Have Yourself a Merry Jazzy Christmas playlist a.d. 2012

I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and he playlist below is my gift. I strived not to repeat any of the songs available on the other two Christmas playlists on the blog and hopefully I've managed to surprise you once or twice.
Anyway, hope you'll enjoy listening to those songs in the next days.
Although it's been said, many times and many ways
Merry Christmas to You

best wishes Bartek Adamczak a.ka. Jazz Alchemist

Louis Armstrong - Christmas In New Orleans
Louis Armstrong - Christmas Night In Harlem
Joseph Spnence - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Electric Mayhem Band (The Muppets) - 'Zat You, Santa Claus
Louis Armstrong & Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby
The Dukes of Dixieland - Merry Christmas Baby
Dianne Reeves - Carol of the Bells
Diana Krall - Jingle Bells
Ella Fitzgerald - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Ahmad Jamal - Snowfall
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Skating
Duke Ellington - Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Carla Bley - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen part 1
Carla Bley - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen part 2
Art Carney - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
Harry Connick Jr. - Mary's Little Boy Child
John Zorn The Dreamers with Mike Patton - The Christmas Song
Frank Sinatra - The First Noel
Mahalia Jackson - Silent Night
Dexter Gordon Quartet - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Trio - The Christmas Song
Dianne Reeves - Christmas Time Is Here
Low - Little Drummer Boy

Jazz Alchemist Radio Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Chrismas a.d. 2012 by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

SzaZaZe with Ola Bilinska at Cheder (20.12.)

I've only recently praised the wonderful duo SzaZa (playing the music along the animated movies by W. Sarewicz) and the duo, in its trio incarnation comes back to Krakow to play with the vocalist Olga Bilinska for a set of interpretations of traditional sephardic music.

But, easy to foresee given how unique and original the band's music is, the interpretations are far from traditional and venture smoothly into the hypnotic regions of electronic drones, multiinstrumental layers and mystery.

The acoustic instruments are dwelling in electronic enviroment. Loops and filters create an impression of multiplied sound, overwhelming and spacious. The music is minimal, peacefull and meditative.

The mbira and metalofon timbre merge softly and reverb in the air creating a dreamy landscape. Perfectly atuned to the cold peacefulness of the winter time outside.
In complete opposition to the pre-Christmas frenzy madness that's outside as well.
The end of the world scheduled for the day after did not take place so hopefully there will be many more chances to hear this music again.


SzaZaZe + Ola Bilinska
Ola Bilinska - voice, electronics, percussion
Pawel Szamburski - clarinet, bass clarinet, electronics, percussion
Pawel Zakrocki - violin, mbira, electronics
Hubert Zemler - metalofon, percussion

Cheder Cafe. Krakow. 20.12.2012

Trabant - Sanger Fra Fredensborg Bibliotek [Pine Productions]

Trabant:
Svein Magnus Furu - saxophone
Adrian Myhr - double bass
Audun Lunnan Hjort - drums

Pine Produtcions 2012

"Sanger Fra Fredensborg Bibliotek" ("Songs from the Fredensborg Library") is a debut release (LP and digital only) from the trio I had a distinct pleasure to hear live on stage in Krakow some year and half ago. An evening about which I've written with pleasure on the blog. And as the trio's music and youthfull energy transferred so well onto the recording let me just re-use (with slight edits) words I've posted on that occasion (feel free, of course, to check the original post).

Jazz Alchemist Radio Merry Christmas playlist

Santa Clauses, Jingle Bells, Sleigh Rides and Red-Nosed Reindeers everywhere. Even on Jazz Alchemist playlist at this particular time of year.

I bring you back a special christmas playlist that aired on 15.12.2008 and I promise You a new one next weekend with a special christmas wishes.

So, if you're tired of seeing red and green colours everywhere, skip this one out, but if you're in a mood for some spirited and merry playing and singing, tune in and enjoy! (You can also check the 2009 Christmas Set that I've uploaded last year).

1. Muppets - Christmas Is Coming

2. Frank Sinatra - We Wish You The Merriest

3. Brian Setzer Orchestra - Sleigh Ride

4. Dean Martin - Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix)

5. Jerzy Szymaniuk - Gdy Się Chrystus Rodzi

6. Ray Brown Trio and Dee Dee Bridgewater - Away in The Manger

7. Eric Johnson - First Noel

8. Ella Fitzgerald - Winter Wonderland

9. Harry Connick Jr. - Frosty The Snowman

10. Mighty Blue Kings - All I Want For Christmas

11. Bing Crosby - Happy Holliday (Beef Wellington Remix)

12. Kenny Wayner Shepherd - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

13. Dianne Reeves - The Christmas Waltz

14. Clusone - White Christmas

15. Leszek Dranicki i Maciej Sikała - Gdy Śliczna Panna

16. Aretha Franklin - Joy To The World

17. Brian Setzer Orchestra - Santa Claus Is Back In Town

18. Louis Armstrong & Velma Middleton - Baby, It's Cold Outside (Mulato Beat Remix)

19. Anna Maria Jopek - Na Całej Połaci Śnieg

20. Dexter Gordon - Christmas Song

21. Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Ashrift Remix)

22. Ella Fitzgerald - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

23. Muppets - Christmas Is Coming

24. Jeff Beck - Amazing Grace

Jazz Alchemist Radio archives. Merry Christmas!!! A.D. 2008 by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

Tomasz Dąbrowski - TOM Trio [ILK]

Tomasz Dąbrowski - trumpet, balkan horn
Nils Bo Davidsen - double bass
Anders Morgensen - drums


ILK Records 2012

"TOM Trio" is Tomasz Dąbrowski's debut as a leader, a young polish trumpeter played an active part in jazz/improvised music scene in Denmark for the last couple of years and the international trio's release is presented by the danish ILK Records label.

