Fresh Sounds: Moses Yoofee Trio - Ocean

Berlin-based jazz band Moses Yoofee Trio released a new Madlib and J Dilla-inspired song Ocean, from the band's forthcoming debut mini album Ocean.

Having built an already impressive following off the back of their stunning live performances and social media, Berlin’s Moses Yoofee Trio are set to release their highly anticipated debut album ‘Ocean’ on the 3^rd November via Nils Frahm’s LEITER. Emerging at a time when jazz is in rude health, the trio; pianist/keyboardist/producer Moses Yoofee, bassist Roman Klobe-Barangă and drummer Noah Fürbringer, fuse jazz, hip hop, RnB, and soul, finding a common ground in their respective musicianship and cite J Dilla and Madib as influences.

Largely refraining from releasing recorded music since their inception, the Moses Yoofee Trio released one-off single On That Side earlier this year, providing a long overdue chance to dive deep into their distinctively thrilling sound and offering a little taster of what to expect from their debut album. It always takes a while until you build the right team around you, Klobe-Barangă explains, “and that’s crucial so it doesn’t disappear. With LEITER, fortunately, they’ve found the right home. Nils and his team don’t restrict themselves to a specific style, the trio enthuses, which is greatly appreciated! Plus, they have the most beautiful studios (at Berlin’s Funkhaus). It’s an honour to be able to work there.

Listen to Moses Yoofee Trio new song Ocean, from the band's forthcoming debut mini album Ocean:

Having grown up in Potsdam and Berlin, Yoofee has been active in the German jazz scene for over a decade. In 2013, at the tender age of 14, he was described by daily national newspaper Der Tagesspiegel as a “young jazz genius”. He formed the Moses Yoofee Trio after meeting Klobe-Barangă at Berlin’s Jazz Institute in 2020, and it was Klobe-Barangă who suggested they jam with Fürbringer, who was studying in Mannheim. It felt really good, adds Yoofee of that initial rehearsal. Instant love! A year later, Fürbringer, who had already built up a social media following with videos of his prodigious drumming, began posting footage of the trio’s rehearsals, and helped grow their fanbase, resulting in a one-off performance at the prestigious Ronnie Scott’s, London late last year

All three musicians collaborate on other projects in addition to the Moses Yoofee Trio. As well as recording solo under his surname, Yoofee is currently working with Footprint Project, the Wanubale collective, and platinum-selling Peter Fox of Germany’s similarly successful Seeed, for whom he’s Musical Director and pianist. Klobe-Barangă has also worked with Fox and well as Kurdish-German singer Mailan Ghafouri aka Lune. Fürbringer founded Lord Of The Amazing Panther in 2020, releasing an album as Noah Fürbringer and Friends in 2022, and has played with acclaimed German-American rapper Casper, New York saxophonist Alex Han, German actor/comedian/musician Teddy Teclebhan, and New Zealand-born Future Soul artist Noah Slee, with whom Klobe-Barangă also perform