Finn Rees - Dawn Is A Melody *Pre-Order

Mr Bongo proudly presents the debut album from Tasmania-born,
Melbourne-based, Finn Rees
Gliding across a swirling palette of saturated hues, Dawn Is A Melody feels
vintage yet vibrant, new but familiar at the same time. A spiritual, deep and
textured jazz record, tipping its hat to greats from the past, capturing memories
and reformulating them into new ideas with the help of some of Melbourne's
fnest talent.
Expert keys player for the likes of 30/70 and Elle Shimada, alongside one-half of
Close Counters, this debut LP was Finn's conscious departure from the realm of
groove-based jazz. Instead, Dawn Is A Melody places the piano and arrangements
centre stage, giving Finn and his fellow Melbourne crew freedom to explore the
spaces in between, new emotions and alternate soundscapes.
In Finn's own words: "My intention with Dawn Is A Melody was to create a world; a
microcosm of colour. Something rich and beautiful that allowed the melodies and
compositions to reach their full potential. It was driven by hope, curiosity and the
search for beauty and reassurance in this ever- changing world. The emotion
behind the music is really about the journey of life, growing up and changing, as
well as my relationship with Tasmania's natural landscapes where I grew up, a
part of the world that is incredibly unique and beautiful."
The album arcs between opening, middle and end. Beginning with the optimism
of 'Looking Up' and 'Lagoon', the former a celestial, string and harp marbled slice
of positivity, the latter a spiritual journey of exuberance and hope, Finn's fngers
dancing across the '70s Yamaha grand piano . From there the songs blossom
outwards with the cinematic soulful journey of 'It's Behind Me Now' and Brazilianinspired 'Expansion', as the divine 'Crossing' signals a transition to a new realm.
The energy is transformed from the rich cosmic textures to a more intimate and
personal feeling with 'Ablaze', 'Between Spaces' and 'As It Passes' which blissfully
fades down to simply piano and strings to close out the record.
Recorded at Rolling Stock in Collingwood, Melbourne, Henry Jenkins was drafted
in as recording and mix engineer, his minimal vintage mic setups giving a live
aesthetic and warmth to the arrangements. Lucky Pereira and Blakely McLean
Davies form the rock- solid rhythm section, with a hand- picked line- up of other
Melbourne talent on display, including Cheryl Durongpitikul on tenor sax, Siwei
Wong on harp, Audrey Powne on trumpet and Allysha Joy on vocals to name only
a few.
Plotting a course from Alice Coltrane, through Herbie Hancock, to Arthur Verocai,
this is a debut nourished by the past but frmly made in the present. A record
unable to be age-stamped, casting ambiguity as to when, what era and by whom
it has been crafted. Like a vintage lens capturing a curr

Tracks: Looking Up / Lagoon / Horizons / It's Behind Me Now / Expansion /
End Of The Line / Crossing / Ablaze / Between Spaces / As It Passes