Groove first. Spirit lifted. That’s the goal of Jake Mason
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This year’s best new soul-jazz Hammond-driven album seems to have appeared already. The Modern Arch is the new release of the Australian Jake Mason Trio. The New Funky had the opportunity to interview song writer, producer and musician Jake Mason.
Everybody knows Jake’s co-write ‘This Girl’ (Kungs Vs Cookin’ On 3 Burners)' which charted at number 1 in 10 countries and has 1,3 billion streams on Spotify.
Bridging jazz/soul and pop, Jake has released 15 albums and established his own label and studio Soul Messin’ Records. He manages the business affairs of Cookin’ On 3 Burners and is the frontman of Jake Mason Trio playing the Hammond organ.
The New Funky: What is the background of the title ‘The Modern Ark’?
Jake: “The Modern Ark” started as a simple idea that grew into the spine of the whole record.
The title track (featuring Kurt Elling on vocals) is a downtempo groover, but lyrically it’s a little parable for the times we’re living in. The “ark” is that classic image of escape: the world is cooked, so let’s build a boat and get out of here, but the irony is pretty clear: if we’re the ones doing the damage, what exactly are we escaping from? And who actually gets a spot on the boat?
It’s a song about consumption, competition, and that modern habit we have of thinking technology will save us while we keep doing the same things. There’s a line about draining the oceans and drowning the plains, and the big question underneath it is: do we keep fighting over what remains, or do we actually change direction? That thread runs through the wider album too, not in a heavy, preachy way, but as a backdrop to the music.
Visually it all clicked when Jeff Raglus came on board for the artwork. He’s got this bold, 60s graphic language with a pop-surf modern edge: it instantly feels like it belongs in the Hammond trio world. It nods to that classic organ-jazz era, but still looks fresh and contemporary, which is exactly the balance we were chasing sonically.
The New Funky: How did you experience the studio time with James Sherlock (guitar) and Danny Fischer (drums) ?
Jake: It was one of those sessions where you get deep into the zone and everything starts feeling natural.
We recorded the album live over three days, but there was a lot of planning and pre-production beforehand, so when we finally hit record, we could just play. We’d run each tune three or four times, then listen back and choose the take that had the best feel and the best story.
One of the big decisions was no headphones. We wanted it to sound like a real band in a room, because that’s what it is: just a natural sound, air moving, and genuine interaction. We could hear each other clearly, so if James threw in a new harmonic idea or Danny shifted the energy, we could respond instantly. That’s the whole point of this trio: it’s conversational.
Recording this way also makes you commit. You’re not building a track piece by piece — you’re capturing a moment.
The New Funky: Is there anything else you can share about your new album for your audience?
Jake: The main thing I hope people get from this album is simple: enjoy the listening experience — and come out the other side feeling inspired and upbeat.
Even though The Modern Ark has a narrative thread running through it, it’s not meant to be heavy. It’s still a groove record —a Hammond trio record— with that deep soul-jazz pocket at the centre. But compared to our first album, this one feels broader in colour. Even the instrumental tracks feel like little scenes or landscapes, and the titles hint at that without needing to spell it all out.
The two vocal features also frame the record in a nice way:
Kurt Elling on The Modern Ark brings this incredible weight and presence — like a narrator stepping into the story.
Kate Ceberano on Stop Searching For Love is the other side of the coin — warm, human, heart-centred. It’s a reminder that connection and love are part of the answer too.
Production-wise, we recorded it live to tape in Melbourne, Australia with a vintage approach, and it’s also mixed for Dolby Atmos, which gives it this wide, immersive space without losing the warmth and grit of the room.
So yeah — I want people to put it on, get pulled into the sound, and come away feeling good. Groove first. Spirit lifted. That’s the goal.
The vinyl album The Modern Arch of Jake Mason Trio is available at Funk&SoulRecords.nl . Songs of the album are featured on The New Funky playlists on Spotify.
