KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA
Crazy Girl

PowerBros PB00165

Audio Playlist:

The Genius of Krzysztof Komeda

Tracks:

1. Ballad for Bernt  [03:27] 
2. Crazy Girl  [02:41] 
3. Typish Jazz  [03:33] 
4. Moja Ballada [03:33] 
5. Get Out of Town (C. Porter) [03:41] 
6. Cherry  [03:09] 
7. Stella by Starlight (Young/Washington) (first version) [06:15] 
8. Fourth  [01:53] 
9. An Oscar for a Devil (C. Parker) [06:29] 
10. For Heavens' Sake  [05:05] 
11. Three Little Words  [05:29] 
12. Stella by Starlight (Young/Washington) (second version) [02:35] 
13. This or This  [08:08] 
14. Sophia's Tune [06:41] 

this CD is enhanced by video footage with the interview with Komeda's wife - Zofia.

Recorded:

2nd Jazz Jamboree Jazz Festival (?), Warsaw October 1960 (4, 5, 8, 12), 4th Jazz Jamboree, National Philharmonics, Warsaw October 1961(1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13), 7th Jazz Jamboree, National Philharmonics, Warsaw, October 1964 (14)

Performed by:

Krzysztof Komeda - piano
Bernt Rosengren - tenor sax
Roman Dylag - bass
Lech Dudziak - drums
Adam Skorupka - bass
Adam Zielinski - drums
Adam Jedrzejowski - drums
Jimmy Gourley - guitar

Music by:

Krzysztof Komeda unless otherwise indicated

About:

Discovering things again after many years is really very useful. Assaulted by fresh and new events and impressions we are losing a clear vision of the bygones that grew dim in our memory. This disc will help you to discover the early but mature years of Krzysztof Komeda /1931-1969/. The time is 1960 and Komeda had behind him some four years of professional jazz playing and striving for perfection mainly as a pianist. It brought obvious results and fortunately some recordings were made than we can enjoy now. A trio, as everybody knows, is a fine vehicle for a virtuoso player, and pianist especially. Jazz trio that is Consider Bill Evans or Keith Jarrett, or Art. Tatum. But then, Komeda was not considered a brilliant technician but rather a reflective and creative painter of moods. Anyway, here we have the audible proof of his technical prowess: crystal-clear runs with each note pronounced distinctly; chordal components perfectly balanced...Yes, Komeda was a pianist no doubt about this and he would become a perfect one, were it not for two ?obstacles": his talent and flair in composition and his tragic, premature death. Komeda partners in these recordings are rhythm-men, bassists and drummers, but bassists in the first place: Adam Skorupka and Roman ?Gucio" Dyl?g. In some six pieces Bert Rosengren, the Swedish eminent tenorman joins the Trio. His soli, especially Parker's "An Oscar For a Devil", are memorable. A marvellous chunk of jazz. In the same concert during Jazz Jamboree '61 the brilliant American guitarist also joined the Trio - Jimmy Gourley. And so, we ask ourselves: Is the sound of guitar more suitable for Komeda's moods? - Gourley's guitar with no doubt. Both recorded pieces were refreshing and plain beautiful, though they are different, the first being a ballad, the other a swinger. The Komeda Quintet of 1936-64 is quite a rarity too, mainly because of Tomasz Stanko, that was to gain notoriety as the convincing free-man, plays muted trumpet here with a heartfelt plays tenor saxophone, Janusz Kozlowski - bass and Czeslaw Bartkowski - drums. This combination never happens again, but happily it was recorded. 

All text courtesy of © PowerBros and © Zofia Komeda