Jarek Smietana - Psychedelic: Music of Jimi Hendrix

Label: JSR, 2009
Catalogue No: JSR 0010
Format: CD

Tracks:

1. Fire (Feat. Nigel Kennedy)
2. Voodoo Child )
3. Rainy Day, Dream Away (Feat. Maciej Sikala)
4. Manic Depression (Feat. Maciej Sikala)
5. Third Stone from the Sun )
6. Purple Haze )
7. Little Wing (Feat. Nigel Kennedy)
8. Up from the Skies (Feat. Maciej Sikala)
9. Crosstown Traffic (Feat. Nigel Kennedy)
10. The Wind Cries Mary)
11. Red House)

Line-up:

Jarek Smietana - Guitar, Vocals, Arrangements
Wojtek Karolak - Hammond B-3 Organ, Keyboards, Voice
Pawel Maciwoda - bass
Krzysztof Dziedzic - drums
 

About:

In 1967 I was 16 years old when I first heard Jimi Hendrix and his album" Are You Experienced. "Since that time I knew that I would be a guitar player. Few people know that from 1969 to 1971 was leading a blues rock group called “Hall”. We played mostly songs by Hendrix, BB King, Albert King, Ray Charles and Fleetwood Mac. I became interested in jazz in 1971 when I first heard recordings of Wes Montgomery and Miles Davis.  I immediately fell in love with jazz. Since that time I am known as a jazz guitarist.  For 38 years so far, I have polished my skills as a jazz guitarist, but the blues has always been my major influence, as much as rock. Now, with more than 50 years under my belt and being well established musician playing progressive jazz and related music, it is my greatest joy to go back to my early fascination with music of Jimi Hendrix.  I think that despite the passage of more than 40 years, an equally expressive guitarist as Hendrix yet has to appear.  Miles Davis once said that Jimi’s music is jazz in its purest form, and I agree with that statement. Hendrix escapes any pigeonhole - his recordings from "Electric Ladyland" are jazz, blues, rock and pop at the same time. It’s just great music; the passage of time has not touched it, as if it was made of the pure gold.  When recording this album, I felt that I am going back to my roots. I was happy that my career of jazz musician started from Hendrix - guitarist, whom I consider a genius, and his music having an ever lasting value.   (Jarek Smietana)

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Guitar player, composer and producer Jarek Smietana has lways beend very active on the Polish Jazz scene leading many groups, including 'Extra Ball', 'Sounds', 'Symphonic Sound Orchestra', and 'Polish Jazz Stars Band'. He also had a series of very successful cooperation with other leaders such as Zbigniew Namyslowski, Slawomir Kulpowicz, Jan 'Ptaszyn' Wroblewski, Henryk Majewski, Piotr Wojtasik, and Wojciech Karolak. Leszek Kotarski wrote about Smietana at the 'Jazz Forum': 'All the notes fall naturally into place. Never garrulous or merely exhibitionistic, it is a jazz concert of the highest caliber. Each phrase is swinging and is full of drive and feeling. In brief, that is how you can describe the music of Jarek Smietana, one of the most outstanding Polish jazz musicians. He has created his own music style and individual sound, always personal yet constantly communicative. His first priority is the highest possible artistic level'.

Jarek Smietana continues his contributions to Polish Jazz in the 21st century. His 2004 album 'The Story of Polish Jazz' included first Polish Jazz rap, with lyrics co-written by Smietana himself and drummer Jacek Pelc. This CD is a tribute to the greatest players and sonic journey into the history of Polish Jazz. His latest projects include albums with Smietana's take on music by some of his favorites: Jimi Hendrix, Ornette Coleman, Zbigniew Seifert, and the Blues.