The disc presents 11 composed pieces, mostly in the coincise and focused song - format, with hummable and likeable melody that manages to match the slavic romantic nature and the scandinavian, nordic cool touch.

Maciej "Korba" Cierlinski & Pawel Szpura play "Die Gezeichneten" at 13th Silent Movie Festival (6-9.12)

The second performance of the Silent Movie Festival that got my full attention was a Maciej Cierlinski and Pawel Szpura duo playing to the 

"Die Gezeichneten" by Carl Theodor Dreyer (Germany, 1922). The movie itself is dedicated to the Russian revolution, a gripping and disturbing portrayal of russian jews situation. Abused by the royal intrigue and victim to society's xenophobia. Caught right between the people's rage and secret police's manipulation.

The story builds up, noir and dense till the final massacre, fittingly portrayed musically by the duo, I was especially interested in seeing again Maciej "Korba" Cierlinski who blew my mind off on the occasion of Hera's concert during the Autumn Jazz Festival. Once again they range of sounds he manages to get out of the traditional hurdy gurdy instrument is awe-inspiring, hypnotic drones, psychodelic distortion, meditatative repetitions of the struck strings. The duo would follow and enhance the picture through the cycle of tension and release leading to the boiling and storming finale. Musicians chose to support the movie, rather than overtake it and they did so to the fullest.

Make sure you see them live if you get the chance. As for the movie, it comes easily recommended, although I'd suggest (regarding the same subject) you see first the "October" and "Battleshpip Potiomkin" which are even more powerfull.

Maciej Cierlinski - hurdy gurdy
Pawel Szpura - drums

"Die Gezeichneten" by Carl Theodor Dreyer (Germany, 1922)

Kino Pod Baranami. 13th Silent Movie Festival. Krakow. 09.12.2012

SzaZa plays Sarewicz at 13th Silent Movie Festival (6-9.12)

13th edition of Silent Movie Festival brought back Krakow's audience back in time to the black & white times of revolution, passion and prohibition. The times where the story to be told didn't need colour or voice. But let us not forget the fact that music was present since the very beginning. The movies were accompanied by live music,  played by musicians representing a vast variety of modern genres including experimental electronica, post-rock, improvisation as well as traditional solo piano recital. 

This way the art is revitalized and re-inserted into a modern context, and the artistic results, about which shortly below, prove it to be as vital and valid as ever.

I could not follow the entire festival's schedule but I'd like to mention two brilliant duo performances. Here's the first one:

The SzaZa duo (Patryk Szamburski and Patryk Zakrocki) played music for Wladyslaw Sarewicz. If you have never heard before the name, make sure to look it up. Wladyslaw Szarewicz's movies are the very first animations ever filmed, introducing the frame-by-frame method and insects (!) as the story's heroes (a movie about ants and beetles in 1912? beat that, Pixar!). The duo's main instruments are clarinet and violin but those were assorted by entire bag of pipes, ocarinas, marimbas, mout-harmonicas, nose-flues, loops, filters etc to create music that brilliantly completed and commented the picture - the evil beetle would sound slightly like a Darth Vader, the heroic lilly's melody would be joyfull and light as the sunshine, the Santa would laugh jovially, the grasshopers would play bass and fiddle swinging brightly. 

One of the most brilliantly entertaining musical performances of the year I've heard, musicians enjoing themselves and the audience equally. Pictoresque, hillarious, cartoonish, positively crazy and seemingly (deceivengly) simple though in fact carefully woven and layered together.

Enjoy the duo's poetic music as well as one of the short films screened that evening - the "Revenge of the Camera Man".

"SzaZa play Starewicz"
Pawel Szamburski (clarinet) & Pawel Zakrocki (violin) and whistles, toys, electronics and objects
Wladyslaw Sarewicz - short movies

Kino Pod Baranami. 13th Silent Movie Festival. Krakow. 08.12.2012

Jazz Alchemist Radio archive vaults. 14.12.2009 with Clark Terry, Dee Dee sings Edith and else

Another one from the vaults for you enjoyment (I could possibly be back live next week but I don't want yet to make any promises). 

This one aired on 14.12.2009, right after that year's edition of Silent Movie Festival, which, unfortunately, I wasn't able to partecipate in, but wanted to feature some of the musicians particpating in the festival anyway (thus Sing Sing Penelope, Shofar and Polpo Motel are present). 

On the tracklist also birthday wishes for Clark Terry, John Abercrombie & Edith Piaf as well as couple of tracks from the albums which I've happened to enjoy very much at that moment (including the monumental "Summer Suite" by the Satoko Fujii's New York Orchestra). Enjoy!

Clark Terry

1. Clark Terry & Oscar Peterson - Mumbles

2. Sing Sing Penelope - James Bond

3. Shofar - 92

4. Polpo Motel - Imaginary Day

5. John Abercrombie - Soft

6. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Avec Le Temps

7. Susie Ibarra Trio - Azul

8. Mario Pavone Octet - New Socks

9. Oscar Peterson, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry - Blues no.4

10. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Dansez Sur Moi

11. Susie Ibarra Trio - Passing Clouds

12. Satoko Fujii New York Orchestra - Summer Suite

Jazz Alchemist radio vaults 14.12.2009 with Clark Terry, Susie Ibarra and others by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

Peter Brotzmann / Masahiko Satoh / Takeo Moriyama - Yatagarasu [Not Two]

The Heavyweights:
Peter Brotzmann - alto / tenor sax, tarogato, bflat-clarinet
Masahiko Satoh - piano
Takeo Moriyama - drums


Not Two 2012

The concert happened a year ago and it was one of the finest points of 2011 Autumn Jazz Festival. In fact it was one of the finest concerts of that year. Brotzmann, celebrating his 70th birthday, fresh out of the Wels Unlimited festival, brought to Krakow Masihiko Satoh (born 1941) and Takeo Moriyama (born 1945) from Japan. Marek Winiarski from Not Two, who introduced the trio, had said the the band's performance was the best one of the Wels Festival, and it was a promise the groups has mantained (more about the concert in itself in that old post).

