Underwards Brings Nature and Jazz to Life
On a cool autumn evening, the audience at gathered for a performance that promised something deeper than music alone. What unfolded was Underwards, a Sydney-based jazz quartet led by trumpeter and composer Ellen Kirkwood, guiding listeners through an evening of sound shaped by nature, reflection and connection to Country.
Described by Canberra Jazz Blog’s Eric Pozza as “deeply sensitive, intellectually inquisitive, modern and of today,” Underwards has quickly become one of the most intriguing voices in contemporary Australian jazz. Their concert in Glebe showed exactly why. Blending jazz with experimental, folk and contemporary classical influences, the group created an atmosphere that felt at once meditative and alive with creative energy.
Kirkwood, an award-winning composer and performer, led the quartet with both confidence and warmth. Her trumpet tone shifted between glowing lyricism and raw expression, echoing the moods of the natural landscapes that inspired her work. Each piece was introduced personally by Kirkwood, who shared the stories behind her compositions and the Country that shaped them. These works form part of her ongoing PhD project, exploring respectful Indigenous-informed immersive connecting with Country in Dharug and Wiradjuri Nations. The result was a concert that carried a rare sense of purpose and reverence, inviting the audience to engage with music as both sound and storytelling.
The ensemble’s interplay was fluid and intuitive. Hilary Geddes’s guitar shimmered with both delicacy and drive, providing subtle counterpoints to Kirkwood’s melodic lines. Brendan Clark’s electric bass brought depth and grounding, while Dr Alexander Inman-Hislop’s drumming was full of movement and texture, shifting effortlessly from gentle pulses to intricate rhythmic flourishes. Together they created music that felt alive, evolving moment by moment through improvisation and shared listening.
Formed in 2020, Underwards has built its reputation on emotionally rich and exploratory performances. Their repertoire, filled with vivid colours, emphatic rhythms and enigmatic melodies, captures the wonder and complexity of the natural world. This concert was no exception. Each piece unfolded like a landscape, drawing the audience into a journey that was both sonic and spiritual.
By the time the final notes faded into stillness, the crowd sat in quiet awe before breaking into heartfelt applause. It was clear that Underwards had offered more than a concert. They had created an experience of connection — to one another, to the land and to the unseen forces that inspire creativity.
As one listener remarked on their way out, “It felt like the music was breathing.” And perhaps that is the essence of Underwards: music that listens as much as it speaks, reminding us to hear the earth beneath the sound.