Friday, February 3, 2012

Interview with Mikołaj Trzaska - part II

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Second part of the lengthy conversation with Mikolaj Trzaska. Just one question:


3. Jak wyglądał ten moment przejścia, wybór instrumentu, pierwsze fascynacje muzyczne?

Jak człowiek był edukowany tak jak ja, tzn wszystko w jego życiu było już wymyślone. Mój ojciec był malarzem, ja w ogóle nie sądziłem, że ja mogę być kimś być innym, że ja będę chciał być kimś innym. Ja właściwie nie miałem w życiu nawet czasu, żeby o tym pomyśleć. To było jasne, tak jak w tradycjach rodzinnych było dawno, że ojciec był aptekarzem, syn przejmie aptekę, jego syn, wnuk też i to tak będzie. U mnie to tak było, miałem pracownię do dyspozycji, dostałem się na te studia, za drugim razem ale się dostałem, bardzo dobrze, wiesz, pracowałem, wszystko już znałem, miałem kupę narzędzi w pracowni ojca, kupę: pędzli i farb, bleytramów i werniksów, terpentyn i sztalug.
W moich czasach dostać się na studia, to było tak że było 12 osób na jedno miejsce, to było takieo rany. Trzeba było na prawdę nie wiadomo ile umieć, żeby to zrobić, był egzamin konkursowy itd.

A muzykiem w ogóle nie byłem, więc nie miałem żadnych podstaw, te podstawy musiałem sobie jakoś zdobyć sam i różnie to było. W tamtych czasach, a mówię o roku 87ym, 88ym, ludzi w moim wieku już nie przyjmowano do szkół muzycznych, teraz można, nawet ja teraz bym mógł pójść ale się boję, bo się okaże, że jestem totalnym ignorantem i nieukiem. (śmiech). Po prostu chodziłem do ludzi prywatnie, uczył mnie Maciek Sikała zadęcia, Leszek Możdżer harmonii.
Saksofon mi się spodobał, że można w niego dmuchać i wydawać bardzo głośny dźwięk. I ten dźwięk jest jakoś tak, bardziej osobisty niż fortepian na przykład, wiesz, jak się dmucha to się dmucha spod pępka, saksofon to jest tylko końcówka, ten dźwięk naprawdę wychodzi jakoś tak ze środka. I to zresztą ewidentnie słychać, jak usłyszałem Coltranea to zobaczyłem że ten dźwięk na prawdę pochodzi z niego. To nie jest tak, że ktoś coś naciska, klawisz porusza młotek itd. Stroik to jest bardzo cielesna, organiczna sprawa. W związku z tym trudno jest przycwanić w tej całej kwestii.

How did it happen, this passageHow did You you choose the path of music, how did you choose the instrument, what were your first musical fascinations?

When one is educated the way I was, everything in one's life is already thought through. My father was a painter, I wouldn't even think I could become somebody else, that I would want to be somebody else. I didn't even have time to think about it. It was all clear, as it used to be a tradition in some tradesif a father had a pharmacy, his son would take it over, then the grandson and so on and so it would be. That's how it was in my case. I had a studio at my disposal, I was accepted at the Academy, after second try but I did it, all was great, I worked, I knew it all, I had all kinds of stuff in my father's studiopaintbrushes, paints, frames, fixatives, turpentine, easels. In my time to be admitted at the Academy, there were like a dozen people for each place, it was quite anoh my god. One needed to really know a lot, be well prepared , competitive examination and so on.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Interview with Mikolaj Trzaska - part I

with Clementine Gasser. Alchemia, march 2007
Mikolaj Trzaska is as sincere and open while speaking as he is when playing. Initially bit shy, he's a passionate storyteller, he speaks his thoughts clear and without beating around the bush, thinking on the spot, digging inside himself and while you listen to him you have a feeling he's rediscovering new ideas at any corner, he may say he finished his answer and then he continues for another couple of minutes. This interview took place before his solo concert in Alchemia on 29.11.11 (written briefly about in here). I hope you'll find it interesting. ( ps many thanks to Katarzyna Dziubinska for some translations suggestions).



1. Jakbyś miał przedstawić się w kilku zdaniach, powiedzieć komuś co robisz?

Jakbym miał wytłumaczyć ludziom czym się zajmuje? (śmiech) Co ja robię w muzyce? Wiesz, to chyba jest dla mnie bardzo trudne, ale spróbujmy.
Będę mówił z perspektywy polskiej, w tym sensie, że u nas w kraju muzyka improwizowana jest czymś ciągle mało znanym. Jesteśmy, muzycy improwizujący, ciągle uważani za ludzi, którzy nie dokonali sami wyboru, ale raczej skazani na to czy to przez swój brak umiejętności, czy niemożność dostosowania się do muzyki powszechnie panującej. Ale miało być o sobie, ok.

