Suspended Night

'Soul of Things'was a ground breaking album. The balance and undrstanding between the four musicians involved took listeners on a journey of sublety, nuance and discovery. The great Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko rediscovered some of his earlier music with three young and extraordinarily gifted musicians in a novel and eciting music project. The Stanko quartet haedlined this year's Bray Jazz Festival in May and their concert was a highlight for anybody interested in music of any type or genre. I bought 'Suspended Night' at the concert and listened to it on the bus home on my discman, when I got home on my stereo and my mind couldn't stop replaying passages until I woke up the next morning.Suspended Night is an album of rare beauty, mood and texture. It begins with the meloncholic Song for Sarah and then goes into the Suspended Variations. The absense of titles for the variations allows you to project your memory onto the music. Marcin Wasilewski's piano playing, a revelation on Soul of Things, leads you through of some of the most memorable music passages in contemporary jazz. Wasilewski can express a breath of time and experience which belies his years and his rythm and dexteriety are even more confident than on Soul of Things. The double bass & drums really shine on this album though as the musicians explore and expand the variations. But it is Stanko's playing which is the real heart of this music. Understated, delicate & ephemeral it floats in and out of the variations in wispish contours often coming across as almost dream-like, conjuring vague inpressions of memories half forgotten or half remembered. A lesser musician would surely dominate but Stanko allows his fellow musicians to develop his themes freely. it seems an unlikely matching but it was surely meant to happen.Anybody who has a chance to see the Stanko Quartet should embrace the opportunity. if you can't, get a copy of this album and listen to it in the still of the night and let the magic take you.

I listen to all types of music and try not to categorise anything but this is, of course jazz. It is marvellously atmospheric jazz music but at times I find that it crosses the fine dividing line between "atmospheric" and "depressing". The players are talented but their approach is minimal at times, and the various tracks all seem to end up in the same groove eventually.I do enjoy this album though. It wil be perfect for listening to whilst sitting in my shed watching the rain falling.

Having been familiar with much of Stanko's recent output, I was intrigued to see how this line up of young and ,as yet, unknown Polish talent would compare with the all-star line up featured on "Matka Joanna", one of the best albums of the 1990's. Caught in concert in Southampton, the current Quartet produced music of exquisite beauty and the audience went home thoroughly pleased.The album features the music played on the recent tour and, whilst it lacks the foreboding drama of the earlier disc, demonstrated that the current line up is particularly impressive. Under-pinned by some solid bass playing, Stanko's tone is somewhat lighter than usual, his phrasing fleeter, and the Bill Evan's influenced piano adds to this impression. Good as these other supporting members are, it is the drummer who steals the show. The group dynamic is set at a lower threshold with this latest group so that the impact of the increases in tempo and volume is magnified - a reflection of the total musicianship of the band. I would tend to disagree with the other reviewer with regard to his comments about the melodic content of this music. As ever with Stanko, the compositions are very haunting and saturated with melancholia. This disc has not left the CD player in my car for over a week and I can therefore testify that this is an album that improves upon repeated listening.Listeners unfamiliar with Stanko's music would be recommended to try this album as it generally eschews the freer elements of some of his other work. Like many other contemporary composers such as Metheny, Frisell, Haden, etc, Stanko is able to impose a very personal touch to his music that is readily indentifiable. Anyone not familiar with this Polish maestro will find this lyrical and rewarding disc a fine introduction to his unique world. Needless to say, the recording quality from ECM is exemplary.

Another great album from the ecm label. Track 3 is the easy access to this album ,a track i first heard on radio 3 . But after a couple of plays the whole album is excellent. If your a jazz fan I don't think you'll be disappointed. Nice to listen to in a relaxed mood and preferably while the Misses & Miss are out shopping.

Cool.

If you don't know this recording then you should. For those jazz fans who need a reference I would put 'Suspended Night' in the same general area as those great Miles albums like 'ESP', 'Miles in the Sky' and 'Mile Stones' - modal jazz, heavy on the atmosphere and played with an assured yet under stated virtuosity. So if those Davis albums feature in your life, then this will probably appeal. That is not to say that this is a overly derivative or copy-cat type exercise- at least no more then any other jazz album you'll have ever heard. It is simply a very listenable small group modern jazz group playing some pretty memorable compositions in a very convincing fashion. Great for late night listening or if you are in the mood for a bit of melancholia...All in all, a recommended purchase.PS:Being an ECM album, the recording quality is excellent.If you want to sample a track try, 'Song for Sarah'- absolutely beautiful piece- Stanko gets a great tone from his trumpet!