POWER BROS

In the interview with Krystian Brodacki /Jazz Forum 1987/, Jarek lmietana described Piotr Baron as "a creative man", very dextrous saxophone player wit an excellent sound and, in addition - respecting tradition. Baron himself confessed two years later: "I'm old fashioned". All through the next year Piotr Baron's star kept climbing higher and shining brighter, reaffirming his initial success: 2-nd prize in the Jazz -on- Oder'80 and 1-st prize in San Sebastian '84 competition. His reputation grew since, while cooperating with famous Polish band - leaders, Lewandowski, Ptaszyn, lmiatana, Wojtasik. This process of climbing up the ladder of fame has been documented by numerous records. Baron' penchant, or rather respect, for tradition has not diminished, but his stylistic possibilities grew considerably. Here on this disc, he commands the "quartet of leaders", for its members have been established leaders of many groups and are eminent figures of Polish jazz scene. There five compositions by Baron and one by Kulpowicz. There is also an unobtrusive patron looming from the past - an invisible, subtly present spirit of John Coltrane, though to call this a post-Coltrane music would be too much and too simple. The music here is orderly, each number presenting a chain of brilliant but not overstreched solo improvisations by every member of the quartet. John's spirit is envoked in the Naima - climate of two ballads /Tenor Sadness especially/. One can also feel My Favourite Things behind the persistent piano figures and saxophone abandon of the two last numbers - but then, these are merely my vague associations, for one might discover some Ayler traits, like overblowings and squeaks, in the "Blue Rain" for the matter. Above all, there's forty minutes of excellent music.

POWER BROS

PIOTR BARON "Blue Rain"