Andrzej Trzaskowski...has played something of a pioneering role in the brief history of Polish jazz...as a composer Trzaskowski goes far beyond the confines of jazz. His wide knowledge of musical compositions enables him to express himself in the idioms of Webern and Messiaen, as well as in those of neoclassicists... Audio Clip: Wariacja Jazzowa na temat Chmiela
Out in 1976, TWET (supposedly an acronym of musician's initials), is a perfect example of free-jazz attractiveness potential, so seldom truly realizes. But here it materializes, to the sensitive listener's satisfaction.
"Essential European Jazz" (Penguin Guide for Jazz)"..his quintet record “Astigmatic,” from 1966, with Mr. Stanko in the group, is one of the great jazz records of its time" (Ben Ratliff, The New York Times, 5/21/2008)
The album documents short lived but very important Stanko's cooperation with McCoy Tyner - influenced pianist Kulpowicz, one of the most innovative bass players in Europe - Rek and the legendary drummer Czeslaw Bartkowski.
This already widely admired record is a creation of three free style masters: the famous trumpet player and composer Tomasz Stanko and two Norwegians - bassist Arild Andersen and drummer Jon Christensen. Six compositions by Stanko and three by Andersen form together a logical sequence, an entity in a larger sense. Wrote British reviewer in "THE WIRE": "Stanko developed his own, highly integrated, transparent style. The music on this record is really absorbing, the execution-impressive".
Tomasz Stanko’s smouldering Slavic soul music and grainy-toned trumpet finds a new context on “Dark Eyes”. Like his hero Miles Davis, the Polish jazz master also has an impressive record as talent scout and mentor, and his latest ensemble pools young players from the North of Europe.
And everything began with a small golden statue of a faun-like Beelzebub, a small sculpture of the purest gold, so finely engraved, so chased, so done up to perfection that it seemed to be the work of some truly beelzebubic Donatello from out of this word or of some Occidentalized Chinaman who spent his whole life forging that one unique thing... from "Peyotl" by Witkacy
"When music has this quality (sounding new each time), be it composed or improvised, written recently or long ago, in a particular recognizable style or none at all, none of this is of any consequence. The players don't matter, instruments are of no importance, the techniques of playing, the tonality of the piece, the tempo, all are just window dressing. The music is bigger than all these when its purpose is fulfilled. Absolutely, cheers to Stanko for his remarkable achievement. "
Purple Sun is a festive fusion album that works well within the constraints of the idiom and avoids all its pitfalls. Stanko and company liberally mix On the Corner-era Miles Davis with the tonal advancements of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
This CD consists of all complete tracks to "Balladyna" theatre play by Juliusz Slowacki at the Theater Ludowy Krakow-Nowa Huta, Poland. Premiere - May 6th, 1994.
