Aga Zaryan - A Book Of Luminous Things

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:49
Size: 116,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:10) 1. Music Like Water
(4:39) 2. Like A He-bear And A She-bear
(3:43) 3. This Only
(2:33) 4. Eye Mask
(5:48) 5. Autumn Quince
(3:16) 6. Meaning
(3:42) 7. A Gift
(4:19) 8. A Parable Of The Poppy
(4:05) 9. I Talk To My Body
(4:53) 10. A Song On The End Of World
(4:30) 11. On Prayer
(4:05) 12. This World

Aga Zaryan (born Agnieszka Skrzypek January 17, 1976) is an internationally recognized Polish jazz vocalist of the new generatio.She was named Jazz Vocalist of The Year in the European Jazz Forum Magazine's yearly Jazz Top readers' poll in 2007, 2008 and 2009.She is also the first Polish artist ever to release an album on Blue Note.

'A Book Of Luminous Things' is an ambitious project focused around texts by Polish Nobel Prize winner poet Czeslaw Milosz and some of his favourite poetess(Jane Hierschfield, Anna Swirszczynska, Denise Levertov). All tracks are composed by Michal Tokaj, and they are melodious , pensive and relaxed and are sung in English. What the album lacks in diversity, it gains in unity but it's main problem is the lack of real hits.

Aga Zaryan's new project features a strong cast: Michal Tokaj on piano and Munyungo Jackson on percusion who remain from her previous project are joined by bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz ("Penumbra") and guitarist Larry Koonse who together with the Polish Radio String Orchestra manage to create a good album. Aga Zaryan is a promising young artist , I'm waiting with interest her future releases.
https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/review/a-book-of-luminous-things/233734

A Book Of Luminous Things

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Aga Zaryan - Sara

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2022
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:33
Size: 112,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:18) 1. Central Park At Dusk
(4:52) 2. Blue Squills
(5:38) 3. Barter
(4:23) 4. Coney Island
(4:37) 5. The Mystery
(5:15) 6. A Little While
(2:19) 7. Summer Night, Riverside
(4:33) 8. Spring Rain
(6:38) 9. Jewels
(5:08) 10. Winter Noon
(4:27) 11. Dzien I Noc.mp3
(0:46) 12. Autumn Dusk

I have been gathering for a few days to write a few words about the new, 11th album in Aga Zaryan's career, because this is not music that is easy to perceive, which can be the background for everyday, prosaic home activities. You have to sit down to listen to this music, just as you sit down in a dark theater hall to watch a performance.

Aga Zaryan, is a Polish jazz vocalist, thanks to her parents (her mother - the author of English textbooks, father a classical concert pianist) part ofShe spent her childhood traveling around Europe and completed her primary education in Great Britain. After returning to Poland permanently, she practiced competitive tennis, winning the Warsaw Championship in the junior category at the age of 14.

Aga Zaryan gained her vocal skills at the State Secondary School of Music. Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw and in the Policealne Studium Jazzu under the direction of Ewa Bem, obtaining a diploma with honors. As part of the received scholarship, she also participated in jazz workshops at Stanford and Jazz Camp West in the United States.

As the first Polish artist, she can boast of releasing albums under the banner of the legendary label Blue Note Records from New York. She received the Fryderyk Award twice.

Her debut album, My Lullaby , released in 2002, consisted of jazz standards that she sang with the accompaniment of a classic jazz quartet. An important moment in her career was the opening performance of the 2006 Branford Marsalis concert, which took place as part of the JVC Jazz Festival. In the following years, Zaryan performed in numerous clubs and festivals in Poland, Great Britain, USA, Israel, Czech Republic, Sweden, France, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Portugal, Russia and Iceland.

