POLISH JAZZ TOP TEN 2012!!!

(Editor) We love these end-of-the-year summaries and yet... we hate them! The first emotion comes from happiness that we have had so much fantastic music this year. The second from the obligation to choose between so many great albums. In fact we could pick up yet another ten and... another of no worse recordings. Such is the richness of Polish jazz! Let us hope that artists will keep on working hard to make the stunning renaissance of Polish music to continue and that audience through its dedication will provide support without which the music cannot exist. Finally all the best for our readers in New Year! We need your attention to carry on with our service which we hope you enjoy ;-)

1. Piotr Baron Quintet - Jazz Na Hrade - 26 points
2. Pianohooligan - Experiment: Penderecki - 24
3. The Intuition Orchestra with Grażyna Auguścik/Zdzisław Piernik - Fromm - 13
4. Grzegorz Karnas Trio feat. Miklos Lukacs - Audio Beads - 12
5. Krzysztof Komeda - Meine Susse Europaische Haimat - 10
6. Mikołaj Trzaska Ircha Clarinet Quartet - Zikaron-Lefanay - 9
7. Tomasz Dąbrowski - Tom Trio - 8
8. Adam Bałdych & The Baltic Gang - Imaginary Room - 7
9. Kuba Stankiewicz - Spaces - 6
10. Light Coorporation - Aliens From Planet Earth - 5

Please, check also our individual lists:

Adam Baruch:
1. Krzysztof Komeda - Meine Susse Europaische Haimat
2. Piotr Baron Quintet – Jazz na Hrade
3. Pianohooligan - Experiment: Penderecki
4. Kuba Stankiewicz – Spaces
5. Light Coorporation – Aliens From Planet Earth
6. Krystyna Stańko - Kropla Słowa
7. Beata Przybytek - I'm Gonna Rock You
8. Leszek Kułakowski – Piano Concerto, Sketches For Jazz Trio & Symphony Orchestra
9. Maciej Fortuna Trio – Solar Ring
10. Maciej Garbowski – Elements

Tomasz Łuczak:
1. The Intuition Orchestra with Grażyna Auguścik/Zdzisław Piernik - Fromm
2. Pianohooligan - Experiment: Penderecki
3. Tomasz Dąbrowski - Tom Trio
4. Piotr Baron Quintet - Jazz Na Hrade
5. Grzegorz Karnas Trio feat. Miklos Lukacs - Audio Beads
6. Remont Pomp - Złota Platyna
7. Topolski/Szwelnik - Polymer
8. Tomasz Licak - Trouble Hunting
9. Dariusz Herbasz - Joy Of Friendship
10. Kamil Szuszkiewicz/Marcin Zabrocki - Szuszkiewicz/Zabrocki

Maciej Nowotny:
1. Piotr Baron Quintet - Jazz na Hrade
2. Mikołaj Trzaska Ircha Clarinet Quartet - Zikaron-Lefanay
3. Adam Bałdych & The Baltic Gang - Imaginary Room
4. Pianohooligan - Experiment: Penderecki
5. Grzegorz Karnas Trio feat. Miklos Lukacs - Audio Beads
6. Małe Instrumenty - Chemia i Fizyka
7. Sing Sing Penelope – This Is The Music/Volume 1
8. The Intuition Orchestra feat. Grażyna Auguścik/Zdzisław Piernik - Fromm
9. Tomasz Licak - Trouble Hunting
10. Mud Cavaliers & The International School Of Traditional Music Ensemble - Scenes Of Infinity

Rasz, Kucz, Kwiatkowski - Prenty (2012)

Rasz, Kucz, Kwiatkowski (band)

Robert Rasz - drumms, percussions
Konrad Kucz - Oriental and Western virtual instruments, loops
Mateusz Kwiatkowski - cello

guest: Krzysztof Brade - guitar samplings

Prenty (2012)

By Maciej Nowotny

Human is not only a certain, rather peculiar, animal species but also an idea. I can imagine that it may once exist without homo sapiens although it would make me sad. Can machines be human? No. I don't think they ever will be. But perhaps they will snob to behave like human. At which area it seems possible? Perhaps music. To a certain degree it has already started. Ages ago it all began with human voice and later with instruments made of natural materials: pipe of reed, drum of skin or lira of tendons. Each epoch brings its own wave of instruments following slow development of industrial talents of human kind: organs, piano or saxophone. Finally new age of computers has come. Moore's law stating that the computing power doubles approximately every two years means also that at this insane pace doubles also possibilities in computer driven generation of yet unheard combinations of new sounds. If you like to check how creative the use of this technology may be I recommend you to listen to this album. 

