JK Group - What's Real EP (September 3, 2021 La Sape Records)

JK GROUP IS:

A collective of forward-thinking "jazz" musicians from Australia. We owe our thanks and gratitude to the founding mothers and fathers of the music people call jazz. We respect and continuously study their legacy whilst embracing our current surroundings in making music that honestly reflects our time and space.

THIS RECORD IS:

The second batch of tunes we hit record on, though the sessions could not have been more different to the first. Where The Young Ones was meticulously planned, this recording was made on a whim as the busy touring musicians happened to line up their respective touring schedules at the same time. Many of the songs were just sketches, musical experiments that were leaping off out of the territory of the first record and pushing the sound in a number of different directions at once. Some tunes were still in progress right up until the moment of recording, and one was written on the spot in the studio. There was no focus or talk of outcomes for a future release. As with all experiments, some songs did not make the cut. But the selections that have made it onto this vinyl really capture the magic and spontaneous energy of the session with the musicians in full flight, in sync. We welcome Phil Stroud to the collective to offer up a rework of one of these tracks, and further deepen the dialogue between jazz and electronic music.

THIS MUSIC IS:

Conceived, written, recorded, and printed on land that historically belongs to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge the traditional owners and pay our respects to Elders, past, present, and emerging.

THIS LABEL IS:

Contributing to healing our natural world through planting trees and reforesting land back to rainforest in Australia in conjunction with Reforest NOW.

1. What's Real?

2. Kempton

3. Overflow

4. Kempton (Phil Stroud Remix)

5. Levannah

Josh Kelly - Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute

Erica Tucceri - Flute (Kempton & Kempton Remix)

James Bowers - Rhodes (What's Real?)

Lewis Moody - Rhodes & Synthesiser

Matt Hayes - Bass

Zeke Ruckman - Drum Kit

Oli Savill - Percussion (Kempton)

Phil Stroud - Production on Kempton Remix

Mixed by Lewis Moody

Produced by Lewis Moody and Josh Kelly

Engineered by Ari Rose and Carl Lindberg

Mastered by Jack Prest

Artwork and Graphic Design by Luke Ebert

All tracks composed by Josh Kelly (JK Group).

Recorded on October 14 & October 15 at Plug Seven Studios, Collingwood.

Additional tracking at various home studios

Pre-order

Josh Kelly Trio - Zoom Recording at 303 (2018)

A trio lead by Melbourne saxophonist, Josh Kelly, which draws influence from two pivotal movements in jazz from the late 50’s: modal jazz and free jazz. Ideas from each movement are used to inform contemporary jazz compositions that are rooted in these traditions, but expand on them through extended harmonic and rhythmic tools influenced by the modern Melbourne and New York jazz scenes.

The music is written over set rhythmic and modal frameworks, to allow the trio to embellish and expand on rhythms and counterpoint melodies over many repeats. The rhythm cycles, or grooves are influenced by jazz and traditional folk music, including African and traditional Korean music.

1. Welcome to Country 05:10

2. Along For The Ride 05:07

3. Taijitu 01:38

4. Juliette 10:44

5. Cup of Truth 07:32

6. Maria Hiroki 02:38

7. Ernst 15:19

All compositions by Joshua Kelly

Josh Kelly - Alto and Soprano Saxophone, Bells

Hiroki Hoshino - Double Bass

Maria Moles - Drum Kit