Suspended Night

Tomasz Stanko Quartet

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 2004)
• Original Release Date: May 11, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B0000V765G
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,880 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breakthrough, May 16, 2004

By	Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It's entirely marvelous--and almost always unexpected--to encounter a first-class jazz performer moving from a position of prominence to one of absolute top rank. Without a doubt, that is what trumpeter Thomasz Stanko has accomplished on his latest release from ECM. Here he plays with a confidence and presence often glimpsed in his previous recordings but come fully to the fore on this transcendent disc.

As impressive as Stanko is (and he's mighty impressive!), the real heroes here are, perhaps, his Polish quintet. Especially standout are Marcin Wasilewski on piano and Slawomir Kurkiewicz on bass. Not far behind is Michal Miskiewicz on drums. These players consistently set the table for the exact right moods and atmospheres for Stanko, be it elegy ("Song for Sarah"), acquiescence ("Suspended Variation I"), friskiness ("Suspended Variation II," a spirited tango), romance ("Suspended Variation III," a gorgeous ballad), hope ("Suspended Variation IV," another gorgeous ballad), joi de vivre ("Suspended Variation V," the closest thing these guys come to an up-tempo number), mystery ("Suspended Variation VI," a meditation of the vagaries and vicissitudes of life), and so on. This proves, as much as any recent recording, the magic that comes from playing with a working jazz band

Once again, as we have come to expect from engineer Jon Erik Konshaug and producer Manfred Eicher, the sound is ravishingly beautiful--with exquisite detail, presence, and warmth. ECM at the absolute top of its game. Hard to beat.

Surely one of the most purely stunningly beautiful jazz discs ever recorded, Suspended Night instantly vaults trumpeter Stanko to the very front ranks of trumpeters in the history of jazz.

Ignore at your peril.

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, June 10, 2004

By	Richard Thurston (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

I saw this band last night in their opening concert of a North American tour. Fantastic. They performed here in Seattle last two years ago in support of 'Soul of Things' and that remains a most memorable event. The most recent concert was divided into two one hour sets drawing on material from both 'Soul of Things' and 'Suspended Night'.

Gorgeous, sinuous melodies performed by an absolutely top flight quartet. 'Suspended Night' demonstrates the power and empathy of this remarkable group. The blend of the sixty-fivish Stanko with the his early thirties bandmates has been good for all concerned. A wonderful ensemble equally at ease playing fairly straight and taking things out.

I'd love their next release to be a live recording. My preferences aside 'Suspended Night' and 'Soul of Things' are essential recordings which generously reward the listener.

Highly recommended.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Minimalism meets modality, May 28, 2005

By	Marty Nickison II (Austintown, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Diversity is one great tool that jazz keeps handy. If you want something hard hitting, you can find almost any 1957or 1956 Blue Note recording and you are all set. If you want something soft, find some George Shearing plus String Choir recordings to satisfy that need. If you want something to dance to; Monk, Basie, and Ellington are among great choices.

Tomasz Stanko's music has always been `calm and meditative'. From his work on the soundtrack to Rosemary's Baby (that calm enough?) to Soul of Things, he has always worked in music that is `after 2am music'. Suspended Night is no exception to that rule.

Suspended Night is composed of 1 Song (Song for Sarah) and 10 Variations (Suspended Variations). The overall mood of this recording is meditative. The band plays with a united approach to thematic movement and a centric direction of harmony. One player will cast the harmonic progression for another all over this album. This is not hard bop, but minimalism meets modality.

Song for Sarah is a ballad full of longing and reverence. I get the impression someone in the band lost a loved one named Sarah, and they are musically looking back on the good times and the love they shared. A real treat.

Suspended Variations is a set of 10 variations groups together. After having this album for a while, I don't see the common thread in these pieces. Each one is Stanko (i.e.--- calm and meditative), but the buck stops there. Overall, they all are great and add perfectly to the atmosphere hinted at in Song For Sarah.

This is a great album. I don't see why any KOB (Kind of Blue) fan wouldn't like it or some of it. It would be best suited for a fan of Miles, for Tomasz has a very similar approach.

This album is a thirty-year later extension of the Second Great Quintet (E.S.P. and Sorcerer by Miles Davis) and I think it will do well in the years to come.

If you like Miles Davis Kind of Blue, ESP, Sorcerer; Ryan Kisor (when with Peter Zak on piano); you will love this album.