Krzysztof Herdzin – Look Inward (2017)

Krzysztof Herdzin

Krzysztof Herdzin - piano

Look Inward

UNIVERSAL 602557947120






By Adam Baruch

This is a solo piano album by Polish Jazz pianist/composer/arranger Krzysztof Herdzin, who is a highly respected musician on the local scene, known for his professionalism and perfectionism. The album, which is Herdzin's first solo piano venture, presents nine improvised pieces, which as the album's title and the liner notes describe, are highly personal reflections of his musical life's experiences, impulsively created on the spur of the moment.

In the last few years of his career Herdzin gradually moved away from Jazz towards other musical areas, mostly contemporary Classical Music and stage music. This album follows the same pattern, perhaps subconsciously, but it has very little to do with Jazz per se, and is much closer to Classical forms of expression. Although the melodic content is very fragmented, the overall mood is mostly lyrical and romantic, often quite minimalist. Herdzin uses mostly single notes and chords are being used sparingly, which creates tension and anticipation, but on the other hand makes the music somewhat difficult to follow after a while.

Overall this is an interesting experiment, which offers a unique glimpse of Herdzin's complex musical personality. His customary listeners might find this music a tad too difficult to swallow, surely in the initial attempt, but this album grows on the listener in time. Herdzin is unquestionably a highly talented composer and performer, but he is often more appreciated by his peers than by the general public. It is good to see him let go of his disciplined approach and indulge in improvisation, even if the improvisation is somewhat imprisoned by his subliminal sense of order. I hope this album gets the exposure it deserves, and music connoisseurs will discover another facet of Herdzin's music. Recommended!

Gorzycki/Pawlicki/Ziołek - Ensemble Tuning (2018)

Gorzycki/Pawlicki/Ziołek

Tomasz Pawlicki - flute, electronics
Jakub Ziołek - guitar, electronics
Rafał Gorzycki - drums, piano

Ensemble Tuning

AUDIO CAVE 2018/011



By Adam Baruch

This is an album by a Polish Jazz trio led by drummer/composer Rafał Gorzycki, who also plays piano, with flautist Tomasz Pawlicki and guitarist Jakub Ziołek, both of which employ also electronics. The album presents ten original compositions, eight of which are credited to all the trio members and two are by Gorzycki. This album is a second part of a triptych of trio recordings by Gorzycki, continuing the "Playing" album released a couple of years earlier. The music was excellently recorded at the RecPublica Studios and engineered by Łukasz Olejarczyk.

The music is an esoteric mixture of various elements, acoustic and electronic, combining modern Classical Music vistas with improvisation and Ambient music and creating a magical impressionist aura of anticipation and mysticism. There are also elements of Serialism and Minimalism, all wonderfully weaved into a coherent but hard to pinpoint continuity, which tends to flow as if propelled by its own will. This music is more about form and sound than about melody or harmony, very abstract and almost involuntarily creating images of impressionist paintings before the listener's eyes.

Pawlicki stands in the very epicenter of this music, since his magic flute produces most of the directly audible sound, creating short melodic threads and swirls, all of which are simply irresistibly beautiful. In complete contrast the guitar played by Ziołek sounds nothing like a guitar, producing a plethora of sound layers and ambient noises in the background, which is the foundation upon which the flute parts float, similar to a wind which carries the golden autumn leaves. Gorzycki also hardly ever plays any straightforward rhythms and his pulses are more pointers than actual rhythmic patterns. His piano parts are also quite atypical and serve as accents rather than harmonies.

There is no doubt that this album constitutes a new stage in the long and prolific career of Gorzycki, taking him into a new realm unlike anything else he attempted earlier, although definitely being a logical extension of his earlier works. This music is more complex and more abstract than his earlier efforts but also much more concentrated and expressive. It is definitely much closer to cotemporary Classical Chamber Music than to Jazz, and will probably be received as such by the listeners. Absurdly perhaps, it is also more accessible and universal than many of his earlier efforts.

