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4 stars This album has interesting history. First released under the name ''Anna Maria Jopek & Friends with Pat Metheny. Upojenie'' in 2002 at Warner Poland for local market, it was re- released 6 years later at Nonesuch Records for international market ( with 3 bonus tracks and different songs order).

Pat Metheny is well known in Poland and during one Jazz Festival concert there he met local pop-jazz diva Anna Maria Jopek. During that meeting they decided to record common CD what happened soon. As main material for the album Anna's popular songs were taken. Local jazz musicinas participated in recording studio as well. Few Metheny classic songs were used also. The result was extremely perfect!

First of all, I think not too many music lovers outside Poland know what the fantastic tradition of pop-jazz are in Poland! I am listening to that music from my teens ( living on very neigbourhood) , in fact this music is a part of my musical education. During late 70-th and all 80-th, when world all around was full of disco and simple synthy pop, big part of Polish music market saved this unique atmosphere of quality jazzy pop. They have many years of tradition, great school and plenty of interesting singers and musicians in that field.

So, what you have on that album is just strong example of characteristic Polish pop jazz with some Metheny touches. The music is soft and dreamy, melodic and nostalgic, with very characteristic west-slavian folk elements. Anna sings with warm voice with some lazyness and sex-appeal in it.Music is well balanced and not very complex pop-jazz with world elements, with synth/keyb domination. Most important thing is atmosphere - it reminds "Aerial" of Kate Bush, but much jazzy version. Music catch you softly, fill the space around you and take you by it's warm touches till the very end.

To be honest, the album has less in common with progresive rock. It's pop-jazz of highest standard, and the original album name was much more correct: it's Anna Maria Jopek album,with some touches of Metheny, not v.v.

I love this album, and can recommend it to any jazz lover - you will find a new name in traditional vocal jazz for you! But proggers should be careful - if names like Cassandra Wilson, Diane Schuur, Diana Krall tell you nothing, or if soft dreamy jazz isn't your cup of tea, better avoid this album. 


1. Cichyzapada Zmrok (Here Comes The Silent Dusk) (3:26)
2. Mania Mienia (So May It May Secretly Begin) (3:40)
3. Biel (Whiteness) (3:22)
4. Przyplyw, Odplyw, Oddech Czasu...(Tell Her You Saw Me) (4:45)
5. Are You Going With Me? (8:35)
6. Czarne Slowa (Black Words) (5:13)
7. Lulajze Jezuniu (Polish Christmas Carol) (5:14)
8. Upojenie (Ecstasy) (4:44)
9. Zupelnie Inna Ja (Always And Forever) (3:56)
10. Piosenka Dla Stasia (A Song For Stas) (3:48)
11. Letter From Home (2:46)
12. Me Jedyne Niebo (Another Life) (3:16)
13. By On Byl Tu (Farmer's Trust) (6:53)
14. Polskie Drogi (Polish Paths) (2:25)
15. Tam, Gdzie Nie Siega Wzrok (Follow Me) (3:49)
16. Na Calej Polaci Snieg (The Snow Falls All Over The Place) (1:47)
17. Szepty I Lzy (Whispers And Tears) (4:47)