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Light Star Guiding: Light Star Guiding

By Mark Sullivan
March 1, 2020
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Light Star Guiding

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Light Star Guiding is a Polish quartet which makes music collectively, with a seamless combination of composition and improvisation (all the music on this album is credited to the whole band). It is a very contemporary sound, frequently employing repetition and trance. Tenor saxophonist

Ray Dickaty

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Dickaty says he sees the project as an electric counterpoint to his more acoustic groups, as well as a return to the noise-jazz of his early bands. Guitarist

Miko?aj Poncyljusz

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Miko?aj Poncyljusz has been heard most prominently as leader and composer for

HoTS

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2012

" data-original-title="" title="">HoTS. On albums like Numbers (Multikulti Project, 2017) and Live In Tr��jka (For Tune, 2019) he has pursued a blend of acoustic bebop and more contemporary styles.

"Guiding Intro" makes it clear this is not going to be jazz as usual. It is a rubato exploration with a chant feeling. "And She Said (Goodnight, Flower)" begins with a ritual drum rhythm from drummer

Dominik Mokrzewski

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Dominik Mokrzewski, followed by an arco solo and a deep drone from double-bassist Staszek Czy?ewski. It is primarily a group sound, but includes a long passage featuring solo saxophone with guitar accompaniment. It builds to a big climax, before concluding with ritual drums, with the whole band accompanying.

"The Ancient, The New" features guest vocalist

Maniucha Bikont

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Maniucha Bikont in another ritual groove, which concludes with a repeating saxophone pattern reminiscent of minimalist pioneer

Terry Riley

composer / conductor
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">Terry Riley, with processed guitar. "Hymnal" has a driving ostinato pattern, and spotlights for saxophone and guitar. "After Frank (Wright)" concludes the album with an atmospheric buildup which climaxes with the whole band, before concluding with a gentle coda. This is a group with a distinctive collective voice, more than the sum of its parts. It will be interesting to see where this approach leads them going forward.

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Track Listing

Guiding Intro; And She Said (Goodnight, Flower); The Ancient, The New; Hymnal; Reflection; After Frank (Wright).

Personnel

Light Star Guiding

band / ensemble / orchestra

Ray Dickaty

saxophone, tenor

Miko?aj Poncyljusz

guitar, electric

Staszek Czyzewski

bass, acoustic

Dominik Mokrzewski

drums

Maniucha Bikont

vocals

Album information

Title: Light Star Guiding | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Self Produced

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