Adult Jazz

Adult Jazz was established in 2010 at the University of Leeds. Members Tim Slater, Harry Burgess and Steven Wells are all originally from Guildford.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/29/adult-jazz-gist-is-experimental-music|title=Adult Jazz: 'It's so hard to get out of the idea of girls and boys' |first=Louis|last=Pattison|date=29 November 2014|newspaper=The Guardian}} In 2013, they released a 12" vinyl single;{{cite news|last1=DeVille|first1=Chris|title=Adult Jazz – "Am Gone" (Stereogum Premiere)|date=16 January 2014|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1631262/adult-jazz-am-gone-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/|newspaper=Stereogum|accessdate=27 March 2017}} In 2014 the band released their debut full-length album titled Gist Is on Spare Thought.{{cite web|last1=Cook-Wilson|first1=Winston|title=Adult Jazz: Gist Is|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19555-adult-jazz-gist-is/|publisher=Pitchfork|accessdate=27 March 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Moon|first1=Tom|title=First Listen: Adult Jazz, 'Gist Is'|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/07/27/333716267/first-listen-adult-jazz-gist-is|publisher=NPR Music|accessdate=27 March 2017}}{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Caitlin|title=Adult Jazz – Gist Is|date=5 August 2014|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/08/album-review-adult-jazz-gist-is/|publisher=Consequence of Sound|accessdate=27 March 2017}} The album had a positive critical reception, with David Peschek, writing in The Quietus, positioning it "at the sharpest edge of the expression of queer experience in pop music" {{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/15997-adult-jazz-gist-is-review|title=Adult Jazz: Gist Is Review' |first=David|last=Peschek|date=14 August 2014|newspaper=The Quietus}} The record caught the ear of other artists: cellist Oliver Coates covered the album's opening song "Hum";{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/16194-adult-jazz-hum-oliver-coates-cover|title=Oliver Coates x Adult Jazz|first=Christian|last=Eede|date=8 September 2014|newspaper=The Quietus}} Bjork attended a 2014 show in Reykjavík, later writing about the experience for Art in America magazine; Shabazz Palaces remixed their single "Springful";{{cite web|url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/listen_adult_jazz_springful_shabazz_palaces_remix|title=Listen: Adult Jazz – "Springful (Shabazz Palaces Remix)"' |first=Laura|last=Studarus|date=23 October 2014|newspaper=Under The Radar}} and the group were invited to play 2015's Meltdown festival at the Royal Festival Hall, curated by David Byrne.{{Cite web |last=Roseblade |first=Nick |date=2015-09-09 |title=Meltdown Festival Review: Young Marble Giants 30/08/2015 |url=http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4149372-meltdown-festival-review--young-marble-giants-30-08-2015 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=DrownedInSound |language=en}}

In 2016, Adult Jazz released a mini-album titled Earrings Off! on Tri Angle.{{cite web|last1=Lozano|first1=Kevin|title=Adult Jazz: Earrings Off!|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21936-earrings-off/|publisher=Pitchfork|accessdate=27 March 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Jonze|first1=Tim|title=Adult Jazz: Earrings Off! review – awkward, exhilarating avant pop|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/19/adult-jazz-earrings-off-review-pop-cd-tri-angle|work=The Guardian|date=19 May 2016|accessdate=27 March 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Hilton|first1=Robin|title=First Watch: Adult Jazz, 'Earrings Off!'|date=3 May 2016|url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/476512207/first-watch-adult-jazz-earrings-off|publisher=NPR Music|accessdate=27 March 2017}} The record explored harsher digital textures and the critical reception was mixed; music review website Drowned In Sound called it a "brave, intriguing release".{{cite web|last1=Harrison|first1=Andrew|title=Adult Jazz, 'Earrings Off!'|website=Drowned In Sound|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/19433/reviews/4150055|publisher=NPR Music|date=18 May 2016}} The lead single, "Earrings Off!", was remixed by Norwegian musician Jenny Hval. Later that year, the band worked with Okay Kaya on a double A-side single, featuring a cover of the Curtis Mayfield song "Keep On Pushing".{{cite web|last1=Blais-Billie|first1=Braudie|title=Stream Norwegian Artist Okay Kaya's Dreamy Rework Of "Keep On Pushing"|website=NPR|url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/02/08/okay-kaya-keep-on-pushing|publisher=The Fader|date=8 February 2016}}

Between 2018 and 2019, Burgess worked with the English electronic musician Lil Data for the musical project Offer. In 2020, Adult Jazz contributed, with Oneohtrix Point Never, to the song "Cut Me" from the American musician Moses Sumney's album Græ, which was placed at number 12 in Pitchfork's best songs of 2020.{{cite web|title=The 100 Best Songs of 2020|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-songs-2020/|publisher=Pitchfork|date=7 December 2020}}

In 2024, the band returned with the single "Dusk Song", their first release in eight years,{{cite web |date=23 January 2024 |title=Adult Jazz – "Dusk Song" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2248727/adult-jazz-dusk-song/music/ |publisher=Stereogum}} followed by two more singles, "Suffer One" and "Marquee", for an upcoming album. In April 2024, the band released their second full-length album So Sorry So Slow. The Clash's Nick Roseblade noted the albums slower pace, but praised the lyricism and subversive melodies, writing that the group remains "a powerhouse of skewed pop."{{Cite web |last=Roseblade |first=Nick |date=2024-04-24 |title=Adult Jazz - So Sorry So Slow {{!}} Reviews |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/adult-jazz-so-sorry-so-slow/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Clash Magazine |language=en-GB}} In a review for Bandcamp's "Album of the day" Ted Davis wrote "These songs swirl and jitter at random, hinting at a virtuosic collective consciousness. The unpredictability at the heart of the album elicits a warm, deja vu-like energy. It’s like the pleasant experience of a foggy teenage memory resurfacing out of the blue."{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Ted |date=2024-04-29 |title=Adult Jazz, "So Sorry So Slow" |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/album-of-the-day/adult-jazz-so-sorry-so-slow-review |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Bandcamp Daily}}

Studio albums

• Gist Is (2014, Spare Thought)
• Earrings Off! (2016, Tri Angle)
• So Sorry So Slow (2024, Spare Thought)

EPs

• Am Gone/Springful (2014, Spare Thought)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://adultjazz.bandcamp.com/ Official Bandcamp]

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Category:English experimental musical groups

Category:English post-rock groups

Category:LGBTQ-themed musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2010

Category:2010 establishments in England

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