Solo albums part 1 - Piotr Orzechowski, Tomek Choloniewski

After a set of orchestra albums it's turn for the other side os the spectrum - a solo performance. This specific kind of act where the artist has to dialogue with the space, the instrument but, mostly, with his inner self, to provide all the musical structure and substance is necessary for the music to work.


Piotr Orzechowski

Pianohooligan

Piotr Orzechowski - piano

I've written recently a few times about how special talent this guy is, and it is on full display on this cd.

Orzechowski plays a piece by Bach ("Preluda a"), Keith Jarrett ("Coral"), Schostakovich ("Fugue a") and a series of Scherzos of his own. Brilliant technician, subtle and immaginative and sensitive artist. Plays short, coincise pieces bursting with ideas (a suite of sort as some of the themes appear more times throughout the cycle). The inclusion of three composers in the tracklist is a manifest of influences and describes well enough Orzechowski's singular style, and he already posesses a voice of his own, mixing jazz (both traditional and modern), concert piano music (both history and modern), gospel infused chordings (clear influence of Jarrett) and impeccable sense of melody. He confronts the huge history of solo piano music with lightness and bravado.

Piotr Orzechowski / Inner Spaces with David Dorouzka at Manghha (26.04)

Next to the last concert in this year's edition of jazz festival Starzy i Młodzi. I have written recently often about Piotr Orzechowski (couple of pieces from his solo cd can be heard in our last radio playlist) yet it was first time I could hear his solo recital live. Orzechowski is pure talent, as confirmed by al the prizes he got already, he has keen ear and it's clear he's searching for his own kind of expression, drawing on the vast inspirations from film music, jazz, classical. 

Jazz Alchemist Radio with Joachim, Miąższ, Piotr, Pink Freud

cover of Joachim Mencel's Trio "Interludium"

As promised the playlist  goes back to the concerts from the last week and forecasts some of the events of this one. Joachim Mencel played last tuesday (see the post), Miąższ played a week ago (polish readers can look for the review on jazzarium.pl, all the others can get back to this old post about the group), Pink Freud is playing this wednesday while Piotr Orzechowski can be heard the day after (check the previous post for more info about this week concerts). Plus we get two birthdays - true giants of jazz - Joe Henderson and Ella Fitzgerald - hope you'll enjoy the music.

1. Piotr Orzechowski - Scherzo VIII
2. Joachim Mencel Trio - Mystic Call
3. Miąższ - Łodondi
4. Pink Freud - Police Jazz
5. Joachim Mencel - Willem von Hombracht - Harry Tanschek - Tu i Teraz (Here and Now)
6. Joachim Mencel Trio - Overstep
7. Piotr Orzechowski - Prelude a
8. Miąższ - Awangardowa Suszarka
9. Miąższ - Z Wuja Flak
10. Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass - I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues (Ella's birthday on 25.04)
11. Pink Freud - Horse and Power
12. Joe Henderson - A Shade of Jade (Joe's birthday on 26.04)
13. Piotr Orzechowski - Scherzo V
14. Joachim Mencel Trio - Interludium I
15. Piotr Orzechowski - Scherzo III
16. Pink Freud - Punk Freud

Jazz Alchemist Radio with Joachim, Piotr and Pink Freud by Jazzowy Alchemik on Mixcloud

Jazzy Easter

A couple of concerts recently deserved some attention, Pawel Szpura with Pawel Postaremczak duo, as well as Rafal Mazur with Liudas Mockunas played at Bomba recently, both great musical performances. High Definition - a youn polish jazz quartet plays in an hour at Piec ART and I have written recently a litte bit about them - if you get chance come and see them, I should write soon about their self released cd.

Having said that I wish You all Happy Easter, reviews, and radio playlists will come next week.

a half of the High Definition quartet: