Jack Phemister’s Backwards Sideways is a dazzling stunner with Jazzy potentials that it ends up effortlessly exceeding.
Phemister is based in Melbourne, Australia. His music explores the blurry boundaries between Jazz, Folk, and Rock. Backwards Sideways lies heavily in the Jazz side of things. This song has it all. The intricacies in the arrangements, the ambiguous tonalities, and the harmonic boldness make a Jazz tune stand out.
Starting with a stuttering, chromatically descending motif, the song then opens up into a verse section that’s beautifully orchestrated. With Phemister’s warm voice efficiently leading the way. The guitar part is nuanced and full of detail. A beautifully executed performance that never gets in the way. The second verse then includes a flute part that flutters and adds so much color and personality to the tune, courtesy of Thomas Bell. An expansive bridge follows, with grand, dramatic chords and a sublime performance from Kieran Rule on the drums. The whole song is arranged professionally and the production is spotless and clean.
Backwards Sideways is a delightful, light, calculated, and efficient piece of modern Jazz. Made true by a group of professional musicians, led by the musical vision of the talented Jack Phemister. It’s a tasteful offering that will be endlessly easy to recommend to anyone that has a soft spot for Jazz.