It is a perfect mixture of industrial, ambient, modern dance and classical music with minimal yet important addition of jazz spontaneity and improvisation. Robert Rasz is a drummer and percussionist I have observed carefully for last couple of years. His versatility allows him to fit well as much in indie pop music projects (like with Gaba Kulka on excellent "Hat, Rabbit") or in avant jazz enterprises (like in fabulous "Afekty" recorded in trio with Wacław Zimpel and Wojtek Traczyk). Konrad Kucz is a composer and producer who specializes in ambient music (he also worked together with Gaba Kulka on her "Sleep Walk"). On this record he operated different Oriental and Western virtual instruments and created loops. Mateusz Kwiatkowski is classically trained cellist and composer who collaborated with Raphael Rogiński, Ksawery Wójciński or Paweł Postaremczak in ephemeral but interesting groups striving to enliven classical music with infusion of modern dance music.

It would be difficult to find three musicians of more different backgrounds yet creating music that coherent! In terms of mood it sounds as a soundtrack to would-be sequel to cult Ridley Scott "Blade Runner" movie. Disturbing, insane, ghastly: it conjures true magic causing alternately chills and ecstasy. It is true one of the most astonishing sonic adventures in Polish music last year!

Promo mix:

and a video clip to first track on this album:

Grzegorz Karnas – Sny (2004)

Grzegorz Karnas - vocals, composer, arranger
Michal Tokaj - piano
Damian Kurasz - guitar
Robert Kubiszyn - bass
Sebastian Frankiewicz - drums
guests:
Tomasz Szukalski - saxophone
Jerzy Malek - trumpet
Adam Oles - cello

DEBIES 002

By Adam Baruch

This is the second album by Polish Jazz vocalist / composer / arranger Grzegorz Karnas, one of the most unique and talented representatives of the young generation of the local Jazz scene. Born in the southern Polish province of Upper Silesia, Karnas graduated form the Jazz Institute at the Katowice Academy of Music, where a large percentage of the young Polish Jazz musicians get their initial graduate education. His debut album "Reinkarnasja", released in 2000, created quite a stir on the local scene and immediately established him as one of the most significant newcomers.

He is accompanied on this album by a superb team of excellent players: pianist Michal Tokaj (who plays the Fender electric piano here rather than his usual acoustic piano), guitarist Damian Kurasz, bassist Robert Kubiszyn and drummer Sebastian Frankiewicz. In addition several guest artists also participate: legendary veteran saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski, trumpeter Jerzy Malek, cellist Adam Oles (a future close collaborator, who also hails from Silesia), vocalist Patrycja Gola and congas player Bogusz Wekka.

The album consists of twelve pieces, ten of which were written (music & lyrics) by Karnas, one was co-written by Karnas and Oles and one is a standard. Karnas wrote all the arrangements, which are quite unusual and beautifully atmospheric. Of course Karnas' vocal performances are the focal point of the album, but his ability to involve all these wonderful players to become an integral part of the overall result is absolutely astounding. Szukalski plays wonderfully here, but for me Tokaj and his incredible electric piano phrasing are the cherry on the cake.

Karnas is a unique vocalist, a power of Nature. Although many of the tricks of the trade he so skillfully utilizes can be traced back to other great vocalists, like the great Bobby McFerrin and the Polish diva Urszula Dudziak, but he is truly original. First and foremost he completely disregards any conventions, allowing himself a total freedom as far as his vocal expressions are concerned. Regardless if he sings lyrics, vocalese, scat or just utters sounds from his throat, there are no rules involved. His pronunciation of the lyrics is completely off the wall and probably would give his primary school Polish language teacher a heart attack, but the effect is overwhelming. He also twists the melody any way he wants and his disregard of "proper" timing is simply scandalous; and yet all these elements put together create an amalgam, which is just so beautiful and intelligent, that any experienced music connoisseur simply melts away.