The album titled Sara was inspired by the timeless poetry of Sara Teasdale, an American poet living at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1918 for her collection of poems Love Songs . This is not the first time that the singer is inspired by poetry when recording an album ( A Book of Luminous Things to the poetry of Czeslaw Milosz, Jane Hirshfield and Denise Levertov)

The authors of the music on the album, apart from Zaryan, are two outstanding guitarists - Szymon Mika and David Doružka from the Czech Republic. Both musicians are the only ones who performed next to the singer on this extremely intimate album. This unusual instrumental composition makes us deal with a multitude of colors, musical colors, sound spaces, and the musicians themselves play with different styles. In their playing you can hear Pat Metheny, John Scofield or Bill Frisell. Both guitarists have a fascinating dialogue with each other, sometimes even bantering and competing. For me, an unfulfilled guitarist, this instrumental composition provides a completely unusual aesthetic experience.

The voice of Aga Zaryan on the album sounds noble and intimate, and at the same time extremely light. There is a touching sadness in her singing and at the same time a magic difficult to describe, which I absolutely succumb to with each subsequent release of the singer.I definitely recommend Aga Zaryan-Sara's album.>By Jack Bulak
https://wkulturalnysposob-com.translate.goog/2022/12/12/aga-zaryan-sara-intymnie-i-lirycznie/?_x_tr_sl=pl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

Sara

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Aga Zaryan - Looking Walking Being

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:34
Size: 143,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:42) 1. Cherry Tree Avenue
(4:48) 2. Looking Walking Being
(5:02) 3. Let Me
(4:02) 4. For The New Year, 1981
(5:06) 5. The Stars Are As Lonely As Us
(7:42) 6. Seeking My Love
(4:04) 7. February Evening In New York
(5:53) 8. My Name
(6:32) 9. Temptation Game
(5:23) 10. Waiting The Moon
(4:40) 11. What Is This Thing Called Happiness
(6:36) 12. The Thread

Aga Zaryan (born Agnieszka Skrzypek January 17, 1976) is an internationally recognized jazz vocalist of the new generation. She is known for her distinctive style, class and intimate approach to singing, with a characteristic lightness of phrasing and warm, slightly matte-toned voice. Aga Zaryan has been successful in integrating ambitious artistic goals with popular appeal, recording four albums to date, all of which have earned gold, platinum or multi-platinum status in Poland. Aga was also named Jazz Vocalist of The Year in the European Jazz Forum Magazine's yearly Jazz Top readers' poll in 2007, 2008 and 2009. She has appeared in clubs and at festivals in Poland, England, the USA, Germany, Israel, France, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Portugal, Russia and Iceland. https://www.last.fm/music/Aga+Zaryan/+wiki

Personnel: Aga Zaryan (Vocal); David Doruzka (Guitar); Michal Baranski (Bass); Lukasz Zyta (Drums); Munyungo Jackson (Percussion)

Looking Walking Being

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Aga Zaryan - What Xmas Means To Me

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:45
Size: 105,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:49) 1. Sleigh Ride
(5:32) 2. Little Drummer Boy
(3:01) 3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(2:46) 4. Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)
(5:25) 5. Someday At Christmas
(2:51) 6. The Secret Of Christmas
(3:02) 7. Jingle Bells
(4:17) 8. Christmas Cheer
(6:51) 9. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
(3:50) 10. What Christmas Means To Me
(5:16) 11. Nim przyjdzie wiosna

What Xmas Means To Me

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Aga Zaryan - High & Low

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:05
Size: 131,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:56)  1. Back
(4:25)  2. High & Low
(4:00)  3. Not Here For Long
(4:29)  4. Paths
(5:19)  5. Spirit Voices
(5:10)  6. Proof
(5:28)  7. Dreams, Themes & Schemes
(6:42)  8. Turn Me On
(5:20)  9. A Story From A Tram (Listen, Little Man)
(3:27) 10. Boo To You Too
(2:43) 11. Geri (In Memory Of Geri Allen)
(4:01) 12. Evil

We present Aga Zaryan entitled "Spirit Voices" from the upcoming album "High & Low" , which premieres in November. Also in November, Aga Zaryan embarks on a concert tour promoting the new album. The artist will visit as many as 15 Polish cities with an international team! The first lady of Polish jazz, the vocalist whose albums appear, among others, in the legendary Blue Note Records label, prepared a new original material. For November concerts, wonderful musicians were invited to Poland, who took part in the recording of the album.

