Chromosomos

"Chromosomos" are an instrumental band that goes beyond the boundaries of jazz, ethnic music, jungle or progressive rock. It was set up in 1999 by drummer Artur Dominik, who has been involved in projects in the alternative, rock and jazz scenes and who has cooperated, in a number of folk groups, with musicians of African, Jewish and Balkan origin. The experience of long years of cooperation with musicians rooted in diverse cultures and with bands of various styles allows Chromosomos to create their own musical space with a simultaneous use of most interesting forms. The Chromosomos project combines the musical variety of European and Middle East cultures with modern trends in contemporary instrumental club music and adds to it a characteristic and original jazz flavour. Among the band's inspirations you can also trace the influence of contemporary electronic music that leaves its mark on the rhythm section which experiments with the drum'n'bass, jungle or house sphere juxtaposed by a trans-fashioned multi-part rhythmic division within an irregular meter. The classic acoustic structure of the band contrasting with the use of digitally generated sounds as well as electronic processing of the sounds of acoustic instruments gives Chromosomos an unmatched tone. ---------------------------------------------------------- The Polish group Chromosomos takes a different tact on fusion music. Here, the influences are progressive rock, Eastern European and Balkan music, as well as a heavy dose of Ornette via the polyrhythmic stomps of Shannon Jackson’s Decoding Society. Heavy grooves are chopped up, with time subdivided into quirky stomps fueled by the propulsive energy of drummer Dominik and the elastic time of electric bass player Lamch. Trombonist Kasiukiewicz and alto player Klukzniak turn the quirky heads around, one minute playing in tightly voiced unison, and then looping out for solos that bound across the rhythms. The drummer and trombonist also mess with things, adding in electronics for some gritty color. Dominik provides all the tunes here, and though there is nothing radical at play, they have a loose sense of playfulness about them. ichael Rosenstein ( 2006 American Magazine "CADENCE MAGAZINE" 3/06) ------------------------------------------------------------ During the listening, the drum'n'bass Katarynka immediately gets into the ears. The strong fantasy, elegiac melodic lines of T. Kasiukiewicz and L. Kluczniak are sharp contrast to throbbing-rattling mix up of rhythm, that damages caused due to playing A. Dominika i M. Lamach. Herbert Federsel (2006 German Magazine „Jazzdimensions“) ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- Apparent interest in jazz, and rock or jungle has inspired the young Polish quartet to confront acoustic sound with electronic effects and beats. Intriguing parts of brass instruments are well balanced with the drum'n'bass percussion parts, which is acented by a powerful double-bass. Finally, 'Phonophobis' combines, in a skillful way, the energetic fusion, not so far from the atmosphere of Groove Gang Julien Lourau, which should satisfy the fans of this genre. Guillaume Belhomme (2005 French Magazine "Jazz hot" ) ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------- The sound of the 'Phonophobis' album is acoustic, apart from a few synth parts and subtle computer-aided transformations of the double bass, drums and the trombone sounds, which enrich the album rather than redefine it. The rhythm section includes beats typical of drum'n'bass (Katrynka) and hip-hop (Turbo Kaszlak), the melody is emroidered with Balkan scales (Tanzbude), and one can feel the yearning for melo-rhythmic elements of bebop (Snobepop) as well as the elegance and temperance typical of the cool style (Sign of Life). Michal Mendyka (2005 Polish Magazine ”Jazz Forum") ------------------------------------------------------------ -- Chromosomos deliver a modern sound, exploring without complexes the areas of drum'n'bass, jungle, house. The recordings are enriched by a pinch of Balkan folk and electronically processed acoustic sounds, they don't hesitate to use digitally generated sounds, and exhibit keen interest in trance music. It sounds a bit like a struggle between two powerful elements: earth and air. Yet the beauty of this struggle is undeniable, so, with a dose of anxiety about the future of my ervous system, I dived into "phonophobis" three times, one after another. And I surely ecommend the same treatment to all of you. Krzysztof Kuczkowski (2005 Polish Magazine Gitara i Bass) ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- Chromosomos is a Polish ensemble with varied influences, from Balkan and Near Eastern folk music, klezmer, eastern European new music, post-rock, and the funk Jazz fusion of M-Base. Throw in a dash of electric Ornette Coleman, and you start to get the idea. Quite heavy on the virtuoso guitar solo, this project avoids slipping into the quagmire of Jazz-rock fusion by virtue of its intelligent compositions and folk influences. If you enjoy the more rock tinged recordings of Knitting factory Records you should give this a listen. It is also very well recorded. by Eric Lewis ( 2002 American The Jazz Magazine "Jazz Now" ) ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------ On the second album, in a fresh lineup, the band have undoubtedly found their path. On 'Phonophobis' the band becomes the messenger of tasty jazz tailored for today's needs. Thus the album has all the traditional values of jazz, well-performed and enriched by a groovy drum'n'bass rhythm or subtle electronic instrument redefinitions and a minor computer retouch of sound. Lukasz Iwanski (2005 Polish Magazine ”Fluid” ) ------------------------------------------------------------ ------- Poland is the far away country where this instrumental trio's (guitar, bass, drums), or rather quartet's - thanks to the invited guests (wind instruments, vocals) music came to life. The band is run from behind the drums by Artur Dominik. His music reaches out of the stylistic limits of jazz, progressive rock and ethnic music by combining them all in an unusually expressive quest. So, not to prove groundless: Chasyd, a theme opening the record, is derived from the sounds of the Middle East, Pitbul is leaning towards lively jazz-rock, and Jascha presents a fusion of Balkan music and jazz harmonies in a bold author's composition. by Rafa Dorado (2002 Spanish Audio Magazine "Margen" ) ------------------------------------------------------------ --------- "...One could claim that the sounds of this ‘something’ bear traces of the New York’s M-BASE, of the sort of Lost Tribe and Greg Osby, that there is a pinch of Tzadik climates referring to the Klezmer tradition (the superb ‘Chasyd’), that there is a bit of Fripp, Coleman, and Skopelitis. However, you cannot accuse this music of being just thoughtless copying. These musicians have taken from jazz what is just the most interesting, and as they are young and open to new music, no wonder the jazz phrasing has been shored up with the rock-like impetus. Summing up, No 1 debut of the last year." by Piotr Iwicki & Olaf Szewczyk (2002 „Gazeta Wyborcza” - Poland's most popular nationwide neswpaper)