Flutist / composer Krzysztof Popek was a major figure in the
Young Power movement of the '80s. House of Jade
partners him with an American rhythm section that includes
pianist Randy Porter, bassist David Friesen and drummer
Victor Lewis. Popek is a precise player with beautiful
technique and he shares the spotlight with trumpeter Piotr
Wojtasik. One is immediately struck by the lovely
trumpet/flute voicings against the punch of this first-rate
rhythm section. Popek's quintet's knack for reinventing pieces
from a diverse group of composers - Abdullah Ibrahim, Wayne
Shorter, Randy Weston, and Ellington - makes this session
gel.
Elliot Simon, November 2006, ALLABOUTJAZZ - NEW YORK
On You Are in My Heart Popek plays warbly, easy-going
alto flute (in G, down a fourth from concert flute) in front-line
with Piotr Wojtasik’s tidy flugelhorn, assuring mellow weavings
and rounded unisons on this straightahead quintet date.
Handpicked melodies by trumpeters (Tom Harrell, Randy
Brecker), reedmen (Larry Schneider’s “Tomato Kiss”, Wayne
Shorter’s “Virgo”), pianist Kenny Barron (“Voyage”, “Cook’s
Bay”) and a polite waltz from The King and I, assure material
variety, but the date foot-pedals to achieve lift-off. Popek’s
loose-limbed lines and curious thought processes feel less
snooze controlled than deliberate and his leisurely momentum
is spurred largely by reasoned propulsion from rhythm
veterans, Dave Friesen (bass) and Joe LaBarbera (drums).
Randy Porter supplies pleasing piano solos.
Fred Bouchard, May 2007, ALLABOUTJAZZ - NEW YORK
Krzysztof Popek with his flute conjured up magnificient
melodies.He has done it as if it was a magical flute.
Szymon Kropaczewski http://www.tutej.pl/cms.php?i=27910
Beautifully shaped sound,deep,calm tune and clear melodic
lines are the distinguishing marks of his style.The connection
with Newton is visible by using modal scales and by sharing a
passion for Ellington ( here his subject can be found Lost in
Meditation), with Herbie Mann the common thing is a
dynamic groove.
Marek Romański - JAZZ FORUM 12/05
Despite his youthful personality Krzysztof Popek has been a
fixture on the Polish Jazz scene for the last quarter of a
century. He was one of the first European musicians in 1980's
to fluently adopt Ornette Coleman's approach to harmony,
tempo, melody and improvisation into his own voice. Later on
he focused his attention on more conventional jazz but has
always remained open to the jazz music evolution. With his
newest album You Are in My Heart, the 2nd one in 2006
after critically acclaimed House of Jade, Popek proves once
again that his artistic development is still on track - and
moving with the speed of the drum beat.
You Are in My Heart is a winning combination of mature
mainstream with the sophistication of fresh post-bop acoustic
sound and perfectly selected neo classics from composers
ranging from Kenny Barron to Wayne Shorter to ...Krzysztof
Popek . This virtuosity has always been Popek's landmark
and his new album is no exception from this rule. His
command of (alto) flute is superior, his swing complete, his
improvisation always engaging and colorful. To make things
even better, he finds another distinctive voice on his latest
album: the trumpet of his long time collaborator Piotr
Wojtasik. Wojtasik on his part brings just right amount of
intellectual reflection often reaching beyond straight-ahead,
combining all with strong cool jazz tradition.
http://www.chazzforjazz.com/servlet/the-592/Krzysztof-
Popek%2C-You-Are/Detail
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