EAR016
Format: CD
Release date: 16.12.2016
Genre: Jazz


20th Century Dog’s new album Bone presents a set of musical ideas that have been gnawed on for over a decade. Ideas that were buried in the yard, dug up, buried in the yard, dug up again. Like any good bone, these have stood the test of time. Bassist, composer and producer Cameron Undy has been lying somewhat dormant for the past 10 years, putting his energy into building the world-renowned ‘Venue 505’ in Surry Hills, Sydney, and working as a sideman with a diverse range of artists including jazz legend Pharaoh Sanders, Bugz in the Attic and number-one selling singer-songwriter Passenger. Meanwhile, Undy has been steadily developing material for this new album, a collection of uplifting jazz, funk, afro beat and broken beat material, delivered by his stellar band, 20th Century Dog, whose 2004 release Mad Stream was described as “something approaching improvised perfection” (John Shand, SMH). With this new release the grooves are layered by Undy’s bass, Ben Hauptmann’s guitar, Greg Coffin’s keys, Simon Barker and Jamie Cameron’s drums, and Ben Kidson’s percussion, allowing the African hocket-style rhythms to deliver odd-meters that appeal equally to the body and the mind. Jeremy Rose’s tenor saxophone and bass clarinet melodies capture a folk-like, sing-able essence, and at times, opening into areas of improvisation. Recorded live at Venue 505 over two days and one evening concert, Bone captures the band’s energy in front of a live audience, coupled with a studio like performance quality.