Great music recommendations!
The new release by the “Polish Radio Archives” presents Anna German. The double cd features her radio recordings from 1961 to 1978. This intrinsically captivating reminiscence album of enchanting simple melodies reveals German’s never fully used potential. Her vocal abilities greatly surpassed the traditional song standard which can be now heard in “Człowieczy los” (“Human Fate”), “Prośba do Charona” (“A Request to Charon”),“Uspokojenie” (“Calming”), “Pomimo lat pogardy” (“Despite the Years of Contempt”).
Anna German – a Polish singer and composer, graduated geology. German sang in seven different languages winning festivals in San Remo, Naples, Viareggio, and Cannes, Sopot, Opole and many others. She was twice (in 1966 and 1969) chosen the most popular singer by the Polish emigrants in the USA. She was one of the biggest celebrities of the European music scene in the 1960s. German died in 1982.
GRAŻYNA AUGUŚCIK & PAULINHO GARCIA - „ANDANCA” - GMA RECORDS
The subtle bossa novas performed in three languages are a fine blend of Brazilian and Polish music. The lovely, multicultural jazz dialogue between a man and a woman is underlined by sparing sounds of guitar and percussion. “Spoza Nas” composed by Mieczysław Szcześniak to the poem by father Jan Twardowski – an outstanding Polish poet – is definitely the highlight of this album. Chopin’s “Prelude” performed in a minor with “How Insensitive” by Jobim is the remarkable, everlasting in the minds of fans grand finale to the album.
Grażyna Auguścik – is a Polish American jazz singer, composer, arranger and producer living in Chicago since 1994. She graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. American critics call her a world jazz star. Auguścik performed with Patricia Barber, Paul Wertico, Urszula Dudziak and Michał Urbaniak.
BOGDAN HOŁOWNIA – „SEN” - HOBO RECORDS
Piano, female vocal and a contrabass. The album recorded by Bogdan Hołownia – the romantic of Polish jazz piano, Magda Gołębiowska – a debuting Polish vocalist and Bronek Suchanek – the legendary Polish jazz contrabassist living in the US brings alluring classic jazz standards. “Jeszcze Poczekajmy” (“Let’s wait a little longer”) written by Bronisław Brok and Jerzy Wasowski, Andrzej Kurylewicz theme song from the “Polskie drogi” movie and “O śnie” (“About a dream”) a little known song by Jeremi Przybora & Jerzy Wasowski
are the most noteworthy Polish jazz standards featured on the cd.
NIGEL KENNEDY - „A VERY NICE ALBUM” – EMI
The new double album from the violin virtuoso is Kennedy’s most audacious journey into the world of jazz. His previous records were interpretations of classic jazz composer. This time Kennedy turns into composer himself. So what kind of composer is he? Well, nice... and at ease. The up sides of the album are Kennedy’s expressive dramatic improvisations and the participation of Polish musicians: drummer Paweł Dobrowolski, bassist Adam Kowalewski, pianist Piotr Wyleżoł and saxophonist Tomas Grzegorski. But apart from that, the album is just what it is - A Very Nice Album…
POLISH FUNK – THE UNIQUE SELECTION OF RARE GROOVES FROM POLAND OF THE 60 & 70'S (COLLECTORS' SPECIAL 3 CD BOX), COMPILED BY SOUL SERVICE DJ TEAM – POLISH RECORDINGS
Polish funk, this may sound provocative for some, however… the album is quite educational. The selection was compiled by the Polish Recordings from the 1970s albums including pieces by Grupa Bluesowa Stodoła, Poznańska Orkiestra PRiTV, Big Band Alex Band, Andrzej Zaucha & Dżamble, Andrzej Dąbrowski, Novi Singers, Bemibem and Kombi re-mastered by modern funk djs from the Soul Service (Misty, Cpt. Sparky, Burn Reynolds and Papa Zura). The album is an outstanding prove that the oldies are still goldies!
Maciek Proliński
