Pendofsky – Pendofsky (2014)

Pendofsky

Marcin Kajper - saxophone
Przemysław Kostrzewa - trumpet
Krzysztof Kawałko - guitar
Marcin Cichocki - keyboards
Marcin Pendowski - bass
Tomasz Wałdowski - drums

Pendofsky


PRIVATE EDITION

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album as a leader by the Polish bassist/composer Marcin Pendowski, who started his career as a rock musician (as a member of the band Artrosis), but later on cooperated with many Polish Jazz musicians as well. On this album he presents ten original compositions recorded with a core group of musicians, which includes guitarist Krzysztof Kawałko, saxophonist Marcin Kajper, trumpeter Przemysław Kostrzewa, keyboardist Marcin Cichocki, drummer Tomasz Wałdowski and several guest artists. On the album Pendowski plays on two old electric basses manufactured in Czechoslovakia (Jolana Diamant) and Poland (Defil Mamba) during the Socialist regime, which have a very specific ambience.

The music is a great mixture of Jazz-Rock Fusion, Funk, Soul, Grove and superb retro / vintage sounding pieces, which are almost never played these days by anybody. The arrangements and instrumentation, including the Hammond organ and the in-sync unisono brass section, the airy guitars and the fantastic bass sound are simply irresistible. Of course the best part is the fact that although this is truly enjoyable music, it is also of the highest quality, with great melodies, riffs and interesting arrangements, supported by virtuosic instrumental work.

This music could be an ideal partner for a long car drive, a club setting or a groovy party with your friends, and it would fit all these diverse surroundings perfectly. I must admit that it was quite a while since I enjoyed myself that much listening to an album. Hopefully this won't be a one off, as that would be a true shame. We need more honest and fun music like this in this world full of phony pretentious garbage.

I wholeheartedly recommend this album to people who really love music and are able to enjoy it in full, without inhibitions. For bass aficionados this is a must of course. Very well done Sir, chapeau!

Naxos – The Trip Around The Brain (2014)

Naxos

Milo Kurtis - clarinet
Konstanty Joriadis - keyboards
Apostolis Anthimos - guitar
Rasm Al-Mashan - vocals
Adib Chamun - percussion
Marcin Kajper - saxophones
Marcin Pendowski - bass

The Trip Around The Brain


WARNER MUSIC POLAND 825646292103

By Adam Baruch

This is the debut album by the Polish ensemble Naxos, led by the celebrated musician/personality Milo Kurtis, one of the pioneers of World Music and World-Jazz Fusion in Poland, who was a member of the legendary ensemble Ossian in the 1970s and many other groups over the years. It was delightful to meet Milo in person just a few weeks ago in Warsaw and talk about the old times and the future, which for him is always full of bright things. I remember him taking part in my production of "The Book Of Job" in 1985, under insane circumstances, and his worm personality didn't change one iota over the years, which is truly remarkable

Kurtis is one of several Polish musicians of Greek origin, same as guitarist Apostolis Anthimos of SBB fame, who also participates in this recording. Other members of the ensemble include keyboardist Konstanty Joriadis (also of Greek origin), female vocalist Rasm Al-Mashan (of Yemenite origin), percussionist Adib Chamun, saxophonist Marcin Kajper and bassist Marcin Pendowski. Several guest musicians participate on selected tracks. The album presents thirteen tracks, most of which are credited to Kurtis and Joriadis, either separately or as co-composers.

The music has a distinctive Mediterranean flavor, mixing Greek and Middle Eastern influences, rhythms and melodies into a lively and fascinating amalgam of cultures. On the Polish scene that kind of music is definitely quite unusual and exotic, but where I live this is basically a part of our everyday milieu and this kind of music can be heard all day long on the radio or on stage in music venues, big and small. This kind of synthesis has been the most distinctive characteristic of Israeli music over the last few decades, and it's really heartwarming to hear it happening in Poland as well. Kurtis is doing his pioneering work again, and deserves to be encouraged and praised for it, especially in view of the impressive outcome, not to mention the popularization the idea that diverse cultures can work together for a common goal, as much aesthetic as practical.

This music has no boundaries and should appeal to every open-minded fun loving person on this globe. The streets of Athens, or Beirut or Tel-Aviv swarm with fun loving people and their music reflects their love of life and the ability to live life in full, if only allowed to do so. This album could be a perfect soundtrack of that desire to simply enjoy life. Of course a glass of ouzo, arak or raki (preferably all three) definitely makes listening to this music even more enjoyable. So ευχαριστώ πολύ, my dear friend, I am looking forward to many more such great musical gifts in the future.