"I am not a jazzman" - writes the guitarist in the introduction.
Indeed, if these pieces were recorded by even a great jazz guitarist, we would encounter many minor inaccuracies, noises, overtones, hisses, etc. A pure jazz guitarist playing on a classical guitar - which is not so common - does not care about sound quality and articulation accuracy as classical guitarists do. They envy us precision, years of technique shaping perfection - we have freedom of improvisation (although supposedly the best improvisation is the one prepared in advance;), lack of obsession with beautiful sound, but also a specific drive, rhythmic freedom, etc. A different aesthetic reigns in our sonic realms.
Further reading - "what has been considered a weakness of this instrument for many years - the lack of a wide 'serious' repertoire - has resulted in the creation of pieces on the border of genres. I wanted to present the most important pieces for me written on the border of classical, jazz, Brazilian, and Balkan music on this album."
For his third solo album, Kościuszko chose virtuosic 'pieces' on the border of classical and entertainment, so compositions by creators from Brazil, France, former Yugoslavia, and Poland.
"Don't know why" by Jesse Harris is probably the most famous piece on the album - recorded by Norah Jones, it brought her worldwide popularity, and has also been recorded dozens of times by other artists, including Pat Metheny. I really like the intimate and simple atmosphere of this ballad, I feel that the sound of the solo guitar perfectly captures its uncomplicated beauty" - Kościuszko continues.
We also listen to the often-played Jazz Sonata by Dušan Bogdanović, containing several improvised fragments and Balkan atmospheres; the famous, vital, superbly played Felicidade by Jobim (Roland Dyens' fantastic arrangement - it sounds like 2 independent guitars playing simultaneously!); the well-known 4-part suite Hommage a Villa-Lobos by Dyens or the opening piece of the beautiful 5-part Suite Contatos by the Brazilian, Paulo Bellinati.
The performer writes - "Contatos means 'connection' or 'contact'. Bellinati's music combines the charm of Brazilian folk with the elegance of classical music and the freedom of jazz, making it well understood by listeners regardless of their musical preferences."
In fact, only the fourth part of this cycle is entirely subdued, in the rest, the performer can boast technical capabilities, for example in part 1 - Cadencia unexpectedly after a free-flowing jazzy-Latin passage, we have fragments reminiscent of Spanish Tarantos at the end. The following Contatos is a great energetic piece, for example, to start the day - joyful, vital, rhythmic, with a beautiful melody, arpeggios, joyfully rising thirds, rhythmic modulations. Closing the whole Les Jambes with fast quasi-improvisations and rhythmic complications - performed as here, may provide guitarists with several encores on many stages.
Colorful, diverse, engaging album. Performances are free, virtuosic, and captivating where indicated, lyrical and contemplative in slow parts. In a word - a piece of very good music in the hands of a young, talented, and ambitious musician. Sometimes (e.g. in Dyens' miniature fragments) the bass strings of the guitar (too much nail?) sound insufficiently full, but this may also be a matter of the instrument itself, the type of strings, or the recording method.
I was already enchanted by the composition of our compatriot, classically trained guitarist - now mainly a jazz musician and the leader of his band, during the first listening of the album. It is a small musical miracle that calms the listener, introduces them into a blissful state of musical tranquility and reverie. I wish for myself and for you that Jakub Kościuszko chooses only such timeless compositions for his next solo album...
The performer about this piece - "finally, a Polish gem, being a world premiere - For You by a young, excellent guitarist from Wrocław, Leszek Zaleski (apparently he previously wrote pieces for favorite female friends always with this title:). It seems to sound familiar to fans of the album Beyond the Missouri Sky by Metheny and Haden. He is as modest and sensitive as the music of these two giants."
I hope that the sounds recorded on this album will bring you a lot of acoustic pleasure."
For the author of these words - Guitar sounds jazzy - is already the album of the year in its category! Bravo!
Krzysztof Nieborak, musician-guitarist, guitar teacher, journalist, music organizer, sponsor of school guitar competitions
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