Jerzy Mazzoll Quartet with Zdzislaw Piernik at Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 2013 (19.07)

The last "big event" day of the festival presented at Soho Factory three radically diffrent groups and visions of jazz. 

I admit I missed most of the Andrea Marcelli Trio performance, as it's definitely not my sort of jazz - too light, too smooth, too pleasant. Music that would fit into a small club, as you're having beer and conversation with friends, not apt for a big festival scene. 

As for Antonio Sanchez Quartet who finished the night - it was a solid post-bop, some sparks flew especially during the David Binney - Antonio Sanchez duo. But, having still in mind the beatifull Wayne Shorter Quartet and talented Maciej Obara International Quartet, the concert's impact was substantially diminished.

Inbetween the two performances played Jerzy Mazzoll, in the company of three young associates and one veteran of  contemporary music Zdzislaw Piernik - a virtuoso tuba player, musician chosen by Krzysztof Penderecki, Boguslaw Schaefer and many others to perform their original pieces, responsible for introducing to the tuba repertoire new techniques and original preparations of the instrument.

Wayne Shorter Quartet / Maciej Obara Quartet / Piotr Wojtasik Quartet at Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 2013 (18.07)

The most expected day of the festival (at least by me).
Wayne Shorter is one of the last true giants of jazz music, the member of the legendary second edition of Miles Davis Quintet, on his own leader of a few milestone Blue Note sessions. Moreover his recent releases prove that musical force is still strong inside him. The acoustic quartet with Danilo Perez, John Patittucci and Brian Blade moves freely between the subtle and explosive, each change done with balanced grace and impeccable sense of direction and dramatic narration.

Shorter with just a few notes can ignite the music more or change its direction. The musical ideas flow uninhibited, with just a hints of written melodies. Shorter's quartet play along the Miles Davis vision for his last acoustic group – all the musicians are involved in a musical stream, where just a few notes can signal a dramatic change of direction. I'd like to single out Bian Blade on drums for the incessant drive and mastefull dynamic control (joyfull swinging on toms, hard-hitting on the plates), pure musical joy.

Focus on structure, absolute freedom in expression. Shorter and his company seem to be on of the last jazz greats, one of the few to still hold the key to the musical Truth.

Tie Break / Power of the Horns / Sun Ra Arkestra at Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 2013 (17.07

The program of the third day of 2013 Warsaw Summer Jazz Days was a true journey through timespace continuum of jazz music.

Tie Break that started the evening is a group that emerged in the late 80s, amid the monotonic greyness of polish communism reality. The band's colourfull music, stood in perfect opposition to the traditional New Orlean jazz festivals. Funky rhythm section, rock guitar riffs, rebelious sax – tumpet frontline and, most of all, monosyllabic, playfull and tribal chants. Joyfull, energetic and spontanous. Probably influenced the most by electric Miles bands of the era, collected on the black market in underground Poland of the era, spiced with tribal showmanship.

Despite my utter respect for the Tie Break's role in polish jazz history I have to say also that their sound did seem rather outdated, just like great Miles Davis records of the era. The musician's energy on stage made the time travel experience very enjoyable.

Zorn@60 at Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 2013 (15.07)

The intellectual air of New York must be really conservative these days – John Zorn at 60 years young looks great. It's hard to think of an artist more keen on breaking bounderies – Zorn does so in each kind of artistic activity he engages in – as a musician, composer, publisher. Zorn@60 is an event designed to present multifaceted versatility of his repertoire and vastness of his vision and ambitions.

Set I

The all-star The Dreamers begin the evening, in a company of three singers, with just a slight change in a line-up – John Medeski sits in on keys for Jamie Saft. The formation takes upon the proug name Song Project.

Mike Patton cuts through the air with the very first song. It's rock'n'roll with the right amount of hardcore. Some of the next remind you of the drunk bar-songs by Tom Waitts. Patton's voice comes straight from the guts, it can nonetheless charm you with the deep, if a bit rusty tone. Just to pierce the space with primal scream right afterwards.

The dynamite intro is followed by Sofia Rei – songs she's featured in resonate with the bittter-sweet latin note. It's lyrical, Sofia's voice is deeply emotional, if a bit theatrical. Her strong voice fits well with Mike's in the duo setting as well.

The third vocalist – Jesse Harris does not fit the bill. No stage charisma, his voice thin, soft and bit flat. His songs in the smooth-pop-rock-jazz vein, along with occasional bossa nova only reinforced that impression. Nicety but guttless. To create on stage collision between Patton of Harris – that's a sign of demiurge's cruelty.

John Zorn sits in the middle of the stage, a master of puppets of sorts to direct the show – here's a juicy guitar solo by Ribot, there's John Medeski on piano to charm the audience. It's all good, with such fine musicians on stage it must be.

Concert Schedule 15-21.07 Warsaw Summer Jazz Days / Crossroads Festival in Krakow

I'm moving to Warsaw for one week so that's the place which will be featured in our schedule. Warsaw Summer Jazz Days is one of the biggest Jazz festivals in Poland, it's program fits well both mainstream, free, big international stars as well as strong polish representation. I think the names on the list (especially the one in bold font) need little introduction on my part.

Here's the program of the festival

15.07. John Zorn at 60 - A run through a variety of Zorn's project as he celebrates his 60th birtday. The groups will be:

SONG PROJECT, ILLUMINATIONS, THE HOLY VISIONS, THE ALCHEMIST, TEMPLARS-IN SACRED BLOOD, THE DREAMERS, ELECTRIC MASADA.

16.07. A day for fans of guitar and flamenco.
MARCIN OLAK QUARTET, RENAUD GARCIA - FONS, PACO DE LUCIA