Busy weekend at Krakow. Concerts, concerts, concerts!

It was only Sunday that Krakow Autumn Jazz Festival ended (I'm sorry I missed the Ames Room concert, heard it was great), they day after Rafal Mazur and Keir Neuringer finished their duo tour with Anna Kaluza at Literki (haven't missed it, heard it and it was great) and one would maybe think that holiday break was due but concerts and festivals keep coming so please pay attention and I'd like to wholeheartedly recommed to you these events (thursday can give you a small headache):

Thursday - Sunday
13th Silent Movie Festival - Kino Pod Baranami

Among the titles such classics as The Gabinet of Dr Caligari or Metropolis, as well as modern movies like The Artist. Among the groups  / musicians that will provide the music for the picture are DVA (the unique duo from Cech I wrote about this year on the occasion of their concert in Krakow). As well as a wide reppresentation of the alternative / experimental  / electronic / improvised scene in Poland such as SzaZa, Kristen, Levity, Paweł Szpura with Maciej Korba and many more. 

Thursday as well

Eddie Henderson & Tomek Grochot Quintet - Music Academy.

A start of the projects's tour and what I hope will be also a start of bigger series of events under the name of "Jazz in Academia". The band presents some of the most prominent figures of the young jazz scene in Poland such as piano player Dominik Wania, Max Mucha on bass, joined by the veteran sax player Maciek Sikala. 

Thursday again

Marcin Masecki at Bomba - Kunst der Fuge

Marcin Masecki will play "The art of the Fugue" by J. S. Bach and this event will take place at Bomba pub at around 20.30. Masecki's approach to classical music is quite unique and controversial at times but very much intriguing. 

Sunday

Matana Roberts at Piękny Pies! 

A well-known pub have just relocated and celebrates its reopening with music. For this Sunday Matana Roberts will play and I've praised her doing it on the occasion of Warsaw Summer Jazz earlier this year, can't wait to hear more of her in Krakow.

Monday

Jam Session at Literki.

After busy weekend, time to chill a bit. Come to Literki as soon as you finish listening to the Jazz Alchemist Radio playlist (and if you have to leave earlier I understand and forgive you - you can listen to it later on mixcloud). The Jam will be led again by Dominka Rusinowska, Slawek Pezda, Thomas Kolarczyk and Dominik Stankiewicz. Musician or listener, come and enjoy the evening. 

Jazz Alchemist Radio Archives 01.12.2008 with Nicole Mitchell,

Here's another one dug up from the archives for your enjoyment. The program aired on 1.12.2008. I was fresh after the Made in Chicago festival in Poznan which featured Nicole Mitchell's Indigo Trio among others. On the other hand, Szilard Mezei's trio as was only about to play in Krakow in the next week, so was Anthony Braxton's Sextet (the main event of that year's Autumn Festival).
Plus we celebrate birthday of Cassandra Wilson, Jaco Pastorious, Nino Rota.

1. Nicole itchell Black Eart Ensemble - Afrika Rising Trilogy II: Metamorphosis
2. Nicole Mitchell Indigo Trio - Thankfulness
3. Szilard Mezei Trio - Indulo (March)
4. Cassandra Wilson - Easy Rider
5. Anthony Braxton Parker Project - Bebop
6. Mike Reed Loose Assembly - Afterthoughts
7. Jaco Pastorious Big Band - Soul Intro / The Chicken
8. Anthony Braxton & Stewart Gilmor Duo - Kansas City Man Blues
9. Gioanni Tomasso Quintet - Il Padrino (Nino Rota)
10. Anthony Braxton Parker Project - A Night In Tunisia
11. Cassandra Wilson - I Want To Be Loved
12. Mikolaj Trzaska / Friis / Uuskyla - Scandal In the Forest

Jazz Alchemist archives 1.12.2008 with Nicole Mitchell, Anthony Braxton and others by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

Bouge at Alchemia (Krakow Autumn Jazz 2012; 28.11)

Just a brief note about next to the last concert of this year's Autumn festival.  Bouge, consisting of french vocalist Isabelle Duthoit, german trombone player Johannes Bauer and dutch guitarist Luc Ex is a project as much international as particular in its instrumental combination. Voice, trombone and acoustic bass - that line-up is bound to raise some eyebrows. Also those three musicians come from and with completely different musical backgrounds. Namely free-jazz, experimental and punk. 

The central figure is Isabelle Duthoit, an unique vocalist or maybe a term voice artist would be a better fit. She provides screams and whispers and bends her voice in the most feline way. She can growl and tick, and she's an absolute spectacle to see and listen to.

Luc Ex provides a distinctive rock energy, low and slighty dirty riffs fille the stage, a surprising combination of acoustic sound and distorted dynamics. Johannes Bauer's bone connects and cements the whole with focused notes and sharp glissandos. The music is quite theatrical, sometimes terrifying till the point of absurd, sometimes seductive, consistently inspiring and refreshingly unique.

Bouge sounds original their music is uniquely, mind and body, engaging. The concerts was intriguingly unique, utterly enjoyable and refreshingly inspiring. Bouge is a very surprising unit, just see for yourself:

Bouge:
Isabelle Duthoit - voice, clarinet
Johannes Bauer - trombone
Luc Ex - acoustic bass guitar

Alchemia. Krakow Autumn Jazz 2012. 28.11.2012

Dave Rempis solo at Alchemia (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 28.11)

Dave Rempis played in Alchemia a lot. That's a fact. But Krakow's audience had never yet had a chance, as I daresay few did before, to see him play a solo concert.

