I don't think any of us want to remember it but it did happen...

Six years ago we found ourselves locked in our homes, facing each day with fear and uncertainty.

But for three young men, the way to cope turned out to be meeting up in public spaces around NYC and... play jazz. Jam. Enjoy the musical conversation that only jazz makes truly possible. And, most importantly, share it with others.

And that would be nothing but a warm and lovely story if it ended there. However, these three young men took that playing further. They moved to clubs. Built an audience. Played at Newport.

And then recorded Hoodies, a truly interesting record, and a big promise of this band's potential.

Hoodies - The Album

• Hoodies is New Jazz Underground's first studio album, although not their first release. Earlier independent live recordings already hinted at the direction the trio would later take.
• Those releases, together with performances in New York's public spaces, helped them build a loyal following and eventually led to an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2025.
• The album was composed and produced primarily by bassist Sebastian Rios.
• The title references Trayvon Martin and Israel "Reefa" Hernandez, framing the hoodie as a social marker for young men of colour.

Hoodies - The Music

Hoodies is a straightforward sax trio record. It does not try to break new ground, or be something more than it should be.

The first half leans more towards modern jazz, while the second features a blues suite. Throughout, however, New Jazz Underground never crosses the line between musicality and experiment.

The trio focuses on creating music rather than showing off. Every note has its place. Even bass solos favour melody over speed or finesse.

As I listened, I kept thinking how many of the trio's compositions resemble traditional songs. Even during improvisation, the remaining players stay close to the main theme instead of drifting away from it.

Another thing that kept coming back to me, particularly during the blues suite, was the band, Morphine.

New Jazz Underground is not a new Morphine, of course. But I could hear similarities in the way both bands approach the trio format and their compositions.

I made one note while listening that probably sums the record up best:

"New Jazz Underground seem to focus on creating good music rather than something they might not believe in themselves."

For a band so young, that's already a massive achievement.

How does Hoodies sound?

Sound is where things get... disappointing.

The album suffers from heavy compression. The volume is pushed almost to the limit, leaving little air, space or dynamics.

The mix is dense, with the sound hitting you right in the face. The musicians occupy a fairly narrow soundstage, with only the drums extending noticeably beyond the centre.

The only thing that saves this album from becoming a wall of noise is the music itself. Had the trio played in a more experimental way, the production would have been far more damaging to the experience.

One thing I have to compliment is the drum sound. Cymbals sound natural, and the kit has enough detail to let you hear the drum skins vibrating after each strike.

Unfortunately, that's the exception. The rest of the production would have benefited enormously from prioritising listening experience over sheer volume.