Marek Pospieszalski Octet & Zoh Amba

While for North Americans Tennessee tenor saxophonist Zoh Amba may be the most familiar name on this choice release, the expanding skills of Marek Pospieszalski and his Polish octet is the main attraction. Pospieszalski, who plays soprano/tenor saxophone, clarinet and flute here and composed all six tracks, has for more than a decade collaborated with international players and led different ensembles.

The octet, which in the past has recorded themes from contemporary Polish composers and the leader’s own compositions is his favored configuration. It’s a tribute to Amba that her unbridled playing fits snugly within the band filled out by trumpeter Tomasz Dąbrowski, tenor/baritone saxophonist Piotr Chęcki, pianist Grzegorz Tarwid, violist Tomasz Sroczyński, guitarist Szymon Mikam, bassist Max Mucha and drummer Qba Janicki.

Still it’s Tarwid’s dynamic and repetitive keyboard vamp that’s especially prominent during the nearly 14½ minutes of pure energy that’s the introductory title track. Driven by piano pressure and equally powerful drum raps, the tune snakes through several sections which alternate triple-tonguing, tone-shredding altissimo saxophone solos with stacked squeezed and slurping reed antiphony as well as brassy tongue flutters and spicatto viola slices.

Tarwid’s forceful textures mixed with guitar stings and electronic oscillations may hold together other tracks like “Community”. But his rounded cadences surrounded by electronic crackles and hisses and horn riffs on “Bios” demonstrate his quieter side. These adroit turns towards the refined are precise without being plodding, and confirm the octet’s alternate skills that buttress occasional fluttering trumpet grace notes, clarion clarinet trills, arco string buzzes and understated drum rattles into moderato showpieces. Positioned polyphony that briefly bring out individual musician’s contributions plus group passages that bow to European notated music history are also part of Now!’s imprimatur.

Those attracted by Amba’s name, expecting to hear an ecstatic free jazz. won’t be disappointed in parts. However they’ll also discover aggregate sounds cunningly affiliated by a disciplined ensemble and capable composer.

— Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. NOW! 2. Bios 3. Anthropocene 4. Reborn 5. Never Again, Again And Again 6. Community

Personnel: Tomasz Dąbrowski (trumpet); Marek Pospieszalski (soprano, tenor saxophones, clarinet, flute, tape); Zoh Amba (tenor saxophone); Piotr Chęcki (tenor, baritone saxophone); Grzegorz Tarwid (piano); Tomasz Sroczyński (viola); Szymon Mika (guitar, acoustic guitar): Max Mucha (bass); Qba Janicki (drums, soundboard)