Jazz

Jerzy Malek Group - Bop Beat (2009)

2012-01-27T09:04:57Z

Jerzy Malek Group - Bop Beat (2009)


01. Red Neons Part One (2:09)
02. Bop Beat (7:46)
03. Get Up (5:41)
04. Red Neons Part Two (3:22)			play
05. The Quay (7:51)
06. Don’t Ask Me Why (5:37)
07. Street Dance (6:29)
08. Red Neons Part Three (2:13)			play

Musicians:
Jerzy Małek  trąbka
Tomasz Grzegorski – saksofon tenorowy (1,4,7,8)
Dariusz Herbasz – saksofon tenorowy (2,3)
Radek Nowicki – saksofon tenorowy (6,7)
Dominik Bukowski – vibes
Jan Smoczyński – klawisze
Konrad Zelmer – giatara
Sławek Jaskułke – rhodes (7)
Adam Kowalewski – bass (1,3,4,5,8)
Krzysztof Pacan – bass (2,6,7)
Roman Slefarski – perkusja
Bogusz Wekka: percussion (1,2,4)
Mika Urbaniak: vocal (3)

Jerzy Malek is trumpeter which is good example of the strong wave of young Polish jazz musicians coming one by one to the scene over the last few years. Regardless of his young age, 29 years, he already recorded seven albums and is assertively looking for his own, individual sound in jazz. Not all of those albums were immadietely printed after recording. This cd is for example waited nearly three years to be issued. Nonetheless it sounds very well and freshly proving that Małek and his companions are able to create music that may last longer than few days or months after premiere. First I shall write few words about Małek, then about musicians that accompany him on this record and finally about the program and music itself.

Jerzy Małek started his musical education in his native city of Elbląg and completed it in excellent jazz faculty of Music Academy at Katowice (in class of Polish virtuoso trumpeter Piotr Wojtasik). He quickly made his name in polish jazz through participating in jazz competishions and through playing as sideman with such renown polish jazzmen like Jarosław Śmietana, Zbigniew Namysłowski or Zbigniew Wegehaupt to name just a few. He feels very well at concerts, like plays live and is able to fit in almost any squad or type of music. This is basically what is his strongest side: great universality and width of his musical interests. And to some extent his weakness also because he clearly has not yet developed his individual style, he is still looking for it.

I believe that so many polish names at once may be puzzling for foreign listeners but the fact is that nearly all of them are very promising players, winners of country and international jazz competitions and many of them already recorded interesting albums on their own. Simply speaking these are all names to remember and one should pay tribute to Małek that he was able to persuade them to play together. The sligltly funny side of such a success is that quite ofhen on this album Małek sounds not as a leader but rather like average band member. Other musicians take over from him and dominate one song or the other like Jan Smoczyński whose play on this record is especially noteworthy.

All music on the record is composed by Malek. So what is its style? Up to this date Malek was known for playing mainstream jazz, in this cd however he deviates (as the title of the album suggests) toward fusion, funky and neobop, therefore music is jazz but also easy-to-listen, communicative. To sum up I want to say that although is some respects this record could be better, for example in my opinion it lacks idea that would keep music together, securing its integrity and cohesion, it is so attractively composed and played that I return to it over and over again. ---Maciej Nowotny, polish-jazz.blogspot.com

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Jerzy Malek – Air (2011)

2012-01-29T09:59:35Z

Jerzy Malek – Air (2011)


01 Slavs 10:15
02 Starka 7:11
03 White Tulips 10:18
04 Specjal 7:44
05 Air 8:18
06 Benio 7:37

Personnel:
Jerzy Małek - trumpet
Marcin Wasilewski - piano
Michał Barański - doubloe bass
Michał Miskiewicz – drums

Trumpeter Jerzy Malek is a good example of the strong wave of young Polish jazz musicians coming to the Polish Jazz scene over the last few years. I am not jazz critic and I will never be. I have neither talent nor inclination in this direction. If you need proof for such my statement this text will provide good one. Why? Because this is album that many critics will disqualify while I wholeheartedly admire it! Before I clarify this situation let me tell you few words about players and this project. Jerzy Małek is arguably the most talented among young trumpeters in Poland (along with Artur Majewski). He is THE most in demand sideman in Poland playing in countless projects: always successful, always inspiring to his partners. But he nevertheless has modest achievements as a leader. Yes, he recorded something like 5 CDs released under his own name but honestly none of them persuaded critics that he is already stand-alone leader capable of joining the greatest in Polish jazz. So this time Małek invited musicians and composed music of such quality and caliber as to once and for all to silence all doubts about his talent. As for musicians better are impossible to find not only in Poland but anywhere! Marcin Wasilewski is on piano whom we know from playing with Tomasz Stańko or in his own trio (check his newest "Faithful"). Michał Miśkiewicz, a drummer, is long-time companion of Wasilewski from Stańko quartet and member of above mentioned trio as well. While Michał Barański, himself absolute top player in Poland, in a smart move by Małek, has replaced third member of Marcin Wasilewski Trio, Sławomir Kurkiewicz, to alter rhythm section sound and make it more flexible in order to adjust it to the leader conceptions. Now as for music, it is all composed by the leader, and it sounds stylish, elegant yet simple and communicative. Although the root of this music is definitely bop and Małek's eclectic style is full of influences from Miles Davis through Lee Morgan or Booker Ervin to Tomasz Stańko, still he quite often sets his voice free. Certainly it's not free in Don Cherry ricochet but rather in Kenny Wheeler conceptual style. But the soul of this music is the beauty of the sound which is magnificent and augmented by excellent play by rhythm section. Marcin Wasilewski piano is capable of both to swing or drive full throttle in typical hard bop style. Michał Miskiewicz drums deliver great punch AND palette full of colours to this music. Michał Barański bass is solid rhythm anchor for Małek fly-aways while his voice remains individual enough never to be mistaken with anybody's else. So what's non-critic verdict on this CD? I do not care that it is nothing new, that musicians stay on so well-known ground, that it more looks back, towards classical roots of music, towards Schumann, Chopin or Haydn than towards American music distant shore. I know I still like it so much that my position is simple: album of the month!!!