There are few things in music as demanding as a solo performer. To be able to fill the entire space, to create the entire musical narrativa with just a single voice and, from the audience's perspective, to be have to focus on one person on stage, it can be exhausting, it can be weary, it usually is in fact, it happens to be also extremely satisfying.

And so was this concert. Dave filled the space with fluid alto lines and shattered sounds. The range of ideas was impressive as their depth. The performance was not only intimate and extremely personal, which is usual for a solo setting, it had also an intricate logic and sense of direction that are much rarer.

The music flowed and streamed, inspired and inspiring. Thank You Dave.

Dave Rempis - alto sax
Alchemia. Krakow Autumn Jazz. 28.11.2012

for the encore, Dave played soulfully digging his teeth into this classic:

 

Stefan Pasborg - Free The Moby Dick [ILK]

Mikko Innanen - baritone saxophone
Liudas Mockunas - tenor saxophone
Nicolai Munch-Hansen - electric and double bass
Stefan Pasborg - drums and percussion


ILK Records 2012

If the title "Free Moby Dick" doesn't explain itself clearly enough there's a tiny print below : interpretating six standards from the history book of rock 'n' roll. If that doesn't sound like fun that I don't know what does.

Stefan Pasborg gathers together three friends of his, Mikko Innanen from Finlad, Liudas Mockunas from Lituania and Nicolai Munch-Hansen to perform together such rock'n'roll classics like "Black Dog" as well as "Out In The Tiles" by Led Zeppelin, "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath, "Paint It Black" by Rolling Stones, the modern rock anthem "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes" and the lushfull ballad "Johnsburg Illinois" by Tom Waits. 

Jazz Alchemist Radio 26.11.2012 with ... Jimi Hendrix

Autumn is so intense, and so many new great cds have been released recently that...I decided to catch a short break from here and now and the playlist is dedicated to the one and only the great Jimi Hendrix who would have his 70th birtday tomorrow.

Has there ever been any other musician who changed his instrument for ever in a way and to the extent Jimi did? Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Jaco Pastorious? They've come pretty close but I don't think anyone had such an impact as Jimi did.

Debates aside, hope you'll enjoy the music, some pretty surprising takes on Hendrix songs in there.

1. Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys - Power To Love
2. Robert Dick and Soldier String Quartet - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
3. Mina Agossi - Voodoo Chile
4. Jorgos Skolias & Bronislaw Duzy - Foxy Lady
5. Jamie Cullum - Wind Cries Mary
6. Mina Agossi - 3rd Stone from the Sun
7. Gil Evans Orchestra - Castles Made of Sand / Foxy Lady
8. Jorgos Skolias & Bogdan Holownia - Little Wing
9. Mary LaRose, Steve Swell, Jeff Lederer, Domini Duval - Wind Cries Mary
10. Mina Agossi - Machine Gun
11. Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys - Who Knows
12. Medeski, Martin & Wood - Hey Joe

Jazz Alchemist Radio 26.11.2012 with Jimi Hendrix by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

Mazzoll / Janicki / Janicki - Minimalover [Mozg]

Minimalover :
Jerzy Mazzoll - bass clarinet & a, b, c clarinets
Slawek Janicki - double bass
Qba Janicki - drums, percussion, electronics


Stowarzyszenie Artystyczne Mozg 2012

I've written about this trio on the occasion of their concert in Krakow few months back and it's due time to get back and remind you about the cd/dvd they've released as I reckon it's one of the most important events of the year on polish creative music scene. Jarzy Mazzoll shaked jazz status quo back in the 90s (polish yass revolution) and, after few years absence he's back with new group and same unrelentless, rebellious spirit, in the company of old cohort Slawek Janicki (muscular tone yet light on his feet as a good boxer) and Qba Janicki (infusion of fresh blood straight from the new generation of improvising musicians).

Barry Guy New Orchestra - finale at Manggha (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 23.11)

For three evenings at Alchemia, Barry Guy New Orchestra mixed the elements, ingredients of the band. Feel free to check the previous posts for the detailed line-up of each evening. Both sax trios that make the axis of the band (Evan-Barry-Paul and Mats-Barry-Raymond) could make another statement and develop their history but mostly the line-ups were surprising and unconventional. And so was the music -  exploratory and uncomprimsing.

The three evenings gave an insight into the infinite world of possibilites that exist in a big band, in coulour and texture of music. The music created in an instance, raw yet pure, born from the moment. Majestic or joyfull, energetic or soothing, hidden as well as right in front of your eyes/ears. To be perceived in all it's glory on the final set of those three days, when eleven musicians squeezed onto the stage and ripped and sew again the space with the music.

A series of spontaneously created parallel universes met all together at once yesterday evening at Manggha, given the support of the composed structure.

The Orchestra presented three pieces, each featuring a different main soloists (Maya Homburger, Trevor Watts, Augusti Fernandez). And the music rose in thousands of sounds and colours and shapes, rich and purely majestic. The compositions going light-years beyond any jazz idiom, probably where Gil Evans and Stan Kenton sometimes dreamt of going , concertos for orchestra and soloists. Music that has the immediate element of improvisation built-in, that strikes your heart, while it builds an entire reality of symphonic depth and richness, harmonies sharp or lush, that touch your mind.

And my mind is still striving to grasp it, without any real success. What I know is: those four days of music, in all its variety of aspects and manifestations - that's why we (I hope to speak those words not only for myself) love this music. This is music that unifies passion and vision and expression.

