1. I 2. II 3. III 4. IV 5. V 6. VI 7. VII 8. VIII 9. IX
All compositions by Oles/Trzaska/Oles
Line-up:
Mikolaj Trzaska - baritone & alto saxophone, bassoon clarinet Marcin Oles - double bass Bartlomiej Brat Oles - drums
Recorded:
October 25 & 26 2002 at the Theater in Kalisz Produced by Oles/Trzaska/Oles
About:
"La Sketch Up" is the second album by the group Oles/Trzaska/Oles and the second one published by Kilogram Records. Just as in case of "Mikro Muzik", the first album which received a warm welcome [album of the year 2002 according to Diapazon.pl jazz portal], also this time the musicians focused on acoustic sound of the band, penetrating the areas of improvised music. The band created a mixture of jazz, contemporary chamber music and something that can be correlated with widely understood folk which in this case is of no obvious origin and reference. All the above is not easy to label. The players were involved in exploring the musical minimalism, basing the album material on compositions created together during joint improvisation, although in case of "la'Sketch up", one should speak of tales with no words or titles.
Reviews:
"The trio of brothers Oles and Mikolaj Trzaska bravely explores space once occupied by the ECM recording company, namely jazz nearing silence. They start to whisper and then unexpectedly unleash the beast of energy. References to "L'Ascenceur Pour L'Eachafaud" by Miles Davis, and "Ole!" by Coltrane are traces of a certain sensitivity, because the music itself is original. It is calm and uneasy."
Filip Lobodzinski, Przekrój (November 2003)
******
"It was totally "by the way" that we saw the coming of a real band (...), a small combo, which operates as a working band. I remember "Mikromuzik", a record they put out two years ago, which to this day I have considered one of the most interesting records in my collection. Oles/Trzaska/Oles are an ensemble in which chemistry, as they put it, is the most important. They are a band based on intuition, the musicians influence each other in an unexplained way and communicate with their listeners in the same manner. When you hear their music, you do not ask questions and taking part in the spectacle is an act of faith rather than an effect of understanding for the listener. Such perspective also devaluates the opinions of the musicians' technique. It is hard to conclude on that matter because every one of the musicians plays differently in this band than outside of it, each one to some extent discovers his most intriguing side, the existence of which we do not owe to technique but to consciousness."
Maciej Karlowski, Jazz&Classics (December 2003-January 2004)
******
"Saxophonist Mikolaj Trzaska, one of the leading representatives of the yass scene, invited one of the most creative rhythm sections in Polish jazz: bassist Marcin Oles and drummer Bartlomiej Oles. (...) Even an untrained ear will marvel at Trzaska's lyrical saxophone and clarinet playing and the more demanding listeners will be satisfied with ecstatic free improvisation of the musicians."
Marek Dusza Rzeczpospolita (November 2003)
******
"The last work by the brothers Oles and Mikolaj Trzaska is a remarkable attempt to wrestle the tradition of chamber, contemplative jazz. And - it should be added - of highest standard. Trzaska proved his musical maturity with Milosc and Loskot, now he confidently leads the younger Oles brothers through the avant - garde - ethno improvisation labyrinth (...). Nine compositions begin with a thought, speed up like a railroad engine, to finally close the circle and slowly burn out in silence. The music abounds in undefined nostalgia inspired by Coltrane and chamber music minimalists, there are also distant traces of Krzysztof Komeda and his music for films by Roman Polanski. The whole sounds as a soundtrack for a film noir or a movie by Goddard."
Lukasz Grzymislawski Gazeta Wyborcza (December 2003)