Jean-Luc Cappozzo & Geraldine Keller - Air Prints [Ayler]

Jean-Luc Cappozzo - trumpet, horns, objects
Geraldine Keller - voice, flutes, objects


Ayler Records 2013

Of the four elements, as writes in his liner notes Joel Pagier, the air is the most volatile, therefore open to the most beautiful transformations. And that's what Jean-Luc Cappozzo and Geraldine Keller are doing - they transform the air, trying to impose their will over its nature.

Ballister - Mechanisms [Clean Feed]

Ballister :
Dave Rempis - alto, tenor and baritone saxophone
Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello and electronics
Paal Nilssen-Love - drums and percussion


Clean Feed 2012

You know these players, right? Good. No introduction is needed then. This trio doesn't take time to warm up either. 

"Mechanisms" is a live recording from the Hideout, Chicago. "Release Levers" launches the cd with a full audio onslaught, the trio literally ripping the air. Ferocious sax is slashing the air with the cascading notes, distorted cello and electronic noises wrinkles them around and relentless drumming pushes all of it onward.

Power of the Horns - Alaman [ForTune]

Power of the Horns
Piotr Damasiewicz - trumpet, voice
Adam Pindur - soprano sax
Maciej Obara - alto sax
Marek Pospieszalski - tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute, growl
Pawel Niewiadomski - trombone
Dominik Wania - piano
Max Mucha - double bass
Jakub Mielcarek - double bass
Wojciech Romanowski - drums
Gabriel Ferrandini - drums
Tomas Sanchez - percussion

ForTune 2013

I wrote briefly about the Power of the Horns on the occasion of their Warsaw Summer Jazz Days concert and I promised that I'd write more soon. "Alaman" is not only group's debut release but, with the number 001, it's also the first position in the catalogue of a new polish jazz music label ForTune, a quick view on their list makes you sure the guys are serious about publishing good music. 

Power of the Horns is led by Piotr Damasiewicz whose responsbile for the compositions and for conducting the group that gathers together some of the hottest names on the polish modern jazz scene. They've been performing together for a couple of years, gaining a big, if underground, reputation, the official release was in fact long overdue.

The Group - Live [NoBusiness]

The Group:
Ahmed Abdullah - trumpet and flugelhorn
Marion Brown - alto saxophone
Billy Bang - violin
Sirone - bass
Fred Hopkins - bass
Andrew Cyrille - drums

NoBusiness Records 2012
Recorded in 1986

The Group - "Live" is yet another volume in the No Business unnamed "vault" series , making available dug up archive recordings that document some of the lost chapters in free-jazz history (Billy Bang's Survival Unit, William Hooker & Thomas Chapin duo and Thomas Borgmann Trio have already appeared on the blog).

It takes tjust a quick look at the names' list to know that this a heavyweight band. The Group did never got a chance to document their music in a studio which makes this release a true digger's treasure.

Krakow Concert Schedule 19-25.08

In the middle of august it seems like half of the world is on the vacation, overcrowding the sandbeaches. Still,  for those of you who stayed in Krakow is visiting the city, below are some suggestions for the next week evenings.

21-22.08 Mateusz Palka Quartet at Piec'ART

The musicians forming the quartet are still very young (the leader is 20 years old) but are already getting some due recognition in the polish jazz circles. Mateusz Palka on piano, Szymon Mika on guitar, Alan Wykpisz on double bass and Grzegorz Maslowski on drums. Quite honestly, since there's no music material on the web, I'm not sure what to expect and I'm not that fond of guitar in post-bop jazz settings but I remember Matuesz plaing in a trio and it was a promising performance. 

24.08 Jorgos Skolias & Pawel Kaczmarczyk at Konfederacka 4

Konfedercka 4 is on the four places hosting the URBAN dotART photo exhibition I wrote about last week. Jorgos Skolias and Pawel Kaczmarczyk will play mostly the material from Jorgos Skolias "Tales" cd. You'll be surrounded by the photos and good food but make no mistake - the music will be in the centre of the evening.

The video below presents Jorgos with Pawel's Audiofeeling band, one of the projects in Directions in Music series, this particular one a tribute to Ray Charles.

