BIRTHDAY

Before releasing their debut album, Extra Ball gained some popularity among polish jazz fans. Leaded by guitarist Jarosław Śmietana, band starded off at the Jazz on the Oder-River festival in 1974, winning the second, and a year later, the first prize. Thus Extra Ball wasn't unknown at the time, unfortunately they are rather forgotten these days.

Birthday was released in 1976 in the Polish Jazz series as Vol. 48. It contains instrumental jazz rock, which can be compared to Return to Forever or Weather Report . There are also some polish folk inclusions in tracks Narodziny / Birthday and Taniec Maryny / Maryna's Dance and blues (Blues For Everybody). Music is rather dynamic, which proves virtuosity of the musicians (the only lyrical track is Szczęśliwy Nieszczęśliwiec / The Lucky Unlucky Man). Album lasts about 40 minutes but you wouldn't notice when it finishes.

Very good jazz rock, highly recommended particularly for the fans of Weather Report and Return To Forever. 4 stars.