Overall this is a stunning piece of music, which offers novel approach to music making, unusual usage of the instruments and explores unchartered territory as far as improvisation and composition are intertwined and is additionally spiced with the sensational flute playing, altogether offering a sensational musical experience. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Krzysztof Kobyliński feat. Erik Truffaz – Give Me November (2018)

Krzysztof Kobyliński feat. Erik Truffaz

Krzysztof Kobyliński - piano
Erik Truffaz - trumpet

Give Me November

JAZOVIA 2018




By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by a duo comprising of veteran Polish Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader / entrepreneur Krzysztof Kobyliński and French trumpeter Erik Truffaz. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Kobyliński.

The music is all based on the strongly melodic themes, which are Kobyliński's trademark, full of typical Polish melancholy and lyricism and often reflecting references to Polish Folklore. Some of these compositions appeared on earlier recordings by Kobyliński, but this intimate duo setting puts them in a different light and mood, and makes them worth revisiting.

Most of the improvisational artistry on this album is naturally performed by Truffaz, who is a proven Master of his instrument. On this album Truffaz demonstrates a mellow, melodic mood, as appropriate for the circumstances, but his playing is full of artistry and sensitivity. Kobyliński stays mostly in the background, accompanying the trumpet lead amicably, taking occasional solos as well. The duo works together well and manages to create a full musical experience, proving that the unusual piano / trumpet instrumentation is completely viable and artistically convincing.

Overall this is a enjoyable album, which emphasizes the gentle side of the Jazz idiom, well within the mainstream tradition, but offers an unusual instrumental setting and deeply melodic contents, which is accessible to a wide range of Jazz and Jazz related listeners.

Czwartek Jazzowy z Gwiazdą - Rafał Gorzycki Ensemble Tuning - Gliwice, 29.11.2018

Tomasz Pawlicki - flet
Kuba Ziołek - gitara
Rafał Gorzycki - perkusja

29 listopada, godz. 20:00, COK Perełka, Gliwice
Bilety: 20 zł przedsprzedaż/25 zł w dniu koncertu

Ensemble Tuning tworzą wyjątkowi muzycy: Tomasz Pawlicki - flecista i kompozytor, jeden z największych instrumentalistów w Polsce, koncertmistrz Opery Nova w Bydgoszczy, oraz Kuba Ziołek – laureat Paszportu Polityki 2016, lider wielu ważnych projektów i zespołów z pogranicza muzyki eksperymentalnej, elektronicznej i improwizowanej – multiinstrumentalista, obsługujący tutaj elektronikę . Lider projektu i perkusista, kompozytor – Rafał Gorzycki, jest zaliczany do grona najważniejszych i najbardziej twórczych, płodnych artystów współczesnego jazzu oraz kameralistyki w Polsce. Nagrał do tej pory 22 autorskie albumy i jest laureatem wielu nagród, wyróżnień oraz stypendiów. Założeniem tria jest praca nad brzmieniem, jego transformowanie i ekspozycja jako głównej składowej muzycznej kreacji. Pierwsze koncerty formacji odbyły się jesienią 2017 roku.

Bastarda - Promitat Eterno (2017)

Bastarda

Paweł Szamburski - clarinet
Michał Górczyński - contrabass clarinet
Tomasz Pokrzywiński - cello
Marcin Masecki - piano (7)

Promitat Eterno

LADO C/25

By Piotr Wojdat

Klarnecista Paweł Szamburski po znakomitym solowym "Ceratitis Capitata", które było ukłonem w stronę tradycyjnej muzyki sakralnej różnych religii basenu Morza Śródziemnego, wraz z wiolonczelistą Tomaszem Pokrzywińskim i klarnecistą Michałem Górczyńskim porusza kolejne ciekawe wątki muzyczne. Tym razem popularyzuje średniowieczne utwory Piotra z Grudziądza - postaci, która do 1975 roku nie była znana muzykologom. Dopiero czeski naukowiec Jaromír Černý odkrył jego imię zaszyfrowane w jednym z poematów. 

