Andrzej Przybielski - Tren zalobny (Threnodies)

Andrzej Przybielski
Tren zalobny (Threnodies)

Label: Multikulti (2010)
Catalog: MPI017
Format: CD

1. Andrzej Przybielski - Intro
2. Tren zalobny
3. De Profundis
4. Rotacje II. 1
5. Rotacje II. 2
6. Rotacje II. 3 (Guru)
7. Sacrum
8. Tren zalobny
9. Outro

Lineup:

Andrzej Przybielski - trumpet, pocket trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet
Jacek Mazurkiewicz - double bass, electronics
Pawel 'Model' Osicki - drums
 

Liner notes:

The improvisations of Andrzej Przybylski, Jacek Mazurkiewicz and Pawel Osicki have the atmosphere of evanescence and nostalgia expressed by beautiful, oneiric melodies resonating with the subtle rhythms of percussion which is complemented in terms of color by electronics. The piece "De Profundis" is distinguished by almost insistently repeated melody whose intensity of expression and impact stem from juxtaposing the "hoarse", low timbre of a double bass with the light and sonorous timbre of a trumpet. As a result, the unusual dialogue has emerged, which might be as well described as a dance.
The mood of music transforms all the time. In "De Profundis" the leading, reflective melody is nearly virtuosically transformed by the rock context given at the end of the piece. Each "Rotation" has its own particular character. The first one, due to delicate, dynamic modulation seems to be floating on the surface where shapes and colors vanish in "the fog of melancholy". The second one, whose pulse is given by a descending melodic line in bass, is classically played as though it was a jazz standard. The third "Rotation" and "Sacrum" are distinguished by, one could say, blues narration. The most ephemeral pieces in the album are Andrzej Przybylski's authorial "Treny zalobne" ["Threnodies"], enriched by spatial electronic sounds, the whir of cymbals and Przybylski's voice, where the disturbing pulsation of sounds may be interpreted as the imitation of smoldering pain. The project of the three Polish musicians blends into the movement of narrative music stimulating both imagination and spirituality of a listener. The fact that the artists who have created the improvisations presented in the album are from two different generations is also inspiring. Jacek Mazurkiewicz and Pawel Osicki belong to a younger generation while Andrzej Przybielski has been a part of the Polish scene of improvised music since the sixties and is recognized as one of the top Polish jazz musicians alongside with Krzysztof Komeda, Tomasz Stanko and Zbigniew Namyslowski.
(by Kasia Misiaczyk, translation - Olga Nitsch)


About the artists:

Trumpeter ANDRZEJ PRZBIELSKI is a legend of Polish Jazz.  Although he was probably the most recorded musician in history of Polish Jazz, during his life he has not recorded an album under his own name as a leader.

He began performing on the cornet in 1960s,  first playing traditional jazz in the band that included Zdzislaw Piernik and Jacek Bednarek.  Since mid 60s he became fascinated with jazz avant-garde.  In 1968 he was a winner of the first prize in two categories: as a soloist and as a composer,  at the Jazz over Odra River Festival. He also won 2nd price in band category  with a band called 'Trio Gdansk'.  In 1969 he performed at 'Jazz Jamboree Festival' with Andrzej Kurylewicz's Formation of Contemporary Music. In the same year he performed at Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, and at Jazz Frankfurt composer's workshop in Darmstadt.  Between 1969-1972 he was a regular member of Wanda Warska's 'Basement Club' band.

In 1972, at the Hybrydy Jazz Club, he cooperated with Helmut Nadolski, Wladyslaw Jagiello,  and Andrzej Biezan creating first Polish cult free jazz band - Sesja 72.    He partnered with Czeslaw Niemen for recording session of the legendary free-rock-fusion album 'Marionetki'.  In 1970s he regularly performed in duo with bassist Helmut Nadolskim, and participated in variety of activities including poetry, recordings of music, theater and film. He also worked with a group SBB.

In the 1980's Przybielski was a leading figure in the blooming avant-garde movement that included Sesja 80, Free Cooperation, Acoustic Action and the Green Revolution. He partnered with Tomasz Stanko for a recording session of the legendary Witkacy-influenced Stanko's 'Peyotl' project.  As freejazz-stef blogspot observed, Przybielski 'keeps his notes short, powerful, precise and implicitly rhythmic, with a sound as if he's playing in the same room as you and I, and in that respect almost the exact opposite of what his compatriot Tomasz Stanko does with the instrument'.  Tomasz Stanko joked: '...from 'military' personal the one I admire the most is 'major' Andrzej Przybielski'.   In this decade he  also established his long-term cooperation with the theatre performer Piotr Dudzinski.  He also cooperated with National Theatre (Teatr Narodowy), Performer Theatre from Zamosc, and with Scena Teatru Witkacego in Zakopane

In the next decade (1990's) Przybielski found common language with the younger generation of musicians, including new wave in Polish Jaz: yass (Trupy, Maestro Trytony, Tymon Tymanski, NRD,  Mazzoll & Arhythmic Perfection) as well as with rock bands (T-Love, Variete). In 1997 he joined Tribute To Miles Orchestra, performing and recording with this super group and in many other configurations.

The new millennium was plentiful of various Przybielski's collaborations with all four generations of Polish Jazz scene, including recordings and concerts with Oles brothers, Sing Sing Penelope, Stanislaw Sojka, his own associations, and numerous performances in the larger (Holy Cross Orchestra) and chamber formations (duets, trios). Until the end of his life he has remained very active and creative, full of enthusiasm for the music, always ready for action, always open to all styles and genres. 

Andrzej Przybielski passed away on February 9, 2011. His friend and long time collaborator,  Wojtek Konikiewicz wrote in his remembrance: 'The memory of Andrzej Przybielski survives not only in music, but also numerous anecdotes and sayings, of which hundreds circulate in jazz  environment. He was a man who lived modestly, without requesting privileges for himself, reflecting on his music entirely. Hiss passing is an irreparable loss for the Polish culture - left us the most outstanding Polish jazz trumpet player: a great artist, sensitive, warm and good man'.

PAWEL OSICKI - Musician, Architect, Born In 1983, Started His Musical Adventure At The Age Of 16, Autodidact, Was Not Taught By The State System Of Perfection And Curbing Knowledge And Emotions. Inspired By Many Genres, Including Jazz, Soul, Hiphop, Drumnbass, Blues And Other Regional Genres Of Black, Yellow, Pink And Red Tribes. Graduate Of A Visual Arts High School And Architecture At The Gdansk University Of Technology. Member Of ANSAMBL Trio, Experimental Formation 'PUPUPIDU', Collaborates With Many Polish And European Artists.

JACEK MAZURKIEWICZ - double bass player, composer. For the past 2 years resides in Gdynia. He is interested in improvised, electronic, jazz, folk music. His music is based on emotion and pulse and not on virtuosity typical for jazz double bass players. He likes to mix electronics with acoustic playing. He is still searching for a new sound. Creating music by himself and cooperating with Andrzej Przybielski, Jerzy Mazzoll, Joanna Duda, Dj Ros, Dj Wojak, Jorgos Skolias, Robert Knuth, Am - Sveerg, Jacek 'Budyn' Szymkiewicz, Jerzy Stachura, 'Szulerzy', 'Tangueros Balticos', Musical Theatre/gdynia, ...