal ensemble NOVI. In retrospect this music is certainly not a Polish Jazz milestone recording, but is still quite fun to listen to after all these years and certainly a document of the era.

Track listing: 1. Waleczny Biedron; 2. Niedzielne Popoludnie; 3. Sloneczna Podroz; 4. Kung To Jest To; 5. Biala Magia; 6. Nie Widzisz A Widzisz; 7. Autostrada Pelna Slonca; 8. Astrobolid; 9. Nie Martw Sie O Wianek; 10. Z Nuta W Herbie; 11. Hop, Zdzis Dzis; 12. Przyjdz Z Jesienia

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Michal Urbaniak / Constellation – In Concert (Polish Jazz Vol.36, 1973)

Michal Urbaniak / Constellation (band)

Michał Urbaniak - el. violin
Urszula Dudziak - vocal, percussion instr.
Wojciech Karolak - Hammond Organ, Fartisa
Czesław Bartkowski - drums
Adam Makowicz - Fender piano & Fender bass

In Concert (Polish Jazz Vol.36, 1973) 

This is the second album on the legendary Polish Jazz series by the Polish saxophonist / violinist / composer / bandleader Michal Urbaniak. A veteran Polish Jazz musician, Urbaniak was a member of the legendary ensembles led by Krzysztof Komeda, where he played the saxophone, but by the early 1970 he switched to the violin and plunged into Jazz-Rock Fusion, rapidly becoming one of the most inventive and creative pioneers of the genre. This album and the albums recorded in Germany and later in the USA are absolute Fusion milestones, but also stand out as completely unique in their approach to the genre. Urbaniak combined the marvelous abilities of his wife Urszula Dudziak and her extraordinary and experimental vocalese technique with his common usage of Polish Folklore motifs, creating a superb and completely unparalleled Fusion music. This live recording captures his baseless / double keyboard ensemble, which also includes organist Wojciech Karolak, pianist Adam Makowicz and drummer Czeslaw Bartkowski. The music, all composed by Urbaniak, is simply out of this world, brilliant and fresh, absolutely resistant to the tides of time and fashion. In retrospect one can only regret that Fusion followed mostly the direction of flashy virtuosic display of neck-breaking guitar races rather than the direction proposed by Urbaniak's Fusion, but it's unfortunately too late now. At least we can savor this music, 40 years after it was recorded, well aged and beautifully eternal. A must!

Track listing: 1. Bengal (17:41); 2. Spokoj (3:32); 3. Lato (8:01); 4. Seresta (9:42); 5. Theme (3:04)

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Krzysztof Sadowski – And His Hammond Organ (Polish Jazz Vol.21, 1970)

Krzysztof Sadowski - Hammond organ (mod. M-120)

Andrzej Dąbrowski - drums
Jazz Studio Orchestra of the Polish Radio -
Jan 'Ptaszyn' Wróblewski - leader

And His Hammond Organ (Polish Jazz Vol.21, 1970)

This is the first album on the legendary Polish Jazz series, which is dedicated to the Hammond organ, the godfather of the electronic keyboards and probably the most significant new instrument, which dominated Jazz and Progressive Rock in the late 1960s and early 1970s (although available since the 1930s). Keyboardist Krzysztof Sadowski belongs to the first post WWII generation of Polish Jazz musicians, debuting in the 1950s and active on the local scene for many years. He combined his love of Jazz and Rock, playing with the leading ensembles of both genres with equal dedication and success. This album presents his Hammond organ performances in two different environments: Side A of the original LP captures him accompanied just by drummer Andrzej Dabrowski and the duo moves through a Rocky set, which includes a Beatles medley. Side B finds him accompanied by the Polish Radio Jazz Studio Orchestra, led by saxophonist / composer Jan "Ptaszyn" Wroblewski and featuring top Polish Jazz players, among them saxophonist Janusz Muniak, bassist Bronislaw Suchanek, drummer Janusz Stefanski and many others. This set is much closer to Jazz and features a beautiful version of Krzysztof Komeda's ballad from "Rosemary's Baby".

Track listing: 1. Z Malej Chmury Duzy Deszcz (Heavy Rain From a Little Cloud); 2. Impression Of The Beatles (With a Little Help From My Friends, Yesterday, A Hard Day's Night); 3. Kołysząc się - Swingind; 4. Skąd my to znamy - Something Familliar; 5. Blues z morałem - Don't Count on Neal; 6. Ballada z filmu 'Rosemary's Baby' Main Theme From 'Rosemary's Baby'; 7. Punkt docelowy - Aim Point; 8. Za parę dźwięk

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Jachna / Buhl - Pan Jabu (Monotype, 2009)

Wojtek Jachna - trumpet

Jacek Buhl- drums, percussion

Pan Jabu (Monotype, 2009)

On "Pan Jabu", Wojtek Jachna plays trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn and electronics, and Jacek Buhl plays drums and percussion. Although Jachna is a guitarist and punk rocker "by education", his trumpet-playing is mainly self-taught and refined by studying with other players. Both musicians add rock and electronic elements in every track, resulting in an atmospheric meditations combined with a sometimes powerful drive. "Nu jazz" if you want. To it's credit, the album does not have the pretense of Nils Petter Molvaer (although his influence is obvious, yet without the Swede's power), nor does it fall into the abyss of commercial sentimentalism like some of the more recent work of Markus Stockhausen or Matthias Eick. It's a pleasant, sometimes even joyful and promising album, although one would have expected more power, anger and creative attack from two musicians who have been active in the alternative, punk and noise scene. 

Track listing: 01 - Welcome Suchary; 02 - Ponad miastem...; 03 - Niezdrowe jedzenie; 04 - Walczyk nad Brdą; 05 - Żegnaj mikrob!!!; 06 - Koczis spotyka blade twarze; 07 - Lunatique; 08 - Niezwyciężony; 09 - Pan Jabu rozmyty; 10 - Wakacje z duchami; 11 - Muzyka dla sumów 

By Stef Gijssels
http://freejazz-stef.blogspot.com