Piotr z Grudziądza to postać tajemnicza i wciąż niewiele na jego temat wiemy - w dużym uproszczeniu może oprócz tego, że sporo podróżował i napisał kilkadziesiąt utworów. Na szczęście z roku na rok twórczość kompozytora staje się coraz bardziej popularna, o czym może świadczyć fakt, że utwory jego autorstwa można usłyszeć na Festiwalu Muzyki Dawnej w Grudziądzu, który jest jemu poświęcony. Zresztą koncerty w ramach tego wydarzenia odbywają się nie tylko w rodzimym mieście artysty, ale też w innych regionach Polski. Cegiełkę dokłada do tego Bastarda, czyli trio, które podchodzi do tematów Piotra z Grudziądza z dużym poszanowaniem dla ich charakteru. Jednocześnie Paweł Szamburski, Tomasz Pokrzywiński i Michał Górczyński nadają im współczesny sznyt, co tylko dodaje kompozycjom kolorytu.

Utwory, które zostały wybrane na potrzeby albumu "Promitat Eterno", tworzą atmosferę pełnego skupienia i nastrój lekkiego oderwania od rzeczywistości. Artyści artykułują długimi dźwiękami, więc muzyka wybrzmiewa powoli. Czasami dwa klarnety i wiolonczela tworzą mocniejsze frazy, pojawiają się też wyciszenia, ledwo słyszalne szmery - to wszystko układa się jednak w przekonującą całość i tak naprawdę trudno rozpatrywać tę płytę w kontekście poszczególnych utworów. 

W muzyce Bastardy słychać echa nie tylko muzyki dawnej, ale też tego, co Szamburski i Górczyński proponują słuchaczom w kwartecie klarnetowym Ircha. Można też mieć skojarzenia z muzyką filmową Mikołaja Trzaski, która przykuwa uwagę nieprzegadanymi motywami. A z solową płytą Pawła Szamburskiego Bastardę łączy z kolei oszczędność brzmieniowa oraz surowy, pozbawiony ozdobników charakter prezentowanych kompozycji. Przez cały czas trwania albumu jesteśmy pogrążeni w mroku i melancholii. Ze średniowiecznej otchłani wydobywa nas jednak ostatni utwór na płycie, w którym gościnnie pojawia się pianista Marcin Masecki. To bardzo ciekawy kontrapunkt dla muzyki Piotra z Grudziądza w interpretacji Bastardy, a zarazem doskonałe zwieńczenie bardzo udanego wydawnictwa.

Living Things - Upwind Circles (2016)

Living Things

Sven Dam Meinild - saxophones, flutes
Tomasz Dąbrowski - trumpet, flutes
Paul Wacrenier - piano, vibes
Casper Nyvang Rask - bass
Rune Lohse - drums, flutes

Upwind Circles


BAREFOOT 052

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by young European Jazz ensemble Living Things, which comprises of Danish saxophonist/composer Sven Dam Meinild, Polish trumpeter Tomasz Dąbrowski, French pianist / vibraphonist Paul Wacrenier and a Dutch rhythm section: bassist Casper Nyvang Rask and drummer Rune Lohse. All five musicians are also credited for playing the flute. The album presents fourteen original compositions, nine composed by Meinild and five by Wacrenier.

The music is based on composed themes, which serve as basis for individual and collective improvisations. It is very open and unconstrained, obviously geared towards improvisation and individuality, like all the albums released by the Copenhagen based Barefoot Records collective, owned by the musicians who record on the label and which is home to some of the most fascinating young European Jazz and Improvised Music.

Traces of many diverse musical influences can be found in this music, from contemporary Classical to World Music and Folklore, via the Jazz tradition, which is treated here very open-mindedly. There are also many superb individual statements by all the musicians involved. Dąbrowski, as usual, creates many heart-wrenching trumpet solos, which repeatedly give evidence to the fact that he is one of the leading European trumpet players today. But to be fair also Meinild and Wacrenier contribute many enchanted vistas on their respective instruments, and the rhythm section, which plays anything but rhythm of course, glues the music together.

There young European lions are so creative and so productive/prolific, that it becomes almost impossible to follow the avalanche of releases produced by them across the continent. Jazz/Improvised Music is experiencing an incredible Renaissance, which creates an unprecedented surge of new music, new talents and new musical horizons, of which this music is a commendable representative. Well done!

