This incredible project co –lead by Israeli drummer and Polish vocalist brings together very warm and romantic touch of tradition with nostalgic journey from the jazz landscapes, but not only.Their International quartet completed by British keyboardist Frank Harrison and an American bassist Patrick Bettison, blends in so much more.
The core of co-operation here is mesmerizing connection between Sylwia and Asaf. They are listening to each other very close and carefully and results of this attention are gob-smacking. Lyrics are here all written in Polish (translation available in linear notes) and they are in fact more like a short poems than like songs. Such a contents demand more sublime treatment and very personal touch to expression .
As it is my native language I am swallowing meaning of words by heart, but I am very curious how they would appeal to an international audience. By that I understand romantic nature of the poems coming straight from Polish folk. Or classical music connection with songs alike Schubert’s Lieders for example which mood can be claimed international heritage nowadays.
As are feelings and emotions. They don’t belong to a particular nation, but to every human being.
Her gentle Alto is creating very intimate structure and trio is accompanying with great sensitivity. This applies to songs which are actually sung or mono declaimed in a verbal manner like Come to Me and Dreams Dreams, but those are covering a part of the recording only. These pieces are very nostalgic and heading towards usual ECM-like territory. Think alike Norma Winston, Lena Willemark or Sidsel Endresen.
Another part is even more challenging as She is using her voice there in purely instrumental manner. She is dialoguing with Asaf’s drums as well as with Bass and Piano, often closely repeating her lines.
Piece like Vortex brings reminiscences of jazz fusion with Latin music, with impetuous piano a la Chick Corea from his Return to Forever period, with vocalize alike too. Gentle ballads like A Hymn or Mandragora are challenging listener again with culmination build by Sylwia’s scat dialogues with piano or drums, often both.
Spacious character of the music and huge volume on climaxes are giving good view in both, her vocal skills and voice volume. Nostalgic mood is constantly present on this recording. Together with bass lines it often sets mood of the recording close to feeling which reminds me music universe of the seventies. But we are leaving now 40 years later and nothing is the same. Hence this modern approach and all what artists inherited from the past and present had been incorporated to the project too. That’s what made it significantly different.
Influence in music comes back in a bit similar way like in fashion. Means that old is never completely lost and so called new is always harvesting from the fertility of the past. Show must go on just like a replacement of human generations. Most important thing is to find this seeds inside his own soul and they certainly did it. Touch it and I promise it will touch you back.