Scandinavian Art Ensemble with Tomasz Stańko

A newly discovered footnote to the illustrious career of trumpeter Tomasz Stańko (1942-2018), one of  the pioneers of Polish Free Jazz, is this disc. Recorded in 2016, the five tracks match Stańko with the then younger musicians he was teaching at a Danish summer program. These includes fellow Poles, trumpeter Tomasz Dąbrowski, drummer Radek Wośko and pianist Artur Tuźnik; Danes tenor saxophonist Thomas Hass, vibist Martin Fabricius and bassist Richard Andersson; plus Icelandic Snorri Sigurðarson and Finnish vocalist Johanna Elina Sulkunen are also featured.

Although most of the sounds are imbued with the mournful and wistful currents that reflect in certain tranches Northern European Jazz around that time, with three trumpeter’s present if’s difficult to ascribe direction to Stańko. If he doesn’t take all the brass solos, it seems that Dąbrowski and Sigurðarson were very much influenced by him during that period. Additionally with the tracks infused with downcast and earnest sentiments, a turn towards low energy had to constantly sidestepped.

In this context Sulkunen’s intoning is also problematic. Coupled with instrumental textures her wordless vocalese is singularly comprehensive, as her one song with English lyrics merely adds another layer of weariness to the performances. Instrumentally there are better fits. Throughout bent note expressions and refined harmonies predominate. Particularly notable are “Before the Rain” and “Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch”. The former uses broken note brass triplets to introduce the methodical theme following composer Fabricius’ resonating metal bar reverberations. Resolutions comes as vibraphone pings are blended with tolling drum smacks and impressionistic piano slides until squeaky half-vale trumpeting ends the piece.

Stańko’s “Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch” ups the evocative current melding trumpet portamento, vibe vibrations and a walking bass line. Valve-less dead air and plunger bites then speed up the exposition to open horn shakes. Pulsed drumming reed tongue stops and flutters plus tough keyboard comping fill in the any missing sound colors with the wrap an affirmation of the tune’s light/dark identity with vocal lyricism and truculent piano patterns taking each part.

Probably most valuable for followers of any of the players, The Copenhagen Session provides a glimpse of Stańko’s style during the sunset of his career.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. One o’clock Junk 2. Before the Rain 3. Circles 4. Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch 5. The Bridge that Broke on a Blue Monday

Personnel: Tomasz Stańko, Tomasz Dąbrowski and Snorri Sigurðarson (trumpets); Thomas Hass (tenor saxophone); Artur Tuźnik (piano); Martin Fabricius (vibraphone); Richard Andersson (bass); Radek Wośko (drums) and Johanna Elina Sulkunen (vocals)