Irek Wojtczak Quintet - Play It Again (2018)

Irek Wojtczak Quintet

Irek Wojtczak - tenor & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet
Tomasz Dąbrowski - trumpet
Piotr Mania - piano
Adam Żuchowski - double bass
Kuba Staruszkiewicz - drums

Play It Again



FSR 2018/06

By Adam Baruch

This is a live recording by a quintet led by Polish Jazz saxophonist/composer Irek Wojtczak, which also includes trumpeter Tomasz Dąbrowski, pianist Piotr Mania, bassist Adam Żuchowski and drummer Kuba Staruszkiewicz. The quintet plays music that was recorded by the "American" quintet led by Wojtczak, which recorded the splendid "Folk Five" album for the For Tune label slightly over a year before this music was recorded. As the title suggests, this recording is another attempt to play almost the same music that was recorded for the "Folk Five" album, but this time by an all-Polish quintet. The album presents eight tunes, all originating in Polish Folklore and arranged by Wojtczak, six of which were already recorded on "Folk Five" and two are new tunes used here for the first time.

The musical concept is of course quite clear: Jazz-World Fusion which transfers some of the treasures of Polish Folklore into the Jazz idiom, an idea that is quite common in Polish Jazz since its Genesis. As usual, some efforts dealing with this concept worked out better than others, but overall the seven or so decades of Polish Jazz produced a sizable and highly original amount of superb music created under this moniker. The aforementioned "Folk Five" album was definitely one of the highlights of that idiom and the attempt to try and repeat the magic that happened on that album was a bold and audacious undertaking. I am happy to say that Wojtczak and his cohorts not only managed to recreate the magic, but also managed to take the music to a higher plane.

There is of course no doubt as to the quality of the music or the level of the execution, they are both simply extraordinary. Therefore the comparison between the two versions of the music must touch upon the fundamental differences between American and European Jazz, of which these two albums are a textbook example or even a paradigm. One might of course say that such comparison is a priori unfair, as the Polish Jazz musicians are way more familiar and culturally accustomed to the Polish Folklore element of the music than their American counterparts. But such argument is simply irrelevant, as these two albums clearly show. These albums are different not because the lack of familiarity with Polish Folklore by the American musicians, but by the intrinsic attitude towards improvisation and even more broadly towards music making, between the American and the European Jazz musicians.

As a result of these fundamental differences "Folk Five" remains an excellent, very well played album, whereas "Play It Again" shows where the same music can get to, when played without the restrictions the American Jazz tradition imposes even on the best musicians. The flair, elegance, imagination, feeling and openness present on this album takes it to a completely new level of awareness and creativity.

But comparisons aside, this is above all a masterpiece of modern Polish/European Jazz, which takes the Jazz-World Fusion idiom light years ahead in comparison to its rather humble beginnings, clearly showing that Polish Jazz is a stronghold of originality, imagination and musical ingenuity. This is an absolute must to every Polish Jazz fan and a supreme gem of an album for all seasons. Hats off!

Piotr Wojtasik - To Whom It May Concern (2018)

Piotr Wojtasik

Piotr Wojtasik - trumpet
Viktor Tóth - alto saxophone, flute
Sylwester Ostrowski - tenor saxophone
Bobby Few - piano
Joris Teepe - double bass
John Betsch - drums

To Whom It May Concern


INDYGO 002

By Adam Baruch

This is an album by the veteran Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer / bandleader / educator Piotr Wojtasik, recorded by an international sextet, which features alongside Wojtasik also Hungarian saxophonist/flautist Viktor Toth, Polish saxophonist Sylwester Ostrowski, Dutch bassist Joris Teepe and American (resident in Europe) pianist Bobby Few and drummer John Betsch. The album, which was recorded in France, presents eight original compositions, all by Wojtasik.

