Full of future facing chunky grooves, a contemporary sound containing lots of jazz-rock flourishes and vivid themes, tunes are by band members – saxist Ben Wendel has four including the title track of this new studio album; trumpeter Shane Endsley, three – ‘Natural Bridge,’ ‘Top Hat’ – the latter with great drum patterns from Nate Wood – and the moody keyboards-led longest of all ‘Lo Hi’; and Adam Benjamin has ‘Glimmer’ which on a first listen leapt out most & ‘Long Walk’ a piece that has a yearning trumpet theme to it.
After Rastegar left
The current line-up comes in the wake of the departure of bassist Kaveh Rastegar so Wood takes over playing both drums and bass guitar.
Reach was recorded over five days at Brooklyn’s Figure 8 Studios. Adventurous, full of a certain uncloying positivity it takes you on a rollercoaster of a ride.
Previous albums
A genre-blurring album that explores new sonic territories, highlighting Kneebody’s adventurous spirit and collaborative energy.
A concise collection that showcases the band’s dynamic interplay and modern jazz sensibilities.
A critically acclaimed release, blending jazz, rock, and electronic influences into a bold, contemporary sound.
An innovative collaboration with electronic artist Daedelus, fusing jazz improvisation with experimental electronic textures.
An album that balances intricate compositions with energetic improvisation, reflecting the band’s evolving style.
A record marked by rhythmic complexity and creative arrangements, further establishing Kneebody’s unique voice in modern jazz.
A bold reinterpretation of Charles Ives’ works, featuring vocalist Theo Bleckmann and blending classical with jazz innovation.
A dynamic sophomore album that pushes genre boundaries with inventive melodies and grooves.
The band’s self-titled debut, introducing their signature mix of jazz, rock, and improvisational flair.
A generous blend of tunes – certainly it’s not a diehard purist listen at all. You might not even be a jazz fan to dig this. But it helps. Some tunes have unusual origins. According to Endsley ‘Natural Bridge’ came from an interest in ”old time” American fiddle music. Reader you wouldn’t know. And one for the unusual instrument buffs ‘Glimmer’ uses a one-string-per-note Una Corda piano. Wendel’s serpentine soloing on ‘Repeat After Me’ provides some of the most memorable moments within the generous wash of the band momentum allowing the taps to find their maximum power to allow the sound to fully flood out.
Out today
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