About

Having built an impressive following on the back of live performances and social media, Berlin’s Moses Yoofee Trio shared Ocean their impatiently awaited debut mini-album, in November 2023. In early 2025, they followed up with the release of their acclaimed first full-length ‘MYT’. Since then the trio’s boundary-pushing fusion of jazz, soul, RnB and hip hop has been turning heads far beyond their hometown.⁠

Ocean's tunes – written during sessions in mid-2022 at Berlin’s Brewery Studios and swiftly recorded by house engineer Erik Breuer, then mixed by Tytus Lesczcynski – reflect the spontaneity, inspiration and instinctive refinement of their performances.

The deliciously frantic title track and increasingly ecstatic MINOR ISSUES stand in stark contrast to AT EASE’s restrained complexity, while FRAGILE’s hypnotic rhythm betrays their love of hip-hop and the lush RICHMOND is driven by a deliciously low-strung groove before shifting up a gear for its climax. “Everybody loves fusion,” the band agree, “even if they don’t admit it,” but that’s only one element of the trio’s sophisticated style, with Moses’ exceptional keyboard skills illuminated by Roman’s fluid bass lines and Noah’s eloquent drum patterns.  — (via Label)

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Ocean is a treasure of an album. Populated by the calibre of musicianship that people dream of but more than that, and more importantly, the music communicated speaks directly to your soul. Beautifully realised, executed with an abundance of flair, panache and some of the coolest playing around I’m quietly relieved that this sounds just as great on my second return.

The way the piano, drums and bass intertwine is something to behold. Each playing defining roles, each talking up heavenly emotions. There is also a searing, almost nervous sense of urgency here, perhaps that’s in large part due to the frantic, brilliant drumming as it stabs and highlights phrases, time and spaces. I also love the sound of the production which sits in-between heightened impulse and wide open places allowing for breath, which you’ll definitely need after being carried along by this Jetstream of propulsive music. Try the title track.

It’s likewise about the way piano chords are almost casually cast, like rolls of a dice, yet are so perfectly placed they score big. Try, Richmond. Or the grainy realities suggested by the proceeding Minor Issues with its super-fast, attention to detail, fiery and fine. But whatever you do, you must definitely replay the sublime opener, At Ease as it talks so eloquently for itself. Speaking with a restless, soulful intent in many languages. — (via Magazine Sixty)

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Label: Leiter
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Reissued: 2025 / Original: 2023
Genre: Jazz
Style: Modern/Future Jazz

File under: Jazz // Modern / Future Jazz
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