The Exhibits - S/T

Acclaimed jazz artists James Muller and Lyndon Gray join forces in an exciting new quartet, The Exhibits.

Featuring saxophonist Tom Noonan and drummer Josh Baldwin to complete the quartet, TheExhibits aim is to push the envelope of traditional jazz forms, as this new body of work showcases a fresh and diverse collection of original compositions, weaving together the mastery of Muller’s guitar with Gray’s double and electric bass in a project that explores the boundaries of jazz composition and improvisation.

The album’s repertoire spans a range of moods and textures, reflecting the unique South Australian landscape that inspired the cover art—a stark depiction of the saltbush at Wonoka along the Heysen Trail. Beneath its seemingly serene exterior lies an underlying intensity, mirrored by the music’s vibrant energy and darker, introspective corners.

Highlights from the album include the adventurous opener “Fomenting the Foaming,” characterised by complex time signatures and dynamic drum solos, alongside “Grow Up and Like Paul,” which balances sprightly melodies with Gray’s intricate bass work. Muller’s composition “Fireside Chat” brings a brooding atmosphere, while “There Are Birds” introduces an off-kilter rhythmic twist to classic bebop influences.

Listeners will also experience Noonan’s expressive saxophone in “Athelstone,” and the sinuous, genre-defying melody of “Pungent Pages.” The album closes with the fiery “Grand Exit,” a dazzling showcase of unison lines and Muller’s signature guitar brilliance.