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Although he has not become a household name in the American jazz world, Zbigniew Namyslowski (whose last name is sometimes spelled Namyslovski as on this album) is one of the most significant jazz musicians to emerge from Poland and the European continent in general. His passionate sound, which at times can sound a little bit like David Sanborn (who he preceded by several years), is a perfect vehicle for his own distinctive style of jazz.
He was born in 1939 in Warsaw, Poland. Namyslowski studied piano and cello in Warsaw and Krakow and by 1957 was playing jazz professionally on both of those instruments. However he soon took up the trombone to play in dixieland groups, quickly mastering the instrument. His final switch was around 1960 when he became an alto-saxophonist, developing his own solo sound along with brilliant technique.
Namyslowski formed the Jazz Rockers (definitely a futuristic name) in 1962. The group included Michael Urbaniak (who later became famous as a violinist) on tenor sax and toured Europe, making an appearance at that year's Newport Jazz Festival.
In 1964 Zbigniew Namyslowski formed a quartet that caught on very well in England. Since that time he has become a world traveler, recording in many different countries, particularly in Europe. He probably became best known for his playing on Krzysztof Komeda's Astigmatic (a record that also features trumpeter Tomasz Stanko) and his own mid-1970s album Kujawiak Goes Funky..Still very much active as he enters his seventies, he recently led a big band at a jazz festival in Belfast.
In his music, Zbigniew Namyslowski combines together his intense sound, soulful ideas, ability to effortlessly play very fast lines, and his Polish heritage with several styles of jazz, including hard bop, fusion, post bop and aspects of the avant-garde.
All of this in evidence on Namyslovski, his first album to become widely available in the United States. At first one might think that they are listening to an unusual David Sanborn record due to the altoist's tone, but quickly it becomes apparent that he is a true original.
Joined by a stimulating three-piece electric rhythm section comprised of his fellow Poles, Namyslowski starts out jamming over the rhythmically tricky but funky “Mambo Boogie.” “Time Goes Bye” is a spacey ballad, a little reminiscent of something Miles Davis might have recorded in the early 1970s. “Tango” has a fast tango rhythm, the feel of East European folk music, and an excellent Fender Rhodes eclectic piano solo from Slawomir Kulpowicz.
The concise “Pastorale” has a rapid melody line and Namyslowski's own type of sheets of sound in his solo. “Ballade” is a ballad that gradually becomes quite passionate and intense. “Hobble” has some creative bass playing from Pawel Jarzebski and “Just A Little Waltz” features a warm melody and a happy sound. The CD concludes with humorous free playing on the brief ”Ohh-Hah!”
Review
"Namyslovski is a superior showcase for Zbigniew Mayslowski, an altoist who is well worth discovering." -Scott Yanow
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