Classic Jazz Quartet: Wieniawski

Special guest: Maciej Strzelczyk - electric violin

Classic Jazz Quartet:

Lidia Sieczkowska - flute / alto flute
Piotr Kałużny - piano
Zbigniew Wrombel - bass / bass guitar
Krzysztof Przybyłowicz - drums

The Wieniawski played differently

Just like not everyone likes drinking the Italian lavazza, not everyone likes transforming the so-called classical music into jazz. The select group of "artist coffee-drinkers" are members of Poznań-based "Classic Jazz Quartet". Six years ago, when they released "Branle" album, which contained their untypical interpretations of J. S. Bach's music, they entered the narrow street long inhabited by the Modern Jazz Quartet and Jacques Loussier.
And now we get jazz interpretations of Henryk Wieniawski's compositions. The "Classic Jazz Quartet" offers participation of special guest, one of the most interesting Polish jazz violinists, Maciej Strzelczyk. The "Classic Jazz Quartet" are flute player Lidia Sieczkowska, pianist Piotr Kałużny, percussion player Krzysztof Przybyłowicz, and bass player Zbigniew Wrombel. All have for years played jazz: the men have cooperated with Europe's top jazz personalities; the lady, besides playing jazz, also performs chamber music and paints.
They have performed at "Chopiniana" festival in Warsaw, the festival in Antonin, J. S. Bach festival in Leipzig, as well as taken parts in "Project Chopin: 12 concerts - 12 views". Finally, their guest, Maciej Strzelczyk, is an artist whom the prestigious "Jazz Forum" magazine pronounced the best jazz violin player in Poland as many as six times; his group, "Set Off", have been awarded 2nd prize at jazz festival in Hoeilart, Belgium. With their interpretations, both the "Classic Jazz Quartet" and the group's guest, Maciej Strzelczyk, show that it is also Henryk Wieniawski's music that abounds in swing and rhythmical pulsation. You will instantly hear it only in the opening piece, "Souvenir de Posen", but also in "Legende", "Polonaise Brillante in D major", or fragments of both the Violin Concertos. One can find "Kujawiak in A minor, Op. 3, no. 2" surprising: here, it is a lullaby. The recordings will leave nobody indifferent. Just listen to them: who knows, perhaps they will entice somebody who has never heard the original versions to reach for them now?

Marek Zaradniak