Jarek Smietana - Sounds & Colours

Jarek Smietana
Sounds & Colours
Polish Jazz vol.73

Label: Polskie Radio / Polskie Nagrania - Muza , 1987/2005
Catalogue No: PRCD 533 (SX 2537)
Format: CD (24-bit re-mastered from original master tapes)

Tracks:

1. Sounds and Colors
2. Okapi, Pekari, Karibu
3. Flashing Dance 
4. Every Day Niagara
5. Turtle Song
6. Days Of Wine And Roses
7. Try To Make It Better

Recorded:

March 1987, at Polskie Nagrania Studio, Warsaw, Poland

Performed by:

Janusz Smietana - leader, electric guitar (made by W.Dlugosz), acoustic Fender guitar, keyboards, voices
Piotr Baron - Selmer Mark VII tenor saxophone, soprano, clairnet, keyboards
Antoni Debski - Fender bass, synthesizer
Jacek Pelc - Premier drums, Paiste cymbals, percussion

About:

JAROSLAW SMIETANA is one of the premiere jazz musicians in Poland. For many years, jazz guitarist No.1 in jazz critics' and listeners' pools (magazines: Jazz Forum, Jazz, Gitara i Bass, Muzyk). Winner of "Fryderyk '98" award for "Songs And Other Ballads". Honored with President of Cracow Prize for eminent achievements on culture. One of the top guitar players in Europe.

Since 1975 till 1981, he was the leader of the legendary Polish jazz group "Extra Ball". After dispanding Extra Ball he has remained very active on the Polish Jazz scene leading many groups, including '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 Beatles.