Search - Tomasz Stanko :: Wolnosc W Sierpniu

Tomasz Stanko at his lushest . . .

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 12/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . a good thing, in my opinion.



To begin, let's dispose of a few minor irritations. First, it would be nice to have the Polish notes translated into English. Second, this disc clocks in at slightly less than thirty minutes, making it not a particularly good deal at $14.95.



But, oh-my-gosh. What rapturous music resides in these bits!



He's got his Trio on board here, augmented by tenor sax, what appears to be electronic instrumental manipulation (can't really tell with the Polish notes), and a full orchestra. What this augmented aural palette does for Stanko is present his gloriously rich trumpet stylings in a decadently opulent soundscape. Thus, all his romantic inclinations find themselves situated in their ultimate musical context, at last aligning his ravishing musical sensibilities in a proper auditory luxuriance.



Look. Forget that this disc is a bad deal from a cost-per-musical-minute standpoint. Forget that you can't read the liner notes. Just trust me: You will be treated to perhaps THE most transcendent music you have ever heard."

Ode To The Warsaw Uprising

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 02/17/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this CD recently while shopping in a favorite West Coast CD store, and since I already was familiar with the music of Tomasz Stanko, I decided to give it a shot.

Well, first of all, the CD is very short, but I got it at a much lower price than offered here. Then there is the issue mentioned by the first reviewer of all liner notes being in Polish. It seems to me from my very limited command of Polish that this CD was issued, and possibly commissioned, for an exposition at the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising and so was probably intended primarily for internal consumption.

The title cut, translated as Freedom In August, is a breezy number which evokes the elation Poles must have felt when it seemed that their liberation from the Nazis was at hand. It is Stanko at his best. This is followed by a series of more subdued cuts that imbue the listener with feelings of utter relaxation. The best of those are Rising Ballad and Dee.

If you are a fan of Tomasz Stanko, don't let the daunting title, the brevity of the CD, or the lack of liner notes in English scare you off.

If you don't know his music but are curious about it, check him out. He may well come to be known as the new Miles Davis. Wolnosc W Sierpniu is the perfect CD with which to begin your voyage of discovery!"

Absolutely Beautiful! Essential Stanko!

J. Rich | 11/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tomasz Stanko for those of you who don't know is a native of Poland. He's regarded, as is Enrico Rava, as one of Europe's greatest trumpeters. I think what sets Stanko apart from so many other trumpeters is his attention to texture and color and not just the technical side of the trumpet. He's not a trumpeter that plays alot of notes and that makes his playing even more interesting. If I want to listen to a fast trumpeter I'll listen to Freddie Hubbard or Terrence Blanchard or something. Stanko is not only an amazing player, but he's a great composer. His pieces are very dark in nature and have a sadness to them. This particular writing style in conjunction with great improvisers make his music truly special.



Having said that, "Wolnosc W Sierpniu" is a Polish release, which finds Stanko playing with a string ensemble in addition to his normal rhythm section. I'm lucky I bought this album several months ago. I have heard it's becoming harder to find. The music on this album, which is pretty straight-forward for Stanko, was a commissioned work. The music on this album is absolutely beautiful. The album which in English is called "Freedom In August" is about the hardships Poland has had to overcome with war. The music reflects all kinds of moods. It's simply beautiful music that needs to be heard to be believed.



All the musicians are top notch. The rhythm section is the same Polish rhythm section he's been playing with since the ECM album "Soul of Things." Marcin Wasilewski, in particular, is always in top form as is Slawomir Kurklewicz on bass and Michal Mlskiewicz on drums. A really tight rhythm section keeps this music rolling and unfolding by each passing turn.



Let me say that if you enjoyed "Soul of Things" and "Suspended Night," then you will enjoy this. I highly recommend this to fans of Stanko and anyone who likes to hear great trumpet and ensemble playing.



"