First posted on Mark Is Cranky:
Back in the mid-1980's, the arrival on the jazz scene of a trumpeter named Wynton Marsalis marked the start of the so-called "young lions" period. Marsalis, along with the like-minded Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove and several others, put a (slightly) fresh spin on jazz from the Miles Davis classic quartet years.
Some thought the music too reverent of its roots, lending it a kind of "Museum of Classic Jazz" sound. Like a lot of easy generalization though, bit of truth were dropped on the floor. There were many, many moments (and suites!) of inspired play. Take, for example, Marsalis' Black Codes (From The Underground). The chemistry between Wynton's horn and Jeff Watts thunderous kit play is stunning. The rest of that quintet, the late Kenny Kirkland on piano, Charnett Moffet (bass) and brother Branford on sax, lets' face it: they burned. Though the music wasn't exactly revolutionary (Miles did start that revolution) it did serve one other extremely important function: it sparked a renewed interest in jazz in both the mind of the general public and more than a few record labels.
While Wasilewski,Kurkiewicz and Miskiewicz' Trio might not be the start of a "new young lions" movement, there are just enough parallels to make even a casual jazz fan take notice.
If you aren't familiar with their story, here's the short version: Polish trumpet legend Tomasz Stanko's rhythm section cancels on a gig. Michal Miskiewicz was asked to fill in, and to suggest a band as well. Enter Marcin Wasilewski (piano) and Slawomir Kurkiewicz (double-bass). It was an important turning point in the careers of both Stanko and the trio in that Stanko had discoved his ultimate support group while that very same support group was given a chance to shine on their own.
And shine they did, touring their native Poland as the Simple Acoustic Trio. Now the world gets to see what they can do on Trio.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
I saw this in the store last week and was wondering what it was, what with those "ski" and "wicz" names involved. I just had a vision of something very quietly noisy, experimental ambient or something. Now that I've listened to the samples, dang, that's sure not noisy. Very nice - I'll have to put this on the ever-growing list . . .
2 - Mark Saleski
and hey, even though i'm polish...i those names tied my danged fingers in knots.
3 - Tom Johnson
Mark, a year and a half later, I just picked this up at Tower's wake for less than $4. It's stunning. I should have paid full price for this long ago. Damn!
4 - Mark Saleski
see? never doubt me! empty that bank account!!!
;-)