https://multikultiproject.bandcamp.com/album/8-years
Genre: Jazz
Rating: 5/5
released on bandcamp April 27, 2022
Unleashed Cooperation is a Polish jazz sextet. The music on 8 Years is very diverse in terms of tonality but it is never frenetic or chaotic. In fact, one of the most appealing aspects of this record is how smooth it is. It’s like riding shotgun with an excellent driver who navigates high speed deep urban inches to spare traffic and narrow gravel rural roads or the flat open no other car around for miles Nebraskan earth ribbons with the same easy aplomb.
For reference, I found the Multikulti Discogs page more useful than their official website. In case you can’t Google, here it is https://www.discogs.com/label/46596-Multikulti-Project I’m reminded of releases on LEO as well as ECM. A lot of it reminds me of the stuff they used to play on 94 Q Atlanta which was a smooth jazz station. Other times it’s almost Windham Hill like. In other words, this band isn’t afraid to be mellow and melodic. And the approach is definitely captivating. It sounds nice. Perhaps, keyboardist Patryk Matwiejczuk is just a touch schizophrenic because it always seems to be the piano leading the band into the free jazz abyss of atonality and dissonance. The mood changes are abrupt and beautiful. And wonderfully composed. They often come out of transition by slowing down and hitting notes in exact unison. It’s something Charlie Parker did but this band sounds more like Coltrane’s classic quartet when they do it. Especially on the track Our March which has distinct echoes from Coltrane’s Alabama.
There’s been a real shortage of good jazz records available in their entirety on bandcamp. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to listen to this for free. This is a great new release.
Warmth Highest 