The globalization of jazz has long been a reality and its subsequent contact with ethnically diverse folk idioms has often produced exciting and creative music. This special synergy is no better showcased than on recent offerings from Taso Music. more... (Elliott Simon, "All About Jazz", New York, Oct. 2005)

Tracks:
1. Di Saposhkelekh
2. On the Ahavah Rabba
3. Cosmo
4. Emotions
5. Zbigi
6. Scottish Scott
7. Polish fantasy I
8. Fellow
9. Shepherd's song
10. Polish fantasy II
11. Buzz off
12. Mr. La
13. Tell my my boy
14. Let's go home

Performed by:
Vitold Rek - double bass
Jaroslaw Bester - accordion
Ramesh Shotham - percussion: tavil, mridangam, kanjira, morsing, zarbang, konakol, cymbals, ghatam, and vocal

Recorded:
13 & 14 March 2006 at Loft Studio Cologne, Germany

About:
Stereoplay 5/07,Germany
Phenomenal! Above all, the melange of jazz and Klezmer, of Polish folk music and Celtic influences just sounds outrageously good. The powerful deep tone attacks when Vitold makes his double bass rumble; those unbelievable dynamics, the merciless accuracy of detail which, neither ever too analytical nor too severe but rather – beautifully balanced, ever preserves the organic. You have to have heard it.
Michael Sohn

Audio 5/07,Germany
Sound tip: furious folk-mix, perfect sound
This Polish – Indian trio feeds the brain and imbues the emotions. The way in which Vitold Rek, double bassist par excellence and mandolin ace, accordion magic- man Jaroslaw Bester and percussionist Ramesh Shotham cross the traditional and modern is amazing. Folk music from Scotland to Greece, Klezmer and Tango profit from great virtuosity, spirited rhythm and a tightly contoured, dynamic recording with an enormously clean sound at the deeper range of tones. The second audiophile CD of the month!
Claus Böhm

Stereo 5/07,Germany
... a music, which subtly and profoundly, masterfully and unobtrusively disperses its equanimous charm and which has found a completely natural way of exchange between different cultures.
Stephan Richter

Audio Video, 4/07,Poland
The German label Taso Music has, in this category of music, one of the most original world jazz catalogues which connects jazz with the deep and rich inspiration from global ethnical music. The Polish double bassist Vitold Rek deserves great credit for pioneering this innovative approach to the “jazz of the future”. A graduate of the Music Academy in Cracow and the winner of the individual prize at the Jazz Nad Odr? festival in 1975, he was later to play with group Sun Ship and Tomasz Sta?ko. Rek has been living for many years in Germany where he is an active musician, composer and educator. His newest musical project “Home” was recorded with the Polish accordionist Jaros?aw Bester (the founder of the Cracow Klezmer Band) and Ramesh Shotham the virtuoso percussionist of Indian instruments. The greater part of the material on the CD was written by the leader and is a synthesis between jazz, classical and folk music(Polish, Jewish, Scottish and Indian). The gigantic sound of the double bass is filled to the brim with Bester’s songful playing and with Shotham’s oriental rhythm.
Oskar Kowalczyk

Journal Frankfurt 5/07,Germany
The Taunus- based double bassist resident really doesn’t produce jazz for purists. After having musically honoured his Polish homeland, the man with the magic bow now continues his journey eastwards with the Cracow Klezmer accordionist Jarovslaw Bester and the Indian percussionist Ramesh Shotham, with wonderfully lyrical, multicultural music which encompasses all the emotions and which with virtuosity both sensitively and expressively expresses the most disparate of moods.
Detlef Kinsler

Jazzthing, 5/07,Germany
...thanks to Shotham’s ingredients, the trio’s music goes far beyond the limits of progressive Klezmer bands....
Uli Lemke

Jazzthetik 5/07,Germany
... Two Scottish melodies, which are dipped in Italian colours by Rek’s mandolin, encounter an Eastern European accordion sound, Indian percussion and an extremely nimbly bowed bass so compellingly that when listening, the origins of the individual musical components become in the shortest time irrelevant and unfold into something new.
After the vigorous “Mr. La” in which all musicians can once again distinguish themselves solistically
and after the elegiac “Tell Me My Boy” which is imbued with Rek’s bass, we do indeed, in the form of the frolicking, upbeat final track “Let‘s Go Home” have the explanation as to where the “Home” of the CD title lies. “Hey lads, that’s enough music. Let’s go home”, are the nonchalant closing words. “Home” does not need to be inflated to “Heimat”. It can also simply lie in the Taunus, where Vitold Rek lives today.
Guido Diesing

Jazz Forum, 4-5/07, Poland
... “Home” is not jazz inspired by folk music, rather a sublime, consummate, highly refined instrumental folk concert. With regard to instrumental artistry, richness and quality of sound, the high level of the improvisation, the melodic and harmonic beauty, and the ability of the musicians to listen to and connect with one another, “Home” is indeed impressive. This album will be the pearl in everyone’s collection…
Robert Buczek