Nido Workshop - Nido Workshop [dEN Records]

Nido Workshop:

Francesco Chiapperini - bass clarinet, alto saxophone, flute, compositions

Filippo Cozzi - tenor saxophone

Vito Emanuele Galante - trumpet, flutes, compositions

Luca Pissavini - double bass, compositions

Paolo Benzoni - drums, percussions

dEN Records 2012

The idea of workshop band goes straight back to Charles Mingus who would've stop the band in the middle of the song,  make the musicians retry the intro, tempo change or the solo. Jazz music gives you no "definitive" performances, each take can bring new meanings and perspective to the composition - which is why the idea of a "workshop" applies perfectly to any jazz band - meaning the the creative/learning process should be never terminated. Nido Workshop are five italian musicians that describe their meetings as "exchange / clash of ideas" and, the way I undestand it, they refer to an ongoing process.

Maya Homburger & Barry Guy - Tales of Enchantment [Intakt]

Maya Homburger - baroque violin
Barry Guy - double bass


Intakt 2012

Improvised music attracts the rebelious minds with roughness, wildness, vitality and spontaneity. Its intention and direction are born from chaos. On the contrary, classical music strived always for th orderly perfection of sounds - pure, harmonious and balanced. The two opposite worlds are integrated within the music of this duo - Maya Homburger's an acknowledged violinist while Barry Guy's is a one of the leading musicians of European improvised scene.

When the couple play together the musical boundaries disappear and in the middle of the classical vs avant-garde opposition you can see the bounding element of the two traditions - a will of human soul to express itself.

Krakow Concert Schedule 12.08-18.08

Summer continues overheating Krakow streets (although the weekend is deceivengly cool). There are less interesting events than usually but there are many other events to keep you busy.

I'd like to take the opportunity to visit 4 photo exhibitions, organized in Cracow by dotART association from Trieste. The pictures are really great, and, if you can't make the opening day of the exhibition you can check the pictures during next couple of weeks:

- Betel Klub (opening 7 August) [FB event: http://goo.gl/xaGHxG] 
- Pierwszy Lokal (opening 9 August) [FB event: http://goo.gl/6vTjuJ]
- Alchemia (opening 11 August) [FB event: http://goo.gl/4VySvW]
- Konfederacka 4 (opening 13 August) [FB event: http://goo.gl/X7PdmX]
You can check the best photso of the contest on the http://www.urban.dotart.it/





12.08 Jazz Jam Session at Harris Piano Jazz Bar
A jam session with the club's regulars Bartek Prucnal, Kuba Pluzek, Max Mucha and Dawid Fortuna. Should make Monday much more enjoyable.

Devin Gray - Dirigo Rataplan [Skirl]

Ellery Eskelin - tenor saxophone
Dave Ballou - trumpet
Michael Formanek - double bass
Devin Gray - drums


Skirl Records 2012

Devin Gray's debut release (as a leader) sports a mighty line-up with Ellery Eskelin, Dave Ballou and Michael Formanek. If you're not familiar yet with Devin, I think the fact those players trust him to lead them in a band should be an  encouragement enough.

Mikolaj Trzaska - Trzaska Gra Roze [Kilogram]

Mikolaj Trzaska - Bb, bass clarinets, alto saxophones
Waclaw Zimpel - alt, Bb, bass clarinets
Michal Gorczynski - Bb, bass clarinets
Mike Majkowski - double bass
Adam Zuchowski - double bass
Pawel Szpura - drums



Kilogram Records 2013

The music on the cd was recorded almost exactly one year ago - at OFF Festival 2012 in Katowice. Mikolaj has been making music for theatre and movie for quite a while now (only the soundtrack for "Dark House" was officially released on a cd) yet "Trzaska plays (the music from) <Rose>" marks a turning-point in this part of his artistic activity.

Krakow Concert Schedule 5.08-11.08

The days are getting longer and out-of-proportion hot, citizens leave towns so the tourists could come in. In the midst of it all Krakow has still some live music you might live:

05.08 Wilda & Agu at Alchemia

A blues-folk-rock trio, led by Raffaele Marsullo. The poster says : sicilian rock'n'roll bots and polish virgin. The group will play songs made famous by Sinatra, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Oasis and I thinks it sounds quite promising.

Iron Dog - Interactive Album Rock [Phase Frame Music]

Iron Dog:
Sarah Bernstein - processed violin and text
Stuart Popejoy - electric bass and synthesizer
Andrew Drury - drums and mayhem


Phase Frame Music 2012

Improvised music and poetry are a close relatives yet somehow they rarely work out together. "Interactive Album Rock" is a welcome exception to that rule. That being said the music on the album doesn't follow that much any rules or expectations you might have.