Jerk

Joshua Kinney picked up the saxophone at age 10 and hasn’t put it down since. He studied jazz at the Purchase College under the tutelage of many modern greats including Jon Faddis, Charles Blenzig, Gary Smulyan, and Ralph Lalama. Thus, Jerk was born. Between 2017 and 2018, he has produced a trio of EP’s (Pink, Yellow, and Green), each with their own distinct flavor, seasoned with Jerk’s saxophone. Like a masked superhero, Jerk works in Manhattan during the day, and produces his signature sultry sound by night. It’s clear from the opening progression of his new single, Rise, that Jerk has some spunky sauce.

A gentle choir accompanies Jerk’s saxophone as the piece kicks into a head-bopping groove. It’s a slow song; the kind you would sip expensive bubbly to while admiring a colorful sunset from the main deck of a yacht. The motif suggests a change of heart, the dawning of a new day (and not just because it changes keys). The chords remain constant as Jerk’s saxophone noodles over the track, masterfully directing the listeners attention throughout the track. It tells a story unique to each listener, a tale of drums, choirs, and a warbling brass section. The piece retains its power through a simplicity of form. Rise, so aptly named, is a cornerstone of Jerk’s compositional prowess.

Jerk admits that it’s not easy for him to enter the creative headspace. He needs to find the right time, the proper inspiration, and the necessary alignment of stars for his creative spark to ignite. Once all the clutter of the day fades away, Jerk can rise. - Die Trying Collective

A great start of Monday.

Jerk's new single "Rise" will melt you with its mesmerizing sax & chilled beatwork.

I fell in love with the meaning behind it:

I work in Manhattan from 9:30 to 6. On the off hours, I make music. Getting into a creative headspace takes time. It’s usually 8 o’ clock when I finally begin. The sun is setting, the neighbourhood is getting quiet, and my anxiousness from the day begins to fade. I usually practice the saxophone until 9 and write and produce into the night. For me, this is the rise - when worries fade and I am able to just create.

"Rise" is the first single out of his upcoming beat-tape Pressing On. - Stereofox

Coming in with another one to ease us into these long hard weeks after the holidays. Just imagine you're walking down the street and come to a junction, and on that junction it's where hip-hop and jazz meet. It's a love at first sight moment, and the two end up walking off together in the sunrise, happy, playing some stank, loud and proud baby, loud and proud. This is ‘Green’ EP from Jerk. - The Daily Drop

erk cooks up a jazz/hip-hop storm in third EP Green.

Joshua Kinney, otherwise known as Jerk, has just dropped his third project. It’s been almost a year since his last release, but it’s more than worth the wait. And of all the tracks, we’ve chosen ‘Drip’ as our track of the week.

It’s a track of two halves. It begins with a gentle intro before breaking into a breezy melody, brimming with flurries of muted trumpet and flute.

The new release is the most refined work of the New Yorker to date. In his own words, “I wrote a lot of music this time last year, I formed it into something living with an amazing band, we went in to the studio and recorded five songs in three hours, and I’m just ready.”

After watching this video of him performing ‘Volition’, we can’t wait to catch him live. But until then, be sure to check out the rest of the EP, as well as previous releases Yellow and Pink. - Somewhere Soul

Jazz / Hip Pop group, named Jerk has released a new album, available via Bandcamp, the Green EP, a collection of smooth and musically witty pieces that I feel represent the new Jazz sound growing in the Smokey streets of NYC.

Home » Music » Classic Jazz » Brooklyn’s Jerk Makes Smooth Moves in the Big City
Brooklyn’s Jerk Makes Smooth Moves in the Big City
Posted on December 26, 2018 by Joseph Timmons in Classic Jazz, featured, Featured Artists / Bands, Featured Content, Featured Labels, Jazz, New York, news // 0 Comments


Jazz / Hip Pop group, named Jerk has released a new album, available via Bandcamp, the Green EP, a collection of smooth and musically witty pieces that I feel represent the new Jazz sound growing in the Smokey streets of NYC.

a1178619441_10

The Green EP, a follow up to their prior 2 releases, simply titled Yellow and Pink is a masterful creation of soul moving tones that are a tribute to a sound that is indicative of the history of the music that made the city nightclub scene thrive in even the toughest times. A Music that inspired the underground revolutions, was the muse to writers and to the literate illuminate of my home town… yes, I am Brooklyn born, so this album gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the sounds of my past, revived by the new Jazz movement.

The Green EP is a collection of 5 original tracks that have some hip moves, bringing the powerful style of rhythm oriented percussion, horns, keys and strings in a blissful way.

Home » Music » Classic Jazz » Brooklyn’s Jerk Makes Smooth Moves in the Big City
Brooklyn’s Jerk Makes Smooth Moves in the Big City
Posted on December 26, 2018 by Joseph Timmons in Classic Jazz, featured, Featured Artists / Bands, Featured Content, Featured Labels, Jazz, New York, news // 0 Comments


Jazz / Hip Pop group, named Jerk has released a new album, available via Bandcamp, the Green EP, a collection of smooth and musically witty pieces that I feel represent the new Jazz sound growing in the Smokey streets of NYC.

a1178619441_10

The Green EP, a follow up to their prior 2 releases, simply titled Yellow and Pink is a masterful creation of soul moving tones that are a tribute to a sound that is indicative of the history of the music that made the city nightclub scene thrive in even the toughest times. A Music that inspired the underground revolutions, was the muse to writers and to the literate illuminate of my home town… yes, I am Brooklyn born, so this album gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the sounds of my past, revived by the new Jazz movement.

The Green EP is a collection of 5 original tracks that have some hip moves, bringing the powerful style of rhythm oriented percussion, horns, keys and strings in a blissful way.

Jerk, led by Joshua Kinney on Saxophone, Flute and Synthesizer, Carey Ozmun on Trumpet, Matt Carvin on Piano and Fender Rhodes, Alex Frondelli on Guitar, Mikey Migliore on Bass and Martine Wade on Drums is a musical collective that is going to be big in the most humbling of cities.

It has been long though that LA and the Hollywood music scene is where its at, but in truth, NY, The Big Apple, is where musicians learn how to “cut their teeth” and the Jazz Music world is one of the hardest to make it in, the ability to create music that has the right amount of spark, with emotional appeal that quantifies as the Jazz Experience is one of the hardest, and requires a superior discipline, and I feel Jerk has it in spades. - Indie Pulse Music