The Vampires
Nightjar featuring Chris Abrahams
"...there's a seductive precision to the music on the new recording that’s also reflected in the exquisite studio production values and excellent moments of improv that are perfectly pitched in this context, with Abrahams’ insistent, yet enigmatic, contributions among them.” ★★★★, Jazzwise, editors choice. Selwyn Harris
“...mood, atmosphere and groove took precedence… creating an air of mystery that lingered long after the tune had ended.”
★★★★, The Age, Melbourne, Jessica Nicholas
The Vampires have gained critical attention worldwide for their distinctive sound, garnering 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 six 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 new 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
"This is such a good album that it's difficult to know which superlatives to start with.... This is state-of-the-art modern jazz at the highest level"
****1/2 Eric Myers, The Australian
"Not only is the composing and improvising exceptional, it’s the Vampires’ best-recorded album, too.…carrying faint (and thrilling) echoes of the Art Ensemble of Chicago."
**** John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald
“Simpler nature, yet equally expressive soundscapes… reminiscent of the fusion 'milestone' Bitches Brew.”
**** Freidrich Kunzman, All About Jazz
"If jazz music is about continuously reinventing and staying on your toes, then 'The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke' is a phenomenal jazz record by a worldly, talented, and newly minted five-piece band."
**** Chris Tart (Downbeat)
“It is gold all over. 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
“One of my favourite albums of the year was a jazz recording.. …It’s beautifully constructed melody sounded so classic, so perfect, that it had already become deeply ingrained in my memory. Of course, I have been listening to this album a lot. This one’s a real winner.”
David Faulkner, The Saturday Paper, Australian Music Prize chair
“Seductive, genre-hopping creativity: The references embrace reggae, classic Cuban son, high life, pre-electric Miles Davis and hints of Blue Note soul-jazz or Henri Texier’s cinematically scene-setting music..."
**** John Fordham, The Guardian UK
"This was the perfect summer record that pulled off the trick of being both an ambient soundtrack to life on the move while remaining capable of standing up to concentrated home listening."
Phil Barnes, All About Jazz