Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas, Misha Mullov-Abbado: Za Górami

Jazz is all about moving forward and finding new ways to make music that touches hearts and minds. Here London-based vocalist and violinist Alice Zawadzki teams up with pianist and drummer Fred Thomas and double bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado on a stylish and folk-tinged jazz album. Za Górami incorporates folk songs, chamber music and improvisational jazz styles to meld a mesmerizing sound. The trio works hard and succeeds in the balancing act of offering a tune and providing more free-flowing passages.

The album begins with "Dezile A Mi Amor" ("Tell My Beloved"). It is a soft song that slides from beautiful to eerie. Zawadzki's vocals deliver these shifting tones effortlessly. Percussion lends a slight gypsy atmosphere as if the listener is attending some folk festival deep in a mystic European woodland. Many of the tracks on this release slide between this captivating mix of soft-spoken and vaguely haunted. Whether Thomas' piano riffs on "Suéltate las Cintas" or the whispery vocals on "Tonada De Luna Llena," the music is charged with an almost anxious disposition propelling the songs forward. It is alluring for all its ominous undertones.

Zawadzki's previous album, Within You Is a World of Spring (Whirlwind Recordings, 2019), is more pop-inspired. The quiet energy is exchanged for a less subtle sound more in line with other artists like Becca Stevens, Jazzmeia Horn or Cyrille Aimée. However, working with Thomas and Mullov-Abbado, Zawadzki goes for understated elegance. And she pulls it off to great effect, keeping the listener's attention.

"Gentle Lady" comes near the end and begins, well, gently with piano. Zawadzki comes in on vocals, tenderly singing. It is a lovely song, something warm and stirring like "My Wild Irish Rose." Double bass remains in the background, punctuating the composition here and there. The track is a delicate balance of sound, successfully delivered. There are moments when the piano becomes more animated, acting like a small stream changing as its course meanders. It is a clear highlight of this release.

The great thing about jazz is that it does not like to sit still for long. Musicians are always devising ways to provide a unique listening experience. The trio on Za Górami jitters with energy—overall contained but bursting forth here and there as the album progresses. A mysterioso lingers over the songs brought to life like ghosts dancing for a necromancer. The small group collaborates closely on each track. In the hands of lesser artists, these pieces would not have been as balanced and would have sounded messy. Though this is not the most traditional of jazz recordings, it is a rewarding listen that offers a chance to hear tunes one probably will not find anywhere else.

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