Astigmatic

This CD contains unique, previously unreleased recordings, which were made in the recording studio of the Polish Radio in Poznań, in 1956-1957.
Jazz musician and film composer Krzysztof Komeda is best known for his film scores for the movies of Roman Polanski and Ingmar Bergman. Born Krzysztof Trzcinski in 1931, he used "Komeda" as his last name because of Communism disfavor with jazz music. Professionally an ear, nose, and throat specialist, Komeda composed and played jazz piano, and was well received at the 1956 Sopot Jazz Festival. Komeda's chief musical accomplishments were in free jazz. Komeda performed and recorded with trumpeter Tomasz Stanko (from 1963 on) and Swedish tenor saxophonist Bernt Rosengren…

There is no denying that UK jazz has been on everyone's lips for several years now. Away from the hustle and bustle of music media focusing on London jazz stars, Levitation Orchestra was founded by trumpeter Axel Kaner-Lidstrom (Cykada). Best kept secret of the jazz scene bustling upon Thames. Only a handful of heads have had a chance to get acquainted with this unique project and their performances. The values and rules behind Levitation Orchestra are beautiful, simple and pure. None of the members is individually responsible for the orchestra's compositions. The whole 13-member band composes music collectively in the spirit of communal ownership, which allows for the emergence of unique energy among the musicians. For them, creating pieces like this is somewhat of a ritual…

Cult Polish jazz group EABS have produced this tribute to the great Sun Ra, reimagining seven of his compositions across this deeply spiritual and funky LP.

The change of direction on Lontano, the third release by Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and his three young collaborators - Marcin Wasilewski (piano), Slawomir Kurkiewicz (bass), and Michal Miskiewicz (drums) - is startling. Whereas Soul of Things (2002) and Suspended Night (2004) focused on Stanko's increasing sense of balladry and structurally harmonic, assonant atmospheres, Lontano showcases a band confident enough after playing for five years to find real space for free improvisation. Recorded in the south of France instead of Oslo, producer Manfred Eicher works his name magic and allows stillness and silence to play as much a role as the performers engaging one another musically. The opening title track is the first of three such excursions with the title "Lontano"…