Bassist Tom Berkmann is joined on 'Journey' by a select crew of the brightest young stars of the thriving Berlin jazz scene - Ben Kraef on tenor sax, Carl Morgan on guitar, Simon Seidl on piano and drummer Fabian Rosch Berkmann has travelled a long way already. In his childhood home among the Bavarian Alps, where the loudest sounds were the ringing of church bells and the mooing of cows, he discovered the power of music via his sister's collection of rock records: Jimi Hendrix, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana. Improvised music and the double bass were revelations that spurred his next voyages of discovery - first to the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich, then north to the Jazz Institute in Berlin, then across the ocean to New York at the Manhattan School Of Music. Since returning to Berlin, he has released two acclaimed albums as part of the band SCOPES. Now we are invited to join him for 'Journey', his debut album as a leader and composer. The music hooks the listener immediately, anchored by Berkmann's resonating bass sound, beautifully captured in all of its gut- string glory. His compositions are complex yet accessible, mixing the sophistication of his immersion in the jazz scene with his love of popular song. As Tom explains: "Genre- wise I'd call it modern jazz but I don't really fit into that box of contemporary jazz - sometimes too melodic, too groovy. I wasn't thinking about whether it was experimental enough - it's just the music that felt natural to me as I wrote it."
Release date:
February 2, 2024
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
The Aces Gold Star Baby (Gold)
Vector
September 26, 2025 -
They Are Gutting a Body of Water Lotto
Ato Records
October 17, 2025 -
Feeder Comfort In Sound 2025 (Transparent Blue Curacao)
Bmg
September 12, 2025 -
Jerskin Fendrix Once Upon A Time. . . In Shropshire (Shropspire Mud Brown) [2xLP]
Untitled (Recs)
October 10, 2025 -
Signs of the Swarm To Rid Myself Of Truth (Silver)
Century Media Int'l
August 29, 2025 -
Giggs Let Em Ave It [2xLP]
Xl Recordings
September 26, 2025 -
Phil Manzanera & Andy Mackay AM PM Soho Live [2xLP]
Bfd
September 19, 2025 -
Case Oats Last Missouri Exit
Merge Records
August 22, 2025 -
Black Keys No Rain, No Flowers
Warner Records
August 8, 2025 -
Miles Kane Sunlight In The Shadows (Blue Skies)
Easy Eye Sound
October 17, 2025 -
The Wood Brothers Puff of Smoke
Honey Jar Records
August 1, 2025 -
Chastity Belt Loaded Painted Red (Purple)
Suicide Squeeze
August 15, 2025 -
Deep Purple Made in Japan [10xLP]
Rhino/Warner Records
August 15, 2025 -
Gwenifer Raymond Last Night I Heard The Dog Star Bark
We Are Busy Bodies
September 5, 2025