Eskaubei & Tomek Nowak Quartet - Sweet Spot (2019)

Eskaubei & Tomek Nowak Quartet

Eskaubei - rap
Tomek Nowak -trumpet
Bartłomiej Prucnal - tenor saxophone
Kuba Płużek - keyboards
Mr Krime - cuts, synth
Alan Wykpisz - bass
Max Olszewski - drums


Sweet Spot

FPJ 56A-19-01

By Adam Baruch

This is the third album by Polish Rap and Jazz ensemble which finds rapper Bartłomiej Skubisz (a.k.a. Eskaubei) combining forces with a Jazz quartet led by trumpeter Tomek Nowak, which also includes keyboardist Kuba Płużek, bassist Alan Wykpisz and drummer Maksymilian Olszewski. DJ Wojciech Długosz (a.k.a. Mr. Krime), saxophonist Bartłomiej Prucnal, vocalist Aleksandra Tocka and a few additional vocalists also take part in the proceedings. The album present thirteen original compositions, nine of which were composed by Nowak, one by Płużek and three are collective instrumental improvisations. Skubisz wrote all the lyrics except two which he co-wrote with other people.

The album repeats the same basic concept that was used on the two previous albums, which sets the lyrics written by Skubisz against Jazz tunes, which serve at times as background/accompaniment to the lyrics but also take the front stage when Nowak or Płużek play solo parts. After five years of working together the Jazz-Rap Fusion is brought to perfection and seems as natural as any other cross-genre exploration and combined with the wonderful musicianship by the participants it offers its own aesthetic ambience, rather than a random opportunistic conglomerate of styles.

Skubisz manages to express his views, often very controversial, critical and bitter, with clarity and coherence, using well developed language and eschewing vulgarism and simplistic shortcuts. Although the resulting Rap is somewhat "soft" in comparison to the usual hardcore roughness that characterizes the genre, his messages are my no means less striking, penetrating of evocative. Of course his target public is probably quite different from the typical Rap followers, especially when combined with Jazz, but his consistent activity definitely managed to create a strong following over time.

Overall this is another solid release by this ensemble, which maintains the same level of execution and musical ingenuity. The only point worth consideration for future releases might be the very close similarity of the three albums released so far, which perhaps should be refreshed/reconsidered in forthcoming projects.