Barry Guy New Orchestra:
Barry Guy - double bass, conductor
Maya Homburger - baroque violin
Augusti Fernandez - piano
Evan Parker - tenor sax, soprano
Trevor Watts - alto sax
Mats Gustafsson - baritone sax, fluteophone
Hans Koch - bass clarinet
Herb Robertson - trumpet, pocket trumpet
Johannes Bauer - trombone
Per-Ake Holmlander - tuba
Paul Lytton - drums
Raymond Strid - drums

Krakow Autumn Jazz. Alchemia (20-22.11.2012) and Manggha (23.11.2012)

Barry Guy New Orchestra - day 3 at Alchemia (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 22.11)

Third day blew the audience off with the final set play by the whole orchestra, did it prepare me for what's coming tonight? I'm not sure but it sure made me want more.

first set
Hans Koch, Raymond Strid
+ Herb Robertson, Johannes Bauer, Trevor Watts

second set
Augusti Fernandez, Paul Lytton
Mats Gustafsson, Barry Guy, Raymond Strid

third set
entire orchestra

(this is from the last day in Alchemia in 2010)

 Alchemia. Krakow Autumn Jazz. 22.11.2012

Barry Guy New Orchestra at Alchemia - day 2 (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 22.11)

As I've anticipated in the previous post, the creative sparks are flying high in Alchemia these days. They've knocked you out the day before, if you've managed to get up for the next evening, they did it again. I'll try maybe to sum up the evenings in Alchemia after it's all over and one has a chance to collect his thoughts. For now, it's just a chronicle and here's what happened:

First set

-Johannes Bauer

-Maya Homburger, Herb Robertson, Per-Ake Holmlander, Raymond Strid 

-Barry Guy, Johannes Bauer, Paul Lytton

Second set

-Trevor Watts, Mats Gustafsson, Augusti Fernandez

-Mats Gustafsson, Hans Koch, Per-Ake Holmlander

Third set

-Augusti Fernandez, Raymond Strid

-Evan Parker / Barry Guy / Paul Lytton

Barry Guy New Orchestra at

Alchemia. Krakow Autumn Jazz. 21.11.2012

Barry Guy New Orchestra at Alchemia - day 1 (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 20.11.)

When you gather together 12 musicians of such caliber as those taking part in Barry Guy New Orchestra creative sparks are bound to fly around all over the place. And this was just the case.

As words fail to depict truly the music and the energy, treat this and the next few posts more as a chronicle of the event than anything else. It's just me trying to pick up some thoughts together, recover from the musical battle.

The orchestra produced forward a group-selection, without repeating once, any of the possibilites presented two years ago. It seems in fact a puzzle-game of the mastermind which consists in confronting different pieces each time, curious of the possible reactions and effects. You might call it a slighly mad chemistry lab.

And the chemistry (alchemy) is transparent, as each setting yields surprise, variety and inspires satisfaction. The highlights of the night, in my ear, were: 

Maya's ferocious and ear-piercing violin against the low riffs on baritone sax and tuba (I did not have a chance before to see Maya in a completely improvised setting and was blew away).

The incessant and unbelievable percussion drive courtesy of the double drum sets (Paul and Raymond). Pair in the front the muscular Mats' tone, with the humourous Bauer's trombone, add Barry's precision and adventouresness and you've got a band on fire. It was loud, it was heavy, it was raw and meaty and it was a blast.

Come tonight for more.

set I
Auguti, Herb, Evan (solos, trio)

set II
Hans, Barry
Maya, Mats, Per-Ake
Mats, Augusti

set III
Trevor, Per-Ake, Paul
Mats, Johannes, Barry, Paul, Raymond

Alchemia. Krakow Autumn Jazz Festival. 20.11.2012

Jazz Alchemist Radio to begin the Barry Guy New Orchestra Week 19.11.2012

I have a slight feeling of deja-vu. Two years ago, on the very similar occasion this very blog was born and, suprisingly, is still well and alive. The playlist is a mere introduction to this week, an attempt to mention each musician taking part in the project. 

Barry Guy brings back his New Orchestra to Krakow for a four-days residence that begins tomorrow, will present various small ensembles (featuring selected band's members) on three evening in Alchemia and a final performance in Manghha by the full orchestra.

Treat this sample as an appetizer.

1. Maya Homburger & Barry Guy - Seconda Sonata (by Dario Castello)
2. Herb Robertson & Mark Solborg - Celestials
3. Barry Guy - Sleep Leaper
4. Mats Gustafsson, Barry Guy, Raymond Strind - Taku
5. Hans Koch & John Edwards - improv
6. Augusti Fernandez, Barry Guy, Raymon Lopez - Odyssey
7. Per-Ake Holmlander - Down & Ups
8. Kris Wanders Outfit - A Man's Dream (from "In Remembrance of the Human Race"; feat. Johannes Bauer)
9. Evan Parker, Barry Guy, Paul Lytton - Zafiro Encore
10. Trevor Watts & Jamie Harris - Sarawak
11. Barry Guy New Orchestra - Oort-Entropy; part 2

Jazz Alchemist Radio 19.11.2012 to introduce Barry Guy New Orchestra week by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

Mischief Theatre at ImproFest - One Wet Man (18.11)

And now for something completely different: a short post about improvisation that has nothing to do with the music, thus having very little to do with what's usually the subject and the goal of this blog.

Anyway the Mischief company created and ad hoc, improvised on the spot movie, a western filled with action, passion, drama, childhood trauma and absurd. The goodie-goodie hero Max J. (one name that sounds like two) fought through his fear of water and saved the beautifull Rosalie and the city of Moscow from the evil gang of bathroom invaders, proving in the course of the action that eating tons of sausage can be a bonding element to a romantic relation and drinking a glass of water can be an act of courage.

I have seen a lot of short form stage improvs, but never anything long-form guided with such a finesse and sense of structure. And the rules of a good improvisation are pretty much the same whether it's music or stage act. It all comes down to putting your skills and immagination to a test, being ready to act and react and co-create, building up an entire story from little more than a scratch.

