Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
excellent second recording, 6 Feb 2008
Since 2005's fantastic debut (the matter of factly-titled "Trio"), pianist Wasilewski, bassist Kurkiewicz and drummer Miskiewicz have performed with their leader Tomasz Stanko on 2006's Lontano while Wasilewski and Kurkiewciz have appeared in both Manu Katche quintet recordings from 2005 and 2007.
Despite this exposure, "January" hides its considerable qualities well on the first few listens. It is more apparently uniform than "Trio" (although this is somewhat of a misrepresentation) and has nothing to rival the cover of Bjork's "Hyperballad" in simple magnificence and beauty.
There is a basis arc to "January" in that it starts quietly proceeds to a energised middle section and then settles down to a mid tempo between the two. The covers are diverse and reveal much about the trio's inspirations. "Vignette", as befits a composition by Gary Peacock, features some magnificent agile, melodic yet mournful bass playing which comes to prominence some four minutes in. "Cinema Paradiso" starts with a low, suggestive roll drum rumble before unfolding as a thing of beauty, thankfully shorn of the saccharine quality of the original soundtrack (and indeed the film). The opening notes of Prince's "Diamonds and Pearls" create a fantastic atmosphere, the bass again to the fore stretching the melody. To the first time listener (especially one who has not heard the original for years) hopes are high that this might be, in ever sense, the album's "Hyperballad". Regrettably this is not to be and although by no means bad it might be the weakest track on "January".
The cover of Stanko's own "Balladyna" (which the trio have been playing for years) is not as jerky as the original but still has a restless quality and sounds not unlike a Jarrett improvisation as Wasilewski feels his way into the music. Thereafter "January" keeps its interest for the second half of its 70 minutes through an equally restless version of Carla Bley's "King Korn" and a suite of 9-10 minute mid tempo tracks before concluding with the brief, probing and haunting "New York 2007".
All three performers are magnificent musicians and the qualities of Wasilewski and Kurkiewicz in particular have more room to breathe than on the recent Katche "Playground". In short, this is very highly recommended indeed.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great second album from Wasilewski's trio, 16 Jan 2008
This follow up to 'Trio', the debut album by this young Polish trio, is a haunting, hushed and melodic affair. Led by Marcin Wasilewski, this trio, which is also the Polish trumpeter Tomas Stanko's band, owes much of its sound to the influence of the likes of Keith Jarrett and to the open and spacious sound of Scandinavian artists like Bobo Stenson. The mood is consistently ruminative and reflective. Wasilewski's touch and way with melody is most beguiling and the interplay between the group is subtle. In this respect 'January' represents a real advance on the earlier 'Trio'. Highlights include treatments of Gary Peacock's 'Vignette', a shimmering version of the 'Cinema Paradiso' theme, and Prince's pop hit 'Diamonds and Pearls', as well as compositions by Wasilewksi himself. It is a captivating album and on the whole even better than the debut. But a slight gripe is that, 'King Korn' aside, we don't get to see the trio's more free-wheeling and assertive side, which was in greater evidence on the earlier recording in pieces like 'Drum Kick' or 'Free-Bop'. It would be selling 'January' short to describe it as a 'typical' ECM album, but it would be nice to be reminded next time that the trio can do more moods than the the quieter and melancholy ones represented here.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful stuff, 16 April 2008
This is a wonderful album and is a more complex affair than the slightly disappointing 'Trio' released a few years back. Wasilewski has a much more distinctive approach to harmony on this recording, and uses his left hand in an olique way throughout. His playing is reminiscent of Bobo Stenson these days. The free-er approach of Stanko's 'Lontano' seems to have has rubbed off on this album too, giving it real depth. The group plays more cohesively too, the bassist and the drummer contributing equally to a three way interaction. The promise of the first ECM record has been fulfilled handsomely on 'January'.
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