EABS meets Jaubi
Dutch debut of Polish-Pakistani collective with delightful grooves and a remarkable group sound
Lift off and float away. The musicians of the Polish sextet EABS and the Pakistani band JAUBI combine to transport the listener straight into a delightful trance. Drums and percussion achieve a fantastic groove – subtle, multi-layered, though not overblown. They form the perfect background for this intense and uncommon music that draws on all sorts of sources. The freaky, otherworldly music of the legendary Sun Ra, for example, but also classical music from northern India. You can clearly hear the influence of modal jazz, not to mention hip-hop. The fusion of these two singular ensembles produces a truly remarkable group sound. There’s the melancholic effect of the sarangi (knee violin) which blends remarkably well with that of the two brass instruments (saxophone and trumpet). Not to be underestimated is the role of the keyboardists who coax notes out of their instruments that are both bizarre and extremely tasteful. Also noteworthy is how this collective takes plenty of time for everything. Numbers begin calmly and controlled, as though the musicians want to let the listeners get gradually accustomed to this uncommon amalgam, but before you know it they’re into their stride, and you lift off and float away.