The audience's suggestions in that case were: western, Moscow, "One Wet Man", bathroom and sausage. How they've managed to put that together escapes my understanding, but they've created an underrated classic of the genre.

If you get a chance to see them, do yourself a favour and don't miss it. As much fun you can fit into one hour without risking the implosion of the universe.

Ratchet Orchestra - Hemlock [Drip Audio]

Reeds: Cristoper Cauley (soprano), Louisa Sage (alto), Damian Nisenson (tenor), Jason Sharp (bass), Lori Freedman (clarinet), Gordon Krieger (bass clarinet); Flutes: Craig Dionne, Jean Derome (bass flute, piccolo, flute)

Trumpets: Gordon Allen, Philipp Battikha

Trombones: Scott Thomso, Jacques Gravel; Brass: Thea Pratt (Eb horn), Eric Lewis (Euphonium), Noah Countability (sousaphone), Gabriel Rivest (Tube); Strings: Joshua Zubot (violin), Brigitte Dajczer (violin), Guido Del Fabbro (violin), Jean Rene (viola), Gen Heistek (viola), Norsola Johnson (cello), Nicolas Caloia (bass), Chris Burns (guitar), Sam Shalabi (guitar); Piano: Guillame Dostale; Rhythm: Isiaiah Ceccarelli (drums), John Heward (drums), Ken Doolittle (percussion), Michel Bonneau (conga)

                                                                          DRIP Audio 2012

I felt that once I've copied the band's members list my work is close to finished. The Ratchet Orchestra is led by Montreal based bass player Nicolas Caloia who composed all the tunes on "Hemlock" which is the big band's second release. Just one look at the line-up gives you some idea about how huge might be the sound of this music.

Keir Neruinger & Rafał Mazur - invitation to Literki, tonight at 8PM

I'd like to pass Rafal Mazur's invitation to the concerts with Keir Neuringer. I've written about the duo on the occasion of a concert at Bomba some time ago. The duo's cd "Unison Lines" comes equally highly recommended.

The concert at Literki is and additional event to the Krakow Autumn Jazz program as well as part of the new and very much-welcomed series dedicated to improvised music Improwizje that will take place at the club.

As such it starts also an international tour by the duo.  Here are the next dates, be sure to see the concert if you're nearby:

Unison Lines European Tour 2012

15.11. - Kraków, klub Literki http://www.barliterki.pl/
19.11 – Warszawa, „Pardon, to tu” http://www.pardontotu.pl/
20.11 – Poznań, Dragon http://www.dragon.krzyk.pl/
21.11 – Gdańsk, Teatr w Oknie www.teatrszekspirowski.pl/
22.11 – Berlin, Sowieso http://www.sowieso-neukoelln.de/#home
23.11 – Leipzig, Galerie KUB http://galeriekub.de/
25.11 – Paris, La galerie G http://lartaugarage.over-blog.com/
27.11 – Brussels, Cafe Central www.lecafecentral.com/
28.11 – Amsterdam, OT 301 www.ot301.nl
29.11 – Geneve, Insubordinations series, le Cabinet http://www.insubordinations.net/agenda.html
01.12 – Wien, Porgy&Bess www.porgy.at

The tour is possible thanks to a funding received by the

Theo Jorgensmann & Albrecht Mauer [Nemu]

Theo Jorgensmann -  g low clarinet, voice
Albrecht Maurer - violin, viola, voice

Nemu Records 2011

"Melancolia" is inspired by Albrecht Durer's engraving from the 1514, symbolic picture produced in times scarred by the inhumane Peasant Wars. Nonetheless the improvised suite presented on the cd is not necesseraily sad.

Jazz Alchemist Radio Archives 09.11.2009 with Paul, Gred, Fred and others

Whoever's in Krakow I invite you to come and see the documentary "Soldier of the Road. A portrait of Peter Brotzmann", screening starts at 8PM at Kino Agrafka. For everyone else's enjoyement (?) here' another from the archives (I promise that next Monday there will be some brand new material and live program will air). The show originall aired on 09.11.2009 and 

We've presented briefly some then-recent releases (Tomasz Stanko's "Dark Eyes", Wadada Leo Smith's "Spiritual Dimensions" and a piece from the "Resonance" box set by Ken Vandermark's project).

We've talked about the coming next week by Londberg-Holms Valentine Trio (2) - part of the 2009 Autumn Jazz in Krakow.

As well as we've celebrated birthdays of Paul Bley and Greg Lake.

The audio is so-so, the introductions are way too long but bear with me as there's some good music inbeetween. Hope you'll enjoy it.

01_Tomasz Quintet Stanko - Grand Central
02_Paul Bley, Gary Peacock, Paul Motian - Fig Foot
03_Fred Lonberg-Holm Valentine Trio - I know
04_Fred Lonberg-Holm Valentine Trio - I Know (reprise)
05_King Crimson - In Court Of Crimson King [BBC radio sessions]
06_Crimson Jazz Trio - The Court Of The Crimson King
07_King Crimson - Epitaph
08_Fred Lonberg-Holm Valentine Trio - The Squimp
09_Ken Vandermark Resonance - The Number 44 (for Ania 'Czarna' Adamska)
10_Wadada Leo Smith Organic Group - South Central L.A Kulture

Jazz Alchemist Radio Archives 09.11.2009 with Greg, Paul and others by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

Concerts, Movies, Festivals and so on. Krakow 11.11-18.11.

It might seem that in beetwen the 28.10-2.11 marathon and the coming soon Barry Guy New Orchestra week Krakow Aumn Jazz festival came to a quick break, which is not entirely true. Nevertheless I decided to take this opportunity and invite you to some events that are taking place soon in Krakow and are worthy of your attention.

