Australian-based keyboardist, composer and producer David Versace, who also plays in the Meanjin nu-jazz group First Beige, has released an incredible debut album on the Melbourne label La Sape Records, titled Okra.

This brilliant 7-track recording, which Versace plays keys, Cuíca, bass and percussion, starts off with a heavy dose of cosmic jazz dance floor grooves before cooling off with some space orbiting ambient pieces, which all work nicely together within the same conceptual space. The record’s opener “Summer Party” has all the right ingredients to be a modern jazz dance classic.

Joining Versace on the session, which was recorded live, is drummer Jasper Gundersen, and percussionist Luis Manuel, along with special guest trumpeter Curtis Scibilia, bassist Julia Beiers, and Oscar Borschmann, who provides additional synths on the closing track “Heat Rays”. All the drums were recorded notably by Sampology.

Overall, an impressive debut from a very talented artist worth continuing to keep an eye out for going forward.

David Versace — ‘Okra’
(La Sape Records)

1. Summer Party
2. KP Cruisin
3. Saguaro
4. Awake For You
5. 45 Minutes
6. The More We Love
7. Heat Rays

BUY RECORD

• Cosmic
• Jazz Dance
• Jazz Funk