With a nod towards iconic sci-fi and intergalactic free jazz, Lost in Place is the long awaited followup to trumpeter-producer Reuben Lewis’ impressive 2018 studio album, Abstract Playgrounds with his Melbourne group I Hold the Lion’s Paw. Conjuring the spirit and twisted funk of Miles Davis’ On the Corner, filtered through the lens of Sun Ra and Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time, this latest offering is a wild sonic ride that feels simultaneously familiar and like nothing you’ve ever heard.

Divide and Conquer is the fourth album by Melbourne based composer Johannes Luebbers’ Dectet (JLD). The album marks the end of an ambitious 10 x 10 x 10 project, spanning 10 works in 10 years for 10 players. The album is the second and final installment of the project, featuring five wildly original tracks and some of Luebbers’ best work. The group showcases some of Australia’s most exciting soloists including pianist Andrea Keller, trumpeter Paul Williamson and saxophonist Angela Davis.

SIMA and Earshift Music are proud to present the fourth edition of the Earshift Music Fest 2021, 1st - 10th of October. The ten-day marathon online music festival will air at 8pm AEST each evening, streamed live on facebook, youtube and SIMA’s website. The festival is curated and hosted by Earshift Music artistic director, Jeremy Rose, who will do live artist chats with each performer following their set.

Cameron Undy releases a self-produced beats album, Bloodshot, alongside a reissue of his modern masterpiece, 20th Century Dog’s debut 2005 album, Mad Stream. A profound influence on the Australian jazz scene for over 30 years as one of the country’s finest bassists and co-founder of Sydney’s beloved Venue 505, Undy has had a long history of working with top shelf electronic dance artists. Bloodshot features Undy on beats, bass and keys, alongside vocals from neo-soul/jazz singer Inês and additional keys from Alan Goodman. This stripped back, groove laden album provides glimpses of the inner workings of a visionary musical mind.

Vazesh perform long-form improvisations inspired by the Persian Radif, and renowned Iranian tar player Hamed Sadeghi's (Eishan Ensemble) music. Featuring Sadeghi alongside Earshift Music founder saxophonist-bass clarinettist Jeremy Rose (Earshift Orchestra, The Vampires) and bassist Lloyd Swanton (The Necks, The catholics), this is an exciting collaboration driven by an exploration of musical discovery. In 2020 Vazesh were invited to reopen the Sydney Opera House's music program with two sold-out shows. This has been beautifully captured and presented on their debut album The Sacred Key.

The Land of If is the latest release from Ball Hanlon Schulz, a chamber-jazz trio featuring acclaimed Melbourne trumpeter Eugene Ball, bassist Ben Hanlon and piano accordionist Anthony Schultz. Taking impetus from Paul Auster’s book Invisible, The Land of If is a playful foray into the intimate moments of our everyday lives - a shadow of time going by, the smile of the one we love, small innocent mistakes and the local heroism of confronting them.

Project Masnavi is the anticipated third album from acclaimed Persian-jazz group, Eishan Ensemble. Inspired by the lyrical poetry of Rumi’s epic masterpiece, Masnavi - one of the most precious books in Persian literature, the album weaves beautiful imagery and stories reflective on Rumi’s work into layered soundscapes and sophisticated compositions. The album showcases the increasingly ambitious compositions of bandleader, composer and tar player, Iranian-born Hamed Sadeghi, alongside saxophonist Michael Avgenicos, guitarist Pedram Layegh, percussionist Adem Yilmaz, bassist Maximillian Alduca and special guests, accordion player Marcello Maio and drummer Alex Inman-Hislop.

Pink Milk is the second album by Melbourne based trio Koi Kingdom featuring saxophonist Cheryl Durongpisitkul, bassist Stephen Hornby and guitarist Marcos Villalta. Pink Milk captures the groups’ raw energy and playful interaction on eight original compositions. The release highlights the groups’ long episodic pieces, interlocking contrapuntal melodies, quasi-latin grooves, humour and playful interaction. The detailed arrangements and intermittent improvisations showcase their quirky, considered and unpredictable aesthetic.

Since Subito is the second album by experimental-folk-jazz duo, Meatshell, winners of the 2020 Maastricht Jazz Award. Featuring two of Australia’s most distinctive emerging artists, double bassist/vocalist Helen Svoboda and tenor saxophonist Andrew Saragossi, Meatshell share a curiosity for the subtle beauty of things. Since Subito cultivates unconventional sound worlds, transcending traditional song forms by emphasising the power of story-telling through sound. The duo’s quirky and abstract songwriting style illustrates the full emotional spectrum of the human condition: beautiful melodies and euphoric grooves are juxtaposed against moments of mystery, desperation and screaming chaos, as the duo contemplate climate change, mental illness and new birth.

