Warsaw Stompers – Warsaw Stompers (Polish Jazz Vol.01, 1963)

Warsaw Stompers (band)

Henryk Majewski- trumpet
Waldemar Kurpinski- clarinet
Wlodzimierz Kruszynski - clarinet
Jerzy Kowalewski - trombone
Andrzej Dobrawa - trombone
Dimitr markiewicz - trombone
Wojciech Kacperski - piano
Wlodzimierz Gulgowski - piano
Tomasz Ochalski - piano Bogdan Ignatowski - banjo
Zdzislaw Orlowski - bass
Adam Skorupka - bass
Tadeusz Wojcik - bass
Janusz Kozlowski- bass
Marian Zabek - drums
Mieczyslaw Wadecki - drums

Warsaw Stompers (Polish Jazz Vol.01, 1963)

This album presents a series of recordings made by the polish traditional Jazz ensemble Warsaw Stompers (earlier called New Orleans Stompers), which was one of the first and certainly the best of its kind. Led by the excellent trumpeter Henryk Majewski and drummer Mieczyslaw Wadecki the ensemble changed the membership over the years and included in its ranks some of the best future Polish Jazz musicians like saxophonist Zbigniew Namyslowski and keyboardist Wlodzimierz Gulgowski. The traditionalists vs. modernist Jazz War raged in Poland in the 1950s similarly to what happened all over Europe at the time with the New Orleans revival emerging as a counterforce of the new Bebop and beyond. However, beyond the heated discussions running into the wee hours of the night between the opponents, Jazz as music coexisted peacefully, resulting in outstanding results in both fields. The Warsaw Stompers played an all original programme, which is quite remarkable for the time, again emphasizing the deep involvement of the Polish scene with the Jazz tradition, which started even before the WWII. The level of the compositions as well as the performance is truly stellar and anybody who loves traditional Jazz should be able to enjoy this music to the fullest. Highly recommended!

Side Note: Although some Polish Jazz albums were recorded and released in Poland before this album, it marks the very beginning of the legendary Polish Jazz series, which over the years documented the development of the Polish scene and resulted in total 76 releases, which in retrospect include some of the best European Jazz recorded beyond the Iron Curtain. The Polish Jazz LPs and CDs are highly collectable and many fans all over the world try to complete the collection, which is not an easy task these days. The CD reissues (called Polish Jazz Deluxe) expanded the original series with some 20 additional titles, which somehow missed the original series at the time but belong to be a part of it in retrospect.

Track listing:
01. Warsaw Ragtime No.1 (3:25)
02. Bluesoragtime No.2 (2:15)
03. Melba Rag (3:31)
04. Roztanczony Kundel (3:03)
05. Zabawny Charlston (2:52)
06. Kas Bil Rag (3:23)
07. Czarny Lad (3:10)
08. Marzenie Misia (2:52)
09. Ej Przelecial Ptaszek (3:08)
10. Starzyk (3:16)
11. Motywy Goralskie (3:06)
12. Gdyby Rannym Slonkiem (3:02)
13. Rozbawiony Klarnet (2:40)
14. Madras (3:13)
15. Upal (3:06)
16. Nietoperz (2:58)

By Adam Baruch
http://www.adambaruch.com/

Ewa Bem – Loves The Beatles (Polish Jazz Vol.84 Deluxe, 1984)

Ewa Bem - vocals, background vocals (1, 2, 6-8, 10-12 ), percussion (50)

Marek Stefankiewicz - Fender Rhodes, acoustic piano (1, 9)

Winicjusz Chróst - guitars (1, 2, 6-7, 9, 11), drums programming (2, 6-7)
Arkadiusz Żak - bass guitar (1, 9)
Tomasz Szukalski - tenor sax (1, 6, 9-10, 12)
Wojciech Karolak - Fender Rhodes (2), acoustic piano (2, 6), synthesizers (4, 6, 7)
Wojciech Kowalewski - percussion (2-6, 8, 10-12) drums (3-5, 7-8, 10-12)
Jerzy Kaczmarek - Fender Rhodes (3-5, 8, 10-12), synthesizers (3-5, 8, 10-12), acoustic piano (11)
Romuald Frey - guitar (3-5, 8, 10-12)
Mieczysław Jurecki - bass guitar (3-5, 8, 10-12)
Henryk Majewski - trumpet (3-6, 8, 10)
Stanisław Mizeracki - trumpet (3-5, 8, 10)
Dariusz Macioch - trombone (3-5, 8, 10)
Roman Syrek - trombone (3-5, 8, 10)
Andrzej Jagodziński - French Horn (9)

