Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas & Misha Mullov-Abbado: Za Górami

“Beautiful music and absorbing stories”

“Za Górami is mostly a slow-moving programme of beautifully conveyed wistful songs, but only exploratory and jazz-immersed musicians could have delivered them this way.” The Guardian – Jazz Album of the Month – 4* – John Fordham

Inhabiting their own stylistic realm which encompasses Mediterranean folk song, chamber music, improvisation and the world of acoustic jazz, this trio comprises the award-winning singer, violinist and songwriter Alice Zawadzki; multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Fred Thomas; and jazz bassist and composer Misha Mullov-Abbado.

Their acoustic chamber music is guided by a special emphasis on intimacy, delicacy of sound and space, and subtle interaction – qualities which led them to ECM Records, whose founder Manfred Eicher produced their debut album Za Górami, released in September 2024 to great critical acclaim. The album was awarded Presto Music Jazz Recording of the Year 2024 and was one of The Guardian’s 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2024.

Vocalist, violinist, and composer Alice Zawadzki is a distinctive presence on the European creative scene. Her rich musical background and “whimsical hyper-creativity” (MOJO Magazine) draw upon her early exposure to New Orleans jazz and gospel, an extensive classical training as a violinist, and a continuous exploration of improvisation, poetry, and folk music from diverse traditions, “all propelled in a voice of velvet suppleness and gutsy emotional power” (The Arts Desk).

“A boundary-blurring composer and improviser” (Gramophone Magazine), Fred Thomas is one of London’s most sought-after multi-instrumentalists and composer/arranger/producers, known for his breadth of musical styles as well as for specialising in creative re-interpretations of J.S. Bach. ‘Za Górami’ is his fourth album on ECM Records.

Award-winning, London-based jazz bass player, composer and arranger Misha Mullov-Abbado is a musician who combines great imagination with raw talent and a clear vision. A BBC New Generation Artist and with three critically acclaimed albums under his name, his most recent offering ‘Effra’ (Jan 2025) showcases his ‘melodic gift’ (John Fordham, The Guardian) and ability to masterfully combine beautifully-crafted compositions with free-spirited improvisation.

“Collected on our travels and taught to us by our friends, these are songs we have learnt and loved together. Though our musical and cultural backgrounds encompass Europe, Russia and South America, we were all three born in England. This happenstance was the product of love, war, exile, the arbitrariness of borders and the yearning for a new life – all themes which are themselves woven through the narratives you’ll hear within. Gathered from Argentina, France, Venezuela, Poland and the deep well of Sephardic culture, these folk tales speak to the moon, the mountains, the rain, the madness of humans and the prophecies of birds.”