Checkmate

Recorded in Not Two’s first year, Checkmate captures drummer Arek Skolik with guitarist Sylwester Sośniak and bassist Michał Szumlas in a relaxed, straight‑ahead trio setting that reflects the label’s early commitment to emerging Polish jazz voices. Skolik’s crisp timekeeping, Sośniak’s blend of blues, bossa, and modern phrasing, and Szumlas’s warm, grounded bass give the music an easy, lived‑in flow.

Guest appearances broaden the palette: trumpeter Józef Antoni “Ziut” Gralak adds a rough‑edged, underground energy; vocalist Stanisław Soyka brings unmistakable soulfulness; and Paweł Rozkrut’s congas open the rhythmic field. Together they underline how porous and interconnected the late‑’90s Polish jazz scene was.

In the context of the early Not Two catalog, Checkmate stands as both time capsule and signpost — a reminder that before the label became known for avant‑garde fire, its foundations were built on the everyday craft and chemistry of small‑group jazz.