JAN GRABOWSKI

JAZZ MYSTERIES

Independent Label

Przemyslaw Jan Grabowski, piano/Fender Rhodes/composer; Camila Cortina Bello, synthesizers/piano; Noam Tanzer, acoustic bass; Samer Sharawi, electric bass; Andy Wilder, drums; Kali Rodriguez-Peña, trumpet; Emir Santa Cruz, tenor saxophone.

The first thing I noticed right away on Track #1 titled “My Dearest Christine” was that the pianist was a novice. However, I found his composition interesting, melodic, and well-written. The musicians kept his tune afloat with their talent and timing. The composer and the pianist are one in the same.  I paused to read all the press on Jan Grabowski.  I learned that he was a Polish/Australian pianist and composer, currently based in Washington, D.C., who has taken an unusual path to becoming a jazz musician. His press package says he is completely self-taught on the 88-keys.

His carefully selected musicians translate Grabowski’s musical ideas in a beautiful way.  His debut album presents a package of seven original compositions that are all quite good.  The challenge is, he is still a fledgling jazz pianist.

“I’ve been obsessed with music and more specifically jazz, from a really young age. Maybe it started when I was a baby as my father would play Chick Corea records to help me sleep or as background music.  At age fourteen we moved and my parents purchased a piano to allow me to start classical music lessons.  However, the lessons didn’t work out because I was not interested to learn what was already written, but instead to create my own music and improvise.  At that point, I started recording my own compositions and teaching myself,” Jan Grabowski writes in his liner notes.

The horn lines on “Serenading the Morning Sun” cover-up the simplicity of his piano solo, while the muted trumpet of Kali Rodriguez-Peña softens Grabowski’s piano parts and fills in all the empty places.  This is a beautifully written composition.

Let me just say that jazz is a serious art form and most successful musicians take years to study and perfect their craft.  It sounds a bit narcissistic for someone to say that they don’t need to study to improve their skills and be able to adequately play their passion.  One thing I missed was Grabowski’s ability to play in what we call “the pocket.”  Timing is everything and his band was very good at holding the grooves in place and interpreting his compositions.

I admire what Jan Grobowski has written.  However, as a pianist, perhaps some master to study with and learn from could polish his talent to a high shine. Recordings by Kenny Barron, Art Tatum, (a blind jazz pianist that sounds like three people are playing the piano at the same time), Oscar Peterson, the iconic Michel Petrucianni, Barry Harris and Tommy Flannagan are great pianists who inspire. If Jan Grabowski is truly serious about this art form as a career, study and growth are part of the process.  I’m not against ‘Self-taught.’  Erroll Garner was self-taught, but he was a genius.  Not all of us can claim that title.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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