Sebastian Zawadzki Trio

So we've covered post punk, folk pop and some music that seems to fit in between a variety of genres, we'll head into the weekend now with an absolutely lovely album from a Polish born composer, who is now residing in Copenhagen. Sebastian Zawadzki trained as a jazz pianist, released an improvised jazz album entitled ”Luminescence” in 2014, as well as works composed for a jazz piano trio and string quartet ”Euphony” in 2015. However his compositions have since developed into the classical sphere, writing classical compositions including a "Concerto for Bassoon and Chamber Orchestra" in 2016, and he's also now even composed film scores - the list is already pretty extensive, and he's still only 26 if Wikipedia is to be believed (possible) and if my maths is correct (improbable).





Anyway his latest release is entitled 'Norn', and it's a collection of 11 compositions written for string quartet and piano, but with the addition of modular synths thrown into the mix. Now I do have an enormous bias towards composers such as Max Richter, Olafur Arnalds and British composers such as Joby Talbot, so I do like music like this, but I think 'Norn' is pretty exceptional in its quality - and I really hope everyone will take a listen.



This is definitely going to be an album I carry around with me for the rest of the year, and I'm only just starting to identify my favourites. But for your first 'dabble' into Sebastian Zawadzki's music, I'd recommend you start with ''Reduction in the Intensity of Light', simply because it's made such an impression on me. It opens with a sumptuous but slightly dark sounding cello, which then continues in mournful mode, as only a cello really can. But the track opens up with a musical theme subtly introduced by violin, whilst the piano adds different textures, and a rays of sunshine, before darkness slowly envelops the track - at least that's the way I see it.


Andy Wors
www.nordicmusicreview.com