Wasilewski's title track—presenting in two variations, first with Milder, but closing the album with a trio-only take—demonstrates that Milder does more than simply light a fire. A rubato tone poem where Miskiewicz's textural support is particularly noteworthy, Milder engages in a piece where interpretation and tone are everything. The saxophonist demonstrates similar developmental patience on his own irregularly metered ‘Still,’ while on a by now de rigueuer look at a Komeda piece, in this case, ‘Sleep Safe and Warm,’ the saxophonist demonstrates his attention to detail on a track that simmers with a slow-burning pedal point before breaking the tension into its familiar changes, with Kurkiewicz and Miskiewicz treading a very fine swinging line between the implicit and the explicit.
John Kelman, All About Jazz
Wasilewski ist der wichtigste Komponist der drei, sein schönstes Stück der Titelsong ‚Spark of Life‘, aber das Trio plus Milder verwandelt, wie zum Beweis für Austins Satz vom Hardcore-Charakter des Jazz, auch Poppiges in seine eigene Sprache, einen Hit von Police oder Herbie Hancocks ‘Actual Proof‘. Ein Höhepunkt, auch hier, Komedas Wiegenlied ‚Sleep Safe and Warm‘. Es war schon in Stankos Version reine Hühnerhautmusik.
Peter Rüedi, Die Weltwoche
They still sound as fresh, elegant and thoughtful as ever. Swedish tenor saxophonist Joakim Milder proves a canny choice of special guest, his lyrical lines mirroring Wasilewski’s impressionistic playing and adding heat to a handful of tracks that include his own adventurous ‘Still’.
Jane Cornwell, Evening Standard
Polish pianist Marcin Wasilewski’s trio is one of the best to appear on the European jazz scene in the past decade […] the pianist’s versatility is exemplified on the bluesily hymn-like Austin, the languishing tone-poem of the title track, and some intriguing covers – including a punchy account of the Police’s Message in a Bottle, and a groove-switching, group-conversational trio version of Herbie Hancock’s Actual Proof. It’s all right up to Wasilewski Trio standards, and Milder is a shadowy but fascinating presence.
John Fordham, Guardian
Four players thinking as one. A lovely album.
John Bungey, The Times
‘Spark Of Life’ is the type of album that fans of the ECM aesthetic embrace: It’s got generous sections of meditative, medium-tempo tunes, it’s brilliantly produced by Manfred Eicher and the eclectic set list includes songs unlikely to be performed by hordes of U.S. jazz musicians. […] With his refined sense of melody and great touch, Wasilewski owes a debt to Bill Evans. The leader’s original compositions, such as ‘Austin’ and ‘Sudovian Dance,’ are hauntingly gorgeous.
Bobby Reed, DownBeat (Editor’s Pick)
The opener, ‘Austin’, sets the thoughtful, lyrical tone with just the trio, before Milder joins them in a gracefully flowing ‘Sudovian Dance’. The saxophonist has that rich-toned, understated style that could be called Nordic, though that would be to gloss over the distinguishing marks between him and, for example, Tore Brunborg or Trygve Seim. The title tune shows not only Wasilewski’s mastery of the quiet, shadow-tinged mood, but also the natural interaction between the members of this long-standing trio – they might be in their 30s but they have been playing together since their teens. Milder’s statement of the melody is near heart-breaking. The group’s interpretation of Police’s ‘Message In A Bottle’ shows their subtle invention and originality, while their Hancock selection, ‘Actual Proof’, replaces the electric piano with acoustic without losing any of the funky drive. A gorgeous album to add to a Wasilewski ECM discography already filled with pleasures.
Peter Bacon, The Jazz Breakfast
‘Spark of Life’ features saxophonist Joakim Milder and whereas this can sometimes upset the piano trio balance, everything is remarkably well measured, the sax isn’t intrusive and avoids the pitfall of being a schmaltz-machine of melodramatic solos. Album opener ‘Austin’ is a master class in using silence as an instrument, and you’d have to go a long way to find a group more in sync, at times it’s telepathic.
Dom Christophers, Drowned In Sound
Tout en brilliant par la diversité de ses sources d’inspiration (des compositions personelles très aérées, un tutre d’Herbie Hancock, une reprise police de ‘Message In A Bottle’…), ce disque plein d’intensité affiche une homogéneité et un èquilibre rares.
Rolling Stone France
In an increasingly competitive and well populated (and documented) musical setting, the trio once again show just how far they can take their music without sacrificing their group sound and identity. Balancing original material with less obvious choices, and introducing a new voice into their sound world, this group have much more to deliver in the years to come. In the meantime, however, this set will sit very comfortably in many a collection.
Nick Lea, Jazz Views
A slow-burning and largely understated triumph, ‘Spark Of Life’ is truly an exemplar of its kind.
Fred Grand, Jazz Journal
