Jake Mason

Jake Mason Trio bring The Modern Ark to Birds Basement

ARIA-nominated Jake Mason Trio will bring their acclaimed new album The Modern Ark to Birds Basement for a special performance on Thursday 17 September 2026.

Led by Hammond organist, composer and bandleader Jake Mason, alongside James Sherlock on guitar and Danny Fischer on drums, the trio deliver a modern take on the classic organ soul-jazz tradition — full of vintage warmth, deep groove and spontaneous interplay.

Following their ARIA-nominated debut The Stranger in the Mirror, Jake Mason Trio have established themselves as one of Australia’s most vital contemporary jazz outfits. Their second album, The Modern Ark, released in February 2026, builds on that foundation with a richly groove-driven record that draws on the golden era of organ-jazz while speaking directly to the present moment.

Recorded live to tape in Melbourne with vintage-style production, analogue grit and contemporary clarity, The Modern Ark moves from simmering soul to widescreen jazz, balancing pocket, melody and improvisation. Echoes of Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff and Larry Young run through the music, but Mason’s writing pushes beyond homage, giving the album a voice that is both timeless and distinctly contemporary.

For this performance at Birds Basement, Jake Mason Trio will present music from The Modern Ark alongside selections from their broader soul-jazz catalogue, capturing the warmth, groove and spontaneity that have become central to their sound.

“Pushing the boundaries of soul jazz... a scintillating killer of epic proportions”
— Blues & Soul, UK