EMEFE

“Refreshingly positive and life-affirming” (VICE); a “tour de force” (Mass Appeal); “wild and catchy” (Brooklyn Magazine); “exceedingly unique” (Wild Honey Pie); “fresh and inventive” (All About Jazz); “levitating on a bouncy, cloud of air” (Impose Magazine).

An inscription on the new EMEFE vinyl record reads: “This album is for you - our listeners - thank you for inspiring us to keep moving forward.” EMEFE has developed a loyal-turned-fervent following since their first EP release in 2010, when they were classmates in NYC jazz programs, hungry to revel in the joy of musicmaking together. They yearned to express as individuals and connect as a whole, free of judgment and focused on fun; 15 years later, their new album shows that their initial mission remains exactly the same. Through 10 energetic and inspired tracks, FORWARD exhibits a tight knit group of longtime friends seasoned in accessing that musical joy together. “We just flip a switch, and boom, we’re locked in - it’s a level of connection we don’t take for granted” says bandleader Miles Francis, whose Manhattan basement served both as the sole recording studio for their new album and the site of their very first rehearsals in the early days. At their legendary live shows, as cathartic and potent as ever, the crowd is made up of both longtime followers and many who just discovered them online in the last few years. “We’ve been actively motivated by our fans to celebrate what we’ve built so far and stay true to our path ahead, ” says bassist Doug Berns. “They are the engine that propels us to keep making new music that we’re overflowing with excitement about." Saxophonist Jas Walton chimes in: "Same as it ever was!”