The music explores the roots of Jazz and stretches between Blues influenced early Jazz through familiar Bebop mainstream and towards more open/Free oriented music, but stays within well defined boundaries. The compositions are diverse and interesting, clearly showing Wojtasik as a mature and focused composer, who is able to weave nice melodic themes and expand them into a fully structured ensemble pieces.

Both Wojtasik and Ostrowski consistently drift towards American Jazz and obviously prefer to play and record with American musicians, but they do it on an equal footing with the Americans, completely devoid of the inferiority complex that characterized whole generations of Polish Jazz musicians for decades. The music on this album clearly shows that they are able to stand shoulder to shoulder with their cohorts.

The album is full of strong personal statements by all the participants, as appropriate for such endeavor, with the leader exploring his extensive arsenal of trumpet magic, moving with ease between raw and fully powered statements and delicate balladry. His unique and very personal style remains as one of the most distinctive voices of Polish Jazz trumpet, equaled by but a very few.

Few is also a charmer with his highly idiosyncratic piano vistas, which can be heard all along the album's duration and come to a climax in the short solo piano piece showcasing his abilities and dedicated to him by the leader/composer. The excellent rhythm section is a bastion of strength and stability which keeps the music in check and moving along the desired chronometry, completely at ease with whatever is required at each given moment. Joris gets also a solo spot in another short piece dedicated to him. An artistry of time and pulse…

Overall this is an excellent album by any standard and although it offers contemporary Jazz of the American flavor, rather than European Jazz which one expects to hear from European Jazz musicians, it is perfectly executed, interesting and inspiring, full of great ideas and obviously highly engaging. Wojtasik deserves admiration and praise for consistency, which characterizes his entire career, and most importantly for doing his thing regardless of trends and fads of fashion. Keep swinging Maestro!

Skerebotte Fatta - Riders From The Ra (2018)

Skerebotte Fatta

Jan Małkowski - saxophones
Dominik Mokrzewski - drums

Riders From The Ra

CREATIVE SOURCES 545





By Andrzej Nowak

Pod intrygująca nazwą Skerebotte Fatta kryje się duet młodych polskich improwizatorów – saksofonista Jan Małkowski i perkusista Dominik Mokrzewski. Obydwu tych dżentelmenów powinniśmy kojarzyć z Warsaw Improvisers Orchestra, a także z jej równie udaną "small version", czy kwintetem Infant Joy. 

Na krążku dumnie nazwanym "Riders From The Ra" (cała historia rocka i jazzu leży u ich stóp), z pełną odwagą rzucają się na klasyczny idiom free jazzu, czyli "sax & drums", i wychodzą z tej nierównej walki prawdziwie zwycięzcy. Przyznaję bez cienia wątpliwości, iż tak dobrej, klasycznie free jazzowej płyty nie słyszałem w wykonaniu polskich muzyków od lat. Do tego wszystkiego wydawcą jest portugalski Creative Sources, co niezależnie od wszelkich uwarunkowań ekonomicznych tego faktu, jest dla młodych improwizatorów dalece nobilitujące. Zajrzyjmy zatem do środka i sprawdźmy, co też dzieje się w trakcie ośmiu utworów zawartych na płycie (muzycy, nieco przekornie, nazwali swe dzieło „all compositions”).

Startujemy w towarzystwie masywnego, krzykliwego saksofonu (tenorowego?) i mocnego, opartego na agresywnym pulsie stopy, zestawu perkusyjnego (niczym Tom Bruno). "Hey bebop!", czyli przykład free jazzu, jakiego nie gra się zbyt często na Wisłą i Odrą. W kolejnej, już nieco bardziej rozbudowanej kompozycji, napotykamy na dynamiczny, progresywny "drumming", wokół którego tańczy i swawoli saksofon (sopranowy?). Rytm, ekspresja i precyzja. A wszystko podane z niemal punkrockową bezkompromisowością i ładnie wykończone po wybrzmieniu. Trzeci odcinek startuje niemal z poziomu ciszy i płynie niczym delikatnie rozwichrzona ballada free, z której niebanalnie wyłania się zwinny, "aylerowski" hymn. Czwarty, wzorem prologu, to kolejna petarda – prawdziwy "psycho attack"! Saksofon w estetyce "harsh" i doom-metalowa perkusja! Piąty utwór koi emocje, nerwy i pot na czole - stylowy, wyrazisty, "mały" saksofon na tle talerzy. 

