AMULET. Ola Trzaska’s second album is rich in unorthodox layers of sound, resulting in multidimensional arrangements and unique instrumentation. Following on from her debut All Around, Ola continues the idiosyncratic blend of winds: the flute, the flugelhorn, and the trombone; and remains inspired by the complex and colourful 1970s groove jazz. In Amulet, Ola develops a distinct compositional style with linear development and a careful balance between rhythm, harmony and melody.
We are presented with eleven pieces on the album; nine of which are Ola’s compositions and two are standards, albeit of a less common variety. Ola’s influences are wide-ranging, from far-flung locations and distant events in the history of music, to personal experiences and transformations. There are gentle hues, occasional Etta James-inspired gospel phrases, matte winds familiar from All Around, contrasting electronics re-interpreting the 1970s idol Gino Vanelli, a haunting visit to Brazil in Djavan’s mellow Esquinas, a quirky take on Brahms’s piano intermezzo, and finally the closing, fairy-tale Little Pink-Pini.
The album premiered on 18 November 2016.
Ola Trzaska – voice, flute, chorus
Ivo Kmiecik – voice
Łukasz Korybalski – flugelhorn
Michał Tomaszczyk – trombone, valve trombone
Nikola Kołodziejczyk – Wurlitzer, Rhodes piano, piano
Marcin Piękos – Rhodes piano
Andrzej Święs – bass guitar, double bass
Sebastian Kuchczyński – drums
Joanna Żmijewska – oboe
Przemysław Florczak – clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, soprano sax
Ola Trzaska: songwriter, composer, singer, flautist, lyricist, teacher. Her debut album All Around premiered in January 2014 and was nominated to the prestigious Fryderyk 2015 award. In 2016 she crowdfunded her second album, Amulet.
Ola has collaborated with Dorota Miśkiewicz on Caminho (Sony Music), Bisquit on Inny Smak (Kayax), Urszula Dudziak, Andrzej Jagodziński Trio, and Ewa Bem, for whom she wrote Minuty from the album Albo Inaczej, which was certified a Gold Record on 18 June 2015.
Ola got to the finals of the International Festival of Traditional Jazz ‘Złota Tarka’ twice, and once in Novum Jazz Festival and Voicingers.
She performed on such famous stages as the National Philharmonic and Teatr Wielki, as part of the international classical music festival La Folle Journée.
More on www.olatrzaska.com