First and foremost Cracow Improvisers Orchestra, a collective that unites some of the most active members of the Krakow's improvising scene together will perform a couple of conducted ensemble improvisation tonight in Alchemia. 

Cracow Improvisers Orchestra 11.11. Alchemia 8.00 PM

The very next day a documentary "Soldier of the road" about Peter Brotzmann will be screened in Kino Agrafka. Start 8.30 PM (Reason why we'll have to wait another week for a live radio program. of course there will be something to tune in to radiofrycz.pl anyway).

"Soldier of the Road. A portrait of Peter Brotzmann". 12.11. Kino Agrafka. 8.30 PM

On 13.11 the experimental concert, part of the Muzykoterapia series I wrote about on several occasions, will take place back in Alchemia, the performers will be: Patryk Daszkiewicz, Pawel Dziadur, Martyna Poznanska and Bartosz Ignacy Wrona.

Muzykoterapia. 13.11. Alchemia. 8.30 PM

Keir Neuringer and Rafal Mazur will play in Literki on 15.11. Part of the "additional events" schedule for the Autumn Jazz Festival as well as part of an extended tour the duo will play, I'll dedicate a separate post to give you more details about the other dates and places.

Keir Neuringer & Rafal Mazur Duo. 15.11. Literki 8.00 PM

The recording of a special concert played by Chicago Tentet with guests will be screened at Kino Agrafka. The income will go to the Fukushima fund, as was the original intent of the concert.

Chicago Tentet: Concert for Fukushima. 17.11. Kino Agrafka. 6.00 PM

Last but definitely not least on 16.11 starts the 2012 Audio Art Festival, dedicated the integration of audio and visual arts. The festival will last till 25.11 and will present a variety of artists coming from the aritstic range of experimental, improvised, electronic, electro-acoustic, field recording, installation, performance etc. Please check the schedule as I'm sure you'll find something intriguing, both known and yet unknown to your ears.

http://audio.art.pl/

Audio Art Festival 2012. 16-25.11. Krakow

Kamil Szuszkiewicz - Prolegomena [Slowdown]

Kamil Szuszkiewicz - trumpet
Wojciech Traczyk - double bass
Marcin Ulanowski - drums
Kuba Cichocki - upright piano
Tomasz Duda - baritone saxophone
Macin Gańko - baritone saxophone

Slowdown Records 2011

Kamil Szuszkiewicz is a part of Warsaw active improsised music / jazz scene and he appeared on the blog on the occasion of Profesjonalizm - "Chopin Chopin Chopin" cd, which is but one of the many projects he's involved in. "Prolegomana" is his debut as a leader, released on the autumn last year by the Slowdown Records (run by another active musician on the Warsaw scene - Maciej Trifonidis Bielawski).

"Prolegomena" showcases Kamil Szuszkiewicz not only as an interesting trumpet player but also as an intriguing composer. The initial "Recytatyw" is basically a trumpet trio, sharp trumpet notes cut through the air and the broken drumbeats.  The low, rumbling tone of baritone comes in the middle to add darker hues but stops suddenly to leave on the stage just the single trumpet note, around which slowly but sytematically other instruments start to join back (at which poin the track ends in the fade-away). "Knury" doesn't even feature the trumpet but matches the two baritones against and their scattered honks against the incessant percussion drive and screaming high-pitched arco bass sounds. 

Most of the remaining tracks are played in quartet format with the piano. "Pawana" is gentle and brooding with a simple piano chord and long notes of solitudine played by the trumpet and the bass, the pedal drum playing a steady beat that isn't that much different from a slow hearbeat cycle. "Ryfa" brings some fervent soloing. Dynamic "Skit" is based on the heavy bass riff overlapped with high-pitched screeching sounds of the bowed strings. "Kraksa" brings more of the intriguing mood that reminds a little bit of early Polanski's movies and Komeda's music. There's the same harmonic edge and just a hint of suspense and self-inflicted paranoia. 

"Aria" is possibly my favourite track of the album, a haunting melody played by the trumpet (soft and gentle tone, spacious and airy) and the gentle bass, with a subtle percussion and an electronic sound that appears cyclically, an alien element that becomes an intricate part of the structure. As the music dissolves and disappears, the electronic cycle continues, remaining suspended in the silence.

"Kredyt" is a piano - drums duo, as right hand circles in an assymetric series, the left one hits with the dissonant chords and the drums create a small crescendo within each cycle. 

Last but not least "Pietuszki" pairs the deep timbre of the bass and baritone with the lyrical trumpet, 

the delicate melody flows gently, first played in unisono, then divided into parts played by the separate instruments, lyrically and enchanting (subtle and coulourfull percussion in the background throughout).

This is a most welcomed debut as a leader, one that shows not only a skill-set to play the music but also Szuszkiewicz's vision as a bandleader and composer. And this vision, between the fervent noir moods and deeply lyrical is wholeheartedly recommended.

some tracks are presented in this radio playlist.

Yoni Kretmzer 2 Bass Quartet - Weight [OutNow Recordings]

Yoni Kretzmer 2 Bass Quartet:
Yoni Kretzmer - tenor saxophone
Sean Conly - double bass
Reuben Radding - double bass
Mike Pride - drums

OutNow Recordings 2012

Any quartet with double force in the bass section is bound to be a little on the "weight" side. This is my introduction to Yoni Kretzmer and is plenty of pleasure to meet (listen to) this young tenor player and his comrades.

Stefano Ferrian / Simone Quatrana ImproConnection Tour at Barka (05.11)

The post should be treated more as a Autumn Jazz festival's chronicle than a review. I have written recently about Stefano Ferrian's Nutimbre band and their most recent release "Risk". The two members of the quintet just launched the international ImproConnection Tour which consits of some 24 gigs in various locations, on each occasion the two players will be playing with local improvising musicians. The evening in Krakow was the 4th gig of the series and I invite you to check Stefano's website to see if you can check any of the next concerts (tonight = Vilnius).

