The meeting point between jazz improvisation and dance music has been introducing us to many brilliant musicians from all over the world in the last five years or so. One of the standout projects emerging is rooted in Melbourne, Australia - Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange synthesizes dance music in human form providing a live band experience in the club-influenced work they present. Their second album ZFEX Vol.II, coming out via The Jazz Diaries label, follows the spirit of the eponymous album released in 2018, blending synths, flutes, jazz drums and the raw energy of classic broken beat and house records.

Led by drummer Ziggy Zeitgeist, who toured and recorded with neo soul / future-jazz collective 30/70, the Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange’s work is a manifestation of the Australian electronic music environment, whilst showing the full extent of their impeccable musicianship. The result is a mixture of diverse sonic approaches in, as you can read in the album notes: jazz music that isn’t jazz, electronic dance music that isn’t electronic. ZFEX Vol.II is one of the most exciting releases of early 2020, curated by Jitwam’s The Jazz Diaries and available on vinyl.