There is much more to Berlin than techno. Over the past five years, the German capital has seen a thriving jazz scene flourish in its clubs, spanning the soulful vocals of Douniah, the sweeping compositions of Zacharias S Falkenberg and the electronic productions of Abasé. Leading the pack is keyboardist Moses Yoofee and his groove-forward trio, who have garnered a European following thanks to their intricate and often explosive live shows, which draw on everything from Robert Glasper-style hip-hop fusion to lightning-speed drum breaks and modal melody.
On the 13 tracks of their debut album, the do not disappoint. Drummer Noah Fürbringer fires on all cylinders, driving a heavy groove on the synth-focused Push and playing in frenetic double time on Bond, while bassist Roman Klobe-Barangă provides a steady foundation, peaking on the thundering distortions of Deep, and Yoofee manages to find pockets of soulful melody throughout. The group present a remarkably confident sound, but with most tracks running at under three minutes, MYT can feel too tightly wound and brief. You’re left longing for the trio to cut loose and push the boundaries of their evident skill.
