JabFung Premiere the Music Video for Their Synergetic Single, “Skander”

Jazz music has always reflected communal themes, much more so than other genres, and for their new record, JabFung really leaned on those traditions. The group just released their latest offering, In Real Life, earlier this month. Today, we debut the music video accompaniment to the song “Skander.” It showcases bassist Julian Anderson-Bowes and drummer Anthony Fung, along with their bandmates, performing the song live in the studio, with beautiful shots of each musician playing their instrument. It really shows how the collaborative process comes together in real time and how it all connects to form the final product.

Commenting on the song and its influence, Anderson-Bowes states:

“My tune ‘Skander’ was inspired by a chaotic taxi ride in Montreal with a driver who ignored Google Maps and drove purely on instinct. The tune captures the unpredictability and jittery energy of that ride, turning the experience into something playful and slightly off-kilter. You’ll hear a lot of dissonance, but at the same time a constant beat throughout.”

In Real Life is JabFung’s sophomore release, the follow-up to their acclaimed debut, Epoch. Featuring eight new tracks, it’s an extension of the themes and undertones apparent on “Skander” and in its video. The record is meant as a celebration of human presence and real-time collaboration. In a digital world where pessimism reigns supreme, these compositions harken back to the heyday of jazz music. At its core and in its earliest form, jazz was always a celebration of community. Anderson-Bowes and Fung tapped into that heritage to emphasize the value of collaboration and friendship.

For the final product, Fung contributed five of the compositions, while Anderson-Bowes oversaw the other three. But in the moment, contributions from all members helped create a real, authentic tone. In Real Life was fairly recently recorded, right after the group’s spring tour. It was important not to sit on these songs and unleash them while they are still fresh. The cover art, designed by artist Klara Vanzella Yang, emphasizes the central theme of the record. It’s a holographic city set against a natural backdrop, meant to capture the tension of modern connectivity and the isolation hidden within it. Humanity is imperative and essential, and JabFung want to make that crystal clear.

In Real Life Track Listing:

1. Changes
2. Stronger Still
3. Respite Piano Smash
4. In Transit, Undefined
5. Skander
6. Methadone for Doomscrolling
7. Future Tense
8. Woven

Tour Dates:

June 25 – Davie Studios, Toronto, ON
June 27 – Festival International de Jazz de Montréal – Pub Molson, Montreal, QC
August 21 – Jazz Bistro, Toronto, ON
August 22 – Port Hope Jazz Festival, Port Hope, ON
August 23 – Markham Jazz Festival, Markham, ON
August 25 – The Upstairs Jazz Club, Montreal, QC

JabFung ‘In Real Life’ album artwork