Jestem saksofonistą, nie kompozytorem, ale raczejrobiaczemmuzyki, ja robię muzykę, zajmuję się sklecaniem muzyki. Nie komponuje jej, w takim sensie, czasem biorę papier i piszę. Raczej buduję muzykę, po prostu ona wynika u mnie z pracy, z praktyki, ze słyszenia mojego, wewnętrznego. Robię muzykę, którą wewnętrznie słyszę, że ona we mnie jest a ja wyłapuję z przestrzeni, nie chcę już mówić jakiej, i próbuję przetłumaczyć i wydać z siebie po prostu. Staram się robić to w ten sposób, żeby, ten portret muzyki, który trzymam w sobie, żeby oddać go jak najwierniej. To znaczy żeby było w tym jak najmniej cwaniactwa, jak najmniej jakiejś przymilności, żeby muzyka, którą gram była czystym odzwierciedleniem moich myśli i mojego świata emocji.
I liczę na to, że tego typu uczciwość, tego typu konsekwencja zostanie doceniona. Moje ćwiczenie, moje granie polega na tym, że staram się robić to co myślę, to co czuję w sposób najbardziej wierny, grając maluję rzeczywistość, która we mnie się dzieję. Staram się i liczę na to, że to będzie odbierane, że ja będę wciążczytany. I że to będzie odbierane przez publiczność jako dobro, jako wartość.

What would you say If you were to describe yourself in a few words, explain to someone what do you do?

How would I explain to people what it is that I do? (la ugh) What do I do in music? You know, It's difficult for me, but lets give it a try.
I'll speak from polish perspective. I mean, in our country improvised music is still something little known. We, improvising musicians, are still perceived as people who did not make their own choices but are doomed to do what we do because we are lacking in skills, or maybe we're unable to adjust to the commonly accepted style of music.
I was supposed to talk about myself though, so here it is:

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Chłopcy Kontra Basia at Kolanko (31.01)

I have written twice about this band's concerts around the same time last year (you can find it here and here) and it's great to see them back with both old and new material while the formula they propose (mixing folk-inspired lyrics and melodies with infectious jazzy grooves) remains fresh, spontaneous and entertaining as they prove that folk can be a vital form of expression, modern and authentic.

You can also check the old posts but I think this video material can tell you much more about this group.

a song in reflective mood:

and another one, rather playfull (especially if you can follow the lyrics):


If you want more, check the other YouTube videos  and tune in to the next radio playlist - I'll play some songs from their self-released unofficial EP.

Chłopcy Kontra Basia :

Barbara Derlak - voice, clarinet
Marcin Nenko - double bass
Tomasz Waldowski - percussion

Kolanko. Krakow. 31.01.2011

Monday, January 30, 2012

Jazz Alchemist radio vaults with Antonio Carlos Jobim and others

Another one and the last one of the series of archival programs (I feel confident I'll be up to the task of the first live program in 2012 next week). This one was originally aired on 25.01.2010 and was dedicated to Antonio Carlos Jobim (born precisely 25.01 in 1927) and the subject of bossa nova. Bobby Hutcherson (born 27.01.1941) is also featured plus a some concerts of the period are reffered to. As the temperatures outside, at least here in Krakow, keep falling down I hope it will warm you up.

1. Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - The Girl from Ipanema
2. Voo Voo - Dusza Rusza
3. Joe McPhee & John Heward - Improvisation 2
4. Darren Johnston - Foggy
5. Eric Dolphy - Straight up and down (Bobby Hatcherson born on 27.01.1941)
6. Antonio Carlos Jobim & Ellis Regina - Aguas de Marco (Waters of March)
7. Danilo Rea & Roberto Gatto - Aguas de Marco (Waters of March)
8. Voo Voo - Czas Pomyka (live)
9. Ellery Eskelin, Andrea Parkins, Jim Black - It's a Samba
10. Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim - Drinking Water (Agua de Beber)
11. Darren Johnston - Broken
12. Jackie McLean - Riff Raff (Bobby Hatcherson's here as well)
13. Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim - One Note Samba
14. Jewels & Binoculars (Michael Moore, Lindsay Horner, Michael Vatcher) - Farewell Angelina / What Can I Do

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Mikolaj Trzaska Midrasz Lab at Cafe Cheder (21.01)


With the recent review of the Inner Ear Quartet cd and the soon to be posted interview Mikolaj Trzaska is already heavily featured on the blog in this time so I will write only briefly about his last performance in Krakow.


The evening in Cheder Cafe was a part of a series of Midrasz labs organized by Beit Krakow - a youth association that's reviving jewish society and jewish culture in Krakow. Midrash means an interpretation, and the subject chosen for the evening was Eikhah - the book of lamentations written by prophet Jeremiah who mourns after the destruction of Jerusalem.

