thursday 26 october @ It’s Still A Secret
The Vampires have gained critical attention worldwide for their distinctive sound yet have a style that is undoubtedly their own. They have garnered praise from Downbeat, “phenomenal”, the Guardian UK, “seductive genre hopping creativity”, and All About Jazz, “gold all over”, and appeared at premier festivals throughout the UK, Europe and their homeland Australia. The Vampires are the first instrumental act to be short-listed for the Australian Music Prize and is comprised of some of the most in-demand and awarded musicians of their generation.
The band has released seven critically acclaimed albums including the ARIA-nominated The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke. Their 2019 release, Pacifica, saw them return to the classic chord-less quartet format for a celebration of the band’s 10 years of performing together, evident in their deep, long-standing musical kinship. The album was an evolution of the band's sound, leaning further into recording production. The band followed this with a successful European tour in 2019, including a sold-out performance at the Enjoy Jazz Festival.
Their latest release Nightjar, brings a fresh perspective on their music in a collaboration with pianist and keyboard player Chris Abrahams. One third of the legendary improvised minimalism trio, The Necks, Chris Abrahams is a great match for the band, bringing an expansive and scintillating approach to their music.
“In a head-bopping nod to the obvious, The Vampires play vamps. Yet, these are no ordinary vamps. Written and improvised melodies are beautiful and flawless, and the harmonies between the three voices (woodwinds, brass, bass) ring with pitch-perfect sonority. There is a sublime pacing to each of the tunes here, with strategic shifts in texture, tonality, tonality, rhythm or intensity twisting the narrative of each hypnotic groove into an ever-unfolding and irresistible arc.”
**** Gary Fukushima, Downbeat
“Original, melodically minimal compositions with hidden details scattered in every corner you look—covering nearly every topographic musical element and framed in a cohesive whole.”
Friedrich Kunzman, All About Jazz
