Review: Jake Mason Trio - The Modern Ark (Soul Messin' Records)

Love is in the air as the Jake Mason Trio encapsulate that late 60s/early 70s Mod/Soul/Jazz spirit that can extends Blue Note sleaze funk to lounge jazz - and who does love that? They've even got US jazz singer heart-throb, Kurt Elling to sing on the title track!

Whether it be Blue Note's organ star turns Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, Larry Young (and we'll throw in Grant Green for good measure) to organ led prog-rockers ELP, there is something special with Hammond B3 led trios; and Jake Mason and his two mates,  are indeed perfect companions as the long awaited follow up to their debut album, 'The Stranger In The Mirror'.

And in addition to Danny Fischer (drums) and James Sherlock (guitar) they've managed to get international jazz singing star Kurt Elling to sing on the title track, 'The Modern Ark' is a nu-Mod classic.   Back in the day, used to play-out track from Kurt's 2011 album, 'The Gate' so this guy knows how to swing.

The other guest vocal is on 'Stop Searching For Love' featuring Kate Ceberano as a downtempo ballad and there's one or two slower tracks on the ten track album which is in keeping with the Jimmy Smith 'school'.

Equally "in keeping" is the fast pace opener 'The Last Piece', the dancey 'Boogaloo Popcorn' and 'Green Pick' (Ed. wonder who inspired that one?)

But hang on, even though this is so much more than a one trrack album, you need this for the killer final track 'Here's Your Change' - It's a shame that it's not longer but is that Aussie humour in the title?

Pretty much a perfect follow up to 'Cookin' The Books' by Cookin' On 3 Burners (see review HERE) for the Soul Messin' label; and why did it take so long to be released? Don't know but we're told it was recorded 'live' like they did at Blue Note and it's got that Van Gelder Studio sound - no wonder it's so good!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: The Modern Ark | Jake Mason Trio

Artist: Jake Mason Trio

Title: The Modern Ark

Release date: 13th February, 2026

Label : Soul Messin' Records

Catalog Number : SMRLP0225 / SMRCD-0225

Format: Vinyl 12" LP (Limited) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Cookin' On 3 Burners - Cookin’ The Books (Soul Messin' Records)

Excited to hear their first studio album in 6 years?  You bet you are as this trio is 'the' Australian soul and funk outfit that introduced us to Melbourne nearly 20 years ago!

When Adrian Gibson got CO3B signed to  Freestyle Records and released the band's second album, 'Baked, Broiled & Fried', I think it's fair to say it was a bit of a suprise hit as it kicked off with 'Keb's Bucket' and this was the deep funk sounds that we thought could only be found by big diggers in the U.S. (like Keb Darge) which would then brought back to UK/Europe for the dance floor and soul/funk/mod clubs.

Well, not only that, the album also 'discoverd' the vocals of Kylie Auldist (on the track, 'Settle The Score) and that team went onto have a worldwide hit with the 'This Girl' in 2016.

So, it's good to have the group with a new album of 14 tracks that keeps funkin' from the very start with a signature organ, drums and guitar ('Cookin' The Books') and a menu of guest vocalists: Stella Angelico ('I'm Comin' Home To You', 'Brighter', 'Give A Bit More' and 'So Much More To Lose'), Natalie Slade ('Only Words'), Wilson Blackley ('Away From My Heart'), 

'I'm Comin' Home To You' has elements of Northern soul-pop stomper but Ms. Angelico more than excels on the other three tracks; particularly on the uplifting 'Brighter' and 'So Much More To Lose': sounding a bit like 'I'd Rather Go Blind'!

Taking a downturn, 'The World Is Cold' sees Mantra and Jane Tyrell mixing up hip-hop and soul backed up with "gritty funk".   And whilst in that ball park, one of the many stand out tracks is their instrumental versio of Mos Def's 'Ms. Fat Booty', that itself has roots in Aretha Franklin's 'One Step Ahead'.

'Give A Bit More' finds the group mixing up the deep south with those soul-grits in the guitar licks kitchen with that head chef Stella on the pass controlling what goes out.

If I said, there's not a bad track on this album (and there isn't), I have to mention the 'hair in the soup', only CO3B could make 'Livin' On A Prayer' (Yes, the Bon Jovi hit) sound like it was written for a Hammond organ/guitar led funk trio so fair play to them (Ed. and it'll be going on my Xmas mixtape!) 

But that's a minor is as 'Phoenix' is another 'best track' on the album as it channels 60s soul classic as a 'What's Goin' On' as a "meditation on resilience, rebirth, and the healing fire of funk". 

I'm not surprised this album has taken so long to get out as it's going to be on the Specials Board for some time, if the world is cold, this will get us all cookin'.. get ya orders in now.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER (Vinyl - T-Shirts): Cookin' The Books | Cookin' On 3 Burners

Artist: Cookin' On 3 Burners 

Title: Cookin’ The Books 

Release date: 31st October, 2025

Label : Soul Messin'

Catalog Number : SMRLP0125

Format: Vinyl 12" LP (Limited) / CD / Digital / Bandcamp