Wojtek Justyna TreeOh!: Thrice

The Polish guitarist and his cross-European collaborators mix rock with jazz, funk and more in search of groove, groove and more groove

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In the early 90s, poets and philosophers believed groove was in the heart. Three decades later, Polish guitarist Wojtek Justyna and his buddies are arguing that hefty amounts of the precious stuff is stored in the fingers too – and they’ve got evidence from across Europe.

Thrice (they use capitals throughout) is the third album by the Wojtek Justyna TreeOh! It features Austrian bassist Daniel Lottersberger, German drummer Alex Bernath and Portuguese percussionist Diogo Carvalho, who bravely schlepped a balafon, vibraphone and Moog synthesiser into the studio too. They dig into rich seams from gospel, blues, rock, jazz, funk and beyond. At all times, they are mining for groove, groove and more groove.

The title track is a bassline-driven, rocky composition that puts Justyna’s guitar centre-stage. Offbeat stops and spacey breaks disrupt the flow, then let it rush. Bernath’s drumming adds constantly evolving textures. Shoulders will wiggle. Hips will waggle. For dignity’s sake, shut the curtains.

A song called Uncharted offers a change of pace. Pretty chord patterns display Justyna’s early lessons in classical guitar. A loose-limbed ballad materialises. For one short passage, the band slips back into familiar funkiness. The tempo never drops all the way back to its starting level, but the track still stands out as the cuddliest moment on the record.

Will To Live is a bonus track that welcomes Larry Goldings on Hammond organ. The percussion is endlessly inventive, maintaining momentum when long chords ring. Goldings gets a chance to stretch out – and he grabs it.

The Wojtek Justyna TreeOh! crushes a mass of musical material into a tight space, generating white-hot electrical sparks. Thrice radiates fire and fun. If you’re looking for groove, stop. It’s here.

Discography
Thrice; Wafrobeat; Polish Hat; Uncharted; Paqueta; Chocolate City; Will to Live (37.10)
Justyna (g); Daniel Lottersberger (elb); Alex Bernath (d); Diogo Carvalho (pc, balafon, syn, vib); Larry Goldings (org). Gniewoszów, Poland, 2022.
wojtekjustyna.com