CD ECM Records Tomasz Stanko Quintet: Dark Eyes

2009

Tomasz Stanko - trompeta
Alexi Tuomarila - pian
Jakob Bro - chitara
Anders Christensen - contrabas
Olavi Louhivuori - tobe

Tomasz Stanko’s smouldering Slavic soul music and grainy-toned trumpet finds a new context on “Dark Eyes”. Like his hero Miles Davis, the Polish jazz master also has an impressive record as talent scout and mentor, and his latest ensemble pools young players from the North of Europe. Tomasz has had strong connections to Finland in particular since the early 1970s when he was part of Edward Vesala’s creative circle. Now he welcomes two prodigiously gifted Finns into his group, pianist Alexi Tuomarila and drummer Olavi Louhivuori, both expressive and imaginative players. On “Dark Eyes”, Jakob Bro, the young guitarist heard on ECM on Paul Motian’s “Garden of Eden” is cast most often in the role of subtle colourist, while fellow Dane Anders Christensen, on electric bass throughout, provides the band’s throbbing pulse. The programme features new Stanko compositions, including “The Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch”, inspired by an Oskar Kokoschka canvas, plus a new version of “Last Song” from Tomasz ECM debut “Balladyna”, as well as “Dirge for Europe” and “Etiuda baletowa nr. 3” from the pen of Krzysztof Komeda.

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Stereoplay, Jazz-CD des Monats

Stanko likes to draw his inspirations from various artistic corners. And that is good to know. But one can just listen to this storyteller and imagine his or her own fantasy, draw from this music what one would like that relates to their own life or lives. It is a continuing marvel to realize how this veteran of the European jazz scene keeps coming up with new players to help him realize his evocative and truly different musical visions, visions that combine the freewheeling jazz aesthetic with his more composerly, mysterious elements of composition.
John Ephland, DownBeat

The new album …is unique in Stanko’s discography in that it features the key presence of an electric guitar introducing mind-expanding new potential to the cinematic scope of Stanko’s sound. The view from the green hill, Stanko’s artistic muse, now stretches for miles.
Stephen Graham, Jazzwise

Polish trumpeter Stanko’s new Finnish and Nordic quintet, with Jacob Bro on guitar, can sound either plangently acoustic or modestly electric. While this is a relatively low-key Stanko set, it’s still full of his customary quiet intensity, both in his own excellent playing and that of the band. Unusually for any album, Dark Eyes gets better the longer it goes on.
Phil Johnson, Independent on Sunday

The trumpeter once again makes an album in which every note – and the spaces around them – have impact. The twilight feel recalls his Miles Davis influence, but these ethereal paintings in sound are all his own. … One of the great European jazz albums of the year.
John Bungey, The Times

With Stanko taking less solo space than might be expected, his talented colleagues make their mark, particularly Tuomarila and the impressive Louhivouri. But Stanko’s is the primary voice in a band moulded to his liking. Throughout … he does more with less than most achieve in a lifetime. That unique tone and simplicity of manner say it all for Stanko.
Ray Comiskey, The Irish Times