Jazz Archives

"We have known Zbigniew Namysłowski so far as a musician of a small ensemble. Indeed his groups had not for years exceeded the size of a quintet, and lately he has even been playing in a quartet. On this record, however, Namyslowski, by writing his pieces for quartet and orchestra, has created for himself and his remarkable colleagues a vast and colourful tonę background. The idea itself is not new; some major jazz and rock groups have been doing such recordings already. What's new in Namyslowski's approach is, I think the way he is treating here the orchestra. It is no longer restricted to play sweeping chords as merely a harmonic background. Being at once arranger and composer he has assigned the symphonic players an exacting task by writing for them the rhythmic patterns typical of contemporary jazz. And one must admit that they fulfil that task for the most part satisfactorily, thereby giving this recording an unusual expression and a refreshing quality of novelty. Julian Cannonball Adderley said on one occasion that Zbigniew Namyslowski was one of the greatest jazz musicians he had ever known. This recording, with its features of genius, made by Namyslowski on the twentieth anniversary of his activities, does confirm this opinion a hundred per cent."

:::Review from liner notes:::

Zbigniew Namysłowski (1977)

01. Pod dobrą godziną (At the Auspicious Hour)
02. Gdy zakwitnie miesiąc maj  (When May Is in  Flower)
03. Mango-boogie
04. Jasmine Flavoured
05. Upływ czasu (The Passage of Time)
06. Przejażdżka na UFO (Flight on an UFO)

Credits
Zbigniew Namysłowski Quartet:

Zbigniew Namysłowski  — alto saxophone,
Sławomir  Kulpowicz  —  piano,
Paweł Jarzębski  -  bass,
Janusz  Stefański  —  drums
&
Marek  Bliziński  —  guitar,
Józef Gawrych  —  percussion,
Wiesław  Kowalewski  —  percussion.

Orchestra conducted  by Zbigniew  Namysłowski.


Notes
Muza SX 1493
1977

This album by Zbigniew Namyslowski is considered by many as a great peak in his long career. His abilities as an improviser and his skills as a composer come together in order to create a perfect modern jazz recording. The 3 brass instruments (2 saxes and trombone) and the pianoless rhythm section all work in perfect unison with amazing interplay and scary solos chasing one after another. One can find of course influences by John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman, but this is truly original in every sense. A masterpiece!
Polish Jazz Vol.33

:::Review by Jazzis:::

Zbigniew Namysłowski – Winobranie (1973)

1. Winobranie (Wine Feast) / Jak nie masz szmalu to jest łaź (No Dough, No Kicks) 9:55
2. Nie mniej niż 5% (Not Less Than Five Per Cent) 6:35
3. Gogoszary 4:40
4. Pierwsza przymiarka (First Take) / Ballada na grzędzie (Ballad on the Roost) / Misie (Teddy Bears) 14:05
5. Taj Mahal / Winobranie (Wine Feast) 6:55

Credits
Bass - Paweł Jarzębski
Cello, Composed By, Piano, Saxophone [Alto] - Zbigniew Namysłowski
Clarinet [Bass], Saxophone [Tenor] - Tomasz Szukalski
Drums - Kazimierz Jonkisz
Trombone, Percussion - Stanisław Cieślak