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Jerzy Malek – Forevelle (2016)

2017-09-14T13:35:39Z

Jerzy Małek – Forevelle (2016)


1 	Forevelle 	09:28
2 	War Saw 	06:28
3 	Sweet Blue T. 	06:32
4 	Idealist 	06:51
5 	Homeroad 	06:01
6 	3 Pa 	05:53
7 	Summer Girl 	07:57

Jerzy Małek - trumpet
Dominik Kisiel - keyboards
Krzysztof Łochowicz - guitars
Andrzej Święs - bass
Sławomir Koryzno - drums
Maciej Kądziela - alto saxophone (3)

This is the seventh album as leader by Polish Jazz trumpeter/composer Jerzy Małek, recorded in a quintet setting with keyboardist Dominik Kisiel, guitarist Krzysztof Łochowicz, bassist Andrzej Święs and drummer Sławomir Koryzno. Saxophonist Maciej Kądziela guests on one track. Together they perform seven original compositions, all by Małek.

The music is typical melodic mainstream Jazz, full of distinctive Polish Jazz characteristics, like melancholic ballads, Slavic folkloristic harmonies and the overall atmosphere of poignancy, even on the up-tempo numbers. All the seven originals are solid compositions, elegant, well structured and aesthetically pleasing, especially so the ballads, which seem to be Małek's forte.

The execution is also top notch, with evident class and talent displayed by the musicians involved. Małek is an excellent trumpeter, with steady clear tone and brilliant phrasing, and his playing is a great example of the classic approach to Jazz trumpet, which is sadly not very appreciated these days. Kisiel plays beautiful piano lines both on the acoustic and electric instruments, contributing several nice solos and supporting the leader amicably. Łochowicz is a mystery as I could only hear him on one tune and there he was so back in the mix that he was totally lost. Święs, a veteran and brilliant bassist, is one of the top Polish players and every recording featuring his talents is already ahead just by his presence. Koryzno plays also very well, supporting the steady rhythmic patterns with confidence and skill, staying respectfully in the background.

Overall this is a classic mainstream album, which features superb tunes and excellent execution, which should make every Jazz connoisseur in the world happy. There is no innovation or groundbreaking here, but not every Jazz album has to be about these elements. Playing solid, excellent mainstream Jazz like the one here is still Art. ---Adam Baruch, polish-jazz.blogspot.com

Najnowszy projekt Jerzego Małka - “Forevelle” - jest kwintesencją stylu muzycznego, jaki reprezentuje jeden z najwybitniejszych polskich trębaczy jazzowych, począwszy od gry na instrumencie, po sposób komponowania. Forevelle łączy w sobie elementy nowoczesnego jazzu, wyraźnie uwydatnione w języku improwizacji Małka jak i poszczególnych członków zespołu. W sferze kompozycji artysta łączy elementy klasycznego jazzu z aktualnymi trendami, stosując charakterystyczne dla niego połączenia akordów, tworzących szeroką paletę barw. Tematy muzyczne Jerzego Małka cechuje melodyjność, która w połączeniu z brzmieniem trąbki, tworzy bardzo osobisty, naturalny liryzm. Ten specyficzny sposób interpretacji usłyszeć już można na poprzednich krążkach “air” i “stalgia”. Na płycie “Forevelle” można także znaleźć elementy bluesa i zawartej w nim melancholii, tęsknoty, bólu, które na stałe wpisują się w dorobek muzyczny artysty.

Do realizacji projektu Ferevelle Jerzy Małek zaprosił wybitnych muzyków młodego pokolenia. Ich grę cechuje wrażliwość i elastyczność w doborze środków interpretacji, zaskakują bogactwem środków wyrazu muzycznego, inwencją, nierzadko wirtuozerią. Doskonale odczytali intencje artysty jako kompozytora. “Forevelle” to muzyka komunikatywna dla współczesnego odbiorcy także ze względu na dobór bardzo subtelnych środków melodyczno-harmonicznych, zastosowanych przez artystę pod wpływem fascynacji muzyką alternatywną, a nawet bardziej wysublimowanymi formami muzyki pop. Nade wszystko muzyka Jerzego Małka po raz kolejny ukazuje go jako artystę wolności, przekazującego prawdziwe, głębokie i szczere emocje. ---merlin.pl

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