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

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