Oleś ( Bartłomiej Brat )

GRAYPORTRAITSIX One of the most creative and originative Polish jazz drummers, a composer, an author of theatrical and film music, a producer. He played with many jazz legends: Kenny Werner, David Murray, Chris Speed, Erik Friedlander, Herb Robertson and William Parker. Together with his brother Marcin Oleś they are Oleś Duo formation; with German clarinet player Theo Jörgensmann they are Oleś | Jörgensmann | Oleś and with American alto sax player Rob Brown they are Oleś Brothers w/ Rob Brown.

He was born on the 4th of January 1973, In Sosnowiec (south of Poland). He was fascinated by music since he was a child, drumming and playing with rhythms using sometimes strange and peculiar items: a ruler, pencils or a flute cleaning rod. When he was 13 years old his father (contrabass teacher and conductor) persuaded him to start studying music in drums class. He was studying classical repertoire playing the marimba, the xylophone, the vibraphone, the timpani and a snare drum. During this period he was fascinated by drum sets and influenced by Buddy Rich he completes his first drums in 1988. Around that time he also starts playing in a local band called Osobowość Przyrody. When he was 18 he received his first professional proposition and played with Blustro Blues Band during recording Na Kolanko album…

More on Bartłomiej Brat Oleś can be found on oles-oles.com.

Bartłomiej Brat Oleś | Free Drum Suite | Not Two Records

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With an eerie lead in Oles goes off, sometimes so quiet you forgot he was there. Shortly after you turn the volume up, Oles is blasting through your speakers. He shows a great sense of timing here; not just playing in a certain tempo, but timing when he is going to beat his drums or when he is going to softly lay out a rhythm. You’re bound to be entranced by his songs as they go from mild to wild and explore a full palette of bells, bamboo sticks and even birds. This record puts out a great vibe, like your stereo has got a mind of its own and painted a surreal soundscape. — AllAboutJazz Continue reading →

David Murray feat. Marcin Oleś & Bartłomiej Brat Oleś | Circles – Live in Cracow | Not Two Records

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David Murray is of course one of the more important tenor saxophonists of his era – or make that any era. Judging by his extensive discography, he is ready to collaborate or engage in almost any musical project. Never one to rest on his many accomplishments, any recording with Murray is worth investigating. This release is no exception, although certainly it would not be the best place to begin one’s Murray research. For this collaboration, Murray connects with two brothers, bassist Marcin and drummer Bartlomiej Brat Oles, during a special concert with “Poland’s finest rhythm section”. This live show was recorded in Cracow as part of a festival and, as the liners state, Murray was throughly on board with this partnership, despite the fact that there apparently wasn’t much rehearsal time. As a result, many of the compositions present space for a blowing session of sorts, with modal vampsbeing the vehicle for the group’s interaction. Fortunately, Murray and the brothers sound like they enjoy one another’s company, with the brothers working as full partners whether out in front or in support mode. — Jay Collins Continue reading →

Ken Vandermark | Marcin Oles | Bartlomiej Brat Oles | Ideas | Not Two Records

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Our first contact with Ken Vandermark was just a handshake – at one of the concerts in Poland of the DKV formation. Marek Winiarski, the boss of NotTwo Records, introduced us to each other. Some time passed until we had the chance to play together for the first time. When the Vandermark Five gave a concert, at the Cracow music club Alchemia,we got together after and jammed. The idea of recording an album together was with us before the evening had ended. We had prepared original compositions for the recording session, but we talked before going into the studio, and after Ken Vandermark’s suggest we decided for the recording to be one of the free improvisation. We normally work in different musical fields and despite that, or maybe just because of that, every meeting like this brings about a new experience, even a kind of journey into the unknown… Marcin & Bartlomiej Brat Oles (album’s original linear notes) Continue reading →

Andrzej Przybielski | Marcin Oleś | Bartłomiej Oleś | Abstract | Not Two Records

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The album you are holding was recorded in 2003 and its origins go back to a couple of days in July we spent together recording the soundtrack for the TV Theater show (Parasite, directed by Marcin Wrona). As long-time devoted fans of Andrzej Przybielski’s music, after having collaborated with him for a number of years, we remain constantly impressed by his working methods and the way he views life through the prism of improvisation. At the same time, we believe his music has never been fully presented. That is why we dared produce this disk and be his accompanying musicians during the recording sessions. Most of the music recorded here has been made with no previous rehearsals, preparations or agreements, which reflects Andrzej’s working methodology as well as his firm conviction that real music does not require declarations and if it is to come into being, it wilt do so without them – hence the comments made ad hoc in the studio right before recording a given track. In order to underline the rawness of this music we decided to record it using only three microphones, so that each instrument could fill the same portion of space and therefore be equally important as the other two. — Marcin & Bartlomiej Brat Oles Continue reading →

Marcin Oleś | Theo Jörgensmann | Bartloliej Brat Oleś | Miniatures | Not Two Records

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Robust circulating spirits guide the interaction of the trio of M.Oles, B.Oles and Jorgensmann on Miniatures. After an ethereal opening, strong, responsive bass lines by M.Oles carve a trail through uncharted territory while B.Oles clears all the underbrush with his power-laden drumming. Jorgensmann leaps into the clearing breathing fire through his basset clarinet (a slightly longer version of today’s instrument with extended range in the lower register), resulting in the group taking full charge with simulating improvised music. Although titled Miniatures, the CD’s selections evolve as fully developed, open statements on the creative art form. Tonally, the music dips to the deepest end of the sonic pool through M.Oles’ probing resonance and to its apex, where Jorgensmann creates a maelstrom with his fiery blowing. — Frank Rubolino Continue reading →

Custom Trio | Back Point | Not Two Records

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Krzysztof Kapel – tenor & soprano sax | Marcin OleÂś – double-bass | BartÂłomiej Brat OleÂś – drums | Maciej SikaÂła – tenor sax (6) Produced by Oles & Oles. Executive producer: Marek Winiarski. Recorded by Jacek Hajnrych. Recorded June 30, 2000 except track 6 October 23, 2001, Studio Radio Kielce. Design by Mariusz Kulan. Continue reading →

Oleś | Mahall | Tiberian | Oleś | Contemporary Quartet | Not Two Records

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We give you a CD that is a product of our thoughts, fascinations, and several months’ hard work. The material included on it is a selection of compositions by Polish 20th-century contemporary composers, from the early post-war years up to the present hence the names Grazyna Bacewicz, Stefan Kisieleswski, Marzena Komsta, Witold Lutoslawski, and Krzysztof Penderecki show up here, as do pieces from various periods of their creativity. The choice of these, as opposed to other compositions was influenced in equal measure by our tastes/our bent towards chamber, music, as well as prosaic factors such as availabilifty of scores. All compositions on the CD used what is known as classical notation, which was our choice. We applied available contemporary compositional techniques, however, in the construction, or definition, of the form of improvisation. Despite the fact that our primary inspiration was that of the themes of the original compositions, it was in the forms of the respective pieces that we sought variation, while maintaining an affinity with 20th-century contemporary music. Thanks to the fact that it was possible to invite such outstanding improvisers as Rudi Mahall and Mircea Tiberian to participate, we were largely successful in achieving this. — Marcin & Bartlomiej “Brat” Oles Continue reading →