"High & Low" is a unique album, which Aga Zaryan has completely wrapped in her texts, and the authors of the compositions are eminent jazzmen: Michal Tokaj, David Doruzka, Dariusz Oleszkiewicz and Marcin Wasilewski. During the November tour, we will hear both new and original compositions, as well as songs from the previous repertoire. The artist decided not to cross the borders for the first time and invited musicians from various parts of the world for November concerts. On the stage will be accompanied by: Michal Tokaj (piano), Slawomir Kurkiewicz (double bass, bass guitar), a virtuoso guitar from the Czech Republic - David Doruzka and a star of percussion instruments from Portugal, Pedro Segundo. Translate by Google https://translate.google.com.br/translate?hl=en&sl=pl&u=https://jazzsoul.pl/2018/10/26/aga-zaryan-prezentuje-utwor-promujacy-album-high-low/&prev=search

High & Low

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Aga Zaryan - Remembering Nina & Abbey

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:45
Size: 141,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:45)  1. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
(4:25)  2. Wild Is The Wind
(4:40)  3. My Baby Just Cares For
(4:23)  4. When Love Was You And Me
(4:31)  5. Long As You're Living
(3:40)  6. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bo
(5:20)  7. Lilac Wine
(5:05)  8. I Got Thunder (And It Rings)
(3:17)  9. Bird Alone
(4:43) 10. Avec Les Temps
(8:25) 11. Strange Fruit
(5:34) 12. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
(1:52) 13. Beautiful Land

The latest album by Agnieszka Czulak (known as Aga Zaryan ) entitled Remembering Nina & Abbey is a direct reference to the work of Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln , black female singers who have been distinguished in history as women struggling to abolish racial discrimination. Until now, Zaryan only performed single songs from the repertoire of these personalities (eg Suzanne Niny Simone or Throw it Away Abbey Lincoln). This time, however, the album is completely covered by the covers of the two mentioned jazz music.  http://allaboutmusic.pl/aga-zaryan-remembering-nina-abbey-2013-recenzja-szymona-jaremy/

Remembering Nina & Abbey

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Aga Zaryan - Picking Up the Pieces

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:46
Size: 102,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. Day Dream
(4:23)  2. Throw It Away
(1:58)  3. Picking Up The Pieces
(4:21)  4. Woman's Work
(4:03)  5. Answer Me
(5:18)  6. The Man I Love
(5:03)  7. Here's to Life
(4:31)  8. It Might As Well Be Spring
(3:24)  9. Sophisticated Lady
(5:12) 10. Suzanne
(3:03) 11. Tender As a Rose

Gifted vocalist Aga Zaryan conveys the finest of the history of jazz to today's audiences, continuing the traditions of great artists like Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae and Joni Mitchell. Aga Zaryan is a producer and lyricist but first and foremost, a highly charismatic artist and personality. She has been successful in integrating ambitious artistic goals with popular appeal, recording four albums to date, all of which have earned gold, platinum or multi-platinum status in Poland. In 2008 she was honored with the Polish music industry's most prestigious prize - the Fryderyk Chopin Award. She was nominated for the title of Woman of The Year 2008 by Gazeta Wyborcza-Wysokie Obcasy, one of Poland's most influential and widely circulated newspapers. Aga was also named Jazz Vocalist of The Year in the European Jazz Forum Magazine's yearly Jazz Top readers' poll in 2007, 2008 and 2009. She has appeared in clubs and at festivals in Poland, England, the USA, Germany, Norway, Israel, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, France, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Turkey, Portugal, Russia and Iceland. Aga Zaryan born January 17, 1976 is an internationally recognized jazz vocalist of the new generation. She is known for her distinctive style, class and intimate approach to singing, with a characteristic lightness of phrasing and warm, slightly matte-toned voice.  

