Gavin Cornish / Cara Taber / Adam Simmons / Gideon Brazil / Tony Gould / Nat Grant / Howard Cairns / Niko Schauble / Deborah Kayser

A sincere if somewhat precise salute to Polish composer Krzysztof Komeda (1931-1968), by Australian tenor/soprano saxophonist Adam Simmons, Zatoczka is the audio of a performance that blended these themes with filmic images mixed by Jean Poole. Recorded live, the disc showcases the capability of Simmons’ arrangements and his nine-piece ensemble to construct an original blend that matches the visuals, the saxophonist’s composed interlude and themes by Komeda, best known for scoring Cul-de-sac and Rosemary’s Baby. Framed as a 15-part suite, mood conveyance depends on individual instrumental prowess as well as wordless vocalizing from soprano Deborah Kayser, who is usually involved with notated music.

Melbourne-based Simmons, who has worked with players as different as Nigel Kennedy and Peter Brötzmann, cannily utilizes the skills of some of Down Under’s top improvisers. Especially striking are their solos on tracks which give them leeway to stretch out. Moving from Tony Gould’s impressionistic piano introduction, the “Smile”-like theme of “Moja Ballada” for instance is later shaded by piano runs. Despite a formal-sounding trumpet flourish from Gavin Cornish, “Astigamtic” is defined by shaking variables from Nat Grant’s vibraphone plus fluid bass pulses from Howard Cairns, before culminating in contrapuntal tongue slaps from saxophonists Cara Taber, Gideon Brazil and Simmons as well as Niko Schauble’s drum breaks. Reminiscent of Afro-Cuban sounds, “Katonah” is driven by conga-like pumps from Schauble and pinched rhythmic flute lines Brazil fronting the other horns’ connected snarls.

Throughout many of Simmons’ solos, plus Gould’s tinkles and glissandi on “Po Katastrophe” textures appear rooted in a mid-range Cool School interface. Don’t forget that Komura’s death at 37 meant that his compositions depended on what he could add to contemporary Jazz currents that were only slowly seeping into Stalinist Poland. What was far out in 1968 Warsaw wouldn’t have been so in Wuppertal or Washington D.C.

Artfully framed by Kayser’s sensitive introductory and concluding reading of the theme from Rosemary’s Baby, Zatoczka attains its ideal of saluting an important composer. Simmons does this by agilely adding to and recasting Komeda music. However the skills exhibited make one curious to hear Simmons’ original sounds.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Sleep Safe and Warm – Rosenary’s Baby theme 2. Interlude 1 3.Crazy Girl 4. Ballad for Bernt 5. Interlude 2 6, Roman II 7. Moja Ballada 8. Astigamtic 9. Interlude 3 10. Vampires to Crypt 11. Kattorna 12. Barierea 13. Litania 14. Po Katastrophe 15. Sleep Safe and Warm – Reprise

Personnel: Gavin Cornish (trumpet); Cara Taber (alto saxophone); Adam Simmons (tenor and soprano saxophones); Gideon Brazil (tenor saxophone and flute); Tony Gould (piano); Nat Grant (vibraphone); Howard Cairns (bass); Niko Schauble (drums) and Deborah Kayser (voice)