CD FRYDERYKATA (2008)

CD JUNCTIONS (2004)

CD SARAKINA (2001)

Renato Belardinelli (accordions.com):This is not simply a recital of various compostions by Chopin but a much deeper work, which imagine s the famous composer still living and still capable of producing inspiration even today.

No problem thus for the listener who perhaps is not familiar with Chopin. In fact it may well attract the listener to Chopins music.

I do not want to make a track listing but highlight a couple of original tracks written by the band leader and accordionist Jacek Grekow which are Ballade in 7 and the title track Fryderykata. They like “Nocturne in G minor Op. 15 n.3”, the long and elaborate “Pelude in C minor Op.28 N.20” and the last track “Se navali Sharp lanina” have that something extra which immediately capture the listeners interest.

Once again Sarakina provide proof of their great artistry...

Valya Bozhilova (Bulgarian National Radio): It offers an original transformation of Chopin’s music in the invention of Jacek Grekow and of the other musicians from Sarakina Band. Grekow has interpreted Chopin by using rhythmic patterns and melodies borrowed from the Bulgarian folk music.

The CD Fryderykata is the source of original ideas resulting from the creative daring of the young musicians from Sarakina Band. Curiously, in this CD Chopin is featured without his emblematic piano. The accordion and the clarinet have successfully replaced it.

Eelco Schilder (FolkWorld.eu): This year the group Sarakina celebrates it's ten year anniversary with the release of a interesting new album. The band exists out of three musicians from Poland and an accordionist from Bulgaria. On the album they are joined by a singer and a guest musician on the daf. The band always showed great interest in modern-acoustic interpretations of ethnic music from the Balkan region, especially those of Bulgaria and Macedonia. On Fryderykata they use the elements of these traditions in a tribute to the great composer Chopin. Many classical composers were influenced by ethnic music and used traditional melodies in their work. Sarakina does it the other way around, they use the compositions of Chopin to create new-traditional style music. The album shows not only the quality of Chopin, but also the quality of the musicians and Jacek Grekow as the mastermind behind the groups musical arrangements. It's interesting how the four musicians let the classical, and often very known, themes, sound like they are deeply rooted in the Balkan tradition. Amazingly strong play of all four musicians, with superb interaction between accordion and clarinet, backed by a solid bass and percussion. I like the intensity with which Grekow plays his accordion. He makes his instrument scream, whisper and everything in between. Mljenek plays his clarinet in a fluent way, not only technically well but with his hearth. Actually that can be said of all the musicians. The bassist and percussionist create a good, bit jazzy, fundament on which Grekow and Mlejnek can build their beautiful melodies. The best album of the band until today, pure music of the highest quality. Sure Chopin is smiling in heaven (or wherever he is right now).

Tomasz Janas: „Fryderykata” is a musical tribute to a great composer, and at the same time a challenge to his traditional interpretations. It is “merely” an inspiration for musical sketches, and simultaneously proof of a thorough investigation into Chopin's creativity. Finally, it is an expression of the conviction that the contemporaneousness of great masters' work lies in the fact that they continuously provoke creative effort, and constantly inspire an artistic dialog.

Maybe it comes as no surprise that Chopin's music sounds impeccable even without the piano. But also – as previously mentioned – the ambition of the creators of this album is not to pointlessly dazzle. Instead, there is an entire palette of timbre and associations. The romantic compositions develop a specific character due to the rich acoustics. The singability of Chopin's melodies as well as the subtlety and finesse of execution effectuate that we discover a new range of “hearing” and “understanding” of His compositions. The sounds of the accordion supported by the clarinet, interspersed with the characteristic tone of the kaval, on top of that an unusually solid, but also mainly discreet, presence of double-bass and percussion instruments. There are many beautiful musical hues.

For those that overlooked Sarakina's previous exceptional achievements, the new album may be a surprise. What may amaze are the music's culture and nobility as well as the ease and casualness of using means referring to ethnic or folk traditions. Nothing is lost. “Fryderykata” is an excellent idea to start an adventure with Sarakina and reach for the previous albums. Listeners, who are acquainted with the previous albums, will surely do the same.

CD JUNCTIONS 2004

Jacek Grekow - Akkordeon, Dudelsack, Kaval; Jan Mlejnek - Klarinett, Tambura; Karol Sypytkowski -  Kontrabass

Wojciech Bronakowski – percussion, Maciej Nerkowski -Vocal

Realisierung der Aufnahme: Tadeusz Mieczkowski ; Die Aufnahme wurde im Studio des Polnischen Rundfunks S-4 im Mai 2004 realisiert.

CD JUNCTIONS review

http://www.accordions.com/index/art/cd_07_04_20.shtml

Overall this a is a beautiful CD that always maintains its quality and remains interesting throughout, both in the more rhythmical pulsating tunes and those more calm and reflective. The expressive range of the instruments is taken to the maximum giving this CD a striking personality.

Renato Belardinelli

CD SARAKINA 2001

Die CD „Sarakina - Grekow.Mlejnek.Mlejnek“ ist eine Fortsetzung der Platte „Kyrillikata - Grekow.Chołołowicz” (Wien, ZBOR 7401, http://kyrillikata.fm.interia.pl/

Jacek Grekow - Akkordeon, Dudelsack, Kaval; Jan Mlejnek - Klarinett, Tambura; Bartosz Mlejnek -   Kontrabass

Weronika Grozdew – Gesang; Bartosz Zwolski – Tarambuka

Realisierung der Aufnahme: Tadeusz Mieczkowski ; Die Aufnahme wurde im Studio des Polnischen Rundfunks S-4 im Oktober 2001 realisiert.

"Nachdem ich diese Aufnahme angehört hatte, war ich sehr fasziniert von der Fähigkeit der Musiker das Genre der traditionellen Volksmusik in der Form eines sehr gebildeten Konzertauftritts darzubieten. Musiker, die so etwas erzielen möchten muessen sehr profimäßig arbeiten. Alle Musiker die zu dieser CD beigetragen haben sind genau das – Profis. Die CD ist sehr professionell in vielerlei Hinsicht, begonnen bei der Auswahl der Stücke, über die großartigen Arrangements, die exzellente Darbietung, die erstklassige Klangqualität, bis hin zur Qualität und dem Design des Covers. (...)"

Tania Lukic-Marx