The Necks are one of the great cult bands of Australia. A concert with the avant-garde jazz trio is an exploration of the unique, attentive interplay between pianist Chris Abrahams, drummer Tony Buck, and bassist Lloyd Swanton.
The band formed in Sydney in 1987, and nearly 40 years later Rolling Stone counts them among Australia’s greatest of all time. Their collectively improvised music slowly lulls the listener into spellbinding, meditative currents. The deceptive simplicity reveals new layers with every listen. Not entirely avant-garde, minimalist, ambient, or jazz — the music of The Necks is something entirely its own. We’ll let the press speak for itself:
“(The Necks) are sometimes categorised as a jazz trio – which is fine as long as this is immediately qualified by adding that they’ve completely re-conceived the idea of the jazz trio.”
– Geoff Dyer
“A magic act masquerading as a piano trio, this Australian group delivers long-form improvisations that shift with such patient beauty that it casts a bit of a trance. You’ll seldom spend an hour that passes so quickly — and rewardingly.”
– Los Angeles Times
“At around the 100-year point in jazz’s evolution, conjuring new spirits out of old spells is a difficult mojo to work. But people are doing it – a case in point is The Necks.”
– Jazz Times
LINEUP
Chris Abrahams – piano
Tony Buck – drums
Lloyd Swanton – bass