Vocal Jazz or more exactly interesting and challenging vocal Jazz is unfortunately a rarity on contemporary Jazz scene and therefore any Artists of the level presented by Karnas is a most welcome addition. People who truly love music will love this music immediately and unconditionally. Not to be missed!

Laboratorium – Anthology 1971-1988 (2006)

Janusz Grzywacz - keyboards, leader
Marek Stryszowski - saxophone, vocals
Pawel Scieranski - guitar
Krzysztof Scieranski - bass
Mieczyslaw Gorka - drums
Ryszard Styla - guitar
Krzysztof Olesinski - bass
Andrzej Mrowiec - drums
Jan Pilch - percussion

METAL MIND BOX 001

By Adam Baruch

This box set compiles all the albums released by the Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion ensemble Laboratorium, which was without a shadow of a doubt one of the best and most important Fusion outfits in Eastern Europe before the fall of the Iron Curtain. Over the years the band managed to release ten albums, an unprecedented achievement at the time, of which seven were studio recordings, two were recorded live and the last one was a compilation of previously unreleased tracks. Two of the studio albums were released on the legendary Polish Jazz Series (Volumes 49 and 58). All the ten albums were remastered for this box set release and expanded with a plethora of bonus tracks, which include studio outtakes, radio and live performances and mini-sleeved. The booklet includes a detail history of the band and reflections about the albums by the band's founder / leader keyboardist / composer Janusz Grzywacz.

As all ensembles Laboratorium changed lineups over the years, but enjoyed relatively steady personnel for extended periods of time, which undoubtedly added to their success. Most of their material, which is covered by their second to sixth albums (and the compilation album), was recorded by a steady lineup, which included in addition to the leader also saxophonist / vocalist Marek Stryszowski, guitarist Pawel Scieranski, bassist Krzysztof Scieranski and drummer Mieczyslaw Gorka. On the later albums the lineup includes Grzywacz and Stryszowski (who are the only musicians appearing on all the ten albums) with guitarist Ryszard Styla, bassist Krzysztof Olesinski, drummer Andrzej Mrowiec and percussionist Jan Pilch. The debut recording, which initially occupied only one side of an LP, features the legendary Polish violinist Zbigniew Seifert and is stylistically quite close to Free Jazz in contrast to the Fusion direction adopted later.

The band performed only original music, which of course was a courageous decision, and with a singular exception, all the music enclosed herein was composed by Laboratorium members, mostly by the leader but also by others or co-composed by the band. Over the years Grzywacz emerged as a first rate tune-weaver with an excellent ability to write great melodies and riffs, which make the music accessible, even when it becomes quite complex. The music remains intelligent and ambitious throughout, with a remarkable consistency of high-level quality. But the most important factor of Laboratorium was its ability to constantly evolve and change, which is quite evident to anybody listening to the music in the proper historic order. Grzywacz slowly moved from acoustic to electric piano and then to synthesizers, but never indulged in mindless pyrotechnics which so many of his colleague keyboardists fell victim to during that period of time. Laboratorium managed to avoid that terrible, obnoxious 1980s cheesy synthesizer sound, which is a success in itself.

Although most of the music performed by Laboratorium is instrumental, they used the human voice time and again in an instrumental capacity. These vocalese experiments are all quite interesting and present another layer of the band's musical range. It seems that Polish Jazz is particularly fond of such experimentation since its early days and it's definitely interesting to hear how Laboratorium handled them.

There are endless moments of musical joy inside this box set; virtuosic performances by the musicians, especially those by Krzysztof Scieranski, who stands easily shoulder to shoulder with such bass heroes as Jaco Pastorius, beautiful melodies, funky grooves, superb guitar and keyboards solos, in short Fusion heaven for all connoisseurs of the genre. I can't imagine any Fusion fan anywhere on this planet not being melted away by the beauty of this music.

The box set is an individually numbered limited edition and if you can put your hands on a copy, don't you dare to hesitate even for a moment – it's worth its weight in gold!

