My Quartet Album

Naarm/Melbourne-based pianist James Bowers unveils My Quartet Album - an expansive and deeply personal new recording that follows his celebrated debut, My Trio Album. Reuniting with long-time collaborators Marty Holoubek (bass) and Shun Ishiwaka (drums), and now joined by trumpeter Ben Harrison, this release expands both the sonic palette and emotional range of Bowers' music. The result is a fearless, joyfully chaotic, and unexpectedly moving work from one of Australia's most compelling musical voices.

This is music that embraces contradiction: muscular but lyrical, intricate yet raw, reverent but irreverent. The album opens with "Horse," a rework of a theme that's appeared on both Trio I and My Trio Album. "It's very heavy, very stupid and a lot to listen to," Bowers laughs. "I think it scares off people who might be too easily spooked - which I like." Other highlights include "Snakey," inspired by the grim, futuristic textures of Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa, and "Him," which blends hymnal harmonies with the broken nostalgia of a deteriorating music box. "House" is a late-night, sample-laced nod to Strong Zero drinks and features a trumpet intro recorded in a haze of laughter and delirium -- a moment that perfectly captures the group's blend of play and purpose.

The music is dense with detail but never self-indulgent. "It's my favourite people to follow a musical thread with - there's this balance of respecting the music and fully committing to your own idea, even if you don't know if it's going to work," Bowers explains. The result is music that feels alive: risky, empathetic, human.

James Bowers is a sought-after pianist, composer, and collaborator based in Naarm/Melbourne. Known for his exciting improvisational style and musical empathy, he seamlessly traverses diverse genres, informed by but not bound by stylistic norms. James has toured Europe, the US, and Japan, performing at esteemed venues like Blue Note Tokyo's Cotton Club. His debut, My Trio Album, received critical acclaim, leading to features at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and collaborations with artists like MELRAW and Ben Harrison. Beyond performance, James is studying to become a music therapist, exploring music's power to help people understand and process themselves better.

1: Horse
2: Riffi
3: Honesty
4: Snakey
5: Him
6: Tuff
7: JimJim
8: Shanty

Number of Discs: 1

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