MACIEK PYSZ - A View
Caligola Records
Maciek Pysz :acoustic, classical, electric, 12 string guitar
Maciek Pysz is a guitarist and composer originally from Poland but living for many years in France and the UK. He has become known for his imaginative playing and has played with numerous musicians such as Asif Sirkis, Tim Garland, Julian Costello and Yuri Goloubev. His previous albums have performed well and where he has been a presence on other albums his guitar playing often gets highlighted. He has won Jazz Services awards for recording and touring and has played at renowned venues including the Blue Note in Poland, Pizza Express Jazz Club and on radio and at festivals including the London Jazz Festival.
'A View' (Caligola Records) was inspired by time Maciek spent in the Italian city of Trieste. There the idea for a solo guitar album was born and began to take shape. Pysz says it was a natural thing for him, looking at the views and composing music. Inspiration came from the peacefulness of his surroundings, the sea and the magnificent views. He also chose to cover two compositions which represent the countries and places that have inspired him greatly, Giroaud's 'Sous Le Ciel de Paris' for France and Morricone's 'Cinema Paradiso - Love Theme' for Italy as a whole. Pysz identifies himself with the nostalgia and serenity of the Italian and French seaside. 'A View’ is played with subtle nuances and intense barely whispered melodies.
'Sketch #1a Glimpse' opens the album and is gentle, with the acoustic strings guitar resonating sweetly. Short - too short but very sweet, this makes a great opener for the album, which is a journey through many pictures. ' Triest' is a melodic tune which, given the title, conjures up images from the city of the sea with its huge central square and streets which could take you anywhere. The contrasts are gorgeous on this number and within the 4/4 moderate tempos are pauses for thought, as if the painter of the musical portrait found something to linger at and ponder for a while. 'Coastline' is atmospheric and the guitar offers rolling, pervasive rolls of notes which are indicative of a coastline with all its nooks and crannies. Into these musical nooks, Maciek takes the listener, creating snippets of sound with differ in rhythm, tempo and volume. What , even by this track, is emerging is the clarity of the playing.
'The Outsider' is a series of single notes and chords - complete with string slides which can be heard clearly, adding a sense of natural , unmoulded purity. As much is made of the silence between the notes as the notes themselves, which says much of the guitar player because it broadens the instrument's reach immeasurably. The rawness of this track is appealing.
'Reflections' is a full-bodied, richer and more textured piece, offering another insight into the dexterous nature of this player as he combines a European feel with a modernistic approach to the lines.
'Sous le Ciel de Paris' s a pictorial view across a city - Paris quite possibly - but whilst this city inspired the piece, the changing emphasis and sounds of the track could fit into the soundscape of any large metropolis. There is an elegance here and a sense of timing which does feel French in essence yet occasionally there is a hint of a more Southern European feel with little riffles and Latin touches. Definitely a track which conjures up a mix of cultures.
'Bring Me There' is a laid back, gentle exploration of both the instrument and tempos with intensely struck chords contrasting with the rhythmic passages and melodic phrasing and the last section features notes resounding through the belly of the guitar briefly , which adds depth and strength. 'Sketch #2 Sun On' is short, pretty and a gentle interlude whilst 'Cinema Paradiso' is structured and melodic with a sense of poignancy in the music. Here, Pysz explored several different structures within the original composition and achieves something which, whilst always gentle, has within it, many ways of captivating the listener.
Sketch#3 Sea Blues is a deeply resounding bluesey number which contrasts well with the previous tracks and here the guitar sings its heart out in the hands of a master lyricist. Just over two and a half minutes it rises, falls away and works around the key with every so often a burst of bluesey noise - ha! Lovely.
'Seagull' is short, esoteric if you enjoy birds and understand their flight but also pretty, whilst 'Drifting' is sensual, waves of sound taking the listener up, gently down again and the sense of time being suspended for a few minutes, the guitar taking care of it all . 'Sketch #4 Under Water' ends the album and this is a beautiful track with more exploratory lines making a gentle end to the CD.
Maciek Pysz is a superb guitar player - there is no doubt of that. The CD is enjoyable and reflective. That said, I was longing for a change of emphasis, pace and direction at times and this appeared in the track '#Sketch 3 Sea Blues' but rarely elsewhere on the album. It is an indulgent album and one which absolutely conjures up images of the composer wistfully looking at views, thoughtfully becoming aware of the surroundings and noticing what is going on, his thoughts working their ways through the strings as he plays. So it is personal and reflects a nature of the composer and player, making it, for the listener, something to enjoy in pieces. On some tracks Pysz overdubs himself providing a soft cushion over which he creates his beautiful melodic improvised lines and this duo work well . This album is a treat; indulgent and to be enjoyed over time, at leisure.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
Caligola Records
Maciek Pysz :acoustic, classical, electric, 12 string guitar
Maciek Pysz is a guitarist and composer originally from Poland but living for many years in France and the UK. He has become known for his imaginative playing and has played with numerous musicians such as Asif Sirkis, Tim Garland, Julian Costello and Yuri Goloubev. His previous albums have performed well and where he has been a presence on other albums his guitar playing often gets highlighted. He has won Jazz Services awards for recording and touring and has played at renowned venues including the Blue Note in Poland, Pizza Express Jazz Club and on radio and at festivals including the London Jazz Festival.
'A View' (Caligola Records) was inspired by time Maciek spent in the Italian city of Trieste. There the idea for a solo guitar album was born and began to take shape. Pysz says it was a natural thing for him, looking at the views and composing music. Inspiration came from the peacefulness of his surroundings, the sea and the magnificent views. He also chose to cover two compositions which represent the countries and places that have inspired him greatly, Giroaud's 'Sous Le Ciel de Paris' for France and Morricone's 'Cinema Paradiso - Love Theme' for Italy as a whole. Pysz identifies himself with the nostalgia and serenity of the Italian and French seaside. 'A View’ is played with subtle nuances and intense barely whispered melodies.
'Sketch #1a Glimpse' opens the album and is gentle, with the acoustic strings guitar resonating sweetly. Short - too short but very sweet, this makes a great opener for the album, which is a journey through many pictures. ' Triest' is a melodic tune which, given the title, conjures up images from the city of the sea with its huge central square and streets which could take you anywhere. The contrasts are gorgeous on this number and within the 4/4 moderate tempos are pauses for thought, as if the painter of the musical portrait found something to linger at and ponder for a while. 'Coastline' is atmospheric and the guitar offers rolling, pervasive rolls of notes which are indicative of a coastline with all its nooks and crannies. Into these musical nooks, Maciek takes the listener, creating snippets of sound with differ in rhythm, tempo and volume. What , even by this track, is emerging is the clarity of the playing.
'The Outsider' is a series of single notes and chords - complete with string slides which can be heard clearly, adding a sense of natural , unmoulded purity. As much is made of the silence between the notes as the notes themselves, which says much of the guitar player because it broadens the instrument's reach immeasurably. The rawness of this track is appealing.
'Reflections' is a full-bodied, richer and more textured piece, offering another insight into the dexterous nature of this player as he combines a European feel with a modernistic approach to the lines.
'Sous le Ciel de Paris' s a pictorial view across a city - Paris quite possibly - but whilst this city inspired the piece, the changing emphasis and sounds of the track could fit into the soundscape of any large metropolis. There is an elegance here and a sense of timing which does feel French in essence yet occasionally there is a hint of a more Southern European feel with little riffles and Latin touches. Definitely a track which conjures up a mix of cultures.
'Bring Me There' is a laid back, gentle exploration of both the instrument and tempos with intensely struck chords contrasting with the rhythmic passages and melodic phrasing and the last section features notes resounding through the belly of the guitar briefly , which adds depth and strength. 'Sketch #2 Sun On' is short, pretty and a gentle interlude whilst 'Cinema Paradiso' is structured and melodic with a sense of poignancy in the music. Here, Pysz explored several different structures within the original composition and achieves something which, whilst always gentle, has within it, many ways of captivating the listener.
Sketch#3 Sea Blues is a deeply resounding bluesey number which contrasts well with the previous tracks and here the guitar sings its heart out in the hands of a master lyricist. Just over two and a half minutes it rises, falls away and works around the key with every so often a burst of bluesey noise - ha! Lovely.
'Seagull' is short, esoteric if you enjoy birds and understand their flight but also pretty, whilst 'Drifting' is sensual, waves of sound taking the listener up, gently down again and the sense of time being suspended for a few minutes, the guitar taking care of it all . 'Sketch #4 Under Water' ends the album and this is a beautiful track with more exploratory lines making a gentle end to the CD.
Maciek Pysz is a superb guitar player - there is no doubt of that. The CD is enjoyable and reflective. That said, I was longing for a change of emphasis, pace and direction at times and this appeared in the track '#Sketch 3 Sea Blues' but rarely elsewhere on the album. It is an indulgent album and one which absolutely conjures up images of the composer wistfully looking at views, thoughtfully becoming aware of the surroundings and noticing what is going on, his thoughts working their ways through the strings as he plays. So it is personal and reflects a nature of the composer and player, making it, for the listener, something to enjoy in pieces. On some tracks Pysz overdubs himself providing a soft cushion over which he creates his beautiful melodic improvised lines and this duo work well . This album is a treat; indulgent and to be enjoyed over time, at leisure.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
