Tomasz Stanko Quintet: Dark Eyes (ECM 271 1266)
When it comes to being cool and hot, restrained and unleashed, all at the same time, the Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko does it better than most.He is also a great spotter of young talent – remember he introduced us to the Wasilewski/Kurkiewicz/Miskiewicz trio.
This time its up-and-coming pianist Alexi Tuomarila, Jakob Bro on guitar, Andres Christensen on electric bass (interesting how there is a something of a return to the electric instrument happening at the moment) and Olavi Louivuori on drums (two Finns book-ending two Danes).
The opener, So Nice, has one of Stanko’s ever-so-effective melodic devices – an eight note figure repeated with different chords beneath it, then a variation and a resolving pattern. Tuomarila introduces it, then trumpet, piano, guitar and bass all play the tune, followed by a thoughful solo from the pianist again.
In many ways the band members play their parts in traditional fashion – bass keeping the pulse, drums adding the accents, guitar adding colour and piano the harmonic richness, while Stanko takes most of the solo space. However there are some lovely interactions and strong interludes from all four of the sidemen. The addition of guitar and the way Stanko has written the music adds a broader, almost filmic quality.
Grand Central is particularly powerful, with Louhivuori building the tension with the toms, before the pieces enters a gentle interlude, returning to full strength through a building solo from Tuomarila. Stanko himself is on blinding form, so controlled so much of the time, then occasionally unleashing one of those blistering, choked screams…
As has often been his wont, he includes some music by Krysztof Komeda, the famous Polish film composer and something of a mentor to the trumpeter.
The Tomasz Stanko Quintet is touring the UK between 9 and 15 November, and as well as playing the London Jazz Festival, the band comes to Coventry, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Much Wenlock and Gateshead.
Categories: CD review
thejazzbreakfast 
Leave a comment