Loves The Beatles (Polish Jazz Vol.84 Deluxe, 1984)

This is quite an unusual album on which Polish Jazz singer Ewa Bem undertakes the difficult task of interpreting twelve songs by the Beatles, a concept which usually very quickly turns into a disaster. However, this time the result is quite surprising, with the original songs being arranged often very faraway from their original form, rhythm and atmosphere, which is actually quite interesting and certainly shows a lot of potential. Bem’s vocal qualities are beyond reproach and she is supported by an excellent team of the best Polish players, like saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski, trumpeter Henryk Majewski and many others, which contributes significantly to the overall result. In retrospect the use of synthesizers, which is the dreaded trademark of the 1980s, sounds pretty dated today, but that unfortunately can’t be helped. It is certainly interesting to revisit this album to get a fresh perspective as to what can be done with Pop material in the Jazz sphere. Worth investigating!

Track listing: 1. I Will [04:31]; 2. Here, There And Everywhere [03:57]; 3. Get Back [01:56]; 4. A Hard Day's Night [03:14]; 5. Something [03:16]; 6. You're Going To Lose That Girl [03:41]; 7. Drive My Car

[03:31]; 8. The Fool On The Hill [03:03]; 9. I'll Follow The Sun [03:50]; 10. Blackbird [03:40]; 11. Here Comes The Sun [02:37]; 12. Strawberry Fields Forever [04:13]

By Maciej Nowotny

http://kochamjazz.blox.pl

Jaroslaw Smietana – Talking Guitar (Polish Jazz Vol.93 Deluxe, 1984)

Jarosław Śmietana - Electric Guitar

Henryk Miśkiewicz - Alto Saxophone
Zbigniew Jaremko - Tenor Saxophone
Henryk Majewski - Trumpet
Robert Majewski - Trumpet
Roman Syrek - Trombone
Jan Baytel - Flute
Wojciech Groborz - Fender Piano, Synthesizer
Antoni Dębski - Bass Guitar
Jacek Pelc - Drums, Percussion
Jerzy Bartz - Conga, Percussion 

Talking Guitar (Polish Jazz Vol.93 Deluxe, 1984)  

This is an excellent debut album as a leader by Polish guitarist / composer Jaroslaw Smietana, presenting a set of ten original compositions performed by a superb team of musicians, including his ex-cohorts from the Extra Ball ensemble. The list of names reads like a who’s who of the local scene at the time and includes keyboardist Wojciech Groborz, bassist Antoni Debski, drummer Jacek Pelc, percussionist Jerzy Bartz, saxophonists Henryk Miskiewicz and Zbigniew Jaremko, trumpeters Henryk Majewski and Robert Majewski (father and son), trombonist Roman Syrek and flautist Jan Baytel. The music is all Fusion oriented, with great melody lines. Smietana plays some excellent solos and is well supported by his partners. Overall this is mainstream Fusion, which ruled in the 1980s, so one must not expect complexity and innovation in what is supposed to be “good time” music, which it certainly is. The level of professionalism and talent expected from Polish Jazz are certainly there. Recommended to Fusion fans!

Track listing: 1. Bieganie po Manhattanie 2. Alisia 3. Tabasco Song 4. Podróżując we śnie 5. Trzech panów w łódce 6. Samba Carrera 7. Papierek lakmusowy 8. Od siedmiu wzwyż 9. Polowanie na robaczka 10. Samochody w pokrowcach

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Wojciech Kaminski – Open Piano (Polish Jazz Vol.66, 1982)

Wojciech Kamiński - Piano

Zbigniew Jaremko - tenor saxophone
Henryk Majewski - trumpet
Janusz Zabiegliński - alto saxophone, clarinet
Władysław Halik - bass saxophone
Zbigniew Konopczyński - trombone
Marek Bliziński - guitar
Janusz Kozłowski - bass
Jarzy Bartz - drums 

Open Piano (Polish Jazz Vol.66, 1982)