Drum Freaks – Smyrna (2003)

Milo Kurtis - leader, vocals, didgeridoo, ocarina
Janusz Yanina Iwanski - guitar
Piotr Iwicki - keyboards
Mateusz Pospieszalski - saxophone, flute
Joannis Kurtis - percussion
guest
Wallis Buchanan - didgeridoo

MILO MR 106



By Adam Baruch

This is the second album by Polish ensemble Drum Freaks founded and led by Milo Kurtis, a multi-instrumentalist / composer of Greek origin living in Poland. Kurtis is a prominent figure on the local scene, having been involved with many legendary local groups, like Ossian (a.k.a. Osjan), Maanam and others. A versatile musician and a charismatic personality, Kurtis performed in such diverse musical fields as Folklore, World Music, Reggae and Free Jazz. On this album the lineup includes, apart from the leader, guitarist Janusz Yanina Iwanski, keyboardist Piotr Iwicki, saxophonist / flautist Mateusz Pospieszalski and percussionist Joannis Kurtis. Ex-Jamiroquai player Wallis Buchanan appears as a guest playing didgeridoo. The album includes eight original compositions by the leader and other members of the band, including Buchanan, all of which were recorded live at the St. John's Church in the Northern port city of Gdansk.

The music is an amalgam of melodic World Music from many different sources, but most significantly from the Mediterranean, ornamented by improvised Jazz oriented solos. As far as the Polish scene is concerned, this is definitely an unusual phenomenon, although Kurtis was involved in somewhat similar projects earlier, albeit in more meditative and experimental form. The overall atmosphere is serene and even lyrical at times, but successfully maintains an element of development and interest, unlike many similar projects, which quickly cross over into mediocre Muzak.

Kurtis, who is a deeply spiritual person (I had the pleasure to meet him during my production of "The Book Of Job" album in which he took part), manages skillfully to avoid the populism often involved with Western musicians performing World Music originating from non-Western sources. The music herein offers an opportunity to the musician to cooperate rather than compete, with little show-off and modern-times rush into the unknown. As Kurtis himself describes it, this is "early morning" music, which sounds best before out minds get clotted by the infernal noise that surrounds us all in today's world. For me it also sounds great late at night, when I try to wash out (mentally at least) the day's pressures. But I suppose that every listener will be able to find a proper moment for this music, as suitable to their souls.

Listeners, who like Jazz-World Fusion excursions, should definitely try this album out as soon as possible, as it is one of the nicest pieces of that type that I happened to stumble upon. Considering that many Jazz-World Fusion albums are quite kitschy, this one is a gem!

Oleś Brothers & Theo Jörgensmann on Transgression Tour

Legendary Theo Jörgensmann is touring Poland with excellent Polish rhythm section of Oleś Brothers. You can learn more about their collaboration by reading a review of the album "Directions" they recorded together few years ago. 

Oleś Brothers & Theo Jörgensmann - TRANSGRESSION TOUR

17.01.2013 Jazz Club Pod Filarami | Gorzów Wlkp.
18.01.2013 Jazz Club Bagatella | Darłowo
19.01.2013 MDK | Wągrowiec
20.01.2013 CK Agora | Wrocław
21.01.2013 Pardon To Tu | Warsaw
22.01.2013 Meskalina | Poznań
24.01.2013 Cafe Ratuszowa | Legnica
25.01.2013 MCK | Tychy

Henryk Miskiewicz / Simple Acoustic Trio – Lyrics (2001)

Henryk Miskiewicz - saxophone
Marcin Wasilewski - piano
Slawomir Kurkiewicz - bass
Michal Miskiewicz - drums

GRAMI 002





By Adam Baruch

This is an excellent album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer Henryk Miskiewicz, accompanied here by the best Polish piano trio called at the time of the recording Simple Acoustic Trio, which consist of pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz and drummer Michal Miskiewicz. There is a family connection of course as Michal is Henryk's son. The quartet performs seven tunes, four of which are original compositions by the leader, one by Wasilewski, one is a standard and the remaining one is by the US composer Maria Schneider.

Neither Miskiewicz nor Simple Acoustic Trio needs any introductions to people familiar with the Polish Jazz scene; Miskiewicz has been active on the scene since the early 1970s and over time played in several important ensembles like Sun Ship and was member of groups led by many of the leading Polish Jazz musicians as well as leader of his own groups. Simple Acoustic Trio are commonly recognized as the leading Polish piano trio, propelled to fame as the rhythm section on the seminal ECM recordings by trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and now recording for ECM on their own.

