Zbigniew Seifert – Solo Violin
2025-06-01
Atom String Quartet – SEIFERT
2025-06-01Zbigniew Seifert - Live in Solothurn
Part No.: CD-FZS-2
Zbigniew Seifert, violin;
Michel Herr, piano, Fender Rhodes;
Hans Hartmann, bass guitar;
Janusz Stefanski, percussion

As we read in a note inside the album "(...) this album is a recording of a concert held on January 18, 1976 in Solura (Solothurn), Switzerland, as part of the Second International Swiss Jazz Days. Variospheres is Zbigniew Seifert's international original band, operating in two lineups: one is the musicians who play on this album, in the other the leader was accompanied by bassist Adelhard Roidinger and drummer Lala Kovacev (drums). The name Variospheres was invented by the musicians themselves, in free translation it means 'crazy spheres' (...)"
From the very first (unidentified) track, this album strikes you with the absolutely crystalline working technique of all the quartet members, with the chemistry, finesse, freedom and driving drivetrain of Janusz Stefanski. Seifert seems to dose his means, he doesn't "trill" all the double notes (the Unidentified Piece intro), a great calmness beats from his playing (the theme in Way to Oasis). You can hear that he was comfortable with the composition. Sola builds by allowing himself to breathe, which further not only enhances their climaxes, but above all shows a completely different face of Him as an improviser - at many moments He plays softly and quietly, which is not the first association with His playing style.
The undoubted strength of this recording is the fantastic collective playing, the mutual reaction to the actions of the partners, and the joint following of the direction set by the leader. The long, concert-like form of the songs, with many windows for individual show-offs by individual musicians, works brilliantly. The musicians rock out from track to track, and the whole recording reaches its carefully planned climax in the song Turbulent Plover, in which the band gives a "rock" (note the audience's reaction after this song!).
"Live In Solothurn" is a fantastic album that has waited more than 40 years for its time. It's worth reaching for it and listening to the Masters in such great form! The versions of "Way to Oasis" and "Turbulent Plover" recorded on this album are the best recordings of these songs that I know.
Author: Krzysztof Lenczowski
Review published in Jazz Forum 12/2107.