The Vampires - Chellowdene
Sydney world-roots jazz band The Vampires' second album, Chellowdene, received critical acclaim and highlights their emerging compositional sound and improvisational voice. The title track, Chellowdene, is the name of a street in a coastal town, an hour south from Sydney where saxophonist Jeremy and trumpeter Nick lived during the period prior to the album's recording. The guest percussionist Fabian Hevia and album artist Matt Bromhead also lived on the street. Chellowdene also welcomes back trombonist Shannon Barnett to select tracks
Jeremy Rose - alto saxophone
Nick Garbett - trumpet
Alex Boneham - double bass
Alex Masso - drums
with
Shannon Barnett - trombone
Fabian Hevia - percussion
1. La Vida Dura (Garbett)
2. Euro Schmarp (Garbett)
3. Theres More to Life than Being a Vampire (Rose)
4. Chellowdene (Rose)
5. I Saw Blue Then White (Rose)
6. Jump for Emma (Garbett)
7. Red Head (Rose)
8. El Franco (Rose)
9. Balkan Dance (Rose)
Total Playing time: 47:40
Recorded by Robin Gray at Allan Eaton Studio, St Kilda, 3 May 2009
Mixed by Richard Belkner at Free Energy Device, 23-24 July 2009
Mastered by Oscar Gaona at 301, 7 August 2009
Liner Note Booklet Photos by Pani Paul
Cover Art by Matt Bromhead; "Didactics" 2009
Design & artwork photo by Tanya Dyhin
REVIEWS FOR CHELLOWDENE
released November 7, 2013
REVIEWS
"Played with verve, high ability and inspiration, another distinguished album." 4/5 STARS THE AUSTRALIAN
‘Refreshing air around every note. A delight"4/5 STARS SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Sydney Morning Herald, April 19 2010 by John Shand
4/5 stars
Were the Vampires a drink they’d be a fizzy one. Not only is there refreshing air around every note, but this air seems to be rising. It helps that the rhythms are often rooted in reggae, with all the space that implies in Alex Boneham’s bass parts and Alex Masso’s drumming. Much of the effect, however, is due directly to the sounds and lines of trumpeter Nick Garbett and alto saxophonist Jeremy Rose, who are ideally matched in their ability to interweave cheerfulness and fragility. when they want the sound fattened, they add trombonist Shannon Barnett; denser bead to those rising bubbles, Fabian Hevia joins on percussion. A delight.
Review by John McBeath, The Australian April 3-4 2010
4/5 stars
Following the success of this young Sydney quartet’s 2008 recording South Coasting, and saxophonist-composer Jeremy Rose’s 2009 Bell Award for young Australian jazz artist, this new album comes with considerable credibility. Rose wrote most of the tracks and trumpeter Nick Garbett has contributed three. The Vampires manage to play contemporary jazz and at the same time include aspects of traditional reggae and South American music with occasional references to the recent past, with echoes of Bernie McGann and the Catholics. Rose’s composition Balkan Dance uses a mid-eastern modality in an unexpected tango rhythm and adds thoughtful solos from alto and trumpet in a truly cross-cultural production. Melbourne virtuoso trombonist Shannon Barnett makes a couple of guest appearances and delivers a powerhouse solo against South American riffs and rhythms in There’s More to Life Than Being a Vampire, with another guest, Fabian Hevia, on percussion. Alex Boneham on double bass together with Alex Masso on drums play important roles throughout, particularly in the crisp Latino title track. Red Head features an almost tempo-less theme on trumpet and alto. Played with verve, high ability and inspiration, The Vampires have produced another distinguished album.
review by Adrian Jackson in Rhythms Magazine
This Sydney quartet has won a lot of fans in the last few years, since the release of their impressive debut CD – South Coasting, on Jazzgroove – and subsequent touring.
They are a terrific band to catch live, as I was reminded when their September national tour brought them to Bennetts Lane. They clearly enjoy playing together and their us of (mostly) simple, repetitive grooves (often derived from reggae, tango and other danceable genre) enables them to readily engage with their audiences.
The band compromises Jeremy Rose (alto sax), Nick Garbett (trumpet), Alex Boneham (bass) and Alex Masso (drums). They are joined here by guest percussionist Fabian Hevia, plus on two tracks, Melbourne trombonist Shannon Barnett. Between them, they create a joyful noise, on a program of nine original tracks. A very enjoyable set.