Andrzej Przybielski - W sferze dotyku (In the sphere of touch) (1984)

Andrzej Przybielski - trumpet

W sferze dotyku (In the sphere of touch) (1984)

I was always fascinated by a person of Doubting Thomas. Unlike majority of people he seemed to me no stupid and vulgar man who could not believe in Jesus resurrection. I felt that in deepest sense his desire to actually touch his Master is the essence of humanity. Because in the sphere created by touch all most important human affairs are taking place. Starting from mothers hug soon after our birth. To first kiss exchanged between lovers. First blow you receive from enemies. And so on until the end when we can only pray to have some friendly soul to eventually close our eyes.

But can one somehow touch music? Well, I may surprise you, but I think it is possible. When music really touches me not only my mind answers but my body resonates as well. Honestly without my body answering to such a call by stepping, dancing, moving around I feel a bit like Doubting Thomas. I simply do not believe in music which leave me bodyless, ethereal, unreal. I am flesh and bone. I live and one day I will die. Music invades my soma and we are both in kind of erotical relation.

Well, I believe I will stop here. What is the point of talking about all these things? No point obviously. It is only a pretext to cast more light on music whose rehearsal is no ordinary experience. Music which touches innermost of my soul and trancends this moment into. Into what? Check it for yourself. Confront yourself with piece of art that is overstepping all boundaries of muscical genres, of space, of time. Clearly one of the most powerful recordings in history of Polish Jazz remains uknknown almost to everybody as much in Poland as abroad. Obscure to the absurd point that it is impossible for me to reconstruct the full line-up of of musicians who took part in this astonishing session. I know for sure only that it featured trumpeter Andrzej Przybielski. If you want to get to know more about him check my review of his "Open Session" (2011) or Adam Baruch's text about "De Profundis" (2011). Hero he was and damned, cursed, rejected. Two years after his death no less than throughout his whole life.

Track listing: 1. Promotion 2. Krzykousty 3. Free Bop Towarzyski 4. Big Jack 5. W Sferze Dotyku 6. On

Full album: http://www.mediafire.com/?vijy2uk4nzm

By Maciej Nowotny
http://kochamjazz.blox.pl

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

Tomasz Stanko – Lady Go… (Polskie Nagrania, 1984)

Tomasz Stańko - trumpet

Apostolis Antymos - guitars, drums

Witold Szczurek - bass, bass guitar

Tomasz Hołuj - percussion

Lady Go… (Polskie Nagrania, 1984)

This is the second recording in the series of Jazz-Rock albums created by the great Polish trumpeter / composer Tomasz Stanko in the 1980s. Following "C.O.C.X." and preceding "Witkacy – Peyotl", it is definitely the most melodic and "straight-forward" album Stanko ever recorded, with a set of superb melodies, which are great fun to listen to. Of course in Stanko's case, simplicity means perfection and there is no compromise whatsoever with his usual standard of both performance and composing excellence. Recorded with guitarist Apostolis Anthimos (of SBB fame), who also plays drums here, bassist Witold Szczurek and percussionist Tomasz Holuj, this is a beautiful example of Stanko's versatility and his ability to rejuvenate and reinvent himself every decade or so. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

Track list: 1. Modi Modi; 2. The First; 3. Mr Paul at Marta's Palace; 4. Almost Gama; 5. Lady Go; 6. Last Song; 7. Lakis & Basia; 8. Violet Liquor; 9. Les Papillons Girls; 10. Modi Modi

By Adam Baruch
http://adambaruch.com/