There were some really strong music moments during the night and the four musicians really dug deep trying to create on the spot, although it seemed evident that the italian duo knows each other pretty already well. But the connection was established clear and strong and music flowed with the inspired stream, I was particularly impressed by the fast-lightning and yet very precise, fractured and repetitive patterns played on piano by Simone Quatrana but big hands to Paulina Owczarek and Ernest Ogore who stood up for the occasion and played some fervent music to match the Ferrian / Quatrana duo intensity.

The challenge of ImproConnection Tour is to meet everyday with different circumstances and different musicians and to be able to adapt constantly and learn from each opportunity. This is going to be a hard yet exciting time for Stefano and Simone and wish them both the best of luck. May the music continue to flow as strong as it did in Krakow.

A fragment of the previous concert in Brno



Stefano Ferrian - tenor sax, alto sax
Simone Quatrana - piano
Paulina Owczarek - baritone sax
Ernest Ogórek - double bass, electric bass


Barka. Krakow. 05.11.2012

Jazz Alchemist radio Archives - 02.11.2009 All Saints' Day 2009. R.I.P.

Whoever's in Krakow, I invite you to come and see the evening's concert at Barka with Stefano Ferrian and Simone Quatrana. For the rest of you I bring back the playlist that was aired orginally on 02.11.2009 in which we've celebrate the life and music of such beautifull artists like Sirone, George Russell, Rashied Ali, David "Fathead" Newman, Louis Bellson, Hugh Hopper who all passed away during that year.

Sirone

01. Mike Reed's Loose Assembly - Day Of The Dead
02. Sirone-Aisha`s Serenade
03. George Russell-Nardis
04. Michael Zerang / Dave Rempis / Mark Tokar / Steve Swell / Ken Vandermark  - (from the Resonance box)
05. Rashied Ali & Louie Belogenis - Rings of Saturn
06. Doctor 3 - Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
07. Duke Ellington and his orchestra - Skin Deep
08. David Fathead Newman - Hard Times
09. Soft Machine - Virtuality Part 1
10. Soft Machine - Virtuality Part 2
11. Eri Yamamoto, Whit Dickey, Daniel Carter - Rocker
12. Tim Daisy / Dave Rempis / Magnus Broo /  Michael Zerang - (from the Resonance Box)
13. George Russell - Honesty
14. Krzysztof Komeda - Sophia's Tune

Jazz Alchemist Radio Archives. All Saints' Day 2009 by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

DKV Trio at Manggha (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 1.11)

The bar was set up incredibly high at the first set of the evening by the Hera. Still DKV is like an dream team trio, I've heard legends about their concert 10 years ago in Katowice and Marek Winiarski from Not Two tried ever so hard to bring them in to Krakow in the last years but it proved to be impossible because of the musicians schedule - they've among the busiest people in the world. And it finally happened.

And boy it was worth waiting for. The trio grooved with grittines, swinging soulfully and passionately. Just unresistable ride, joyfull and fun. When they get lyrical it's smooth and lushfull, when they hit it hard it's an instant knock-out, when they want to be rough or abstract, they just do, without ever loosing the grip of the story, all even the most abstract dots connect with each other in a perfect way. There's elegance and energy that rarely meet together, the swag and substance, the heavy groove dances lightly on its toes and the trio is just on fire and your foot is toetapping without a stop.

As good as it gets. Smokin' hot jazz. 

2nd set:
DKV
Ken Vandermark - tenor sax, clarinet
Kent Kessler - double bass
Hamid Drake - drums

Manggha. Krakow Autumn Jazz. 01.11.2012

Hera XL with Hamid Drake (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 1.11)

This was for me, and possibly many others, the most awaited evening of this year's festival. Hera is possible one of the strongest units on the scene and it still evolving band, constantly in search of new and exciting. I invite you to check on the blog the review of their 2nd cd "Where My Complete Beloved Is" as well as the interview with the band's leader Waclaw Zimpel. The quartet met with Hamid Drake in Lublin a year and a half ago, the double bill evening ended in a the wonderfully groovy jam session and they immediately hit it off and the idea to work together in the future was born on the spot.

The Krakow concert is the day that this idea came to reality and the band presented a new series of compositions that show the continuous development of the musical vision. Trance, hypnotic, the music would shine with the rhythmi propulsation provided by the double drums sets behind, with the polyphonic melodies presented by the double front line, with the stead bass groove, with sharp guitar sound and the drones of hurdy gurdy.

Hera

There was something absolutely magical about the performance, complete and total experience of sound, rhythm, melody. Omnipresent, the music would take you in wholly, showing you the paradise world of universal love. I honestly lack word to describe the passionate feeling that the music gave me. Hats off especially to Maciej Cierlinski who just added an entire new universe to the band's music (also the craziest solo of the night, if Jimi Hendrix have played hurdy gurdy, that's how it would sound). It was also the first time I've heard them with Raphael Roginski and his unique sound would enhance so fabulously the constant melodious flow.

To have listened to this band was like to jump into a river, and just keep floating, keep admiring the constance of change around you, and it felt so safe and natural to meet all this with an openess of mind and heart. In the words of Joe McPhee: "fucking amazing".

1st set:
Hera XL:
Waclaw Zimpel - clarinet, contralto clarinet
Pawel Postaremczak - tenor, soprano sax
Raphael Roginski - guitar
Maciej Terlinski - hurdy gurdy
Ksawery Wojcinski - double bass
Pawel Szpura - drums

Hamid Drake - drums

Manggha. Krakow Autumn Jazz. 01.11.2012