Jiem, a contemporary jazz quintet from Sydney, launch their debut album, a compelling showcase of their unique blend of jazz that pushes the boundaries both rhythmically and melodically. Co-led by horn players Tessie Overmyer and Miles Rooney, and supported by Mathew Harris on piano, Harry Birch on double bass, and Ryu Kodama on drums, the quintet crafts a sound that moves from the delicate to the virtuosic, reflecting their deep musical synergy.
Emerging from Sydney's vibrant music scene, Jiem has quickly established themselves with a style that combines the influence from Australian jazz innovators such as Phil Slater, Simon Barker, and Andrea Keller, with their own dynamic and inventive approach. "Our new album represents a significant evolution from our previous work, emphasising the growth and cohesion we've achieved as a group," states Miles Rooney.
The album features compositions that range from powerful ballads to complex improvisational pieces, highlighting the individual talents and collective strength of the ensemble.
Key tracks from the album include Why Does the Water Sparkle So, an epic power ballad featuring Overmyer's saxophone and Birch's double bass in a captivating melody that builds intensity over nearly seven minutes. Rolling Gestures explores themes of circular motion and everyday rhythms, while Exit brings a robust intensity with its extended solos and a melody that serves as a gravitational core of the piece.
King Rat" composed by Mathew Harris, draws on classical influences, focusing on a structured melody with minimal improvisation, save for a late addition of a solo by Overmyer. This piece narrates the tale of its namesake character, blending storytelling with musical exploration. Other tracks like Through a Lens and Scattered Thoughts further explore the quintet's range, from introspective melodies to complex, energetic jazz compositions.
The album not only marks Jiem's growth as musicians but also reflects their commitment to the evolving landscape of Australian jazz. "We're thrilled to present an album that truly captures the essence of Jiem--our diversity, creativity, and the dynamic spectrum of jazz," comments Miles Rooney. As they continue to make their mark, Jiem remains a quintet to watch, promising exciting developments in the Australian and international jazz scenes.
Artistic statement:
The group formed in 2020 during our studies at the Sydney Conservatorium. It has evolved a lot over the years as we have grown both as a band and as individual musicians. You can particularly see this stark difference when comparing the new album with the previous one. We are influenced a lot by Australian jazz music such as Andrea Keller, Jonathan Swartz, Phil Slater, The Vampires.
The band likes to make music that shifts between extremes of quiet and melancholy to brash intensity.
We all write very different music. Mathew Harris likes to write music with long composed sections. Both King Rat and Exit have quite long melodies. We wanted to feature those melodies. In Exit we sandwich the Melody between two solos, and in King Rat Tessie solos over the melody. Many of the tunes by Miles involved a composition process of improvising and then turning those improvisations in compositions. In walking, Through a Lens, and Rolling Gestures were all one take solo trumpet improvisations which were then transcribed and turned into compositions.
