Polish Jazz-Rock Fusion band Laboratorium was one of several great Polish bands (Extra Ball for example) playing in that vein during the 1970s and 1980s. Founded by keyboardist Janusz Grzywacz, the band's founding members included also saxophonist / vocalist Marek Stryszowski and drummer Mieczyslaw Gorka. After an initial period of trying to find a musical identity, the band was joined by brothers Pawel Scieranski on guitar and Krzysztof Scieranski on bass (one of the greatest Polish bass players) and settled into the Fusion genre, with a musical approach and sound not far away from Weather Report. This, their debut recording, presents them already in their full power and the recording is quite stunning in its sophistication and instrumental aptitude. The music includes the 20 minutes long suite in five parts, which gives the album its title and a few shorter pieces, all composed or co-composed by the leader. As opposed to most American Fusion at the time, which was mostly based on simplistic melodies and endless instrumental doodling, this music is atmospheric, intelligent, sophisticated, well developed and coherent, clearly well rooted in the European musical tradition. Fusion fans are well advised to try this out and explore this wonderful music, which is expanding the genre's limitations to the max. Superb Stuff! ~ Jazzis, RYM.
Polskie Nagrania Muza, SX
1418, 1976
Polskie Nagrania Muza, PNCD
949, 2004
Metal Mind Productions, MMP CD 0451, 2006
Recorded in July 1976 (#1-5)
at Polskie Nagrania Studio, Warsaw, Poland
Recorded October, 1976 (#6)
Live at Jazz Jamboree, Warsaw, Poland
Musicians:
Janusz Grzywacz - Piano
[Fender], Piano, Synthesizer [Roland 2000 Synth.], Leader
Marek Stryszowski - Vocals,
Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Paweł Ścierański - Acoustic
Guitar, Electric Guitar
Krzysztof Ścierański - Bass
Mieczysław Górka - Drums,
Percussion
Tracks:
1. Pięciobój Nowoczesny
[Modern Pentathlon] (19:58)
{Janusz Grzywacz,
Krzysztof Ścierański, Marek Stryszowski, Mieczysław Górka, Paweł Ścierański}
1.1 Przebieg Niekontrolowany
1.2 Mur 1234
1.3 Kravhana
1.4 Coyola
1.5 Taniec "Białego
Karła"
2. Funky Dla Franki [Funky
For Franka] {Janusz Grzywacz} (4:43)
3. Szalony Baca [Crazy
Shepard] {Janusz Grzywacz, Marek Stryszowski} (6:00)
4. ABZ {Janusz Grzywacz}
(4:55)
5. Grzymaszka {Janusz
Grzywacz} (2:22)
Time: 37:58
6. Pięciobój Nowoczesny
[Live] (29:06) *
{Janusz Grzywacz,
Krzysztof Ścierański, Marek Stryszowski, Mieczysław Górka, Paweł Ścierański}
* Bonus Track
Total Time: 67:04
Credits:
Recording Engineer - Halina
Jastrzębska-Marciszewska
Recording Supervisor/Director
- Wojciech Piętowski
Remastering - Joanna Szczepańska
