Selected Reviews:

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     "Jazz the way we love it. Music played with unparalleled elegance, sensitivity, and grace—pure and beautiful, reduced to its essence. There is no shortage of brilliant improvised passages, in which each member of the trio showcases his artistry. And although these themes have been performed in every imaginable way, Sławek Dudar’s vision fascinates and captivates us from the very first note to the last. A wonderful album—we are truly impressed!"

Jacek Brun, www.jazz-fun.de

 

   

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 „ What Dudar and his colleagues have achieved here is to give these compositions—without robbing them of Ellington’s charm—a personal character shaped by the trio format. Thankfully, there is no awkward attempt to deconstruct Ellington’s idiom, nor any slavish imitation or sterile copying of the old master’s style. Instead, the album radiates a magic that compels repeated listening—though it is hard to pinpoint exactly why.

 

To me, it most recalls the records of legendary American saxophonist Bobby Watson, who had his own unmistakable sound and a gift for choosing musicians perfectly suited to each project—even if not famous, they were ideally matched. Together they could capture moonlight in a bottle, conjure a kind of sorcery that cannot be dissected or explained. It simply happens.

 

And here, it has happened. Ellington would be proud, and the musicians have risen to the very heights of their artistry. Perhaps because, like us listeners, they love jazz for nothing more than its mood—especially when that mood shades, just a little, into indigo.”

Maciej Nowotny, www.polish-jazz.blogspot.com

 

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      "Taking on Duke Ellington’s popular and timeless jazz standards is not so much a heroic challenge as it is a perfect test of how one can interpret the intentions of this legendary composer. The album “Ballads & Swing: Beautiful Songs of Duke Ellington” was created not only to highlight the beauty of Ellington’s compositions and melodies, but also to present the unique, personal vision of Sławek Dudar’s trio on the work of this jazz icon.

 

The musicians also applied a similar approach to well-known ballads in a swinging style, such as Victor Young’s “When I Fall In Love”, Erroll Garner’s “Misty”, and the famous “Take the A Train” written by Billy Strayhorn together with Ellington. Naturally, the focus remains on Ellington’s classics: “Satin Doll”, “In a Mellow Tone”, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Mood Indigo”. Everything is performed with grace, precision, and a deep affection for the swing tradition."

Dionizy Piątkowski, www.jazz.pl

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     "Recorded as a tribute to the master of jazz, the music not only draws on the classics of the genre, but also offers a strikingly fresh approach—dispensing with any harmonic instrument, and most notably, the piano. Ellington’s music thus reveals a new, raw face, uncovering the essence of his melodies and rhythms in a different, minimalist way."

Piotr Bielawski, Radio Łódź