Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Wojciech Lichtanski Questions: Iga

Wojciech Lichtanski Questions: Iga

By Jerome Wilson
March 23, 2020
View read count

Wojciech Lichta��ski

saxophone, alto
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Wojciech Lichta��ski is a young Polish saxophonist who works in several contexts as a leader and sideman. His music, on this CD with his band Questions, draws on the contemplative melodicism heard from many European musicians associated with the ECM label, as well as carrying its own frisky energy.

Some of Lichtanski's compositions, like "Iga?" and "Mr. Muniak, What's Now?," have a stately classical vibe as the leader's alto quietly hovers over the slow, deliberate progressions of the other members of the quartet. Bassist

Kuba Dworak

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Kuba Dworak and drummer

Patryk Dobosz

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Patryk Dobosz set down a lightly-sketched foundation while pianist Mateusz Palka dances gently underneath the wispy sax lines and also adds a forlorn layer of accordion to "Mr. Muniak." "Blue Monday?" brings this style into a darker light as Lichtanski's high-pitched alto snakes its way over quietly dramatic piano with a Middle Eastern tinge, a blend that becomes more ominous and mysterious as the piece unfolds.

On other tracks the group proves it is no stranger to aggression. The quicker-paced "Auto, Auto?" has Dworak setting down a clipped, funky beat over which Lichtanski and Palka drop little twists and curls of sound while Dobosz maintains a taut tempo. "First Question" has much the same format but also carries a tipsy, revolving melody for the alto and piano to bear down on. The contrast of Lichtanski's icy fluidity and Palka's hard stabs here makes a forceful and heady combination, conjuring up the impression of a meeting between

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock and

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond.

The freest and most volatile playing of the set comes on the one standard, "On Green Dolphin Street." Here, random blowing leads into a bumpy attack on the melody by the entire band with the bruising energy of

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis' sixties quintet. Lichtanski's alto flies and swoops about with startling power over adventurous rhythm bashing that often leaves the theme somewhere in the dust. Palka then goes to the other extreme with an eerily quiet solo before jumping into a tense, romping dialogue with the bass and drums. Dobosz' energetic drumming really stands out on this track.

The music of Wojciech Lichtanski Questions has both melancholy and lively aspects. They can rain down fire or be quietly romantic, with Lichtanski's affecting sax sound leading the way. These four musicians work very well together and their stimulating, atmospheric style of jazz shows great promise.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Iga; Grandpa, Where You Ramble Now (Improvisation One); Auto, Auto; Are You Ready; Mr. Muniak, What's Now; On Green Dolphin Street; Improvisation Two: First Question; Blue Monday.

Personnel

Wojciech Lichta��ski

saxophone, alto

Mateusz Pa?ka

piano

Kuba Dworak

bass, acoustic

Patryk Dobosz

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Wojciech Lichtanski: soprano saxophone; Mateusz Palka: accordion.

Album information

Title: Iga | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Audio Cave

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The Women Who Raised Me
< Previous

Salomea
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.