Laboratorium biography (http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2857)
The end of the 60s was an important period in jazz, as well as rock music, in Poland and the rest of the world, with the development of many styles and trends in popular music. The death of Polish musician KRZYSZTOF KOMEDA marked the end of a particular stage in Polish jazz. In 1970 the jazz rock fusion band, LABORATORIUM was formed in Kraków, although it is necessary to search further back in time for its roots.
JANUSZ GRZYWACZ, LABORATORIUM 's leader, made his first steps in the musical world in Kraków. During his time at high school he regularly lead and performed in bands: OMIACZE, LAMPARTY, TYTANI. MAREK STRYSZOWSKI, GRZYWACZ's neighbour and school companion, also played in these bands. At the time GRZYWACZ also had connections with Kraków's cabaret scene and the emerging STU Theatre.
Later during his college years (Polish studies), JANUSZ GRZYWACZ formed LABORATORIUM. Eventually a five-person line-up came about: JANUSZ GRZYWACZ (piano), MIECZYS£AW GÓRKA (drums), WAC£AW £OZIÑSKI (flute), EDMUND MACIWODA (bass, soon to be replaced by MACIEJ GÓRSKI) and MAREK STRYSZOWSKI, (vocals, bassoon which was later replaced by sax). Their music soon developed in jazz rock fusion, and so were pioneers in this music in Poland. LABORATORIUM's live debut was at the Gitariada '71 festival. In their first years, LABORATORIUM's music was acoustic, cleverly avoiding any limiting definitions. At the beginning of the 70's there was very limited access to Western recordings but this did not prove an obstacle for the band, because of the musicians searching and experimenting in the field. On the contrary and because of their relative isolation, LABORATORIUM developed an unique sound which was often noted in various critical reviews.
In 1973 LABORATORIUM were awarded first prize of Jazz Nad Odr¹ festival, including an award for the best composition (JANUSZ GRZYWACZ's "Prognoza na jutro"). The prize offered them the chance to move from amateur to professional status. In 1975 CZES£AW NIEMEN offered to cooperate with LABORATORIUM, having recently left his band AEROLIT. NIEMEN performed with LABORATORIUM at a number of musical events, where to showcased music from "Katharsis", and new songs which became the basis for the double-album "Idee Fixe", released a few years later. This partnership was brief with NIEMEN soon forming a new band, leaving LABORATORIUM to follow their own path. However, the later to be international jazz trumpeter, TOMASZ STAÑKO also briefly passed through their ranks, performing together at Zaduszki Jazzowe '75. In the meanwhile LABORATORIUM, had undergone both personnel and musical changes; (JANUSZ GRZYWACZ replaced his acoustic piano for a Fender Rhodes, a novelty in Poland at that time), WAC£AW £OZIÑSKI and MACIEJ GÓRSKI were replaced by KRYSZTOF OCIERAÑSKI (known from playing with MAREK GRECHUTA) and his brother PAWE£ OCIERAÑSKI, LABORATORIUM's first guitarist. The band's first official album "Modern Pentathlon" was recorded with this line-up.
"Modern Pentathlon" consists of a long, five-part title track "Piêciobój nowoczesny" and four shorter songs, three of which were distinctly funky. Electronically modulated vocalizations by MAREK STRYSZOWSKI are heard on the title track (whose style resembled that of URSZULA DUDZIAK), as well as there being a rich usage of the monophonic Roland synthesizer (played by JANUSZ GRZYWACZ) and accelerated, fragments based on twitchy, pulsating drums, recalling MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. Importantly, LABORATORIUM clearly retained their artistic identity with all these added various references, demonstrating musical sensitivity and the musicians' skills. "Modern Pentathlon" was released on the Polish Jazz Series (No. 49) in an unbelievable turn round time for the Polish record industry at the time. When there were normal expectations of at least a year between recording and release, this was recorded at the beginning of Summer '76 and launched during the next Jazz Jamboree festival during autumn that year. Another innovation for the Polish record industry was with the album being premiered at the Polish Recordings Hall in Warsaw, with a record-signing. Some years later it was announced that "Modern Pentathlon" had sold well over 115,000 copies! With the success of the album LABORATORIUM perform in Poland and Germany, as well as the exotic Jazz Yatra Festival in 1978 in India, along with CZESLAW NIEMEN's and ZBIGNIEW NAMYS£OWSKI's BANDS.
Thanks Magal
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário