Maciej Obara Quartet - Unloved

Polish alto saxophone player Maciej Obara makes a striking ECM debut with Unloved, an album whose expressive range embraces tender lyricism and impassioned, fiery, powerful playing.

With the exception of the title track - written by Krzysztof Komeda (spiritus rector of modern jazz in Poland) for Janusz Nasfeter's film of the same name - themes are by the highly inventive alto saxophonist. Obara emphasizes however that his themes serve as outlines, from which our sound is set free. My friends are amazing improvisers. I love their ability to move around freely in open spaces, and the way they shape and give colour to what I have in mind...It's more like composing in real time.

The players have been developing their concept for several years: Maciej Obara and pianist Dominik Wania, another major talent, first met in a Tomasz Stanko ensemble a decade ago. Since 2012 they have been joined by two highly creative Norwegian musicians, bassist Ole Morten V�gan and drummer Gard Nilssen. (V�gan's ECM credits include work with Thomas Str�nen's Time Is A Blind Guide, while Nilssen can be heard on Mathias Eick's Skala.) Unloved was recorded at Oslo's Rainbow Studio in January 2017 and produced by Manfred Eicher.

Personnel: Maciej Obara (alto saxophone), Dominik Wania (piano), Ole Morten V�gan (double bass), Gard Nilssen (drums)