Liner notes
The album you are holding was recorded in 2003 and its origins go back to a couple of days in July we spent together recording the soundtrack for the TV Theater show (Parasite, directed by Marcin Wrona). As long-time devoted fans of Andrzej Przybielski’s music, after having collaborated with him for a number of years, we remain constantly impressed by his working methods and the way he views life through the prism of improvisation. At the same time, we believe his music has never been fully presented. That is why we dared produce this disk and be his accompanying musicians during the recording sessions. Most of the music recorded here has been made with no previous rehearsals, preparations or agreements, which reflects Andrzej’s working methodology as well as his firm conviction that real music does not require declarations and if it is to come into being, it wilt do so without them – hence the comments made ad hoc in the studio right before recording a given track. In order to underline the rawness of this music we decided to record it using only three microphones, so that each instrument could fill the same portion of space and therefore be equally important as the other two. (Marcin & Bartlomiej Brat Oleś)
About the artists
Trumpeter Andrzej Przybielski 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'.
*****
Twin brothers Marcin and Bartlomiej Oles (Marcin - bass / Bartlomiej (Brat) - drums) are some the most unique and creative contemporary European musicians now. They are also an accomplished composers, producers and authors of theatrical and film music.
Their projects brake jazz stereotype of rhythmic section and prove that double bass and the drums are sufficient to create music so complete, full of energy and unusual sounds.
Oles brothers were born on the 4th of January 1973, In Sosnowiec (south of Poland) in musical family (father was a conductor). Since their first recording in 2000 they continuously compose, record and perform original music based on a jazz tradition.
Initially fascinated by jazz-rock and electronic music, in early 1990s their attention switched to acoustic jazz that resulted in creation of a formation Custom Quartet with repertoire consisted of jazz standards. After a year the band transformed into Custom Trio which played mainly music composed by Barlomiej. Custom Trio, with a line-up Krzysztof Kapel – sax, Marcin – double bass, Bartlomiej – drums, made its debut in 1999 with an album Mr. Nobody. One year later the group teamed up with legendary polish trumpet player Andrzej Przybielski and recorded their second album CT & Andrzej Przybielski Free Bop. The cooperation was concluded by an album Back Point in 2002.
In 2002 they worked together with Dionizy Piatkowski's festival Era Jazzu, at the international project, which expanded beyond jazz boundaries. The Contemporary Quintet was based on work of polish contemporary composers Grazyna Bacewicz, Witold Lutoslawki and Krzysztof Penderecki, played by German bass clarinet player Rudi Mahall, Romanian pianist Mircea Tiberian and American french horn player Mark Taylor.
Between 2001 and 2003 they cooperated with Mikolaj Trzaska, recording albums Danzinger Strassenmusik (with live street performance), Mikro Music, la Sketch up and Suite for trio + – with guest appearance French trumpet player Jean-Luc Cappozzo.
Marcin's double bass solo album examining, interpreting and saluting the work of Ornette Coleman (Ornette on bass) was released in 2003. Drum solo suite in 12 parts (FreeDrum Suite) by Bartlomiej followed in 2004.
In 2003 they established formation Oles | Jörgensmann | Oles with German clarinet virtuoso Theo Jörgensmann. The trio extensively performs and recorded number of albums for NotTwo, Fenomedia and Hat Hut labels.
In 2005 they invited Ken Vandermark into Michal Rosicki's Sonus Studio Lomianki, and together recorded album of free improvisations titled Ideas.
Their own label - Fenommedia Records, was formed together with Graphic Design Studio Fenommedia in 2005.
In 2007 a new project was created: Marcin & Bartlomiej Brat Oles Duo – one of the most original and unique in their career to date.
The first album by Duo was published in 2008 and new one is planned for 2011.
The music of Oles brothers is a sensation not only on Polish but also on international scale. Their limited to bare essential instrumentation keep their music in the center what has always been essential for jazz - rhythm. On the other hand, their music is composed to the much greater degree, and uses ideas and techniques closer to contemporary chamber music then jazz. Their improvisations are always engaging, their execution flawless. Their keep pushing boundaries of free and improvised music.
:::Taken from www.polishjazz.com:::
I'm always on the look-out for new trumpet trios, and I found this great CD in the Polish Not Two catalogue, with Andrzej Przybielski on trumpet, Marcin Oles on bass and Bartlomiej Oles on drums. This is the kind of music I really enjoy : sober, creative, abstract without loosing the melody or the rhythm, improvized yet structured. I cannot sufficiently sing the praise of the Oles brothers, and I've done already done that in previous reviews, but Przybielski himself is also an superb musician. He 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. Most pieces start with some instructions by the trumpet-player in Polish, and hence for me unfortunately impossible to understand, but according to the Oles brothers these are just part of his methodology : play the music as raw as possible, without rehearsing or clear agreements, yet some precise instructions at the beginning should suffice to get the music going. "Real music does not require declarations and if it is to come into being, it will do without them", says the comment in the liner notes. That's also the reason why the recording took place with only three mikes, one for each instrument (Jack DeJohnette should hear this : he uses five times as many only for his drumkit!). The result is a very direct, intimistic effect that fits perfectly with the compositions, which leave lots of open space, but also bring lots of warmth and musical tension, including a short ode to Don Cherry, with the aptly named title "Cherry", in which he borrows some pieces from Ornette Coleman's "Focus On Sanity". And the way in which the brothers Oles manage to complement the often unpredictable Przybielski, rhythmically, melodically and in terms of tone, is absolutely remarkable and half the fun. Great CD. Recommended.
:::Review from freejazz-stef.blogspot:::
Andrzej Przybielski, Marcin Oleś, Bartłomiej Brat Oleś - Abstract (2003)
1. Openscat [04:44]
2. Ride [03:59]
3. Afroblue [04:25]
4. Skok [02:39]
5. Ballada [07:43]
6. Epitafium dla Jacka [06:31]
7. Cherry [05:00]
8. Afroblue II [04:14]
9. Final [04:10]
Credits
Andrzej Przybielski - trumpet, flugelhorn, pocket trumpet
Marcin Oleś - double bass
Bartłomiej Brat Oleś - drums, bells, gong
