Recently marking their 400th live show as part of their longstanding Wednesday residency at The Rooks Return in Fitzroy, jazz collective The Rookies have just dropped their fourth studio album, 'Feed The Fire'.
The Rookies don't take releasing music lightly, with the hope of arousing listeners to inspire them to take the journey of recognition, action, and outcomes.'Feed The Fire' explores the purpose and powers within the element of fire: destruction, regeneration, nurture, and passion. It is also The Rookies first all-original album, collaboratively written and arranged by all the group members: Greg Sher (band leader), Tom Sly (trumpet, saxophone), Joel Trigg (piano), Oscar Neyland (double bass) and Chris Cameron (drums, percussion).
The album is a radical departure from their previous records, with Fender Rhodes replacing piano, and a huge variety of guests – six extra horn players, percussion, synthesiser and a six-piece string section all feature on the record.
'Feed The Fire' is fierce and unapologetic in calling for systemic change, burning down the systems of oppression that we take for normal, and replacing them with fertile soil for communities to grow.
"The record has roots in the Rookies' Wednesday night residency, where a community has been flourishing for nearly nine years but was conceived when that community was lost and became disparate during the 2020/21 lockdowns.
"This time afforded us a chance to reflect, reset and write music that reflected the importance of nurturing a community, and destroying any intrusive intolerance and prejudice before it can take hold."
The Rookies launch 'Feed The Fire' at The Night Cat (Melbourne) 22 April. Here, the band break down 'Feed The Fire' track by track.
'Dry Bones'
'Dry Bones' is a fiery, fast paced, prog-jazz track with a restlessness throughout. It went through many stages of development; melodies were written often before harmony, and there are many sections that didn't make the final cut.There are midsections of this tune that utilise percussion master Greg Sheehan's 'rhythm diamonds' concept, interlocking grooving groupings of 7 and 3 over 12/8. Erica Tucceri lends a flute harmony to the track, which is the first time flute has appeared on one of our records.
'On The Shoulders Of Giants'
'On The Shoulders Of Giants' grew from a four-chord bassline over a drum groove Chris had recorded. It's one of the only tracks The Rookies have ever recorded where the lead melody is given to the piano (Rhodes in this case), and is another tune where many sections were written that were slowly whittled away.It seems quite simple, but intense care was taken with this track to get the arrangement and flow just right. Five more horn players joined us in the studio for this one: Eamon McNelis, Jack Beeche, Brennan Hamilton-Smith, James Macaulay and Kyle Chenoweth. This tune also features a Greg Sheehan-inspired rhythm diamond in the bass, as a subtle variation throughout.
This song was written about acknowledging that you stand on the shoulders of your ancestors, but also remembering that you leave shoulders for future generations; and you owe it to them to leave high shoulders and feet firmly planted.
'Vultures'
'Vultures' is the first track featuring strings – the Newmarket Strings collective features heavily on the middle parts ('Vultures' and 'Schema') of this record, and the parts were arranged by our trumpeter Tom Sly.This track has a very simple message – it's a rejection of those who pick at the weak, who strip flesh off the vulnerable. Our communities are often under attack – including from within – by those who would harm us, undermine us and gaslight us, and we will not tolerate it.
This song has many influences, but Kneebody and Karnivool were direct influences on the writing. The last song to be finished as far as writing and arranging, a full-day rehearsal in the week before the recording session saw problems solved and new parts written, others deleted. The final piece of Side A, it's a culmination of the build across the first half of the record.
'Schema I and II'
'Schema I and II' are a string showcase over a powerful, constant drum and bass groove. In live performance, this song can be crushingly heavy, angular and aggressive, but here became the 'ballad' of the album, without losing any intensity. The crafting of the solo sections gave Greg time for expressive, effected playing, with the strings arranged around the solo that was played.Schema refers to identifying the systems and constructs around ourselves and others, both good and bad. We hope this song is one of self-reflection, of accepting the power within yourself to burn the systems which you see as oppressive. This track also features prog metal star Dave Van Pelt on synthesiser.
'Embers'
'Embers' refers to the aftermath. Rich in the potential for life, full of warmth and richness, embers leave ash, sparking new life. The song unfolds as such, with a heavy bass ostinato giving rise to a complex unison line. Greg plays tenor on this tune, which is a real rarity.One of the most complete songs brought to the session, Chris' prog mind went into overdrive adding and subtracting parts from the end unison line until being formed in the way you hear it today.
'Seed And Soil'
'Seed And Soil' closes the album with a message of hope. Have we prepared the right conditions for our community to thrive? A seed planted in nutrient rich soil, right for the seed will flourish, and the same seed in the wrong soil will struggle. Are we continuing to make choices daily to create the right soil?This track features a return of the string section and is influenced heavily by Australian bassist Jonathan Zwartz. The track is an odd time groove in 5, and features Alejandro Vega on percussion, who played on 'Love Is Everywhere' with us on our 2019 release 'Stay Weird'.