Aga was born in Warsaw, Poland. Her father being a classical pianist, and her mother an English language educator and author, she travelled widely throughout Europe with her parents early on, spending part of her childhood and attending primary school in Manchester, UK. In addition to classical works, both of Aga's parents shared a passion for the music of Stevie Wonder, Weather Report, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and various other popular artists. This provided Aga with exposure to wide range of contemporary music, starting at an early age. After returning to Poland from the UK she became involved in playing tennis competitively, and went on to win the Warsaw Tennis Championship at the age of 14. More Bio ~ http://www.zaryan.com/index1.php

Awards:
'Best Polish Female Jazz Vocalist' Jazz Forum's Readers Awards 2007 & 2008 & 2009,  'Best Poetic Album' Fryderyk Award for 'Beauty is Dying' 2008, '50 Most Important Ladies of the Capital 2008' - Zycie Warszawy (Warsaw press), 'Best New Artist' Mateusz Award - Polish National Radio 3 award for 'Picking up the Pieces' 2007, Second Prize at the International Jazz Vocalists' Competition in Zamosc, PL - 1998 Nominations 'Woman of the Year 2008' - Gazeta Wyborcza magazine (Wysokie Obcasy) 'Wdechy' 2007 'Co Jest Grane' (Whats going on) magazine's Warsaw cultural awards, 'Best Polish Jazz Vocalist' Jazz Forum's Reader's Awards 2004 and 2005 'Best Jazz Album' "My Lullaby" Fryderyk 2002  ~ http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/agazaryan

Picking Up the Pieces

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Aga Zaryan - My Lullaby

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:29
Size: 120,2 MB
Art: Front

( 3:13)  1. To See A World
( 5:18)  2. Waltz For Debby
( 4:23)  3. I've Got The World On A String
( 5:22)  4. My Lullaby
( 5:13)  5. You And The Night And The Music
( 3:41)  6. I Put A Spell On You
(12:01)  7. Never Said (Chan's Song) / Trust Me
( 4:46)  8. Still We Dream (Ugly Beauty)
( 3:53)  9. I Hear Music
( 4:35) 10. Polka Dots And Moonbeams

This is the debut album by the undeniable present-day diva of Polish Jazz, vocalist Aga Zaryan. Recorded over a decade ago, when Zaryan was completely anonymous, it exhibits for the first time an outstanding talent, fresh and innocent on one hand and remarkably mature and daring on the other. Backed up by a classic Jazz quartet, Zaryan performs ten standards, which were arranged by pianist Michal Tokaj. The other quartet members are veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist Tomasz Szukalski, bassist extraordinaire Darek Oleszkiewicz and drummer Lukasz Zyta.  The fact that Zaryan received her primary school education in UK enables her to sing in English, free from a foreign accent, which often annoys English-speaking audiences. But the lack of a foreign accent is by far not what is so remarkable about this album. It is the choice of material and the highly personal interpretation of the songs, which is strikingly original and aesthetically pleasing. 

She is able to twist and turn the familiar tunes around her small finger so to speak, with ease and elegance which is simply charming and highly sophisticated.  Another forte of the album is Zaryan´s extraordinary rapport with the quartet members, especially with bass player Darek Oleszkiewicz. Several of the tunes are by and large duets between the vocals and the bass and those are simply breathtaking. Szukalski is an ideal partner as well, constructing concise but wonderfully structured solos, always brilliantly complimenting the music. The entire quartet does a truly beautiful job, supporting the singer without overshadowing her for even a single moment. Such wonderful balance between a vocalist and her group is extremely rare and contributes immensely to the overall success of this recording. In retrospect one can easily hear all the elements, which over time amalgamated into present day Aga Zaryan and her outstanding abilities. This debut album remains a timeless beauty and a favorite album, which I intend to revisit time and again. Extraordinary!  ~ Adam Baruch   http://www.adambaruch.com/reviews_item.asp?item=104071

My Lullaby

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