Wreszcie tytułowa, niemal 18 minutowa, epicka free jazz drama. Muzycy zaczynają w pozycjach sonorystycznych – aktywny "drumming", zadumany "dęciak". Nie tylko żywioł free – jest struktura, dramaturgia, nieśpieszna, precyzyjna narracja. Mokrzewski znów czuwa nad całością, niczym Tom Bruno nad szaleństwami Sabira Mateena i Daniela Cartera w kwartecie Test. Obok piękna ekspozycja Małkowskiego, konsekwentna i spójna. Klasyka free jazzu potrzebuje takich nagrań, zwłaszcza 50 lat po śmierci Coltrane’a. W środkowej części utworu zwinne i przebiegłe solo perkusyjne. Po nim sopran Jana szybuje w poszukiwaniu klasycznej melodyki jego wielkiego poprzednika. Melodyka, rytm, dramaturgiczna pieczołowitość. A na finał eksplozja w samym środku tuby saksofonu. 

Na ostatniej prostej dwie zgrabne, nieprzegadane numery. Najpierw spokojna "meta" ballada, niestroniąca od sonorystyki, grana swobodnie, na dużym luzie, z której błyskotliwie wyłania się pełna ekspresji narracja. Zaś sam finał płyt jest ostry, drapieżny i dynamiczny. Czyniona przy świetnej komunikacji wzajemnej, intensywna wycieczka po "złote runo". Brawo!

Vladyslav Sendecki/Atom String Quartet – Le Jardin Oublié/My Polish Heart (2018)

Vladyslav Sendecki/Atom String Quartet

Vladyslav Sendecki - piano
Dawid Lubowicz - violin
Mateusz Smoczyński - violin
Michał Zaborski - viola
Krzysztof Lenczowski - cello

Le Jardin Oublié/My Polish Heart


NEUKLANG 4198

By Adam Baruch

This is an album by the Polish (resident in Germany) pianist/composer Vladyslav Sendecki, who is accompanied by the highly esteemed Polish Atom String Quartet (violinists Mateusz Smoczyński and Dawid Lubowicz, violist Michał Zaborski and cellist Krzysztof Lenczowski). The album presents ten compositions, five of which are original composition by Sendecki, two were composed by his brother Stefan Sendecki, one was composed by Krzysztof Komeda, another one by Polish Classical composer Karol Szymanowski and finally one was composed by the German composer Wolf Kerschek. Three of the compositions were arranged by the great British composer/arranger Michael Gibbs.

The music focuses on relatively little known facet of Sendecki's activity and is mostly dedicated to contemporary Classical music, with relatively limited Jazz references. The piano/string quartet setting suits this musical direction ideally of course and the chamber atmosphere prevails throughout. The piano concerto "My Polish Heart" was composed especially by Kerschek for Sendecki and was performed by him with the NDR Big Band, of which he is the resident pianist. The intimate version of this wonderful piece present here includes only part of the entire composition, but reflects the spirit of the work perfectly. All the pieces on the album are full of the characteristic Polish melancholy and lyricism, which can be found in all Polish music regardless of the genre: Classical, Jazz, Rock or Folklore.

The most Jazz oriented piece on the album is of course the "Komeda Hommage", which is a medley of two Komeda's compositions, brilliantly combining the Jazz and Classical idioms thanks to the unique arrangement by Sendecki and the Atoms and taking a form of a beautiful suite.

This album requires very serious listening with attention to details and patience, as it offers a wealth of musical thrills in every aspect. The compositions, arrangements and performances are all loaded with deeply emotional content and are full of virtuosic performances, which are very difficult to be absorbed all at once. Each listening experience promises new discoveries of course. Overall this is a wonderful album full of great music, which offers a Jazz-Classical Fusion of the highest caliber. Lovers of Polish music, regardless of style and fashion, should be delighted by what this album has to offer.