Tomasz Stańko - Balladyna (1976)

As per last week's post, Tomasz Stańko's TWET lineup was mostly retained for his first appearance on ECM, with only Peter Warren switched out for Dave Holland.  And it's the legendary bassist who sparks this album into life, with the propulsive riff that kicks off the aptly named First Song.  Stańko and Szukalski are united on a catchy theme, before going off on some incendiary solos.

The more atmospheric Tale follows, giving Edward Vesala his first feature on his signature range of percussion.  Then there's a Vesala composition, Num - it's a bit more spidery and exploratory as per the darker-hued material on TWET, but never fully loses sight of the great melodic theme that it sets out.  The album's first side concludes with a brief duet between Stańko and Holland.

Side Two comprises three tracks, all composed by Stańko.  The title track is the kind of solemn dirge that would become Stańko's stock in trade when he returned to ECM almost two decades later.  Last Song is more free and firey again - but it's not the actual last song: that's the closing Nenaliina, another great atmospheric feature for Vesala to star in.

Original LP cover

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pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG:
Jazzmessage From Poland
Purple Sun

TWET
Freelectronic in Montreux
Bluish
Bosonossa And Other Ballads
Matka Joanna 

Wolność W Sierpniu - Freedom In August
Dark Eyes
Wisława
Polin

Tomasz Stańko - TWET (1974)

Dark and skronky free jazz from Eastern Europe at its most inspired.  Tomasz Stańko assembled a great band here with American bassist Peter Warren, Finnish percussion wizard Edward Vesala and fellow Polish jazz avant-gardist Tomasz Szukalski on saxes and bass clarinet.

The first of two lengthy tracks, Dark Awakening features Warren either clunking ominously or bowing a deep drone, whilst Vesala adds several odd sounds (and even occasional vocals) to his unique drumming style, giving the horn players the perfectly bizarre backing to take flight against.  The title track is in a similar vein; loads of space, especially for Szukalski to bounce off of Stańko, and Warren mostly sticking to an ominous upward plod like a jazz Geezer Butler.

There's lighter material on TWET too, with Mintuu Maria featuring Stańko at his sweetest and most melodic for this period, and the closing Night Peace featuring little bell sounds from Vesala.  In between those is Man From North, another lengthy exploratory vehicle.  All in all, one of the most satisfying albums of Stańko's early career.  He'd land his first ECM date not long after with almost the same lineup - that's coming up next week.

link

pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG:
Jazzmessage From Poland
Purple Sun
Freelectronic in Montreux
Bluish
Bosonossa And Other Ballads
Matka Joanna 

Wolność W Sierpniu - Freedom In August
Dark Eyes
Wisława
Polin