Okonski is a contemporary jazz trio led by pianist Steve Okonski, featuring Michael Isvara Montgomery on bass and Aaron Frazer (of Durand Jones & The Indications) on drums. Based out of the Colemine Records circle in Loveland, Ohio, the group represents a bridge between the soul-revival scene and spiritual jazz.
Steve Okonski, initially trained as a classical pianist, brings a formal touch to the trio's improvisational framework. Their sound is defined by its recording process: live-to-tape sessions on a Tascam 388, often captured during late-night sessions that favor mood over technical display. The project evolved from a planned beat-driven record into a series of spontaneous, minimalist meditations. Critically, they are positioned alongside artists like Sven Wunder and Misha Panfilov, who prioritize texture and 'library music' aesthetics over traditional jazz structures. Their work is characterized by a timeless quality, eschewing modern digital polish for a warm, saturated sound that appeals to vinyl collectors and fans of ECM-style minimalism.
Shares spiritual jazz, cool jazz, contemplative, winter (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, contemporary classical, cool jazz, library (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, cool jazz, contemplative, peaceful (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, cool jazz, contemplative, peaceful (subgenre)
Shares spiritual jazz, cool jazz, peaceful, upright bass (subgenre)
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