Therefore there are no surprises here as far as the level of performances, which are simply spotless. Miskiewicz plays some great lyrical lines and the support from the trio is simply phenomenal, inventive and daring in some aspects but always solid and within the boundaries specified as the albums motto: music as a device to tell a story in a non-verbal setting. All the compositions selected for this album, original or not, fit the bill perfectly and the overall result is a prime example of intelligent modern mainstream Jazz, which remains fresh and moving in complete disregard of the passing time.

This is definitely an album no Polish Jazz music collector will be able to skip in their collection and a great example of how mainstream Jazz can remain valid and artistically sound today. Highly recommended!

Akumulator Jazz Festival

AKUMULATOR JAZZ FESTIVAL

19 January 2013, 19:00, 

CK Rotunda, Kraków, Poland

Line up:

PINK FREUD

KRZYSZTOF ŚCIERAŃSKI QUARTET

UDA

KARL CULLEY

special guest:

APOSTOLIS ANTHIMOS (SBB)

  

Due to UDA's third album premiere ("Łowy kraby"), the band, together with Art Agency “Akumulator" decided to invite fabulous guests which will present various shades of modern jazz.

  

PINK FREUD - www.pinkfreud.pl

Experimental blend of electronic & experimental sounds with acoustic instruments.

One of the most original bands of modern jazz, touring worldwide (Asia, South America & Europe).

KRZYSZTOF ŚCIERAŃSKI - www.scieranski.com.pl

One of world’s best bass players, who worked with legendary artists and toured the world.

Featured on over 33 albums. New quartet is a fusion jazz powerhouse which amazes audiences.

UDA - www.udaonline.pl

Surrealistic mix of fusion jazz, rock and psychodelia.

One of the most exciting new bands, blending high energy shows, sophisticated music structures with a lot of humor. Acclaimed by critics & audiences, is a must-see live band.

KARL CULLEY - www.karlculley.co.uk

Acoustic guitar prodigy from UK. Acclaimed by Mojo & The Sunday Express magazines.

Karl is a one man show, moving audiences with amazing guitar technique, mellow voice and great melodies.

APOSTOLIS ANTHIMOS - www.apostolis.pl

One of the best jazz/rock guitarist and also an interesting drummer and pianist.

Member of legendary SBB which toured the world. Renowned session player in Greece, USA & Poland.  Worked also with Krzak, Tomasz Stańko, Gary Husband and many more.

 Festival will be hosted by Mariusz Kałamaga (Kabaret Łowcy B.)

Tickets:

40 zł - presale

45 zł - day of the concert

Available on www.TicketPro.pl (from 1st of January 2013)

  

Pre-order:

Art Agency Akumulator, phone: 601 771 160, email: agencja@aaakumulator.pl

Centrum Kultury Rotunda - www.rotunda.pl

 Part of the tickets income is destined for Bure Misie Foundation helping people disabled both mentally & physically:

www.buremisie.org.pl

 Join the event on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/events/533720089985663/

Read more here:

http://jazzforum.com.pl/news.php?action=show&id=2770

http://www.rotunda.pl/aktualnosci/akumulator-jazz-festival

  

Partners & media:

Magazines:

Gitarzysta, Perkusista, Jazz Forum, Jazz Press

Portals:

owsiak.net.pl, ticketpro.pl, megatotal.pl, antymuza.pl, barock.pl, e-splot.pl, Fabryka Zespołów, naszemiasto.pl, independent.pl, koncertomania.pl, krakowskascenamuzyczna.pl, kulturatka.pl, progrock.org.pl, netfan.pl, polish-jazz.blogspot.com, studentnews.pl, screenagers.pl, dlastudenta.pl, wywrota.pl

Radio:

Radiofonia.fm (Kraków), Radio Jazz, Radio Centrum (Rzeszów), Tok FM & Radio Roxy.

