“A triumph of inventive rhythmic exploration.”  - J. McBeath, The Australian

“Funk, Afro-beat, Jazz: all booty-shaking but mind-bending at the same time.”  - J Hardaker, Words About Music

“‘Bone’ conjure’s the same skull-grinning space-griots as Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band.”  - J Hardaker, Words About Music

“A very 21st-century take on groove... irresistible while also being brilliantly unpredictable. Mighty!” - J. Shand, Music & Other Spheres

20th Century Dog’s new album ‘Bone’ presents a set of musical ideas that have been gnawed on for over a decade. Buried in the yard, dug up, buried in the yard, dug up again. Like any good bone, these have stood the test of time.

Bassist, composer and producer Cameron Undy has spent the past 10 years, putting his energy into building the world- renowned ‘Venue 505’ in Surry Hills, Sydney, and working as a sideman with a diverse range of artists from Jazz legend Pharaoh Sanders to Nu dance floor producers Bugz in the Attic to the number-one selling singer-songwriter Passenger.

Meanwhile, Undy has been steadily developing material for this new album, a collection of uplifting Jazz, Funk, Afro-Beat and Broken-Beat material, delivered by his stellar band, 20th Century Dog, whose 2004 release Mad Stream was described as “something approaching improvised perfection” (John Shand, SMH).

The rhythmic and melodic components on ‘Bone’ are layered among the double drum, percussion, bass, guitar and piano setting, delivering odd-metered grooves in an African hocket style, appealing equally to the body and the mind. The saxophone and bass clarinet melodies capture a folk-like, singable essence while the collective experience opens into areas of group improvisation.

Recorded live at Venue 505 over two days and one evening concert, Bone captures the band’s energy in front of a live audience, coupled with a studio like performance quality.

Jeremy Rose - tenor sax & bass clarinet 
Greg Coffin - piano & keys
Ben Hauptmann - guitar
Cameron Undy - bass 
Simon Barker - drums & Log 
Jamie Cameron - drums 
Ben Kidson - percussion

Recorded September 29 & 30, 2016. Composed, arranged and produced by Cameron Undy. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Richard Belkner. Design by Alasdair Nicol.
Available on Earshift Music / MGM December 16th – www.earshift.com

Cumbiamuffin’s wall of sound is unstoppable on the dance floor and with the collective energy of authentic Colombian singers, this orchestra is conquering the local music scene. Put together by Colombian and Australian musicians, this project has the common vision of introducing the purest sounds of traditional Cumbia to the Australian audiences, blended with contemporary Caribbean rhythms like ragga and reggae, playing the classics that made this genre the most popular rhythm in Latin America during the '80s, and that now is taking over the world. Since its inception in December 2010, Cumbiamuffin has sold out many well known Sydney venues – including Club 505; The Metro; Paddington Eastside Arts and Club Marconi. Cumbiamuffin has also stretched its considerable musical talents to share stages with Sidestepper (Colombia), Mucho Mambo (AUS), and Watussi (AUS) amongst others.

A BIT ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

Cumbiamuffin musicians are drawn from a diverse pool of Sydney and Colombian elite professional musicians with a great array of qualifications between them, who have devoted their lives to play the best music possible and bring together a fusion of different and unique sounds. It’s impossible at the moment to show the biographies of the 15-member orchestra due to its rich content. But we will give you an insight of some of them.

Trombonist Michael Raper musically leads Cumbiamuffin. Mike has spent his professional career playing between Australia, Europe, Asia and the Americas with such acts as Son Veneno (AUS), Osvaldo Chacon (Bamboleo), Wilson Saoko (CLO), Enrique Pla (Irakere), Watussi (AUS), Mucho Mambo (AUS), Batucada Sound Machine (NZL) and Kenny Wheeler (ENG) amongst many others. Mike Studied a Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Cumbiamuffin was put together by Mike Raper and Colombian born guitarist Carlos Arango, who graduated from the Australian Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Audio Technology and currently works as a sound engineer for the Sydney Opera House.

Carlo’s original Idea was to join forces with musicians from both countries to introduce in Australia one of the most addictive and fast growing rhythms from Latin America. Since its first concert, Cumbiamuffin has gained lots of interest in the local scene due to its originality and big brass orchestra feel.

The Colombian contingency consists of:

Angela Rosero, (born in Bogota, Colombia) is a passionate performer who arrived in Australia four years ago. She has been delighting her audience around the country not only with her soulful voice but also with her acting. She has performed in different music festivals, such as Darling Harbour Fiesta in Sydney and Blues Fest in Byron Bay. Angela also manages a performance space in Rozelle (La Sala) with regular theatre performances, music and dance lessons. In 2009, Angela received the Viva Fiesta award, due to her contribution to the festival as a new emerging talent. With her powerful presence on stage, she will take you to live the authentic Latin American party with the rhythm of Cumbia. 

MC Altafari, (born in Cali, Colombia) specializes in Afro-Caribbean rhythms, reggae and dancehall. He has collaborated with bands like Third World, Luciano Lee’s Scratch, Perry, O- Yaba, Arrested Development, Bo Jah, Jay Ja, Roberts, Ras Rony, Jah Baya Jah Baya Sound of Revolution, Basslines Crew, Bump Crew DJ Johna, 4:20 productions, Rebel Soul Sistem and more local acts.

Francisco Castillo, (born in Bogota, Colombia) is a passionate percussionist who graduated from the Faculty of Arts with a Diploma in Music with an emphasis on folkloric music. He has spent a great deal of his musical career studying the native Colombian rhythms and other traditional styles with the objective of interpreting and representing them to different audiences. He currently plays a combination of tambora (big drum mic), alegre (jembe similar a drum with animal skin) and maracones (large shakers).

The Strides are a new force for reggae music. Fronted by roots man Ras Roni from Barbados via London, Fijian MC LTL GZeus and Sierra Leonian ragga powerhouse Eddie "Blacker" Conteh, The Strides deliver a musical experience that is as powerfully explosive as it is authentic. With three acclaimed albums already under their belt, a European label signing, festival appearances across the country and having graced the stage with the likes of Julian Marley, Tony Allen and Groundation, The Strides’ music faithfully builds on the foundations of classic roots reggae with a hip-hop edge, forging a sound that brings together modern dance hall, dub beats and reggae-pop. The Strides have forged a truly global sound melding a diversity of cultures and instrumentation under the one universal consciousness.

The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential act of the rock era.[1] Rooted in skiffle, beat, and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several musical styles, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways.

The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential act of the rock era.[1] Rooted in skiffle, beat, and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several musical styles, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways.