On this disc, the Jagodzinski Trio from Poland plays alongside Italian pianist Giovanni Mirabassi (the bandleader taking on the accordion) for a program that includes several original songs and a couple of takes on Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Chopin.
The album opens with Mirabassi's "Tango, which is tailor-made for this four-piece format, as Jagodzinski skillfully channels the vibe and feel of the Argentinean genre. The chemistry among the musicians is evident (this is their third disc together). The piano/accordion combination works like a charm, specially on more fast-paced numbers such as "Souvenirs Souvenirs, where you can also notice the chops of bassist Adam Cegielski and drummer Czestaw Bartkowski, who provide strong backing to the track and also shine individually with their fill-ins and riffs.
Bassist Adam Cegielski and the bandleader beautifully exchange leads on Chopin's "Valse in La Mineur, while Mirabassi backs them with subtle but effective chords that fill all open spaces in the song. During his own solo, he blends his classical and jazz influences by playing in an incredibly simple manner.
Polish jazz musicians seem to have an ongoing love affair with Brazilian music, which can be evidenced by the fact that many artists from that Latin country have toured in Poland. Several albums have either covered tunes by Baden Powell, Jobim and others or been influenced by these composers (vocalist Anna Maria Jopek, for instance, has recorded Powell's "Apelo (with the title "Samba Przed Rozstaniem" , from her 1998 CD Szeptem) and has made an entire album of original bossa nova-inspired songs). Here we are offered "Samba de Tygmont, a Jagodzinski tune that allows the group to be both creative and playful around the melody. - Ernst Barteldes
Tracks
01. Tango (Giovanni Mirabassi)
02. Blue Melody (Andrzej Jagozinski)
03. Souvenirs Souvenirs (Giovanni Mirabassi)
04. Rova (Giovanni Mirabassi)
05. La Barre D’Etel (Giovanni Mirabassi)
06. Valse la Mineur (Frédéric Chopin)
07. Deep Cut (Andrej Jagozinski)
08. Samba de Tygmont (Andrzej Jagodzinski)
09. Mirabasson Continuo (Andrzej Jagodzinski)
10. Solar (Miles Davis)
11. My Romance (Bill Evans)
12. Barcarole (Giovanni Mirabassi)
ANDRZEJ JAGODZINSKI accordion, piano
ADAM CEGIELSKI double bass
CZESLAW BARTKOWSKI drums
GIOVANNI MIRABASSI piano
Recorded at Studio S4, Polish Radio, Warsaw, 2005
ProFonica – PLB 583
www.profonica.pl