Full Review

Michal Martyniuk, Resonate Review

We had the pleasure of previously reviewing Michal Martyniuk’s album Nothing to Prove in 2018. It was apparent then this Polish pianist was a cut above in the jazz idiom. Now in 2020, Martyniuk has released his latest endeavor Resonate. An aptly titled full-length album that certainly does a beautiful job showcasing his composition skills as a writer with depth and thought-provoking approaches to jazz. His style is undoubtedly centered in the modern jazz vernacular, with plenty of rhythmic complexities. This album features a combination of his current Polish ensemble and previously unreleased tracks from his New Zealand band, where he spent 13 years in the scene. Resonate features: Michał Martyniuk – piano; Jakub Skowroński – tenor sax; Kuba Mizeracki – electric guitar; Bartek Chojnacki – double bass; Kuba Gudz – drums; Ron Samsom – drums; and Cameron McArthur – double bass on select tracks. Each player is equally versed and fluent in the jazz language.

Positives: One defining clarity is the continued growth of Martyniuk’s writing, he keeps the listener on the edge of their seat with non-predictable ideas and colorizations. It’s evident he has really lived with these compositions and developed them in a breadth possibility.

Bottom Line: Like Nothing to Prove, we are introduced to a player that clearly pushes himself to the next level. On Resonate, Martyniuk’s writing is mature, and his approach is nothing short of masterful. Ranging from muscular, to pensive to funky and grooving each track takes the listener on an exciting listen. Prime examples can be found throughout Resonate to highlight this statement. In particular “Java Blues,” is a track that deceivingly begins as a funky groove, then develops and unfolds into a no-holds-barred swing, with the group jabbing and stabbing back into a groove while guitarist Mizeracki spins forth a grooving solo, that leads back to a powerful statement by the band to a punctuated ending. While “Good Bad News” is a gorgeous ballad that is taken with an introspective treatment. On this tune, Skowroński and Martyniuk and Mizeracki equally colorize with a tenderness that is slanted with purity and tension that elevates the track to a yearning soulful sound. We knew in 2018 that Martyniuk had Nothing to Prove, and now in 2020, his newest album will certainly Resonate with eminent resolve. That’s the short of it!