For Joseph Riddle

A 4 track avant garde jazz album (45m 59s) — released May 28th 2021 on Shapes of Rhythm

Shapes of Rhythm is thrilled to present a brand new signing with a 50-minute debut LP from young, exciting Jazz quartet sneaky jesus, based in Poland. For Joseph Riddle merges concepts of contemporary Polish Jazz and breakbeat oriented styles of UK and US Jazz with ideas derived from punk and funk.

Matylda Gerber on Tenor and Baritone Sax and Maciej Forreiter on Guitar flow seamlessly between melancholic lines and free jazz expression. Beniamin Łasiewicki on Bass with Filip Baczyński on Drums anchor the improvisations and take unexpected dynamic turns. The quartet was joined in the studio by wonderful musicians and friends Michał Szczepaniec on Percussion, Wiktor Maternik on Trumpet and Mariano De Ona Martinez, who supports the harmony on Electric Piano and Synths and helped with the final arrangements.

The sound spectrum is vast. The opener Bugs relies heavily on steady breakbeat rhythms and hard bop-ish horn lines and features a Spanish-sounding Trumpet solo from guest Wiktor Maternik. Józek Zagadka is spacious, melancholic and minor despite frenetic and mutating drumming from Baczyński and Forreiter's vamping distorted guitar textures. Battledance is confrontational and features Gerber's primal Baritone rallying cries, whilst Łasiewicki's bassline works nimbly around the elements. You can just picture the stand-off. Minneapolis – Police Game highlights the group's musical standpoint on widespread police brutality and isFor Joseph Riddle's standout. At around 25 minutes long, it's so long it had to be split across the LP vinyl edition. A story in three parts and featuring by Baczyński's frenetic drum solo, the composition started as a reaction to protests happening in USA after the murder of George Floyd, but in time gained new meaning to became a reflection of women's marches still happening in Poland.

With today's young Jazz landscape dominated by spiritual, soul and fusion, sneaky jesus don't take the obvious turn or jump on the bandwagon. They bring the skronk and go for themselves. For Joseph Riddle is raw, discordant in parts and the group aren't afraid to hit a wrong note every once in a while. A brave LP for such a young group. Michał Szczepaniec who guests on the LP and is one half of electronic group Gaijin Blues remarks
'sneaky jesus are the next EABS.'

The bar has been set incredibly high over recent years by the like of EABS, Wojtek Mazolewski, Piotr Damasiewicz, Bloto and now Sneaky Jesus who have maintained that level. Nice tight arrangements, with deep melancholic lines, backed up by fierce determined solos - stellar release - Oli Reeves 22a Music

I've got my eyes on Sneaky Jesus and their new album For Joseph Riddle, the next exciting project to come out of the formidable Polish Jazz scene. Minneapolis – Police Game is a powerful soapbox moment. For me, Battledance is a standout; it's short but impactful; spiritual and dark with hypnotic rhythms. - Tina Edwards Worldwide FM

One of my favourite forward-thinking bands on the Polish map - Łukasz Wojciechowski Astigmatic Records

The freshest new jazz to make it to my ears from Poland. Just the right amount of skronk and funk to make repeat listens a must - Oli Brunetti Olindo/Colectivo Futuro/Soho Radio

Love the sound design on Police Game... so cinematic! - Rob Da Bank Sunday Best

Loving the energy... wasn't familiar with the Women's strikes... I am now... - Paul Bradshaw Straight no Chaser/ WorldWide FM

Superb from start to finish and kudos to Shapes for signing such an exciting new band. Solid new jazz directions. - Quinton Scott Strut Records

Very nice ! I will play on the radio thanks - Simbad WorldWide FM

An ambitious, energetic album that belongs in any jazz fan’s collection. - Zoe Camp Bandcamp Daily

Their fantastic energy, their easiness of creating melodies, the sound of the band is what makes me return to this music - Barnaba Siegel Jazz Forum

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