Customer Reviews

January

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Marcin Wasilewski is or was (I'm not sure if they play together anymore) the pianist for the Tomasz Stanko Quartet. This particular trio helped produce such masterpieces as "Soul Of Things" and "Suspended Night" with Stanko. I don't think any other pianist would have given Stanko that dark, moody sound. Wasilewski has really found his niche in this introspective, dark, reflective type of jazz music.

The production of the recording is just amazing and yet very typical for ECM. I expect nothing but pure perfection from them. I wouldn't tolerate any less in terms of engineering.

The music on this record is much more focused than their last one, which was simply titled "Trio." That record had many great moments, but I think the sound here is more cohesive and organic. The song selection is also much better.

Some highlights for me were "Vignette," "Diamonds And Pearls," "The Cat," and the title track, but in all honesty they are really good. The only one that I didn't particularly like was "King Korn" it was more of a free-form piece and I just thought it kind of ruined the flow of the album, but that is just a little gripe.

The interplay between Wasilewski, Slawomir Kurkiewicz, and Michal Miskiewicz is really astounding. They have really formed a tight bond over the last couple of years of playing with Stanko. I think he made them so much stronger.

I recommend "January' to anyone who's a fan of Bill Evans and to anyone interested in hearing a jazz piano trio with a lot of class.

Heard a selection from January on NPR jazz one night...impressed enough to
buy the album on Amazon...and then i was much more impressed. I like
Mehldau, Jarret, and others, but this album is so sublime and beautiful
that i rate it above my other piano jazz favorites. Piano, bass and
drums are intertwined so skillfully. Watch for more of their albums, and
get this album.

I have two CDs by this group, "Trio", their first, and "January", their second CD. Both are excellent but "January" is a little more polished. The trio is a more cohesive unit and the song selection more to my liking in "January". Pianist Marcin Wasilewski wrote some of the material and proves himself to be quite a good composer. This is quiet-moody jazz in the European ECM tradition. The recording is engineered to the usual impeccable ECM standards. Playing such subtle material with a high level of sophistication, enough to keep the listener immersed in the music, requires extremely talented musicians. The group plays off one another very well with an especially nice touch from percussionist, Miskiewicz. I find myself coming back to "January" frequently; always find something new and interesting.

Although they've obviously been influenced by the Keith Jarrett Trio, Wasilewski, Kurkiewicz and Miskiewicz have an unique and excellent style all their own.

Pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz and drummer Michal Miskiewicz have been playing together since their school days. These musicians know each other's playing very well. At their best they sound like 3 players playing the same chess game. In 2001, they played as a group with Tomaz Stanko and even later, with Jan Gabarek, another legend. I like them even more on their own.

The inevitable comparison to the Keith Jarrett Trio comes to mind so I listened to the live recording from London, "Inside Out" before writing this review. My first impression was that this group seems a touch slower than the Keith Jarrett Trio, a little less confident, a tiny bit more hesitant and certainly less challenging to the listener. Keep in mind that there is no really complex improvisional material on "January" as in "Inside Out".

Keith Jarrett`s play on "Riot" from "Inside Out" is amazing. Pianist Marcin Wasilewski is a superb musician but Keith Jarrett is such a genius. It's evident that Wasilewski is a step behind Jarrett in speed technique. Although I love Kurkiewicz on bass, Gary Peacock is really at another level as well. The surprise is the drummer, Miskiewicz. He may be the equal of Jack DeJohnette, an evaluation which may upset some of you.

When comparing the two CDs, "January" is more laid-back, less challenging to the listener. I find it much more enjoyable as well. Pianist Marcin Wasilewski doesn't take off into complex avant-garde improvisations as does Jarrett. "Inside Out" unapologetically challenges the listener into concentrated, focused listening. "January" is more inviting and presents itself to the listener in a more relaxed format. There is complex interplay here but not nearly as demanding.

