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Our Review

Grazyna Auguscik is flat-out wonderful, and I absolutely love Lulajze. Pronounced "gra-je-na au-goose-chick," this woman speaks my language: excellent, full-bodied jazz. Her voice is a marvel (she has received "best female jazz vocalist" awards in multiple contexts); Auguscik has pipes that are at once innocent and smoothly sensual.

On Lulajze, the artist presents 13 gorgeous tracks covering traditional holiday carols largely from Poland. At least three numbers will be familiar to all; the rest are remarkable discoveries. The album opens very well with an a cappella rendition of Lulajze Jezuniu; the accompanied version appears mid-way through the disc. This opening immediately grabs the listeners with arrestingly beautiful harmonies that haunt the imagination long after the last notes fade. Again, what an amazing voice!

Auguscik's Cicha Noc/Silent Night is one of my all-time favorite versions. She starts the piece with her startlingly pure a cappella verse, then eases into a sophisticated jazz framework for the duration, moving ultimately from Polish to English lyrics. Her Cradle in Bethlehem actually had me close to tears. Fantastic!

Lulajze is jazzy, but is highly accessible to anyone who loves stunningly fine vocals with first-class instrumental support. Those who favor the stylings of Norah Jones, for example, will have their socks knocked off here. I absolutely, positively, highly recommend this holiday CD! What are you waiting for?

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:
Musicians:
Grazyna Auguscik--vocals
John McLean--guitars
Larry Kohut--bass
Ernie Adams--drums, percussion
Jim Gailloreto--soprano sax, flute, bass clarinet
Tom Hipskind--drums, percussion (6,7,12)
Javier Gonzales--cajon, maracas llaneras (10)

Produced by Grazyna Auguscik

From the artist's Website:

Singer, composer, arranger, and producer Grazyna Auguscik has won the praise and admiration of music critics, jazz enthusiasts and even non-jazz audiences with a singular voice that speaks a universal language. She is one of the most intriguing contemporary vocalists on today's World jazz scene. Her elusive style challenges traditional definitions of jazz and show vocalist and musician without boundaries. Her unorthodox approach to rewriting classic works is at once a tribute to its authors as well as an adventure into uncharted territory. Her originals give a fresh taste of uncanny flavor.

Grazyna Auguscik

Lulajze

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Track List