Andrzej Trzaskowski - 1967 - Seant

Andrzej Trzaskowski

1967

Seant

01. Seant [9:58]

02. Wariacja Na Temat 'Oj, Tam U Boru' / Variation On The Theme 'Near The Forest' [6:37]

03. The Quibble [7:58]

04. Cosinusoida [24:45]

Andrzej Trzaskowski - piano

Ted Curson - trumpet

Wlodzimierz Nahorny - alto saxophone

Janusz Muniak - soprano saxophone

Jacek Ostaszewski - bas

Adam Jedrzejowski - drums

Recorded in National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw, December 1965 and December 1966

Recording director: Antoni Karuzas

Recording engineer: Janusz Pollo

This monumental album, perhaps as important as fellow Polish Jazz Godfather Krzysztof Komeda's "Astigmantic", recorded at the same period, is unfortunately significantly less known and appreciated, both in Poland and abroad, which is a great misfortune. Pianist / composer Andrzej Trzaskowski contributed enormously to the development of Polish Jazz, especially in the field of more experimental, avant-garde, Free Jazz music, which was rapidly developing worldwide in the 1960s. This sextet recording, which includes American trumpeter Ted Curson (of Charles Mingus fame), who was spending as much of his time in Europe as at home, playing along brilliant Polish crew: saxophonists Wlodzimierz Nahorny and Janusz Muniak, bassist Jacek Ostaszewski and drummer Adam Jedrzejowski. The music, all original compositions by Trzaskowski, is simply brilliant and absolutely pioneering in every respect. Listening to this album in retrospect one can hear clearly that in the historic perspective it was as innovative and groundbreaking as anything else created at the time over the pond and beyond the Iron Curtain. In addition it is also aesthetically beautiful and intellectually challenging. An absolute must to any Polish Jazz enthusiast; this is an essential piece of Polish Jazz history.

Andrzej Trzaskowski - 1965 - The Andrzej Trzaskowski Quintet

Andrzej Trzaskowski

1965

The Andrzej Trzaskowski Quintet

01. Requiem Dla Scotta La Faro / Requiem For Scotty [2:47]

02. Synopsis (Expression I, Expression II, Impression) [18:13]

03. Ballada Z Silverowska Kadencja / A Ballad With Cadence In Horace Silver's Style [1:43]

04. Sinobrody / Bluebeard [10:22]

05. Post Scriptum [2:44]

06. Wariacja Jazzowa Na Temat 'Chmiela' / 'The Hop' - Jazz Variation On A Polish Folk Melody [11:05]

Polish Jazz vol. 4

Recorded in Warsaw at Polskie Nagrania Studio

January 20-22, 1965 (tracks 1-4), February 18, 1965 (tracks 5-6)

Recording engineer: Halina Jastrzebska

24-bit remastered from original master tapes XL 0258

Personnel:

Tomasz Stanko – trumpet

Janusz Muniak – soprano and alto sax

Andrzej Trzaskowski – piano

Jacek Ostaszewski – bass

Adam Jedrzejowski – drums

One thing I like about this is that its off-ness is mostly rhythm-centered as opposed to tone-centered. Sure there's dissonance here and there but most of the things that mark this as "avant-garde" involve Trzaskowski and company's tendency to throw in weird, offbeat emphasis and countermelodies. It's a refreshing alternate take on what it means to push the boundaries.

There's also a lot of lower key explorations that the quintet take in between their more involved pieces. i'm not just talking about the interstitial pieces like "Requiem dla Scota La Faro" and "Post Scriptum," but the moments within the longerpieces where the group quiets down for a spell without breaking the momentum of the piece.

Part of the reason that I'm so taken with the 18 minute "Synopsis" is that it lays out all the groups strengths without feeling like an excuse to do so. Let me try to explain that better: most songs that play as omnibus entries to show off just how many things a given group can do feel somewhat self-congratulatory and unearned. "Synopsis" flows naturally as a song of its own while leading you through the whole of the band's breadth and it's so much better for it.

The other lengthy pieces don't quite match "Synopsis" in scope, but they definitely show that Trzaskowski and his collaborators have an easy chemistry with each other. They've also got a nice playful streak in them as on the closing Polish folk interpretation "Wariacja jazzowa na temat "chmiela"" that makes for a nice ly varied listen.

Truth be told, the shorter pieces here are a bit of a distraction to me. They're more showcases for Tzraskowski alone rather than the quintet, and the quintet is the bigger draw and the most impressive aspect of the release is how they work together. They're not really doing anyhting terribly new and exciting, but their playing as a unit is a joy to witness.