The valiant Vampires

ONE of Australia’s most acclaimed jazz fusion acts, The Vampires, takes over Coorabell Hall on February 8.

At the tail end of a year-long European tour, the band is keen to bring the deeper groove and dub that defines its new album to the region that loves it.

The band’s seventh album, Nightjar, marks a watershed in their 15-year career. Cementing a formidable force, the artists continue to push boundaries and captivate audiences with beautiful melodies and hypnotic grooves.

The Vampires’ music is a visceral experience deeply rooted in the expansive landscapes of Australia. Their sound is a blend of influences, shaped by their admiration for The Necks (the trailblazing trio performed in Byron last week) and enriched by collaborations with artists including Chris Abrahams of The Necks, Lionel Loueke, Shannon Barnett and Dave Rodriguez (Godtet).

The deep connection to the players’ musical roots showcases their ability to merge composed and improvised parts in a captivating hypnotic flow in a journey-driven dynamic show.

On Nightjar, the band’s collaboration with pianist Chris Abrahams seems a natural extension of the band’s creative expedition and builds upon the artists’ international critical acclaim.

An editor’s choice for Jazzwise, the publication said of the album, “there was a seductive precision to the music”.

The Australian rated the album five stars and described the collaboration as “two of the strongest forces in Australian jazz, both of whose music is drenched in melodic beauty, are joined, creating what is palpably a masterpiece”.

What is clear is that The Vampires’ trajectory continues to rise.

The Coorabell show features Tainui Richmond and is supported by Animal Ventura. The fine fusion sounds kick off at 7 pm.

For tickets, visit events.humanitix.com/the-vampires-with-special-guest-tainui-richmond