A particular evening as it was something much more than just a concert. Mikolaj started by introducing himself, telling about his childhood, about how he found out about his heritage, what it means for him. He commented those stories with two solo improvisation, being equally honest and intimate and attention-grabbing in his music as he was in his words. 
With Zofia Bartoszewicz he "read" through chapters of the book, creating together a musical story of sadness, anger, solitude and hope. Story which, as the evening went on, was also narrated and commented by Tanja Segal -  a female rabbi. In the final part of the evening Mikolaj and Zofia were joined on stage by music students who were in the audience - and, although they (the students) seemed bit reluctant at first, they created together a pair of quite inspiring pieces, melodic, open, filled with gentle yet intense interactions.

A glimpse into the interview with Mikolaj as I find this fragment a fitting commentary:  "people need, we need to be able to identify ourselves with something good, not only in ourselves but also outside, in culture, in family..". And this evening was a good example of that. A thought-provoking, heart-warming (despite the subject) intimate and very friendly meeting with an artist and the culture he represents.

At the end musicians and the audience celebrated together the end of sabbath and we all wished each other a happy new week. It is quite beutifull that an evening of lamentations ended in such a joyfull way.


Mikołaj Trzaska - bass clarinet, alto saxophone
Zofia Bartoszewicz - voice
Cheder Cafe. Krakow. 21.01.2012

Monday, January 23, 2012

Jazz Alchemist Radio vaults with Julius Hemphill and others

Once again we're digging in the archives and I came up with a radio playlist that was aired originally almost exactly one year before - on 24.01.2011. The original post with the playlist can be found here. I hope you'll enjoy this listen. We celebrate birthdays of Julius Hemphill, Ahmbed Abdul Malik, some concerts and then recently reviewed cds.
If anyone is interested - I'm getting much better, I want to thank you for the 'get healthy' wishes I received, and I am planning to get back with the live program in two weeks (as the next monday Hadar Noiberg Trio play a concert in Alchemia).

1. Antonio Carlos Jobim & Ellis Regina - Waters of March (Antonio's birthday on 27th)
2. Julius Hemphill Sextet - Otis' Groove (Jiulius' birthday today)
3. Chlopcy Kontra Basia - Oj Tak
4.  Ahmed Abdul-Malik - The Hustlers (Ahmed's birthday 30th)
5. Julius Hemphill - Savannah Suite (for cello, flute, percussion, with Erik Friedlander, Marty Ehrlich, Pheeroan AkLaff)
6. Jeremiah Cymerman - Act I (from "Under a blue grey sky")
7. Luc Houtkamp - State Street Blues (from "Luc Houtkamp in Chicago")
8. Derek Bailey - Three Pieces for Guitar (Derek's birthday on 29th)
9. Derek Bailey - What it is (with Jamaladeen Tucuma and Calvin Weston)

Ahmed-Abdul Malik with Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane
10. Julius Hemphill Sextet - Floppy
11. Chlopcy Kontra Basia - Mam ja Męża
12. Julius Hemphill - Dogon A.D.
13. Luc Houtkamp - Who is Claude McLin
14. Jeremiah Cymerman - Act VI
15. Ahmed Abdul-Malik - Waikida Hena
16. Chlopcy Kontra Basia - Tomasz
17. Julius Hemphill Sextet - The Answer


Also: Chłopcy Kontra Basia are playing on 31.01. in Lokator. Krakow. Feel invited.


Friday, January 20, 2012

Inner Ear (Trzaska / Swell / Holmlander / Daisy) - Breathing Steam [Kilogram]

Inner Ear Quartet:
Mikolaj Trzaska - alto saxophone, bass clarinet, tarogat
Steve Swell - trombone
Per-Ake Holmlander - tuba
Tim Daisy - drums

Kilogram Records 2011



Inner Ear group is an offspring of Ken Vandermark's Resonance Project (it's second edition to be precise, the one that resulted in "Kafka in Flight"). All the musicians involved here arrived late to Krakow the first night of the project and thus was formed the group to play the last set of the evening. 
Ironically enough, when the decision to reunite came and the band was to play a small tour in Poland last year, Tim Daisy and Steve Swell got stuck at the airport in Munich and couldn't show up for what was planned to be the final concert of the Autumn Jazz Festival of 2010. The other two played that night with Ken Vandermark who fortunately was still in town (more about which in this post). All the travelling - logistics problems did slow them down, but in the end the quartet got together, united by the will to play music with each other. The music on this cd was registered a week later in Radio Gdansk Studio.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Coltrane on Coltrane (edited by Chris DeVito)

Coltrane on Coltrane

Edited by Chris DeVito

Chicago Review Press 2010
This is the first time I write about a book on this blog but if anything good came out of the appendix break it's that I had finally time to finish some reading I'd been planning for quite a long time

I remember the first time I've heard John Coltrane's duo cd with Rashied Ali, that was how it all started for me. I had listened before to Coltrane with Davis, I had heard and loved "Love Supreme" but when I heard "Interstellar Space" I knew, somehow, I felt touched by this music. It was free, powerfull, deeply spiritual. I felt liberated, empowered.

