Music for of those who value real jazz, the one played quietly "from the distance", the one that lives in blues tradition of great saxophone and ballad masters like Joe Henderson. Tradition does not mean copycat - Janusz Muniak is already a master of jazz ballad on his own.
Second album of Marienburg - "Miasto Nic" (Nothing Town) reflects on many experiences with film, folk music and mainstream pop, Janusz Zdunek has have in his career.
As often among the creators of jazz music, the main emphasis is on improvisation - and the musicians here do not fail. Imagination with the mixture of acoustic and electronic sounds - all of that makes listening to this CD a pure pleasure.
All the notes fall naturally into place. Never garrulous or merely exhibitionistic, it is a jazz concert of the highest calibre. Each phrase is swinging and is full of drive and feeling. In brief, that is how you can describe the music of Jarek Smietana, one of the most outstanding Polish jazz musicians. He has created his own music style and individual sound, always personal yet constantly communicative. His first priority is the highest possible artistic level. (Leszek Kotarski, Jazz Forum) Audio Clip: Manhattan Joging
Complete chronicles of Polish Jazz milestone - 2nd Sopot Jazz Festival 1957. Featuring Krzysztof Komeda, Melomani, Albert Nicholas, Emil Mangelsdorff, Bill Ramsey, and Joki Freund.
The JBBO is Poland's oldest traditional jazz band and on ofr the best known European Jazz Formation. This is a special release celebrating 40th Anniversry of bands activities. St. Louis Blues
One of the most seek after albums by Milian, first time on CD. A quintessential example of Polish pop music grooves, mixed with Jazz-Pops touches, enhanced by its trademarked "Silesian Sound" - an unique big band flavor achieved by relatively small brass section. Brazilian-like vocals, tight arrangements, distinct dynamics and still - after 30+years - very modern articulation. Our strongest recommendation. Audio Clip: Wsrod Pampasow
Joachim Mencel, a graduate of Katowice Academy of Music - Jazz Department, is one of the most subtle, rich sounding and creative young pianists on the Polish Jazz scene.
The title of this recording, INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS, refers to the process which helped to generate the music. This is a series of dialogues, intimate in the sense that they involve shared and/or familiar experiences expressed in musical terms. It is a music of the moment; improvisations created in free space, in a first meeting. Like a drawing in ink on rice paper, it is what it is with out pretense, without correction, without apology. (Joe McPhee)
The duo often seem like they are balancing upon a precipice and are about to fall into the big void yet somehow arrive together in the same exciting place.
Katarzyna (Kasia) Stankowska is a winner of several prestigious jazz vocal competitions in Poland, including Jazz at the Odra River (2000) and Jazz Vocalists Festival in Zamosc (2001). Even though she is a relatively new face on Polish Jazz map, she's already established herself as one of the most interesting young artists.
Kazutoki Umezu (Alt sax ,Soprano sax ,Clarinet ,Bass Clarinet) is one of the most important reed players in the world. One of his recent project s - Kazutoki Umezu "Kiki" Band" blends elements of middle Eastern music, rock and jazz.
Resonance band is one of the most important groups in Ken Vandermark's immense assortment of undertakings, which not only revisit several decades of history of jazz history art form (from Sonny Rollins to Stan Kenton, to Cecil Taylor, to Ornette Coleman, to Eric Dolphy, to ...), but also writes some new and fascinating chapters...
The two weeks in Krakow, composing, then rehearsing/performing with this incredible group of musicians was truly one of the great experiences of my life. (Ken Vandermark )
