This Trio is a cut out from the Pimpono Ensemble, just a Polish wing, so it will be interesting to see what sort of Slavic vs Scandinavian element had been kept in this music comparing to the big squad. As they got some program assumptions clearly displayed in the name of the band I am always craving for a Beauty then I was all ears. All compositions came from the band mates collectively. Four from Bass-man , five from Sax-man and two from the drummer.
From first strike, called Yakuza, it was clear that it is going to be more focused, more open dialogue. Bass is ploughing arco here making the ground for saxophone monologue densely seasoned with energetic and space full drumming. Sax sounds harshly and rough. Music sounds like it is briefly sketched then improvised, but I might be wrong here. Phrase is wild and unpredictable.
My Family Is On Fire is assigned part 3 so it might lead into something more complex later on but I already love it as it is now. Despite the title suggesting rapidity there is no rush there. Wonderful airy sax intro opens it up and keeps building nostalgic melody. Drum framework is equally spacious and sounds unexpected due to use of different preparations. Bass lines are ghostly and staying in the background. This is very Scandinavian indeed and the core of the melody deeply grasps from the folk.
Intention, like title suggests, brings immediate tension build by on repetitive drum figure married to the bass reef. Use of Korg Monotron by the drummer creates some interstellar feeling of an open space. Dark sax solo drifts on that like a lost meteor. On the similar basis comes Wakacje w Kolobrzegu, another tune with very dark feeling, but here drums and electronics are building more horizontal sonic landscapes to which sax lines fits in a natural way.
Coming after Jacob sounds almost like Art Ensemble of Chicago. It posses the same dark and murky feeling of space with lots of air and figurative rhythm section’s work. Sax lines tell the story with gentle articulation and emotional touch.
Very interesting piece is the Medieval. This is for sure the music of silence. Most Nordic and contemporary sounding one on whole recording. All sounds very reserved and intentionally damped. Again the story comes of the saxophone mouth and it is pretty lyrical. It makes no reminiscences to dark ages, but intensive exploration of the percussive disuse by both bass man and the drummer makes it highlight.
Reprise seems to be twin being, which is interesting as they both came from under the different hand. Here feeling of Tundra is even stronger. This is deeply charming theme with lots of connection to Norwegian folk.
Crickets kind of closing this triptych. Not just because it is the last tune there but by the way it communicates with the previous two. Dancing of the bass and sax is a marvellous journey to follow.
All music on this disc is wonderfully composed and arranged. It is played with the marvellous quality and understanding. It is obvious that those three musicians understand each other on the fly without saying. They communicate in milliseconds and act like the cells of the single organism. The way they seek their paths and finding beauty between the notes is adorable and fully convincing to me. I am listening to this recording continuously and still keep finding new fascinating details, which is amazing giving the simplicity of the melodies and almost tangible sense of ambience.