Unleashed Cooperation: 'Trust'

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One of the joys of reviewing albums from around the world is the huge variety of sounds and styles that reach my ears. The latest such delight comes from Poland's Unleashed Cooperation and their new album 'Trust'.




I have to confess that Poland's jazz scene is not one I am particularly familiar with, but Unleashed Cooperation are providing with Trust an innovative combination of contemporary jazz, improvisation and Polish folk.

Unleashed Cooperation has taken a number of influences anad produced this intense and energetic collection of tracks. Band leader Krzysztof Kusmierek (tenor saxophone) is joined by Patryk Rynkiewicz (trumpet), Patryk Matwiejczuk (piano), Flavio Guilotta (double bass) and Stanislaw Aleksandrowicz (drums). Leading jazz vocalist and improviser Anna Gadt joins the group for four tracks.

If you want to start with one track, I'd recommend Polistes Dominula, which includes some astonishing ensemble and solo sections with a virtuosity that is mind-blowing. A different approach comes with another favourite track - Coincidence 2. In this one, Anna Gadt's voice performs as an instrument alongside tenor and trumpet, interweaving and echoing each other to an incredible final crescendo.

Open your ears to some Polish jazz that has a dreamlike quality. The sleeve notes talk about "an autonomous sound shaped by a collaborative creative process and mutual trust," and the result is both beautiful and sonically challenging.

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