"January" is a wonderful CD. So is their first release, "Trio". I hope ECM continues to develop this group because they will get even better with time!

Beauty beyond description. When the world and humanity gets me down I put this on and feel better.

For such a young group of musicians they have a great grasp on dynamics. Can't wait to hear what they come out with next.

Some other reviewer commented "beauty beyond description" and all I can do is echo this sentiment. This is a very cohesive recording. One song flows effortlessly into the other but holds your attention. I also find that I just feel better during and after I listen to this record. This is a desert island CD for sure.

One of the best jazz recordings for 2008 from one of the most serious piano players in the world today .His debut album was an excellent effort but JANUARY is much more directed to an holographic and fuller sonic texture tied with melody and harmony and less to the experimental and impessionistic side like TRIO .EXCELLENT AND STRONG .

The first four cuts on January, "The First Touch" (Marcin Wasilewski), "Vignette" (Gary Peacock), "Cinema Paradiso" (Enrico and Andrea Morricone), and "Diamonds and Pearls" (Prince Rogers Nelson--yes, he of the unpronounceable symbol and buttless jeans) form a string of musical pearls that shimmer in the dark with brooding beauty. If those four cuts were the whole release, it would still be recommendable, but there's more, much more. Pianist Wasilewski, bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz, and drummer Michal Miskiewicz play with great beauty and refinement. This is music that will take your mind and your heart to a beautiful place.

The first couple of times I listened to January was when I was on a road trip. I thought it was OK then, but it just didn't grab me the way Marcin Wasilewski's first trio album did. But when I listened at home while relaxing, my opinion of this CD was greatly enhanced.
Like another reviewer said, there are a lot of piano trios around and so its hard to pick one you like best. Once I find one I like, I tend to seek out more recordings from that trio. I greatly enjoyed the Marcin Wasilewski Trio's first outing simply called Trio and so bought this follow-up without listening to a single clip. January has proven to be a winner, intensely mellow and insanely relaxing.
While the CD is rather even in quality and seamlessly serene, I do favor some pieces over others. The best in my opinion are Vignette, which is reminiscent of some of the piano work on Al DiMeola's Soaring Through A Dream period; Tomasz Stanko's Balladyna, which these guys know forward and backward; Carla Bley's King Korn, and Wasilewski's own The Cat.
The insert that comes with the CD is minimalistic and tersely informative in keeping with the spirit of the music. If you are into piano trios, particularly of the type ECM seems to sign, then you will find Wasilewski's trio to be one of the best. January is recommended listening for anytime you need to kick back and let all your stress drain away.

Somehow (thankfully!) I recently stumbled upon the Marcin Wasilewski Trio here on amazon, first getting their most recent Faithful and then this 2008 recording, January. Everything they do is consistently superb, and I find them getting a lot of play on my stereo, good background and foreground for a variety of relaxing and creative situations (mellow and unobtrusive enough to read and paint to, or have a conversation around, but interesting enough to just relax and listen to), but I do find myself reaching for January more often. Both of these recordings, although very similar and hard to tell apart much of the time, are not redundant, and I think they're both 5 star works (composition, performance and recording quality-wise).

The trio of young, yet seasoned, musicians doesn't break new ground as much as play jazz (cool, easy listening, reflective and intuitive) in a way that makes you forget about them and go into the music. They may be influenced heavily by Keith Jarrett, but I don't think I could make such a comment (and compliment) about him. Marcin Wasilewski on piano is clearly the leader (with the majority of the writing credits), but Slawomir Kurkiewicz (double bass) and Michal Miskiewicz (drums) both hold their own and blend seamlessly as well. And January is especially seamless. Fresh and grounded, soothing yet not dull, youthful and new but worthy of classic traditional distinction....these guys are great; bravo!

Definitely one of the my favorite albums of 2008. If you only buy one piano-trio jazz album this year, buy this one. The arrangement of "Diamonds and Pearls" is a master class in jazz and truly beautiful.