Bio

A London-based contemporary jazz trio making immersive, groove-led music shaped as much by alternative rock and modern production as by improvisation.

Joe Herbert is a London-based guitarist and composer whose trio brings together the rhythmic language of contemporary jazz with the weight, atmosphere and darkness of grunge and rock. Their music is built on deep grooves, memorable melodies and an instinct for collective improvisation, drawing as much from Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Nirvana as it does from London’s thriving jazz scene.

Recorded with long-standing collaborators Toby Yapp (bass) and Josh Walker-Martin (drums), Joe’s forthcoming second album explores the guitar trio as both a live band and a studio project. The production is woven into the writing itself – layered guitars, subtle textures and carefully shaped dynamics sit alongside improvisation to create a sound that feels expansive without losing the immediacy of three musicians playing together.

The trio’s music moves between tightly constructed compositions and open improvisation, balancing rhythmic precision with spontaneity. Influences from modern jazz, rock, funk and ambient music meet in a distinctive band sound, creating music that is equally at home in a jazz club or alongside more alternative and genre-defying artists.

At the heart of the project is a trio that has developed its own musical language over years of playing together. Whether in the studio or on stage, the focus remains the same: making music that is direct, physical and adventurous.