Over the past few months, five young musicians performing under the name Omasta have taken the Polish and European jazz scenes by storm. Having gained recognition for their intense live shows, they are now ready to deliver their debut studio effort. Jazz Report from the Hood a collectively composed album immersed in the textures of city streets and everyday urban life. The name Omasta comes from a regional Krakow dialect word meaning “fat added to food for flavor.” It’s a fitting metaphor: the group’s music is saturated with thick drums and deep, heavy bass. Hailing from Krakow, the band took shape over several years, officially launching with a J Dilla tribute concert in February 2024 at the city’s Paul’s Boutique.
Since then, Omasta have performed at venues and festivals across Poland and Europe – including The Jazz Cafe and Ronnie Scott’s in London, AB in Brussels, Gent Jazz Festival, and more. They've shared stages with Slum Village, Aquiles Navarro (Irreversible Entanglements), long-time Astigmatic Records collaborator Tenderlonious, and Polish free jazz legend Leszek Żądło. Along the way, they’ve also paid tribute to the music of Madlib through specially curated live shows. All of this, notably, before even releasing their first single. References to J Dilla and Madlib are no accident. Omasta’s music walks a fine line between the smoky, off-kilter beats of Detroit and Los Angeles, live instrumental hip-hop, and the jazz-funk sound of the 1970s – drawing inspiration from icons like Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Bob James and Lonnie Liston Smith. What binds it all together is their distinctive voice and unmistakable Polish roots.
Jazz Report from the Hood is a universal tale of life in the city – not a moral sermon, but a raw, resonant soundtrack for the everyday hustle, resilience, and rhythm of the neighborhoods that shape us.
The debut album by Omasta will be released via Astigmatic Records in digital formats, CD, and vinyl – available in both standard and limited editions. Pre-orders start September 5th on Bandcamp, with the full release set for October 17th, 2025.
