Oddycham, Requiem Records 2023

The album “Oddycham,” largely inspired by the lyrics of Julian Tuwim, is a compilation of eight tracks. Six of these are composed  texts written by a teenage Julian Tuwim. The other two are: the ancient Jewish song “Puncha, puncha” and the title track “Oddycham,” which is an original piece by Olga in both its musical and lyrical form. The album transports listeners into a world of diverse sounds, atmospheric harmonies, melodiousness, and sometimes sharp pulsation, while paying great attention to the words. The sound of the album, in addition to the singing, backing vocals, and rhythmic section, is also enriched by a string quartet, brass instruments, guitar, and an accordion that appears in two tracks. The album consists of eight stories that form a cohesive whole from the first track to the last, creating a journey through a palette of human emotions, from sadness, melancholy, and separation to achieving tranquility, joy in the here and now, appreciating life, and the fleeting nature of the moment.

 I cannot start without mentioning that this is one of the most beautifully sung albums I have heard in years. I can only compare it to Anna Serafińska’s album “Ciepło, zimno” (2004), which opened up entirely new sensitivities to me vocally. I had to wait almost 20 years to experience these emotions again. Every phrase, every sound, every vocalization, which serves as both an ornament and a climax, is in total harmony with the form of the composition. 

Fragment from the review on jazzsoul.pl, Przemysław Urbaniak

[…] This is what the album “Oddycham” by Olga Boczar is about, more artistically mature, rooted in a richness of feelings. The vocalist (and in two cases also the flutist) recognized that Tuwim’s words perfectly emphasize the style found in Jewish music, which I consider an excellent move and artistic complement to the whole. 

Fragment from the review in Jazz Forum, Adam Dobrzyński

Following her debut album “Little Inspirations” and the album “Tęskno mi, tęskno,” the artist consistently introduces her perception of the world and music. She chooses poetic texts to sing with remarkable precision, playing with an initially innocent and ethereal yet impressionistic and sophisticated interpretation. The vocalist creates an incredibly coherent bridge between what is tradition and what is a thoughtfully conceived musical concept in terms of sound, mood, and color. 

Fragment from the review in Ery Jazzu, Dionizy Piątkowski

Musician Lineup: 

Olga Boczar – vocals, flute, backing vocals 

Łukasz Ojdana – piano 

Andrzej Gondek – guitar 

Zbigniew Chojnacki – accordion 

Wojciech Pulcyn – double bass 

Sebastian Frankiewicz – drums 

Przemysław Florczak – flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone 

Karol Makowski – trombone 

Michał Zaborski – viola 

Przemysław Pacek – violin 

Cecylia Chinek – violin 

Klara Chinek – viola 

Zuzanna Nierubca – cello 

Nikola Kołodziejczyk – arrangements for the string quartet 

Karol Makowski, Przemysław Florczak – arrangements for the brass section