🎵 | SMANDEM. – 12 Am in Bali single
👏🏾 | Mysterious
💫 | Recommended by Lucas Benjamin, Mo Wrights, Quanza.
When it comes to modern-day jazz from the Netherlands, look no further than Super-Sonic Jazz. From 2017 on, the Amsterdam-based label has been shining a light on new bands and upcoming artists from the lowlands: Greyheads, Son Swagga, Niels Broos & Jamie Peet, to name a few. Their Super-Sonic Family Vol. 1 VA compilation showcases what the local scene is currently brewing, featuring both producers and bands. Not to mention the wicked LCSM album led by broken-beat legend IG Culture. With the 12th release almost in place, today they present the first single of some promising jazz cats: SMANDEM.
12 AM in Bali
While the album is on the way, the band settled on 12 AM in Bali as its first single. An astonishing jazz-fusion track that feels like an adventure at– you guessed it– 12 AM in Bali. Guitar strums and melodies reflect pitch dark nights, lit by torches and street lights. Accompanied by the renowned Elena Pinderhughes on flute, this feeling is further solidified. Pinderhughes is a familiar face in the international jazz scene. The US flutist is the youngest member who toured with Herbie Hancock's band and also rubs shoulders with Robert Glasper during Common's Tiny Desk. She floats effortlessly on this single, going back and forth with the guitar. A mixture of hard-hitting drums, some hints of modern hip-hop patterns, organic percussion are shrouded in a sense of mystery and adventure by the harmonics. You can hear the musicians tell a clear story with 12 AM in Bali.
What about the SMANDEM.?
The four-friend collective has a nick for blending jazz-traditions with their interest in modern music. Studying the traditions and the underlying history, SMANDEM. aims to keep that same tradition alive by mixing styles and cultures together (as has always been significant in jazz history). No wonder artists such as Herbie Hancock have an influence on the band members. With a strong friendship at the core, their dynamic live-show feels like it effortlessly accelerates from lush harmonies into colourful mixtures of dense rhythms and fierce improvisation.
With this single sounding very promising of a fresh sound provided by the mandem, we're eager to hear what the album will sound and feel like. We're also very happy to see SMANDEM. connect with Super-Sonic Jazz, while we're not surprised as the band performed during last year's online Super-Sonic Jazz festival.
The self-titled album will be released on March 30th, 2021. Grab a pre-order here.
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