This album by veteran pianist / composer Wojciech Kaminski presents the versatility of the Polish Jazz scene, which at all times presented the entire scope of Jazz music, from Ragtime to Avant-Grade, all of them on a very high artistic level. Kaminski was active on the local scene mainly in the traditional Jazz circles, co-founding such splendid ensembles as Ragtime Jazz Band and Old Timers. He felt most comfortable playing Jazz, which ranges from Ragtime, through Dixieland and into Swing and selected some of the absolutely best local players at the time to accompany him on this album: trumpeter Henryk Majewski, trombonist Zbigniew Konopczynski, saxophonists Zbigniew Jaremko, Janusz Zabieglinski and Wladyslaw Halik, guitarist Marek Blizinski, bassist Janusz Kozlowski and drummer Jerzy Bartz. Kaminski composed five of the ten compositions on this album (the remaining five include four standards and one composition by Zabieglinski). The level of performance is absolutely excellent all the way through and every Jazz fan should be able to enjoy this music for what it stands for: quality and fun! Recommended!

Track listing: 01. Codzienny Blues; 02. Deszczowy Maj; 03. The Wika Rag; 04. The Entertainer; 05. Wchodź po trzech; 06. Autumn Leaves; 07. Ruchome schody; 08. I Wish I Could Shimmy My Sister Kate;
09. Blues Dla Dziewczyny; 10. Jazz Me Blues

By Adam Baruch
www.adambaruch.com

Ewa Bem – Be A Man (Polish Jazz Vol.65, 1981)

Ewa Bem - vocal

Henryk Majewski - leader, flugelhorn, trumpet
Henryk Miśkiewicz - clarinet, alto saxophone
Zbigniew Jaremko - tenor saxophone
Zbigniew Konopczyński - trombone
Andrzej Jagodziński - piano
Jerzy Stawarz - bass
Henryk Stefański - guitar
Tadeusz Federowski - drums
String Orchestra conducted by Zbigniew Jaremko
Zbigniew Wodecki - vocal

Be A Man (Polish Jazz Vol.65)
 

This is the 2nd album by the excellent Polish Jazz vocalist Ewa Bem, who dominated the female vocals spot in her country in the late 1970s and 1980s and is still active today. The five songs, which were included on side A of the vinyl LP are standards, which she sings in English and the six songs on side B of the vinyl LP are all originals, written especially for her, which she sings in Polish. She is accompanied by a wonderful octet, called Swing Session, led by Polish Jazz icon, trumpeter Henryk Majewski, who also wrote the wonderful arrangements. The octet members include also reedmen Henryk Miskiewicz and Zbigniew Jaremko, trombonist Zbigniew Konopczynski, guitarist Henryk Stefanski, pianist Andrzej Jagodzinski, bassist Jerzy Stwarz and drummer Tadeusz Federowski. Male vocalist Zbigniew Wodecki guests on two songs and three songs have also string arrangements. Whatever Bem misses as a virtuoso vocalist, she fully compensates by her wonderfully warm tone and exceptional musicality. Her interpretation and delivery are first-rate and she is definitely a world-class performer. Although pretty mainstream, this music is done with elegance and taste, which is why it stands the test of time wonderfully. Warmly recommended to fans of female Jazz vocals!

Track listing: 1 Medley: Them There Eyes, Love Is Here To Stay, Exactly Like You, The Days Of Wine And Roses, When The Saints Go Marching In (arr. H. Majewski) [06:26]; 2 Misty (E. Gerner - J. Burke) [04:31]; 3 The Man I Love (G. Gershwin - I. Gershwin) [03:47]; 4 Oh What A Beautiful Mornin' (R. Rodgers - O. Hammerstein II) [03:29]; 5 Grovin' High (C. Parker) [01:21]; 6 Badz mezczyzna (H. Majewski - M. Czubaszek) [02:56]; 7 Czy powie mi pan dzien dobry (Z. Jaremko - M. Wojtaszewska); Zbigniew Wodecki [03:30]; 8 Dzien dobry Mr. Blues (J. Wasowski - G. Perkun) [05:39]; 9 Wyznanie wieczorne (Z. Jaremko - K. Trębacz) [02:52]; 10 Tylko dni (Z. Jaremko - M. Czubaszek) [02:47]; 11 Rob co chcesz (H. Majewski - M. Czubaszek) [02:42]

By Adam Baruch

http://adambaruch.com/