My Trio Album is the thrilling debut from renowned Melbourne based pianist James Bowers. Recorded at Tokyo's Studio Dede, the album features Earshift Music favourites, drummer Shun Ishiwaka and double bassist Marty Holoubek. The nine Bowers originals embody influences from Aaron Parks, Paul Bley, Messiaen, Prokofiev, Electric Wizard, J Dilla and Philadelphia Experiment, creating a musical exploration through Bowers’ broad stylistic vision. Performed with technical brilliance, lyrical beauty and, at times, explosive energy, the album presents a refreshing take on the acoustic piano trio format.

Berardi Foran Karlen’s new album, Haven, showcases captivating melodies, lush harmonies and emotive collective improvisation. Featuring three distinctive composer-performers including vocalist Kristin Berardi, pianist Sean Foran, and saxophonist Rafael Karlen, the ensemble builds on years of performances and a shared musical vision. With special guest Luxembourg-based Vibraphonist Pascal Schumacher, the album highlights the ensembles’ intimate dynamics, sensitivity and varied compositions.

Paul Cutlan’s String Project launch their keenly anticipated second album Living. The program traces a narrative which traverses human life and its myriad experiences in compositions by Cutlan himself, Gary Daley, Jann Rutherford, John Coltrane and Jenna Cave.

The planning of this album developed between the time of Australia’s catastrophic bushfires in January 2020, and the onset of the global pandemic in March. The two-day recording took place in the final week before Australia’s lockdown, bringing a halt to public music-making and most of life’s normality. With person-to-person contact severely limited, the fragility of life and the value of our connections is brough into sharper focus. The repertoire on this album serves as an antidote to the shock and trauma of this time as well as an affirmation of continuing existence of life.

Given the year that we’ve had, we are really excited about presenting the third edition of the Earshift Music Fest. This year’s festival is part of the new frontier of festivals across the world, adopting new technologies of engaging audiences through a hybrid program. You can watch performances live, watch them live streamed and after the fact, and listen to the label’s recordings on a curated playlist on spotify. Earshift Music Fest 2020 celebrates the diverse music making of both Australian jazz luminaries and the next generation of artists from the Earshift Music label.

Treading Water is the long-awaited debut from Avgenicos Brothers. Featuring saxophonist Michael Avgenicos and his brother, trumpeter Tom Avgenicos, the joint project sees them alongside some of Sydney’s leading young jazz artists including pianist Novak Manojlovic (Freedman Jazz Fellowship winner), guitarist Felix Lalanne (Montreux International Guitar Competition finalist), bassist Nick Henderson and drummer Alex Hirlian (National Jazz Award Winner). This debut embodies the brothers’ lifelong musical dialogue amongst a love of modern jazz, groove and electronic sound scapes.

Bringing together four of Melbourne’s most prodigal young jazz artists, The Rest is Silence’s debut album A Short Film, explores melodically driven compositions against a backdrop of indie-rock, country, and electronica. Featuring siblings Flora Carbo (alto saxophone) and Theo Carbo (guitar) alongside long-time friends Isaac Gunnoo (double bass) and Maddison Carter (drums), their music is a breath of fresh air, fearlessly moving between genres to create a soundtrack to the multiplicity of our modern lives.

Pistils is the debut recording from Sri Lankan/Australian jazz drummer and composer, Rajiv Jayaweera. The album showcases eight compelling, thoughtful originals, which draw inspiration from Sri Lanka. Jayaweera’s compositions feature strong melodies and beauty, coupled with intricate bass lines and rhythmic interplay. His band of Chris Cheek (soprano & tenor saxophones), Aaron Parks (piano), Hugh Stuckey (guitar) and Sam Anning (double bass), truly display why they are amongst the most revered and sought-after musicians on the scene today.

Tokyo-based Australian bassist-composer Marty Holoubek’ debut album Trio I, out through Earshift Music/Apollo Sound, is a memoir to the adventures, trials and tribulations of relocating to a foreign country and building a new life. Featuring his long-time musical collaborators, extraordinary drummer Shun Ishiwaka and pianist James Bowers, the album is a highly dynamic musical exploration of the piano trio format.

Laniakea is the new album from Trio Kleine Ahnung, a collaboration between guitarist Carl Morgan, bassist Sam Anning and drummer Raj Jayaweera. Spawned from a week off from a busy European tour schedule, the members contribute stand-out compositions and performances that draw inspiration from indie-rock, Radiohead and German folk-song, creating an impressive album that stands on the shoulders of guitar greats such as Bill Frisell and Kurt Rosenwinkel.

Holopeak reorganise minimalism, jazz, rock and electronica into a new sound world through extended improvised forms. Their debut album Summit Over is a powerful statement from young three creative visionaries, Nick Mielczarek (guitar), Harry Birch (bass) and Chloe Kim (drums) set to embark on new Australian musical horizons.