(Avant-Garde, Experimental, Chamber) [WEB] Ecstasy Project ‎ - Reminiscence Europae - 2008, FLAC (tracks), lossless

The jacket photography of Reminiscence Europae shows what looks like a bridge by architect Santiago Calatrava, which is appropriate. His global works divide opinion and are impossible to ignore. His architecture is largely devoid of local cultural reference; he is the architect without borders. In a way, these photos are a suitable metaphor for the music of Polish group Ecstasy Project—seemingly simple yet technically impressive and austere. According to taste, it is perhaps beautiful, and with few obvious points of departure.
The Italian song titles and chamber ensemble sobriety that dominate these live recordings allude to a classical approach, but the violin of Lukasz Gorewicz (the main voice of the group) comes from somewhere between the melancholia of eastern European folk and the animated style of violinists Jean Luc Ponty and Jerry Goodman. The vibe playing of Pawel Nowicki is utterly minimalist, atmospheric in a Zawinul-esque way, and evokes a Twilight Zone eeriness. Underpinning this esoteric face is the compelling drumming of nominal leader and main composer Rafal Gorzycki, which carries an energy and force in contrast to the edgy minimalism around him.
The pieces have a modern, avant-garde feel to them—soundtracks to European art-house cinema. The manipulation of space and silences, which lend such force to the infrequent eruptions of drums, violin and flute, are shaped by the minimal utterances of Pawel Nowicki's vibes, quietly rumbling drums, Pawel Urowski's alternately sparse and lively double-bass, and tense violin notes which are more percussive than melodic. But there is momentum to this music; the innate tension in the short staccato phrasing and the abstractness and dissonance, rises imperceptibly to crescendos that are surprising in their intensity.
On "Presto Cinque," violin and flute trace the initial lyrical melody before Gorewicz takes solo flight. Drums and bass propel the violinist into some inspired playing on a heady segment that evokes the Mahavishnu Orchestra. A brief, silent interlude follows, broken by a circular vibes motif, before Tomasz Pawlicki's flute takes center stage, the notes unfurling progressively and becoming bolder as crashing cymbals fill the air. Pawlicki's playing becomes gradually freer and breathier as the piece reaches a climax, and the guttural cry that escapes his throat reveals the influence of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, or perhaps Ian Anderson—comparisons that do not flatter him at all.
The combination of vibes and drums creates dense soundscapes on "Maestoso non troppo." "Adibitum" glides from bowed bass and violin in harmonious tandem to blistering drums to near silence impregnated by softly chattering vibes. This is music in a constant state of ebb and flow.
An accompanying DVD shows this lineup in concert, but the absence of its more animated tracks, featuring exhilarating violin and flute improvisations, provides only half the picture. The dark and edgy minimalist approach of Reminisence Europae holds a certain fascination precisely because of that juxtaposition of rationed and unrestrained improvisation. Nevertheless, admirers of modern, progressive music will not be indifferent to this challenging, original project.

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Perkusista Rafał Gorzycki wyrósł w kręgu bydgoskiego yassu. Dziś kojarzony jest przede wszystkim z odświeżającym fusion zespołem Sing Sing Penelope. Jednak to Ecstasy Project jest jego autorskim i – bez wątpienia – najbardziej osobistym projektem. Grupa istnieje już 10 lat. Na przestrzeni tego okresu przeszła szereg radykalnych transformacji stylistycznych i personalnych. Początkowo grała jazz o funkowym zacięciu, inspirowany M-Base, potem romantyzujące fusion w duchu ECM, w końcu wykonała woltę w kierunku współczesnej kameralistyki, czego owocem była, wydana raptem kilka miesięcy temu płyta „Europae”. Niniejszy album przynosi muzykę zarejestrowaną live (między czerwcem 2007 a styczniem 2008 roku) na bazie tamtego materiału i w tym samym co ostatni krążek składzie (choć nie we wszystkich utworach obecny jest flecista – Tomasz Pawlicki).
Na koncercie, w kilku momentach gra Ecstasy Project znów nabiera jazzowej energii – zwłaszcza w Presto cinque, w którym dźwięki niesie subtelny, minimali-styczny, ale szalenie wciągający groove, w kulminacyjnym momencie nabierający nieco większej dynamiki. Muzyka przez cały czas pozostaje oszczędna, skupiona, cierpliwa. Artyści nie ulegają pokusie wylewności. Jej napięcie, nieco mroczny liryzm i przestrzenność doprawdy mogą się podobać. Instrumentarium grupy (obejmujące – poza sekcją rytmiczną – flet, skrzypce, wibrafon) sprzyja malarskości, lecz kolorystyka jest tu stonowana, wyważona. Kompetencje muzyków, wśród których odnajdujemy najwybitniejszych krajowych kameralistów, pozwalają na delikatne cieniowanie, cyzelowanie detali.
W trzecim utworze El pagedo zespół wkracza na bardziej wyzwolone obszary. Są przepełnione zadumą wyprawy w rejony mikrotonalności, są abstrakcyjne konstrukcje budowane z dźwiękowych drobinek czy plam albo filigranowych fraz. Na zakończenie przywołujący słowiańską nostalgię, ale przy tym całkiem rześki utwór Moderato recitando. To jednak nie wszystko – drugi dysk zawiera rejestrację wideo koncertu (bez udziału Pawlickiego) w bydgoskim Mózgu. Zrealizowany oszczędnie, acz doskonale oddający poetycki ton tej pełnej szlachetności muzyki.