Jazz Choral / Tomasz Szukalski – Borzomski Wawoz / Body And Soul (Polish Jazz Vol. 91 Deluxe) (2006)

Tomasz Szukalski - saxophone
Artur Dutkiewicz - piano
Andrzej Cudzich - bass
Marek Stach - drums

Jazz Choral Vocal Group

Muza PNCD 1091



By Adam Baruch

This unusual and very interesting album by the superb Polish saxophonist / composer Tomasz Szukalski, who sadly died this year, presents him in a double setting: first as a guest artist accompanying the Georgian vocal group Jazz Choral and than as a leader of his quartet, which includes also pianist Artur Dutkiewicz, bassist Andrzej Cudzich and drummer Marek Stach.

The album starts with six pieces performed by Jazz Choral; First three tracks are sung a cappella and the remaining three are performed with Szukalski and an unidentified rhythm section (piano, bass and drums). The vocal tracks are followed by three tracks performed by Szukalski and his quartet, two of which are standards and one is an original composition by the leader.

Jazz Choral were a vocal group similar to the Polish group Novi, which existed on the local scene twenty years earlier, and several other ensembles which based their performances on perfectly matched harmonies and swinging melodies. Their performance is spotless and quite virtuosic, with a nostalgic touch. Szukalski spices their music with excellent solos, which can only be constructed by a musician of his statue.

The three tracks by Szukalski and his quartet highlight his incredible power as a player, clearly emphasizing his post-Coltrane legacy and incredible versatility. Listening to him play, now that he is gone, is truly moving to everybody familiar with the Polish Jazz scene. His premature death is a great loss!

This album was recorded during the transition period between Poland finally freed itself from the Socialist regime, and was somehow "lost" in the turmoil. This reissue brings back to life a piece of music, which should not be forgotten. Definitely worth investigation!

The Moongang - Taxi (Allegro Records, 2012)

The Moongang (band)

Joanna Knitter – vocal
Piotr Góra – drums
Karol Kozłowski – bass guitar
Marcin Wądołowski – guitar
Hubert Świątek – piano
Roman Badeński – harmonica

Taxi (Allegro Records, 2012)

By Maciej Nowotny

The Moongang started in 2009 on initiative of harmonica player Roman Badeński. Although his main interest is in blues he was going with this band to out-step boundaries of one genre and saturate this music with elements of jazz, funk, R&B and pop. The necessary versatility gave him players known from local Tri-City jazz scene: bassist Karol Kozłowski recorded with Paul Band and their album "Second Face" was one of the most interesting releases as far as jazz rock is concerned in Poland in recent years; young guitarist Marcin Wądołowski recorded in 2011 his debut album "Git Majonez" which was kept in mainstream jazz stylistic and was warmly received by critics and audience; vocalist Joanna Knitter appeared on this year release "Take It Easy III" by veteran of this scene saxophonist Przemek Dyakowski. Other players like drummer Piotr Góra and pianist Hubert Świątek are less known to me but they fit well in overall idea of this music.

Musically there are no surprises here but nonetheless I must say that I like this album. It has some necessary characteristics of good jazz that is enthusiasm, authenticity and the spirit of collective music making. Whole album wheels around vocalist Joanna Knitter who penned texts (all English except one in Polish)  to all songs while music was written mostly by Marcin Wądołowski (8 out of 12 tunes) but also by Knitter (2), Kozłowski (1) and Świątek (1). But they seem alike, they must be a result of collective creative work and they all sound well. I am especially very pleasantly surprised by singing by Joanna Knitter who on above mentioned Dyakowski's album was rather unconvincing. It is obvious that she fells much, much better in her own material than in interpretations of old standards which she sung on "Take It Easy". She showed here sense of humour, immense energy and vitality. She obviously delights most in music that is full of emotions, concrete and wholesome and on "Taxi" she found a space and partners to do what she likes best.

The same can be said about the rest of the band as they clearly seem to relish the experience of recording this session. It sounds as if group of old friends gathered together and was exchanging as much some of their most cherished musical ideas as simply taking joy in having good time together. This mood of joy spreads over to music whose optimism is contagious soon making listener swinging hard. Good job!

Tracklist:
1. Taxi [2:54]; 2. Rainy Day [3:26]; 3. Exaltation [4:43]; 4. Future [3:08]; 5. The Doors Are Open [3:35]; 6. The Message [3:50]; 7. Over You [3:29]; 8. Chooser [3:29]; 9. More And More [3:05]; 10. Ty [4:59]; 11. Swift [3:18]; 12. Nie całkiem smutny blues [3:00]