Those that know Audrey Powne will recognise that the Melbourne trumpeter, vocalist, keyboardist, composer and producer is special and her sophomore album out on BBE, 'Bodies Of Water' is further proof that she is a heavyweight in soul-jazz-funk ring with 'Bodies Of Water'.
Added to the We Out Here Festival (20-23 August) along with Thundercat, Peven Everett, James Alexander Bright (and loads more) like the very best of past trumpeters before her like Miles Davis and Roy Hargrove, she's got the abiltiy to fuse jazz, bop, hip-hop, soul, funk, bruk, pop and dance into a glorious whole of 8 tracks in a fluid 'Bodies Of Water'.
Don't forget, back in 2024 there were remixes of Ms. Powne's 'From The Fire' (see review HERE).along with the Atjazz and Musclecars remix 12" (see review HERE) and.'Souled Out' remixed by Joe Claussell (see review HERE).
The title track itself is part gospel, part spirtual, part baptism of soul - it's beautiful and then there's a vocal and instrumental version of 'Swollen' that both show off her vocal talents and her trumpet 'Hargrove' expertise as the river bursts its musical banks with a Dilla-esque march into flood planes.
Whilst you 'Stay Awake' reminds us of the power of Fela Kuti and Afrobeat horns to get us to move our feet as Powne leads the line. And it's not just Powne that shines on the recording that took 2 days at Brooklyn's Electric Garden Studios as acclaimed New York-based rhythm section bassist David “DJ” Ginyard and drummer Jonathan Barber are a powerhouse; or could that be a Pownehouse (Ed. save that one for the remixes).
'Stay Awake' is the rally call for us all this summer as is 'Two Sides. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, 'Broken Record' is another track that absorbs all the elements, including some clever lyrics, that makes this album such a pleasure to listen to; especially when it slips into a bit of a Lonnie Liston Smith meets Chuck Mangione dub at the end (Ed. let's have more of this).
And what is it with ladies from Naarm/Melbourne (thinking Ella Thompson and Allysha Joy in particular) to get 'soul' like on 'Creeds' here and the spiritual 'Karma' and 'RYV'.
You'll recall Bruce Lee's famous quote, "Be like water" and it's often said that the human body is 90% water - here's the missing 10% to feel whole after the debut, 'From The Fire'; seen by many as 'Jazz Album Of The Year' in 2024, 'Bodies Of Water' will wash all competition away this year - don't miss out!
P.S. There's a BBE listening party in London with musclecars & Toribio tells your friends.
BBE Album Listening Party Listening Party September 22, 2026 at 9:00 PM GMT+1
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