Monastery by Max Alduca

Sydney based double bassist and composer Max Alduca presents his debut album Monastery drawing inspiration from a personal journey through music and spirituality, reflecting themes of interconnectedness, trust, and hope, while also paying homage to his teachers and collaborators. Bringing together some of Sydney’s leading jazz musicians—Hilary Geddes (guitar), Michael Avgenicos (tenor sax), Luke Sweeting (piano), and James Waples (drums), the album draws on contemporary jazz, free improvisation and cinematic soundscapes.

The album is a meditative exploration of sound, space, and emotion. Each track evokes a different layer of Alduca’s evolving artistry, from introspective ballads to expansive, free-flowing improvisations. The title track, “Monastery,” delves into the concept of sanctuary—both literal and metaphorical—where Alduca reflects on the quietude and solitude often needed for creative expression. Meanwhile, “Unknown Flow” and “Scando” bring out the band's dynamic interplay, where moments of stillness transform into bursts of rhythmic intensity. With the quintet’s nuanced phrasing and textural depth, the album invites listeners into a sound world that is as contemplative as it is spontaneous.

Monastery is a culmination of Alduca’s experiences, particularly after returning from an intensive study period in NYC in 2022. “This project represents a deep reflection of my musical past and a more spiritual approach to music,” Alduca explains. Tracks like “Monastery” and “Unknown Flow” weave in elements of Scandinavian jazz, influenced by the ECM sound, while incorporating modern jazz improvisation. Saxophonist Michael Avgenicos notes the album’s balance of composed material and freedom: “Max’s compositions leave us room to really dig into the music but allow us to express ourselves fully.”

The musicianship on the album is defined by a close rapport, as highlighted by guitarist Hilary Geddes: “There’s a real sense of trust in the group. We know each other’s playing so well, and it comes through in the music.” Listeners can expect tracks like “Sympathetic Resonance” and “Sam’s Bass” to reveal both structured and open-ended musical forms, with contributions from producer Lloyd Swanton, legendary bassist of The Necks, who helped guide the recording process.

Alduca reflects, “The whole session felt magical to me, I was surprised at the ease I felt in the studio and was totally in awe of how everyone played. Lloyd was a big part of helping me not only in the studio as a wise and experienced set of ears, but his thorough involvement through the whole production process. Having Lloyd as producer on the album was also the best decision I could have made- to have his ears in the control room gently guiding us made me be able to just relax and play and took a lot of stress out of it! He also went above and beyond in his help post session with editing, mixing and mastering.”

Max Alduca is one of Australia’s most in-demand bassists, regularly touring nationally and internationally with Hamed Sadeghi’s Eishan Ensemble, Hilary Geddes Quartet, The Pocket Trio, Microfiche and many others. He has also worked with prominent artists including Mike Nock, Paul Grabowsky and Dale Barlow. The quintet, formed in 2022, reflects Alduca’s long-standing musical relationships with Geddes, Avgenicos, Sweeting, and Waples. Their collective sound, shaped by years of collaboration, is at the core of Monastery.