Band established in 1998 (Bydgoszcz/Poland) is one of the groups connected to Club "Mozg" (Brain; eng.) named by top european newspapers as "the most creative place of recent years".
The band`s debut album was released in 2001 by famous jazz label - Not Two Records (Cracow/Poland).
The second Ecstasy Project Trio album "Realium" was released by polish-american label "Polish Jazz Networ" by Cezary Lerski, in 2005
"I worked over one year on the conception of my second album. I meant to describe some kind of melancholy. I exposed visions appearing during my stay at the countryside. This is European jazz - my favorite." Rafal Gorzycki
After releasing in 2005 by PJN a compilation album called: "The Best of Polish Jazz 2005" with Ecstasy Project composition, Ecstasy Project has started its european career.
In 2007, Rafal Gorzycki released third EP`s album: "EUROPAE", which is a special homage payed to the XX century`s european music.
The latest, double (CD + DVD) live album "Reminiscence Europae" (premiere: 05.2008) includes new compositions and some from "Europae" album.
Members of the group:
Rafał Gorzycki (Bydgoszcz) - drums, the leader, well known from bands Sing Sing Penelope and Maestro Trytony , is a artist of jazz upbringing. In the past interested in trans aspect of M-base and downtown New York`s scene , now studies and works on modern european jazz and XX century chamber contemporary music.
Tomasz Pawlicki (Bydgoszcz) - flute. Plays as a First flute player in National Opera House in Bydgoszcz. One of the greatest flute virtuosi in Europe. He is also a composer and performer.
Pawel Nowicki (Gdansk) - vibes. Graduated Music Conservatory in Strasburg - modern chamber music specialist . Awarded in Contemporary Music Competition in Rotterdam and Clerment-Ferrand. Close cooperator of "Warsaw Autumn Festival". Leader of contemporary quartet - Kwartludium.
Paweł Urowski (Bydgoszcz) - double bass player. Student of final year on Music Academy in Wroclaw on Jazz classes. He studies acoustic bass in famous european bass player class: Jacek Niedziela. He is specialized in modern, acoustic jazz . He plays in: "0-12 Acoustic Quartet" and is a co-leader of "Soul Essence" Quintet . He also was a member of " Contemporary Noise Quintet" and recorded theirs debut album "Pig inside the gentleman.
All members of the group has taken part in numerous important europaen recordings, projects and concerts with some of the most creative European ensembles and musicians, including: Peter Kowald, Jon Rose, P. Friis-Nielsen, O. Magieres, N. Winther, C. Irgens-Moller, John Doobie, Brandon Furman, Jorgos Skolias, Loco Richter, Tomasz Pawlicki, Pomeranian Philharmony, National Opera House, National Theatre in Cracow, Leszek Mozdzer, Milosc, Hanna Banaszak, Ryszard Tymanski, Marek Kazana, Olo Walicki, Mikolaj Trzaska, Maestro Trytony, Antoni Gralak, Fire Birds, Maksymiuk , Andrzej Przybielski, Krzysztof Herdzin, Grzegorz Nadolny, Tomasz Pacanowski, Waclaw Wegrzyn and many others.
Ecstasy Project successfully performed at major jazz festivals in Poland and Europe, including performances at : Jazz Jamboree, Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, Gdynia Summer Jazz Days, Big Jazz Ear Budapest, Construction in Process, The Polish Year in Austria, France, Greece, Germany and Jazz Week in Berlin.

Rafał Gorzycki: drums;
Lukasz Gorewicz: violin;
Pawel Nowicki: vibes;
Pawel Urowski: double-bass;
Tomasz Pawlicki: flute