Michal Skwierczynski: Consistency

Consistency marks the debut album from Polish jazz guitarist Michał Skwierczyński. Now based in Basel, Switzerland, Skwierczyński is a core member of the city's Jazz Orchestra, having studied at the Frost School of Music in Miami and Jazzcampus in Basel.

Skwierczyński composed all 10 pieces on the album, taking the refreshing approach of using different guitars to suit the character of each track. It is a simple and effective technique that is surprisingly underused. The album is recorded in a quartet with pianist Lorenzo Vitolo, drummer Yosuke Doki and double bassist Grzegorz Włodarczyk. Released on Skwierczyński's own label, The Stork Delivery, it is produced by the acclaimed Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel.

Drawing on a broad range of influences, Skwierczyński incorporates elements of rock, folk and pop music in both his compositions and improvisational approach. The gentle, lyrical opening of "Of Course" sees his warm-toned guitar weaving around Vitolo's piano in a piece that flows naturally and is immediately accessible while maintaining a touch of unpredictability. Vitolo and bassist Włodarczyk provide the ideal foil for the guitar lines on "DMK," whose melody carries an air of mystery, while "Lazulum" is a triumph of subtlety through understated interplay.

The band moves further into jazz-rock territory with Doki's thrashing drums on "Die Zurich Episode," while Vitolo's darting piano runs are a particular feature of "Tętention." Skwierczyński delivers one of his finest solos on the latter, his quieter sections bringing to mind the work of Steve Hackett. Elsewhere, the band's interplay reaches a high point on both the strong groove of "Le Mans" and the shifting textures of "The Search Is The Path," while Skwierczyński's solo piece, "Kolysanka," is a delightfully played lullaby.

Not everything works, "Spontaneous Pragmatism" and "Prologue" seem to lack direction, but overall there is much here to admire, both compositionally and in Skwierczyński's playing. His approach is refreshingly minimalist when appropriate, without sacrificing expressive qualities or musical detail. Consistency is an extremely promising debut, rich in textures and contrasts, from a guitarist who clearly holds considerable promise.