Emil Miszk & The Sonic Syndicate “Scratches for 8 Musicians – Live at Polish Radio” (AR023) / LP

The third original album by Emil Miszk, a trumpeter and improviser associated with the improvised music scene in Gdańsk, Poland. The title of the piece refers to the English phrase “from scratch,” which can be translated as “starting from the beginning.” The name is symbolic and reflects the new situation we find ourselves in after the pandemic. The music on the album consists of a suite, with individual parts following each other attacca (no pause between movements). The composition blends genres and elements that serve as sources of inspiration for Emil Miszk: contemporary classical music, free jazz, improvised music, as well as the tradition of large jazz ensembles like big bands. This album is undoubtedly an excellent example of the high level achieved by the new generation in Polish jazz. Artists such as Frank Zappa, Gard Nilssen, Barry Guy, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller, who masterfully operate with large ensembles, have had a huge influence on the development and direction in which Emil Miszk and The Sonic Syndicate are heading. His specific musical tastes are reflected in the work of the band, which can be clearly heard on all the group’s albums.

Emil Miszk – trumpet
Piotr Chęcki – tenor saxophone
Jakub Klemensiewicz – baritone saxophone
Paweł Niewiadomski – trombone
Michał Zienkowski – guitar
Mikołaj Basiukiewicz – piano
Konrad Żołnierek – double bass
Sławek Koryzno – drums

engineered by Leszek Kamiński & Michał Bereza
mix and master Piotr Taraszkiewicz
cover art and design Mary Zaleska
released by Alpaka Records