sneaky jesus– one of the most exciting and dynamic jazz groups coming out of Poland – make their triumphant return to Shapes of Rhythm with the release of new single Krztusiec. The band is back with an evolved sound, two years since the band burst on to the global jazz scene with For Joseph Riddle, their energetic debut album which sold out on vinyl.
Krztusiec is our first listen to where the band is in 2023. After two years of 'doing some real damage at home' (IE relentless touring), the band returned to the studio in late 2022 to record their second full-length album.
Krztusiec finds the group diving head first into their most recent influences. The track starts with drum improvisation, rolling into a solid hip-hop backbeat provided by Ben Łasiewicki on Bass and Drummer Filip Baczyński. Sax and Guitar weave steady but dissonant lines, written by Maciej Forreiter after many hours spent listening to the Ethiopian Jazz greats. The track takes off right after that. Matylda Gerber delivers a fiery Sax solo, while the group picks up the tempo and quickens the groove. The essence is the middle section, a dubby collective improvisation. Forreiter, Gerber and Baczyński take turns playing both classic dub phrases and fierce avant grade lines. Łasiewicki keeps everybody in check with a steady bassline. The energy slows down until Baczyński's drum solo, which explores phrasing detached from the rest of the tune, serving as a good transition into a contrasting segment. Krztusiec ends with powerful unison returning to the main theme.

With Krztusiec, the group pays tribute to their raw, stoner sound from the earliest days of the quartet, but also brings it up to date in 2023 with where they are now ahead of their second album.