Today, London-based Keyboardist and producer Yoni Mayraz unleashes Dogs Bark Babies Cry, the new record all about the moment when a commotion takes place: dogs start barking, babies cry. It’s an ominous sound, yet a natural one. Dogs Bark Babies Cry explores fears and desires through Yoni’s distinctive, outward-looking approach to instrumental music, merging jazz elements with modern, experimental, and electronic influences. Fly Anakin, Tenderlonious, Miriam Adefris, and JSPHYNX all feature across the record. Listen to Dogs Bark Babies Cry here.

Across Dogs Bark Babies Cry, we get a diverse array of sound, all held together by Mayraz’s sophisticated but completely modern style:

“Rooftops” gave the first glimpse of the full ensemble for the record –– with flutist Ruta Sipola (Caveman, Clairo) joining bassist Tom Driessler (Yussef Dayes, Adele, Jordan Rakei) and drummer Zoe Pascal (Ife Ogunjobi, Sheila Maurice-Grey) –– which showcases Mayraz at his most daring and refined. “Run” followed, bringing analogue warmth and texture to its jazz-rooted composition and cinematic mood, evoking the tension of being constantly on edge. In comes the “Blue Ambulance:” much more laid back in contrast. A ride cymbal smoothly escorts you through a much more leisurely meandering of keys and bass, who cross paths playfully (Watch the “Blue Ambulance” Live Studio Session here). The Fly Anakin feature, “Ice Cold,” explored a mischievously repeated line on the keys, over which Fly urgently interjects with, “I was on a flight when it came to me, I was high as hell, sortin’ out a cabinet in my brain beside the carousel.” 

Further tracks include “Sonic Youth,” a “little shout out to the 90’s band, but most of all I felt a need to address the youth of these days, and all the sh** that they’re going through;” “Exarcheia (feat JSPHYNX),” written for the Greek town known for its anarchist history; “Vacation,”  inspired by 70’s Brazilian funk, which starts out easy and opens all the way up to a block party; and so much more. Each track has boundless sonic and empirical ribbons to unravel.

Photo by Daniel Shiff

Yoni Mayraz burst onto the new jazz scene in 2020 with Rough Cuts, an EP that introduced the world to his unique musical style. Since then, Mayraz has collaborated with the likes of Ruby Rushton’s Tenderlonious and Dance legend El-B, and released his critically acclaimed debut album, Dybbuk Tse! on Astigmatic Records in 2023. Dybbuk Tse! propelled Mayraz to the forefront of the international jazz scene, selling thousands of physical copies worldwide, garnering millions of streams on digital platforms, and earning media coverage from outlets such as KEXP, KCRW, BBC 6, Bandcamp Weekly, and CLASH Mag. Mayraz has toured extensively with his band, performing at venues and festivals such as Montreux Jazz Festival, The Jazz Cafe London, Brussels Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s London and more.

“The whole album is an exploration of internal tension –  fears and desires, beauty and decay,” says Mayraz. Dogs Bark Babies Cry offers a dense yet delicate listening experience. It’s a powerful work that further cements Yoni Mayraz as one of the most vital new voices in contemporary jazz and instrumental music today.