I would not be myself if I did not mention some Jazz from Poland on this first occasion. I‘d like to make it my hallmark, due to both ,my knowledge about Polish Scene and its incredible quality ,which truly deserves wider recognition. This CD is very special for many reasons.
As a live recording, a part of seven happening performances realised on main streets of Gdansk – Mikolaj’s native city, it poses some unusual qualities ,mixing surrounding sonic environment to the complexity of project. But also changing improvised parts of music according to what’s happening in this landscape and creating on the same hand completely new qualities. Trzaska is playing on his sax and bass clarinet in his usual improvising style ,based on the Ayler /Coleman core inspiration and accompanying him in this project rhythmic section – Oles Brothers ( Marcin – Bass ,Bartek – Drums) ,Young Lyons already at that time – now truly well recognised and completely cut diamonds.
The music presented here ,except Coleman’s Lonely Woman is all written by trio itself. Trio which became further few years well known as O.T.O ( Oles-Trzaska-Oles). To say that once and not get back to it in the future: All Kilogram Records issues are completely finished masterpieces ,starting from being completely controlled by artist/label owner recording techniques to final finishing touches regarding publishing cover shape and complexity of graphic design. Nuff Said. Now the Music.
Opening Long Coast is an intro mixing street sounds with the bell from a church on the Mariacka Street all recorded as a one take in the same time. On that bit percussion shimmering with deep and reflective clarinet steps becomes Pigeon By Night with no brake. Oles Twins as a section posses a unique appearance of being like a single organism. Their rhythmical anastomosis has truly unprecedented quality. It’s more biologic than fusion in pure musical meaning. Piece possessing quality of the folk tune runs beautifully to the ending double bass outro.
The Mottlau Heart ,tribute to picturesque Danzigen river spins around lazily driven by partially set up oriental rhythm ,cut out by pulsing walking on the bass and clarinet melody. Like in the best jazz tradition ,that one is build as well on a folk theme explored in repetitions of the melody and changes of speed showing true virtuosity of players.
Following Hanza Soul, is above all the show of Bartek’s incredible understanding of building tension of the piece. His talent to support creative brass improvisation by an ability to dose just enough notes to make steps for leader’s climbs, to accent collective achievement without a smallest trace of his own shine. It’s rare and hard to find quality.
Coming after Machandel & Dagoma is the most melodic piece on the disc. Gentle sax vocals keep reminding me deeply the rough beauty of Nordic chants , teamed with as always perfect section support. Kill still Good Night is the next of many Trzaska’s pugnacious motifs I love so much. They are brilliantly clever. Showing artists tremendous sense of humour spelled into short words, sometimes just few sounds. Phrases are followed closely by brothers. They share a lot of this qualities themselves and mutual understanding and a joy of playing together is “visible” all the time.
There is no sound too difficult to cut off. And whatever it is it never stops them from looking for newer and newer solutions to say the same story in different notes. Closing Coleman’s standard is heart-rending lament showing both : virtuosity of the composer and his followers. There is many ways to tell the Truth ,but just a few did it in the way that it had been noticed. This is the one of these very few sonic treasures.
SOUND QUALITY :