Coltrane spoke through his music in particularly clear way. He didn't have much need for words. But when he did use them he did it wisely. This book gathers together all available Coltrane's interviews, covering most of his career span and diversified topics. The power of his spirit speaks through the modesty in which Coltrane expresses his thoughts. In addition to the interviews (some of them newly transcribed from the surviving audio tapes) Chris DeVito collects a number of liner notes and short articles about Coltrane which gives the reader a more complete feeling of the era.

Enlightning and fascinating reading. Easily recommended, belongs in any jazz collection.

My goal is to live the truly religous life and express it iny my music. If you live it, when you play there's no problem because the music is just part of the whole thing. To be a musician is really something, it goes very, very deep. My music is the spiritual expression of what I am - my faith, my knowledge, my being - John Coltrane quoted in Paul Zimmerman's "The New Jazz" in Newsweek 12.12.1966



Here's an audio recording of the interview with Frank Kofsky which can be found in the book.

Monday, January 16, 2012

From Jazz Alchemist Radio vaults - something funky for carnival

I still am quite limited in my activity so instead of a new live playlist I dug into the archives and decided to draw from the selection of more laid-back Jazz Alchemist playlists. So here we have a program that aired originally on 4th May 2009 and was dedicated to what's funky in jazz.

William Parker with his Curtis Mayfield project played around that time in Warsaw and this was the main inspiration fot the topic chosen (Kris Wanders and Dragons 1976 appeared in Krakow as well at that time). I hope that you'll enjoy this and it will get you in the right mood for some funky carnival party. (sorry for the mic quality - the program was prepared at home).

1. Dragons 1976 - Drifting
William Parker. Photo by K. Penarski
2. Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy - Papa's got a brand new bag
3. William Parker Octet - We People Who Are Darker Than Blue
4. Albert Beger, William Parker, Hamid Drake - Funky Lacy
5. Kris Wanders Unit - Continual Derangement
6. Mitch & Mitch - Frankkus' Dilemma
7. Spaceways Incorporated - Red Hot Mama / Super Stupid (K.Vandermark, N.McBride, H.Drake)
8. Sex Mob - Please Please Please
9. James Brown - Medley (Papa's Got a Brand New Bag / I Got You (I Feel Good) / I Got The Feelin')
10. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Sex Machine
11. William Parker Quartet - Groove
12. Liquid Soul - Ramblin'
13. William Parker Raining on the Moon - Music Song
14. William Parker Raining on the Moon - The Watermelon Song
15. Ray Anderson Big Band - Don't Mow Your Lawn
16. William Parker & Hamid Drake - Never Run But Go, part 2.
17. William Parker & Hamid Drake - Black Cherry
18. Jason Adasiewicz - Rolldown (with Aram Shelton in the group)

"Never Run But Go, Part 2" from William's and Hamid's record with Peter Brotzmann "Never Too Late But Always Too Early" is also used in the background during the announcements.


Sunday, January 15, 2012

Tarfala Trio - Syzygy [NoBusiness]

Tarfala Trio:
Mats Gustafsson - tenor, alto saxophone, fluteophone
Barry Guy - double bass
Raymond Strid - drums, percussion

NoBusiness Records 2011






If you're interested in improvised music at all, you're quite familiar with and possibly fond of all three musicians named above. No surprise really as they're all about the most active and prolific masters of the improvised stage. And they prove so with this particular release that was recorded live in Belgium in 2009.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Dennis Gonzalez & Ingebrigt Haker Flaten - The Hymn Project [Daagnim]

Dennis Gonzalez - c trumpet, gongs, sleigh bells, pao de chuva, kalimba, Indian cowbells, voice
Ingebrigt Haker Flaten - contrabass
Henna Chou - cello
Aaron Gonzalez - contrabass
Stefan Gonzalez - drums

Daagnim Records 2011




I hope most of you are familiar with Ingebrigt's duo cd with Hakon Kornstad  "Elise". Rooted in the tradition of religious folk music. When Ingebrigt met Dennis at Dallas the theme of church music came up and it was close to both of them, that's how "The Hymn Project" was born.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Appendix break

I hope you all had better start of New Year. I started with appendix. Thus no movement on the blog recently and it might be so for another week or so. On plus side, while in hospital, I finally found time to finish some reading, which I'll write about soon. I hope you'll forgive me this silent period.
Yours sincerely
Bartek
Jazz alchemist