Komeda
LITANIA
ETIUDY BALETOWE – INTRODUKCJA
WALTER P-38
KATTORNA
KOMEDA’S MEDLEY
PEOPLE MEET AND SWEET MUSIC FILLS THE HEART
ASTIGMATIC
SVANTETIC
Maciej Obara – alt saxophone
Dominik Wania- piano
Gard Nilssen – drums
Ole Morten Vågan – double bass
Maciej Obara is undeniably one of the brightest and most acclaimed musicians of the young Polish jazz scene. He has his own amazing quartet now: a half-Norwegian and half-Polish band is made of Ole Morten Vågan on bass, Gard Nilssen on drums (the musicians met with each other while participating in the “Take Five: Europe” project), Obara on sax, and Dominik Wania on piano.
This music has five heroes; Krzysztof Komeda serves as an inspiration for the musical construction the architects of which are the four band members. I must admit it is hard to decide whom to admire more: the Norwegians for their intuitive mutual understanding and agile rhythmic narration, Obara for leading the band with in a clearly set direction, or Dominik Wania whose imagination as an accompanist and erudition as a soloist seem to perfectly complement the sound image of this group. It is needless, however, to focus on each of them separately in the search of some outstanding attributes. The strength of this band seems to lie in balanced proportions; together they gain the unique power to revive even as grounded a monument as Krzysztof Komeda. The more I listen to this recording the more I am convinced that the four musicians are the successors whom both Komeda and Polish (though not only) jazz need. (Maciej Karłowski)