Andrzej Rejman is a musician and producer from Warsaw, Poland. he has a wide range of musical activities and i spoke to him about his conceptions and aims in music.

Q: short bio?

A: I’ve been playing piano since my childhood. I learned privately and did a lot of self-teaching. Fascinated by folklore, then rhythm&blues, rock and jazz rock fusion. From early years active by songwriting. First professional recordings at State Radio in Poland – popular songs for established performers (recorded still on a vinyl). Then active for film industry, documentaries, tv music and finally advertising. In the meantime setting up several jazz related, improvised/crossover rock-jazz-fusion music groups…

At present – living from doing music – mainly stock music, and some kind of ”environmental music” of ambient background - still exploring new areas – love to improvise to the motion picture/poetry/experimental dance – and just doing MUSIC. I feel myself as a MUSIC-MAKER. Always keen by using modern technology, (since ATARI ST) nowadays coming back to electro-acoustic living sounds.

Q: alltime favourites?

A: Great influence for me is Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin fusion music, a blend of jazz-r&b, funk, fusion, acid – like Buckshot Lefonque etc.

but not to forget my first Diva – Diana Ross….

alltime favourite production and thinking – stable idea of longlasting quality music – ECM/Manfred Eicher.

in R&B – Aaliyah and definitely:  Meshell

last but absolutely NOT LEAST – Jazzanova/Clara Hill/ EST/Cinematic Orchestra and all electro-downtempo-minimal scene including pop related groups - Zero 7, Sia.

Q: situation in Poland?

A: Poland is in rapid development nowadays. I’d even say that there are no specific signs of crisis here. people use their free time and go to concerts, listen to music, and make art. All statistics (official and unofficial) say so. I would even say that jazz related music is here listened with at least similar attention than in its “native” country – the U.S.

We have quite well promoted from ECM supported Autumn Jazz festival south-west Poland in Bielsko-Biala (Ornette Coleman,Carla Bley, Tomasz Stanko to name a few) and really great  number of similar events throughout the country. Many musicians try to explore new areas of cross-style and nujazz related music. some examples of young groups:

http://www.myspace.com/illectricindustry

http://www.myspace.com/maed

http://www.myspace.com/jazzpospolita

http://www.myspace.com/audiofeeling

http://www.myspace.com/rafalsarnecki

http://ladytullo.com/

http://www.myspace.com/januszzdunekmarienburg

There is also well developing Warsaw Electronic Art Festival

Q: your description of NuJazz and reflection in your work?

A: NuJazz  for me is a kind of 21st century type of Fusion music. NuJazz is a result of a develompent of technology with a taste or flavour of Miles Davis, Jimmi Hendrix, Weather Report etc. with appearance of new generations of talented musicians – who have ears open to the noises coming from their ambience…

NuJazz is still developing, and its future is bright. it will be soon an important part of NuArt. I made several recordings/projects of electronic jazz nu-fusion related music. the technology was very simple, I used some lightly edited loops, played on Rhodes/Yamaha Electric Pianos, and asked some great musicians to participate. The result were -three simple made, partly live recorded productions which existed mainly in the media/production/stock music area. We haven’t decide to distribute these records into the retail market. We don’t even have our websites of those productions, so far.

soundexample slow thinking:

seb soldrzynski – trumpet

raf smolinski – bass

andrzej rejman – keyboards

Another one, more electro – acoustic fusion type of stuff , is here:  www.myspace.com/rhplusmusic

I am quite proud of some minimal pop/songwriting project with extraordinary Eva Gorska on vocals. you may hear it on  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/evaandfriends and listen to “There Is No Magic” song.

Q: new production or CD?

A: I always look to  new opportunities, new ventures, new people, new colours, new smells…

Recently met with improvising experimental dancers  and made nice performances. live music and live motion. Really inspiring.

New production – chill out related stuff for the media – CD called ”Brightness” (mainly piano inspired lounge jazzy type of thing).

My everyday’s site on myspace - myspace.com/andrewsfusion

Q: personal thoughts?

A: I feel that there is still a lot to explore or invent in music. I have not the feeling that everything already WAS DONE. I also feel that there is a lot to explore in ART combined with the music. Music with photography, dance, poetry, video art to name a few. Improvising is the great HOPE for the arts nowadays. Transitions is the great method for the arts nowadays. Technology is the great challenge for the arts nowadays. Freedom is the great shape for the arts nowadays. But not shape as a limitation. But not freedom just for freedom. Freedom for the pleasure of artists and audience, cross-meetings, exchanging, energy sharing…

The result will always be FRESH.

official homepage Andrzej Reiman