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Polish trumpeter Stanko
is the mystery man on this label of mysteries. He made one
previous leader date for ECM,
Balladyna,
in 1975; since then he's done
occasional recordings on various European labels. His broad, fluid lines have
more texture than structure; his raspy-edged playing suggests a spacy, grizzled
Kenny Wheeler.
These loose, often collective compositions -- ostensibly written as reflections on
Jerzy Kawalerowicz's bizarre,
spiritual film about an ax
murderer in a medieval convent -- sometimes bite into tangible, rough, likable
melody, as on "Maldoror's War Song," the big-boned "Tales for a Girl, 12," and
the earthy, volatile "Cain's Brand." Stanko is working with three of Europe's
better 50ish free players: drummer
Tony Oxley, pianist
Bobo Stenson, and
bassist Anders Jormin.
ECM, typically, denies its general listeners information
on what is apparently a most intriguing project; this dearth is especially
tantalizing since the booklet includes handsome portraits of the band and
riveting black and white stills from the 1961 film.
-- Fred Bouchard
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