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Kinga Glyk: Real Life

By Mike Jurkovic
January 15, 2024
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Throughout daredevil bassist

Kinga Glyk

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Kinga Glyk's Real Life there are several moments which border menacingly on mainstream Euro-pop and wanna-be fusion. Fortunately those (intentional or unintentional?) moments are heavily outweighed and outnumbered by thrillingly incandescent moments which lend themselves to that old catch-all street phrase of the '60s, '70s, and '80s: "Man this is some really high powered s**t!"

Because Real Life is high powered. And should be. Maybe that is the lesson to be learned from listening—live life high powered. Sure we all felt that way at Glyk's age (26) but why must the ensuing years cut us off at the knees? Dance kids dance! What else are you going to do in this time of dark skies, poisoned air, and arid land?

With a robust cast of young 'uns alongside her—aerophonist

Casey Benjamin

saxophone
1978 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Casey Benjamin (

Robert Glasper

piano
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Robert Glasper), drummer

Robert Searight

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Robert Searight, keyboardists

Caleb McCampbell

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Caleb McCampbell (Beyonc��),

Julian Pollack

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Pollack (

Marcus Miller

bass
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus Miller),

Nicholas Semrad

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicholas Semrad (Lauryn Hill), and longtime collaborator, multi-instrumentalist

Brett Williams

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Brett Williams (

Marcus Miller

bass
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus Miller)—Real Life floats and crunches as it informs and satisfies.

Aligned in mind and mission as were fellow monster players and predecessors—

Stanley Clarke

bass
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Clarke,

Jaco Pastorius

bass, electric
1951 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Jaco Pastorius immediately come into focus—that the bass should know no bounds—Glyk fires it up and keeps the flame burning. There is something definitely akin to Black Sabbath vs.

Joe Zawinul

keyboards
1932 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Zawinul happening on the metal crankingly seductive "Unfollower." Be it a surefire, mid-'70's throwback to those great burbling records by

Billy Preston

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Preston and

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder or a vintage

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock drop/funk driving "Who Cares" is anyone's guess, but who cares in the end when everyone wins?

Produced by

Snarky Puppy

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Snarky Puppy's multi-instrumentalist, bassist & originator

Michael League

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael League, Real Life, though is arguably too reliant on lush, dreamlike synth-phonics, snaps and pops with a precise and hip hoppy, 21st century crackle which is hard to resist. Harder still to resist is the slamming fusion homage "Swimming In The Sky," wherein Searight and Gym are locked in big time punching the track to higher and higher heights. (On a separate but tangentially musically related note, the track's changes may remind some of Little Feat's manic mid-period jazz splash "Day At the Dog Races.") "That Right There" in a word, is just ferocious. Like Glyk's playing. Like mostly ninety percent of Real Life.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Fast Life; Unfollower; Who Cares; Island; Not Real; Unseen Bruises; Swimming in the Sky; The Friend You Call; That Right There; Funny Bunny; Sadness Does Not Last Forever; Opinions.

Personnel

Kinga Glyk

bass

Robert Searlight

drums

Casey Benjamin

saxophone

Caleb McCampbell

keyboards

Brett Williams

keyboards

Julian Pollack

keyboards

Additional Instrumentation

Michael League: keyboards #1,2,4,12; electric sitar #3; electric guitar #4. Casey Benjamin: aerophone #1-9, 11, 12.

Album information

Title: Real Life | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Warner Bros.

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