Joachim Mencel Quintet - Artisena (FOR TUNE 2018)

The journey to realizing this album lasted several years. Its first stage was the writing of a cycle of jazz compositions which were inspired by Polish traditional dances, including the dances of national minorities. I got this idea from a compositional concept applied by Fryderyk Chopin, with the difference that my compositions were jazz themes, as opposed to classical pieces. Like Chopin, I titled these compositions with names of folk dances, and thus my Polonaises, Oberek, etc. came to be. In the initial version, I arranged these pieces for a nonet which included five wind instruments. Although I was happy with the effects of my work, I still wanted – other than a jazz sound – to achieve a traditional music sound as well, in order to create a fusion of ethnic music and jazz in this element. And so the choice came about… I decided to fulfill an old dream of mine and learn to play the cranked lyre (also known as the hurdy-gurdy).

I spent several years on this task, and reached a point where I could play most of the pieces I had written earlier on the lyre. This was also the basis for a reworking of the entire cycle, in which I no longer combined the sounds of the piano and lyre with wind instruments, but with violin and guitar. On the album, the violin is played by Weronika Plutecka who, on the other hand, doesn’t usually deal with jazz, but with ethnic music. On guitar we’re accompanied by a superb jazz musician – Szymon Mika. This performance apparatus is supported by a steadfast rhythm section: Paweł Wszołek (bass) and Szymon Madej (drums). I’m happy that, with this crew, I was able to create and record an ethno-jazz album, in a very broad understanding and on numerous levels of that stylistic term. Ethno-jazz is in the spheres of composition, its sound and in the music’s performance. Let the music play!

Joachim Mencel

1. Polonez A-moll 09:44

2. Oberek G-dur 08:50

3. Kujawiak F-moll 07:13

4. Krakowiak F-dur 07:03

5. Mazurek D-moll 04:56

6. Kołomyjka Bb-moll 07:27

7. Czardasz C-moll 08:05

8. Polonez D-dur 06:59

Joachim Mencel – piano, hurdy-gurdy

Weronika Plutecka – violin

Szymon Mika – guitar

Paweł Wszołek – double bass

Szymon Madej – drums

All compositions by Joachim Mence

Laar Farobiansah Gamelan - Bidadari (FOR TUNE 2018)

1.Bidadari kecilku 08:13

2.Cinta dua dunia 04:46

3.Motor antic 07:03

4.Jangan kau bangunkanku 11:51

5.Berita pagi ini 05:24

6.Senja di balkoni 04:44

Sahnil Arif Farobiansah – vocal

&

Laar:

Michał Górczyński – clarinet, bass clarinet

Paweł Szamburski – clarinet

&

Warsaw Gamelan Group:

Dawid Martin

Krzysztof Dziuba

Karolina Karwan

Maria Białota

Przemysław Piłaciński

Neves Sulumuna

Dampi

Janczarski & McCraven Quintet - Liberator (FOR TUNE 2018)

It was once said: Jazz was discovered by Afro-Americans… for white Europeans. It was still that way in the 1950’s, but the following decades annulled that state of affairs. This is because Jazz has managed to create an incredible space for musicians of all geographical latitudes and longitudes; this CD is yet more evidence of that. Borders and barriers have remained in the background, and the listener quickly succumbs to the charm of transparent compositions, distinctly outlined by two horns, vigorously and precisely supported from beginning to end by an attentive and highly cooperative rhythm section. And the pianist – for me, a discovery. She’s assertive, but not domineering, thoroughly grounded in Jazz tradition, like all of the other musicians, and just as bold as they are. The symbol of Liberator obligates – and Jazz, as always, this time once again, emancipates.

(Jerzy Stępień, PSJ)

1.The Torn Veil 15:09

2.The Spark (for Jasia) 10:04

3.Sweet Love of Mine 09:09

4.Daddy's Bounce 08:47

5.Hambone / Intertwining Spirits 11:14

6.I Want To Talk About You 06:55

7.Love Is 08:59

Borys Janczarski – tenor saxophone

Stephen McCraven – drums, body

Joanna Gajda – piano

Adam Kowalewski – double bass

Rasul Siddik – trumpet, flutes, percussion, vocals

Franciszek Pospieszalski Sextet - 1st Level (FOR TUNE 2017)

FRANCISZEK POSPIESZALSKI SEXTET- Premiera Płyty "1st Level"

Projekt z kompozycjami autorskimi z pogranicza jazzu, improwizacji oraz klasycznej muzyki współczesnej. Wielokrotnie nagradzani i wyróżniani członkowie Zespołu, chcą przybliżyć polskiej publiczności trochę skandynawskiego klimatu, który pozwala na rozwijanie swojej kreatywności, muzykalności oraz przekraczania barier, schematów, oraz przyzwyczajeń o które łatwo w dzisiejszym świecie, w którym jak to niektórzy mówią: wszystko zostało już zagrane. Lider zespołu Franek Pospieszalski w swoich utworach chce temu wyraźnie zaprzeczyć.

Muzycy przybywają z misją otwarcia się na świat muzyki autorskiej, nowoczesnej, awangardowej oraz eksperymentalnej. Skład zespołu jest niekonwencjonalny, a inspiracje sięgają od muzyki klasycznej poprzez rock, muzykę tradycyjną aż do niezliczonej ilości barw jazzu który zanurzony w improwizacji pozwala uwydatnić charakter każdego z muzyków. Franciszek Pospieszalski pozwolił w swoich kompozycjach zawrzeć polską duszę, niecierpliwą ciekawość świata oraz bezkompromisowość, w niełatwych czasem „kontrowersyjnych” brzmieniach nordyckiej niepogody. 

1. Cis-Dur 8:28

2. Walc Dla Królowej 3:10

3. Krzyk 3:20

4. Duetion 4:50

5. Tance Polowieckie Borodina 3:12

6. Parówki Z Jamem 3:37

7. Spirala Nienawisci 4:05

8. 11 Listopada 5:29

Kuba Więcek – alto saxophone / saksofon altowy

Jędrzej Łagodziński – tenor saxophone / saksofon tenorowy

Grzegorz Tarwid – grand piano, el. piano / fortepian, fortepian el.

Szymon Gąsiorek – drums, electr., vibraphone / perkusja, media el., wibrafon

Albert Karch – drums / perkusja

Franciszek Pospieszalski – double bass / kontrabas

special guest:

Szczepan Pospieszalski – trumpet / trąbka (02)

Matthew Shipp Quartet - Not Bound (FOR TUNE 2017)

Recorded June 14th, 2016 at the Park West Studios in New York (USA).

1. Soul Secrets 10:14

2. Is 11:26

3. Not Bound 11:34

4. Totality 16:13

5. This Coda 8:18

Matthew Shipp piano

Daniel Carter flute; trumpet; tenor, soprano saxophone; clarinet

Michael Bisio double bass

Whit Dickey drums