Zdzislaw Piernik — Namaga

I’ve always rather enjoyed the tuba’s exuberate, often lumber and deep tones & with Namaga Polish tuba player Zdzislaw Piernik takes instrument from been deep and playful, to swirl and angered, to cinematic and lush.

For the 15 tracks on offer here Piernik is joined by Piotr Zabrodzki (piano, electric piano, doublebass, bass guitar, organ), who composed all the pieces with in. Hubert Zemler ( percussion, vibraphone) and Wojciech Kondrat (violin). The tracks go from raising church organ tones and deep majestic tuba tones of the opener Emblema 47 Intro, to the honking, liquid bubbling and manic to grand atmospheric tuba tone meets the ornate and sombre violin tones of Lekcja Chenii. To the swirling, grating tuba calls and  jazz punk electric bass / drum mix of Kamrat Zuch. There’s a nice see-sawing through between pretty and ugly tones and all parties playing very well and with great versatility.

Of interesting to those who enjoy wind instruments played well but also stretched and pulled out of their normal settings and expected playing patterns. Managing to be grand, playful and searing at various stages through out the albums running time