Andrzej Kurylewicz

[Alec]

Just saw two works by Kurylewicz avail at Dusty Groove and they looked interesting. Any comments you'd like to share?

[couw]

I have two LPs featuring Kurylewicz. One is a pretty solid big band date with that crime jazz/tellyvision feel to it. Nothing utterly special, but very nice.

Some parts sound a bit "stiff," but the vast majority goes down smoothly swinging, and yet others are very interesting full colour affairs with a nice euro sound. And Kurylewicz plays a mean valve trombone.

Then I have a 10" LP titled Jazz '58, by singer Wanda Warska, accompanied by Kurylewicz on piano, Dylag on bass and Dabrowsky on drums. I think this must be the same guy. Inspite of some very original titles like "Moonlight in Vermouth," Ms Warska sings with a nice soft-toned voice and this is very enjoyable and pretty music.

[couw]

Edited July 16, 2004 by couw

[mikeweil]

I remember seeing him live on some Frankfurt Jazz Festival - an unplanned appearance to take advantage of his band passing through town at the time of the festival. Nice music with an original touch. He was a prominent, important figure on the Polish jazz scene back then. But I never saw any of his records.

[couw]

digging up this ancient thread to tell you all that the Kurylewicz - Go Right album on Polskie Nagrania is absolutely fabulous.

this is "da shit" as they say. Utterly strong hardbop date with great diversity. Highly recommended!

[Alec]

Thanks for the replies. I'm trying to expand my jazz listening and I looking at the neglected (for me) European jazz scene. I'm finding some great stuff, but I still need to be educated further.

[couw]

These recent reissues on the Polskie Nagrania label have some very nice ones in that euro-hardbop vein. Besides the Kurylewicz mentioned above, there's the Namyslowski and the Trzaskowski disks:

Though the Trzaskowski is more "out" and rather fits with the stuff BN put out in the mid and late 60s by the likes of Hancock and Shorter.

both highly recommended and available from dustygroove. Also in the same series of recent reissues is the Komeda - Astigmatic album. There is a thread on that one in the Album of the Week forum.

The Kurylewicz reminded me somewhat of the Franco Tonani and Giorgio Azzolini disks, Italian hardbop with an edge on the Rearward label.

Edited February 11, 2005 by couw